BMWNA: Do you have paint chips (hood, bumper) from driving? If so please READ THIS!

Hi,

I know this topic has been discussed MANY MANY times on this and other BMW-related web sites. So why post another topic about it?

Here's why...

I waxed my car the other week and noticed a GREAT number of chips on my hood and front bumper. I know the chips were caused from rocks from highway driving. I travel about 40 miles total on the highway daily.

I then called BMWNA the following day and inquired about the 50 or so chips on my 2 year old car. How can this happen? The car is only 2 years old and the paint is already sandblasted? I rode the samilar if not the same exact commute using two former cars, a '94 Ford Mustang and '00 Ford Explorer. I never experienced excessive paint chipping on those cars. In fact, when I ntraded bothy cars in, i noticed less than 10 tiny chips on the hood.

The vry nice BMWNA rep said that he has never heard compliants about their paint quality and it being VERY susceptible to rock chipping. Then he checked in their database of customer calls and still didn't see many calls about this problem. He even stated that he knows BMW monitors quite a few internet forums and they don't even read many posts about this problem.

Here's the deal. This is a problem. I know three other BMW 3-series owners who have this same complaint about excessive paint chips. I want you to speak out if you have this problem. Please POST your compliant here (w/ pics if you want) AND call BMWNA at 800-831-1117. Feel free to post the link to this topic on other web sites so non-bimmerfest.com owners know about this and they can call BMWNA.

RULES:
1. Let's keep this compliants to 2001 and newer models. BMWNA might say that a 4yr old plus car should have many paint chips.

2. Please don't go off-topic. Keep your posts short and sweet to to the point.

3. If you have any ideas or recommendations, please PM me and not post them in this thread.

4. REMEMBER to call BMWNA and issue a complaint even if you post here. 800-831-1117

5. I don't know if anything will be done by BMWNA but let's make them AWARE of this problem.

All legally applied car paints in the first world are now water-based.

Originally Posted by Kaz

All legally applied car paints in the first world are now water-based.

that's fine but the auto/paintmakers should have a workaround to combat excessive chipping.

Yes, I do have chips on the hood. Yes, of course, they are from driving (what else could it be ?).

But let me tell you this. This is NOT a PROBLEM. This is how the paint is. It is well known (well, at least in the BMW community) that the OEM paint is soft.

What are you expecting to reach ? I don't think that BMW would even consider to change the paint. When you use a vehicle in an open environment, the paint will suffer everything from rcok chips to industrial pollution.

That said, Mercedes is offering a new solution, called the Nano paint. They claim it is scratch resistant, but for me it's hard to believe. No paint in the world can survive the impact of a rock in a car which is travelling 30mph or faster.

Originally Posted by jaisonline

that's fine but the auto/paintmakers should have a workaround to combat excessive chipping.

i have very few chips on my '00 (purchased in '99) from driving. the only non-driving related ones are from falling broken glass caused by f#cking vandals.

do you tail gate? a major cause of chips.

Originally Posted by jaisonline

that's fine but the auto/paintmakers should have a workaround to combat excessive chipping.

the clearbra is a popular choice. if that doesn't work. perhaps the padded ones.

Originally Posted by HW

the clearbra is a popular choice. if that doesn't work. perhaps the padded ones.

I think that was a joke???

alex, i agree w/ you. however, why didn't my fords have this excessive chipping problem? my father's lexus doesn't have this problem. a friend's old toyota celica and mustang didn't have this problem but his bmw does.

Originally Posted by jaisonline

alex, i agree w/ you. however, why didn't my fords have this excessive chipping problem? my father's lexus doesn't have this problem. a friend's old toyota celica and mustang didn't have this problem but his bmw does.

If this is that important to you, buy a Taurus.

Originally Posted by HW

i have very few chips on my '00 (purchased in '99) from driving. the only non-driving related ones are from falling broken glass caused by f#cking vandals.

do you tail gate? a major cause of chips.

High speed traveling usually get paint chips and sand blast from uncovered gravel trucks. Cars driven around town are free from paint chip because they are going too slow to do much damage. My jet black is full of chips. There is not too much I can do about it except to dot the white spots with paint on the tip of a nail. I will post a picture when I get a chance.

Originally Posted by jaisonline

that's fine but the auto/paintmakers should have a workaround to combat excessive chipping.

They do; it's called "not driving it." My Miata was resprayed due to an accident a couple of months ago, and I'm seeing chipping already. It's the cost of the fun of driving it, and I don't even think it's much of a cost.

Originally Posted by Dave 330i

High speed traveling usually get paint chips and sand blast from uncovered gravel trucks. Cars driven around town are free from paint chip because they are going too slow to do much damage. My jet black is full of chips. There is not too much I can do about it except to dot the white spots with paint on the tip of a nail. I will post a picture when I get a chance.

i guess no law requiring dump trucks to have tarp or some sort of cover over their beds where you are. that sucks.

Originally Posted by HW

i guess no law requiring dump trucks to have tarp or some sort of cover over their beds where you are. that sucks.

We have those laws, but its the rocks sitting on the lip of the dump bed, on the edges, in the tires, etc. that do the damage... They are supposed to clean them off but never do...

If it is that important to you, have clearbra applied on your car.

The Turbo was driven by Butthead at 185 in not so good conditon roads wth tiny rocks and gravels, and suffered no paint chip.

Clearbra is your friend.

The paintjob on my '99 323i is lasting much better than the one on my '93 Grand AM. By the time I traded that car in for my BMW, the front/hood looked as if I had it sand blasted.

My BMW while having a fair share of chips if fairing FAR better after the same length of time on the road and roughly equivelent mileage.

Chips are a part of life. Clear Bra is your friend.

Originally Posted by jaisonline

5. I don't know if anything will be done by BMWNA but let's make them AWARE of this problem.

The problem being that debris flying at very high velocity damages paint?

You want to see chips: the front of my WRX looks like the surface of the moon.

The paint on Subarus is thin and crappy, but I still blame myself. That's just what you get for driving 80 mph in highway traffic.

Hints for avoiding chips (if you don't have a clearbra, etc)

(1) Drive slower
(2) Keep a big gap between you and the car in front of you
(3) Never drive behind trucks/SUVs without rear flaps
(4) Slow way down on roads with lots of loose debris

I have implemented 2-4 upon taking delivery of my ZHP.

We'll see what happens with (1) after I finish breaking it in!

Originally Posted by rumratt

This is the worst argument ever. Drives me nuts.


Sorry. I feel better now.

But it's still funny! I'm going to start a thread about tire and brake pad wear. I think it's absolute rediculous that when I drive a car for x amount of miles the brakes are worn down. Seriously, WTF is up w/ that?

Originally Posted by HW

the clearbra is a popular choice. if that doesn't work. perhaps the padded ones.

How bout the clear BRO?

Originally Posted by jaisonline

Hi,

I know this topic has been discussed MANY MANY times on this and other BMW-related web sites. So why post another topic about it?

Here's why...

I waxed my car the other week and noticed a GREAT number of chips on my hood and front bumper. I know the chips were caused from rocks from highway driving. I travel about 40 miles total on the highway daily.

I then called BMWNA the following day and inquired about the 50 or so chips on my 2 year old car. How can this happen? The car is only 2 years old and the paint is already sandblasted? I rode the samilar if not the same exact commute using two former cars, a '94 Ford Mustang and '00 Ford Explorer. I never experienced excessive paint chipping on those cars. In fact, when I ntraded bothy cars in, i noticed less than 10 tiny chips on the hood.

The vry nice BMWNA rep said that he has never heard compliants about their paint quality and it being VERY susceptible to rock chipping. Then he checked in their database of customer calls and still didn't see many calls about this problem. He even stated that he knows BMW monitors quite a few internet forums and they don't even read many posts about this problem.

Here's the deal. This is a problem. I know three other BMW 3-series owners who have this same complaint about excessive paint chips. I want you to speak out if you have this problem. Please POST your compliant here (w/ pics if you want) AND call BMWNA at 800-831-1117. Feel free to post the link to this topic on other web sites so non-bimmerfest.com owners know about this and they can call BMWNA.

RULES:
1. Let's keep this compliants to 2001 and newer models. BMWNA might say that a 4yr old plus car should have many paint chips.

2. Please don't go off-topic. Keep your posts short and sweet to to the point.

3. If you have any ideas or recommendations, please PM me and not post them in this thread.

4. REMEMBER to call BMWNA and issue a complaint even if you post here. 800-831-1117

5. I don't know if anything will be done by BMWNA but let's make them AWARE of this problem.

C-L-E-A-R-B-R-A is the solution to your problem, not BMWNA. They have more important issues to solve, like 3 Series window regulators, window trim, HK rattles, rough idling, M3 engine lubrication and Z4 sales tanking...

Originally Posted by Technic

C-L-E-A-R-B-R-A is the solution to your problem, not BMWNA. They have more important issues to solve, like 3 Series window regulators, window trim, HK rattles, rough idling, M3 engine lubrication and Z4 sales tanking...

Let me guess what's coming next:

"BMWNA: Do you have tire wear from driving? If so, please READ THIS!

Do you have premature tire wear from driving? I washed my car the other day and realized that my tires were nearly worn out! And, I only have 20,000 miles on my car! When I drove my Honda Accord, the tires lasted well past 60,000 miles. I expect better of a BMW!! "

I can't believe that people get so worked up over stuff like this and really think this is something within BMW's power, let alone something that BMW is responsible fore.

Call your mayor, governor and congressman and complain about having crappy roads, don't call BMWNA.

Originally Posted by SARAFIL

Let me guess what's coming next:

"BMWNA: Do you have tire wear from driving? If so, please READ THIS!

Do you have premature tire wear from driving? I washed my car the other day and realized that my tires were nearly worn out! And, I only have 20,000 miles on my car! When I drove my Honda Accord, the tires lasted well past 60,000 miles. I expect better of a BMW!! "

I can't believe that people get so worked up over stuff like this and really think this is something within BMW's power, let alone something that BMW is responsible fore.

Call your mayor, governor and congressman and complain about having crappy roads, don't call BMWNA.

Hey, don't forget that a suit was filed against Honda and Yokohama about tire wear on the NSX. I believe it was settled out-of-court, as it looked like the plaintiffs had a good chance of winning. And I believe there is one in process right now against Nissan and Bridgestone for the 350Z.

This crap is so phuktup. It's a poor reflection on the litigious attitude of Americans.

Originally Posted by rumratt

If the tire or brake wear were beyond what is considered normal, what exactly would be the problem with complaining to BMW should use different brakes/tires in the future?

And why are people talking about lawsuits? He specifically said, "I don't know if anything will be done by BMWNA but let's make them AWARE of this problem." Suggesting that BMW could/should improve some aspect of the car does not have anything to do with lawsuits or suggest that you should go drive another brand of car.


And for the record, I have no idea if BMW paint chips easier than most, and I'm not saying I agree with the original poster. Just that I disagree with most of the folks who jumped on him for things he didn't even say.

That was sarcasm.

Originally Posted by SARAFIL

Let me guess what's coming next:

"BMWNA: Do you have tire wear from driving? If so, please READ THIS!

Do you have premature tire wear from driving? I washed my car the other day and realized that my tires were nearly worn out! And, I only have 20,000 miles on my car! When I drove my Honda Accord, the tires lasted well past 60,000 miles. I expect better of a BMW!! "

This is very funny - especially from this side of the pond

Originally Posted by andy_thomas

This is very funny - especially from this side of the pond

I just had new brakes put on the 325 at 20,000 miles. Luckily, BMW picked up the tab this time. However, if this car is going to need brakes every 20,000 miles, I'm going to have a big problem. Maybe I should call Dateline and Consumer Reports and have them do an investigation into the way BMW is treating it's clients.

I demand a call from BMWNA, and I want them to give me a free maintenance upgrade because my car eats brakes too quickly and it is simply not acceptable!!


(in case anyone didn't notice, this post is a joke... I have no problem with the fact that the car needed brakes at 20,000 miles)