Orange Peel in Paint on a $70K car, Really?

[Nice Rumble]

Surprised by the poor paint quality in my 2009 M3 Coupe. There is obvious orange peel whenever I look at it in the right light. I was not expecting to find this in a car that cost $70K when new. Given the high quality standards BMW exhibits everywhere else I'm surprised they would find this acceptable. From a distance it looks great with nice luster and metallic highlights. I recall Chris Harris commenting on finding orange peel in his own E92 so it seems to be prevalent.

I had a 2004 VW R32 that had superior paint.

[Devant]

Every factory painted car has orange peel. BMW's is more noticeable though.

[edwinm3]

I like the orange peel, makes swirls and imperfections a bit less noticeable

[Devant]

Originally Posted by edwinm3

I like the orange peel, makes swirls and imperfections a bit less noticeable

OP you can always spend some coin and get it wet sanded.

[Brian0473]

My M3 has it although I can't say I really notice it...color might have an impact on how noticeable it is...but my 911S had it, my $150k SL63 had it...but I'm with you in that it shouldn't be that way at this price point.

[JD3]

I think it has a lot to do with german paint regulations. My Lexus is glass perfect. M3....not so much. I believe it's a water based environmental friendly paint.

[JD3]

Plus figure it's painting aluminum, plastic and steel.

[dreamspeed]

All the BMWs have orange peel, maybe less so in the higher end models like a 7 series. I've been told that it's because BMW puts on a thick coat of clear paint...

[DCR]

Originally Posted by edwinm3

I like the orange peel, makes swirls and imperfections a bit less noticeable

This is the reason it is done. Its not accidental.

[TrevorM3]

Originally Posted by Brian0473

My M3 has it although I can't say I really notice it...color might have an impact on how noticeable it is...but my 911S had it, my $150k SL63 had it...but I'm with you in that it shouldn't be that way at this price point.

Mercedes isn't as bad as BMW, that is for sure.

[TrevorM3]

Originally Posted by dreamspeed

All the BMWs have orange peel, maybe less so in the higher end models like a 7 series. I've been told that it's because BMW puts on a thick coat of clear paint...

Not true.


Most production cars have around the same mil thickness when it comes to paint. Too much= cracking.

[bigjae1976]

If anything, BMWs paint process puts on a lot less paint nowadays.

[Krockit1]

Rare to find a BMW without orange peel. But there are degrees of it, and some colors do a better job of hiding it. I had a 2006 330i in SG that had very little. My current Jet Black M3 had some of the worst orange peel I ever saw- I went the wet sand route and it made a huge diff, although there's still peel visible on some panels. The detailer who installed my ceramic sealer finish measured the paint after the wet sand and said there was plenty of thickness (paint and clear coat) for him to work with to polish the finish before the sealer went on.

And yes- Japanese paint is far smoother. Hey, so is Ford!

[Webb70]

BMW uses a powder coat clear, which is a lot harder finish, but it doesn't look as smooth as liquid clear.....

[duvinclunk]

Originally Posted by Nice Rumble

I had a 2004 VW R32 that had superior paint.

That's crazy talk. My old MK4 R32's paint was the worst I've ever seen. Yes all my BMW's have had orange peel, but my R32's clear coat would come off if you put painters tape on it. And that's not a joke. Got a new windshield and the painters tape removed clear coat.

[alee0729]

You can always wet sand it out.
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...d.php?t=141365

[imserious]

May be a 70k car, but I don't think M3s get better paint than the standard 3 series. Strangely enough it makes the BMW look more unique to me as none of my other Hondas and Toyotas really had noticeable orange peel.

[Race_Doc11]

Get rid of the car and go buy another VW...

[bga23]

I've never noticed it in my M3 or any other BMWs I've owned, nor have I seen it in the 911 or ML63 I had. Maybe this is one of the perks of aging and deteriorating eyesight.

[TrevorM3]

Originally Posted by Webb70

BMW uses a powder coat clear, which is a lot harder finish, but it doesn't look as smooth as liquid clear.....

please, tell me more about this powder coat clear...

[4corners]

Good and thick clear coat you can polish out for years. In 25 years it will be called patina. Leave it

[b-thumper]

They changed the paints to be water-based from solvent-based. That's the biggest change. I'll never forget parking my E46 next to an E92 of the same color and in terms of orange peel it was quite the stark contrast between the two. And only 3 years separated the two cars!

When I was in Munich, what really frustrated me was to walk over to the Rolls Royce museum and witness the 100% orange-peel free paint applications they put on those cars.