Sapphire Black issue?

Ordered my 2012 X5 yesterday - Sapphire black exterior with sand beige interior. But getting a bit concerned after reading some posts on this forum, that there is an issue with swirls showing up in the paint especially after a car wash. I typically take my current Blue X5 to a touchless car wash every 6 weeks or so. Should I be worried? I love the sapphire black though!

sorry dude, I had two black sapphire and it showed the swirl marks of a buffer...Learn my lesson, now I wash it on my own..good luck

Black sapphire here. No issues at all. Looks awesome.

Originally Posted by cafebritt

sorry dude, I had two black sapphire and it showed the swirl marks of a buffer...Learn my lesson, now I wash it on my own..good luck

Sorry to hear lady, but try spending a benji every 6 months for a detail job and ask me what swirl marks?

The darker the car the more scratches will show.

I am fanatical with car washes, much more so than many 'detailers'...but the truth is that you cannot avoid 'microscratches' in the paint- touch it, scratch it...you can minimize it with care- and then buff it out every 6 months. But paint scratches...any color.

Black shows if MUCH more so that any other color. Even worse is the horrendous orangepeel that you see on BMW cars... much more visible on black. (And most consumers are clueless.)

I learned a long time ago: straight strokes when you hand wash. Always draw your wash mitt front to back, never side to side, or worse, in a circular motion. That way the unavoidable fine scratches you make while washing will blend in with the equally unavoidable fine scratches you get from air flow while driving.

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Double post--sorry

I have a nine month old Sapphire Black 35i X5 and the paint still looks like day one. I do my own hand wash with P21S and lots of water and dry with old, hand-me-down bath towels.

I think the high metalic content of this paint helps to hide the swirl marks--at least in the direct sun.

Works for me.

Did I mention in a few other threads that my Sapphire Black X5 is being delivered this weekend? I'll try to get it dirty soon to wash it to check for swirls.

I have been pleasantly surprised so far by our sapphire black. Paint looks phenomenal and very few scratches at this point. I also use a touch less car wash as I rarely have the time to deal with a full hand wash and detail. That being said I do spring for a professional detail every 4-6 months for both of our cars. On the x5, as with most SUVs, I only have a hard time keeping the rear clean...I like the black car quick detailed between washes as it is quick and minimizes any small marks that are present.

Every black car will show swirls almost immediately. It's completely unavoidable, even if you wash it on your own.

Originally Posted by ElDuderino

Every black car will show swirls almost immediately. It's completely unavoidable, even if you wash it on your own.

I agree with this statement. In fact all paints will get microscratches, jsut some more noticeable.


But here is my question-

How can it be that good and honest members have this difference of opinion????

How can some say 'black scratches and drives me crazy' yet others say "I pay for a detail twice a year and otherwise the BMW service detail makes it look great"

There has to be 'one reality', yet different views based on posts....

So, what is it????

Originally Posted by quackbury

I learned a long time ago: straight strokes when you hand wash. Always draw your wash mitt front to back, never side to side, or worse, in a circular motion.

+1. Never wash or wax a car in a circular motion. Circles are the work of the devil.

Beauty Is In The Eye Of Beholder

I just traded a '09 X6 with Black Sapphire. It occasionally got washed with a "traditional" car wash, but mostly touchless car washes (took me a while to find one near my house!) and looked pristine after 2 years / 18k.

I had major problems with an earlier '03 Jet Black X5 including the shadowline trim decolouring - YMMV

Originally Posted by LoveMyCars

Ordered my 2012 X5 yesterday - Sapphire black exterior with sand beige interior. But getting a bit concerned after reading some posts on this forum, that there is an issue with swirls showing up in the paint especially after a car wash. I typically take my current Blue X5 to a touchless car wash every 6 weeks or so. Should I be worried? I love the sapphire black though!

If you have never owned a black car then you may not understand the maintenance that goes into one. Sapphire black is leaps and bounds easier to take care of than jet black (i've owned both) but neither are as easy as a color such as silver (my past x5). I generally take my cars to get washed every 3 or 4 days and the black ones will already be in need (even here in Florida). Swirl marks will show up if you wax improperly and black in general is much less forgiving than most colors.

The reward - IMO - every car looks best in black.

Originally Posted by DeanLinAZ

I have a nine month old Sapphire Black 35i X5 and the paint still looks like day one. I do my own hand wash with P21S and lots of water and dry with old, hand-me-down bath towels.

I think the high metalic content of this paint helps to hide the swirl marks--at least in the direct sun.

Works for me.

If I can make a suggestion, anyone who washes their own cars should not be using bath towels to dry them. Bath towels will eventually scratch the finish due to the terricloth material. You should be using a microfiber towel. I have two Sapphire Black cars and I only use microfibre. Also, when you are drying, they suggest instead of swiping the towel on the paint, to dab the towel on the paint. Detailimage.com has step by step instructions on how to do this and it works. I have bought all my supplies from them, but the extra absorbent microfiber towels are well worth it to preserve the finish IMO.

It does not matter how careful you are with the washing, etc....... simply closing the door with your hand & fingers from the outside will leave scratch marks, just look at the shinny plastic trim on your door, by the window glass!

Originally Posted by 0428

It does not matter how careful you are with the washing, etc....... simply closing the door with your hand & fingers from the outside will leave scratch marks, just look at the shinny plastic trim on your door, by the window glass!

I have a 4 months old sapphire black..I can see fine hairline scratches all around even though I use a sheepskin mitt and use it very gently. Very tough maintenance. Even the plastic trim is not "as new" anymore.

Originally Posted by Shiftinggeerz

If I can make a suggestion, anyone who washes their own cars should not be using bath towels to dry them. Bath towels will eventually scratch the finish due to the terricloth material. You should be using a microfiber towel. I have two Sapphire Black cars and I only use microfibre. Also, when you are drying, they suggest instead of swiping the towel on the paint, to dab the towel on the paint. Detailimage.com has step by step instructions on how to do this and it works. I have bought all my supplies from them, but the extra absorbent microfiber towels are well worth it to preserve the finish IMO.

Well, IMO this is a myth propagated by the detail experts selling microfiber towels.

HOWEVER, I agree with your comments: Blotting a towel is better than sliding it.

Also, old very soft bath towels that are carefully washed to eliminate any soap residue is essential. (I have a fancy washer with a super hot, double rinse, sterile whatever setting..) New towels are not good. It isn't the 'terry' that scratches, it is stuff IN the fabrics that can cause scratches. And it can happen to microfiber as well. Be careful how you treat the towels from the end of the was thorough to the next wash.

Also store towels where they will not get dust or dirt on them.


Prolly getting to be a thread on detailing....


But I still put forth the question:

How can some people say "Black looks pristine after 2 years of drive through" and others say "After 4 washes with a special mitt I see fine scratches" ???


Smug...try 303 aerospace protectant for the black bits.

Originally Posted by o_steve

Sapphire black is leaps and bounds easier to take care of than jet black (i've owned both)

This is so true.

My old "hand-me-down" bath towels are so old the "terry" no longer upright. I always wash these old towels alone and do not use dryer sheets in the dryer. They actually feel softer than the microfiber material towels I also use.

Anyway, this has worked for me for many years. I also agree with the "no circular motion" for any washing, drying, polishing, waxing of any color, especially black.

Originally Posted by ard

..... and others say "After 4 washes with a special mitt I see fine scratches" ???

This is true. My car was washed when delivered and after that I wash it gently with zaino car wash and a sheep skin mitt and constantly use the grit guard and I still see fine scratches - if you look at an angle. Not a good feeling.

Whatever happened to the self healing paint that was invented 3 years ago?

I use Fieldcrest or any really good 100% cotton WHITE towel to dry. It is amazing what a good hand wash and dry will do for the paint finish. That being said, I have titanium silver, which is very forgiving. Prior to using cotton towels for drying, I was using MF and noticed two large scratches after drying. Cotton towels for life, baby!