New 2012 35d Orange Peel

This thread made me smile.

Finally, something that everyone agrees on.

For those of you that are wondering what orange peel is all about and what proper paint should look like....go check out any Lexus....typically among the industry best.


Yes, I said it....get over it.

Originally Posted by Cdnrockies

This thread made me smile.

Finally, something that everyone agrees on.

For those of you that are wondering what orange peel is all about and what proper paint should look like....go check out any Lexus....typically among the industry best.


Yes, I said it....get over it.

Yeah, well...they must use environmentally un-friendly paint, right?

Because when you bring it up to a BMW salesman (after they first pretend they see nothing) they blame the EPA and 'government regulations'.

I tell you, if the public was informed and people heard from all the various blogs the straight story, BMW would improve. But here is the shocker- in this thread you hear an almost universal agreement that BMW paint is inferior- just a matter of fact agreement of "yeah, sure sucks"... yet ONLY here. All the reviews and comparisons just simply fail to address this glaring defect!

Wonder why....Love the handling, but paint wise it is hard to respect. Furthermore, I'd pay $2-3k more for upgraded paint.

My understanding is that, orange peel can be fixed.

Check out the various car detailing forums.

So I would have a professional detailer fix it, and at the same time apply OptiGuard.

Originally Posted by ard

Yeah, well...they must use environmentally un-friendly paint, right?

Because when you bring it up to a BMW salesman (after they first pretend they see nothing) they blame the EPA and 'government regulations'.

I tell you, if the public was informed and people heard from all the various blogs the straight story, BMW would improve. But here is the shocker- in this thread you hear an almost universal agreement that BMW paint is inferior- just a matter of fact agreement of "yeah, sure sucks"... yet ONLY here. All the reviews and comparisons just simply fail to address this glaring defect!

Wonder why....Love the handling, but paint wise it is hard to respect. Furthermore, I'd pay $2-3k more for upgraded paint.

That is the beauty of "independent" reviews. Just like in hi-fi, this stuff is very expensive to buy just for a review, so in order to review it, the manufacturer needs to send it to the reviewer. Guess how many will do it for you if you put out strong negative reviews, even if they are founded? Some art of sophisticated butt kissing and appearing independent (within acceptable bounds)...

Originally Posted by RockChips

My understanding is that, orange peel can be fixed.

Check out the various car detailing forums.

So I would have a professional detailer fix it, and at the same time apply OptiGuard.

That is not really a fix, rather an optical correction that makes it less visible. The defect is a physical distortion of the paint surface, and the only way to actually fix it is by doing a complete paint job all over. Who is going to do that? Those gooze bumps suck, but you don't really see them from 2 feet away, so I personally told my brain to just shut up about it

Thanks for pointing out the orange peel of my paint. Never paid any attention to it before and hope to put it right back out of mind.

Originally Posted by ard

Wonder why....Love the handling, but paint wise it is hard to respect. Furthermore, I'd pay $2-3k more for upgraded paint.

I havent seen a BMW "Individual" Paint up close. Does it have a better finish (less orange peel effect), or its just simply a color upgrade with the same painting process like any other BMW?

Originally Posted by bxmxwx

That is not really a fix, rather an optical correction that makes it less visible. The defect is a physical distortion of the paint surface, and the only way to actually fix it is by doing a complete paint job all over. Who is going to do that? Those gooze bumps suck, but you don't really see them from 2 feet away, so I personally told my brain to just shut up about it

Correct.

But a razor sharp reflection off a black car will 'pop' without OP...

Originally Posted by Mrt0006

I havent seen a BMW "Individual" Paint up close. Does it have a better finish (less orange peel effect), or its just simply a color upgrade with the same painting process like any other BMW?

Dunno. I suspect the process is the same, but maybe just a bit more care laying it down? Be interesting to know....

On a tour of the P factory in stuttgart, all 911s get painted by hand/human.

I've always thought individual paint was just an exclusive shade of color per model.
Maybe I'm wrong but I suspect the quality of paint is same.

Originally Posted by peteo

Thanks for pointing out the orange peel of my paint. Never paid any attention to it before and hope to put it right back out of mind.

I just got my car washed and now I keep looking at the orange peel in my paint. I'm sitting in a parking lot across from a Lexus as I write this, and the paint on the RX is perfectly smooth. Sigh...sometimes being in the dark on these things is better.

Originally Posted by Lance Alot

I just got my car washed and now I keep looking at the orange peel in my paint. I'm sitting in a parking lot across from a Lexus as I write this, and the paint on the RX is perfectly smooth. Sigh...sometimes being in the dark on these things is better.

$hit - no kidding on ignorance being bliss; I did not even have to go check my car after I read this thread and saw all the sample pictures. I just expected the paint was normal - WTF This is going to bug me big time now.

Originally Posted by bxmxwx

That is not really a fix, rather an optical correction that makes it less visible. The defect is a physical distortion of the paint surface, and the only way to actually fix it is by doing a complete paint job all over. Who is going to do that? Those gooze bumps suck, but you don't really see them from 2 feet away, so I personally told my brain to just shut up about it

A detailer will wetsand it.

BMW is just too cheap to wetsand at the factory, and skips this step.

So it is an actual fix. The paint is made smooth. If orange peel really bothers anyone, just have this done like several other BMW owners have.

I had a 335 Space Grey no orange peel. Had a Jet Black with terrible Orange Peel. Made me crazy.

I've not got s 2012 F13 Carbon
Black. No Orange Peel whatsoever.

In fact I don't think any 6 series I've seen has it. I've not heard about it on the 6 forum and they are truly obsessive fanatics--we complain about everything.

Originally Posted by RockChips

A detailer will wetsand it.

BMW is just too cheap to wetsand at the factory, and skips this step.

So it is an actual fix. The paint is made smooth. If orange peel really bothers anyone, just have this done like several other BMW owners have.

Won't that take off the clear coat?

Originally Posted by chiefneil

Won't that take off the clear coat?

Thats why I said get Optiguard also put on.


Optiguard is essentially a layer of clear coat.

learned to live with it, just like with swirl marks (against white I only see it when there's light shined on it when dark out). You can baby it till the cows come home but in the end it will still appear. So will marks on your rims no matter how careful you are.

Just enjoy the ride and your blood pressure will be better off.

Originally Posted by rh71

learned to live with it, just like with swirl marks

who says you have to live with that either?

you all really need to get into car detailing/paint correction.

Originally Posted by RockChips

who says you have to live with that either?

you all really need to get into car detailing/paint correction.

I understand it's a hobby (or profession) for some but my days of worrying about every nick or scratch are just about over. The first year it was still pretty pristine but then time moved on. I wash it by hand once a week and see new marks once in a while - and nobody else touches or drives the car. Somehow scratches are on the rim or on the aero kit when nobody else could've gotten near it. It's just the nature of actually driving the car around. I'm done spending more than an hour each week. The car is over 4 years old and these things are bound to happen. Swirl marks - I use a wash mitt and microfiber cloths - but I'm not going to put these things in the wash and use 2 buckets each time only to have it happen anyway. Some people don't have the time to wash their own car to begin with.

Originally Posted by rh71

I understand it's a hobby (or profession) for some but my days of worrying about every nick or scratch are just about over. The first year it was still pretty pristine but then time moved on. I wash it by hand once a week and see new marks once in a while - and nobody else touches or drives the car. Somehow scratches are on the rim or on the aero kit when nobody else could've gotten near it. It's just the nature of actually driving the car around. I'm done spending more than an hour each week. The car is over 4 years old and these things are bound to happen. Swirl marks - I use a wash mitt and microfiber cloths - but I'm not going to put these things in the wash and use 2 buckets each time only to have it happen anyway. Some people don't have the time to wash their own car to begin with.

Right on man.

I thought I'd search before introducing a new post and was surprised to find so much unhappiness with good 'ole USA paint from SC. I took delivery in the rain and today was the first real opportunity to wash the X5M up nice and see what I have. I was amazed at the orange peel and low gloss on the vertical surfaces - worst I've seen from BMW. I looked at the other Bimmers in our stable ( '12 650 vert, '12 750, '11 Z4) and although not perfect they are a hell of a lot better than the Spartanburg paint.

Sometimes one can color sand the clear and work most of it out, but I doubt if it would clean up before busting through the clear. Amazing BMW can't paint any better than this

The best paint I've ever had on a new car was a Mazda Millenia S; better than the 3 Porsches, MB, my RS6, ... BMW wins the race to the bottom I guess

And before anyone posts "Blame the EPA", there are plenty of mfgs with nice paint in the USA...and BMW paint from Germany is pretty sad too!

A

Originally Posted by ard

And before anyone posts "Blame the EPA", there are plenty of mfgs with nice paint in the USA...and BMW paint from Germany is pretty sad too!

A

Indeed. Check out any Ford, including the cheaper Focus model. The vast majority have superior paint surfaces, with little or no orange peel, as compared to BMWs.

Originally Posted by Penguin

Indeed. Check out any Ford, including the cheaper Focus model. The vast majority have superior paint surfaces, with little or no orange peel, as compared to BMWs.

No way. Ford is terrible too.

Good examples of top quality paint finishes are Toyota/Lexus (especially pearl white or metallic colors) or Audi (pearl, metallic colors)

As far back as I can remember, cars coming from Europe have always been known to have orange peel paint. most noticeable in black. I once heard it said that they put the paint on a bit heavier..I'm not sure that's a good enough reason. It doesn't bother me, and if it's a durability thing, I'll live with it. The absolute best paint I've had on a car was my 2008 Infinity EX35. It was a self healing paint, gorgeous, and looked as good as new when I traded it in.

BMW knows how to paint a smooth finish. So I'd be interested in knowing what the thought is behind the orange peel look. Maybe it is a more durable finish for cars that may take a bit more abuse?

Originally Posted by MIX5

As far back as I can remember, cars coming from Europe have always been known to have orange peel paint. most noticeable in black.

Can't use that excuse for the X5. Or any other BMW's built / painted in the USA.