[BMWRyan]

My car must have one of the worst orange peel issues ever... Seriously looks like the surface of the moon.

I can't be arsed to remove it with my crappy buffer anyone want to do it for a tenner?

[GuiltyNL]

You won't be able to remove the orange peel with a normal polisher. You can choose two methods:

1) Wet sanding- labour about 40 hours to do it right (including compounding, polishing, finishing polising) - Removal about 5 to 15 microns
2) Orange peel removal with Denim pads, labout about 20 hours - Removal about 5 hours.

We chose the last option for my car:

Work in progress here, the photo's below show the orangepeel treatment in progress!

This one says it all, left untreated, right treated:

[BMWRyan]

Well that seems a heck of a lot of effort.. I quite like my orange peel effect now.

[Stan876]

Originally Posted by GuiltyNL

You won't be able to remove the orange peel with a normal polisher. You can choose two methods:

1) Wet sanding- labour about 40 hours to do it right (including compounding, polishing, finishing polising) - Removal about 5 to 15 microns
2) Orange peel removal with Denim pads, labout about 20 hours - Removal about 5 hours.

We chose the last option for my car:

Work in progress here, the photo's below show the orangepeel treatment in progress!

This one says it all, left untreated, right treated:

WTF I hope my BMW does not arrive with paint like that!!! that is ridiculous just been out and looked at my Skoda Yeti's paint and its genuinely like the after picture absolutely flat

[GuiltyNL]

Yep, your BMW WILL arrive like that, my BMW was no exception. Sorry!

I hope you didn't order a black one. As the orange peel makes it look horrible.

[Torque of the Devil]

They are all like it, its a sorry state of affairs for sure. Seriously reduces the shine you can get on the car, looks like a 5 year old with an air gun sprayed it

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by Vanguard

They are all like it, its a sorry state of affairs for sure. Seriously reduces the shine you can get on the car, looks like a 5 year old with an air gun sprayed it

Whoa - yeah mine is like that - but why? What makes it go orange peely? I always thought that's just how it was meant to be?

btw that before/after shot is phenomenal - good work, @GuiltyNL!

[F30AM]

Don't worry about it. Orange Peel is good for cleansing the skin. Besides, it smells nice.

[Stan876]

How can that be right!! I am baffled and even worse everyone seems to think this is normal for an average 35K car.

I am new to BMW and about to order an F31 but I am getting very nervous when lots of threads seem to be oh yeah this don't work, that don't work with the technology, crap service from the dealers now poor quality with the paint and what seems to be a general consensus - well yes they are a bit crap but its a BMW so they can give us a good rogering whenever they like oh excuse me while I bend over and take another type attitude. I am missing something or are BMW taking the p155 and also is the peasant class that I am coming from getting closer in terms of technology and quality all the time? What is even more annoying is that I still want to order one

[Stan876]

Originally Posted by Stan876

WTF I hope my BMW does not arrive with paint like that!!! that is ridiculous just been out and looked at my Skoda Yeti's paint and its genuinely like the after picture absolutely flat

Not great pictures clear bobbles are tree sap but paint is flat on my Skoda Yeti.

[F30AM]

One thing in favour of orange peel: If a panel has been respryed due to accident damage, it won't have the customary factory orange peel. So you'll know: no orange peel, yes accident repair!

[Alkidrew]

Originally Posted by Stan876

poor quality with the paint and what seems to be a general consensus -

My paint is first class, no orange peel in sight here. Faultless.

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by Alkidrew

My paint is first class, no orange peel in sight here. Faultless.

Check it under flourescent lights and you'll see it!

[GuiltyNL]

Originally Posted by Alkidrew

My paint is first class, no orange peel in sight here. Faultless.

Pics or it didn't happen. ALL cars have it. You just don't see it.

[ZigmundUK]

errrr - so what is the orange peel? Why's it there if it comes from factory?

[schrickm5]

I get delivery mid August, I spoke to BMW and they give all the new cars to DITEC (just next door) for a clean and a wax, I will call them to find out what level of detail they apply - ie do they clean, seal and wax.
I'll be extremely unhappy if my car has fruit skin when I collect it in Aug.

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by schrickm5

I get delivery mid August, I spoke to BMW and they give all the new cars to DITEC (just next door) for a clean and a wax, I will call them to find out what level of detail they apply - ie do they clean, seal and wax.
I'll be extremely unhappy if my car has fruit skin when I collect it in Aug.

Then prepare to be unhappy. Every single mass produced car (sprayed by robots) has it. Unless you pay serious money for a hand finished car, you'll have orange peel.

Go to work on an orange. Do you the world of good.

BTW, Captain Cow Pat bought a Valencia Orange car. I wonder what extent of orange peel he has.

[mproudfoot]

Originally Posted by F30AM

BTW, Captain Cow Pat bought a Valencia Orange car. I wonder what extent of orange peel he has.

As long as he avoids industrial juicers, he should be fine

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by schrickm5

I get delivery mid August, I spoke to BMW and they give all the new cars to DITEC (just next door) for a clean and a wax, I will call them to find out what level of detail they apply - ie do they clean, seal and wax.
I'll be extremely unhappy if my car has fruit skin when I collect it in Aug.

Best get some tissues then, it will have it unless it's a 5 series or 6 series, these are less likely but some still have it.

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

Best get some tissues then, it will have it unless it's a 5 series or 6 series, these are less likely but some still have it.

Now listen Big Boy.
5 Series also have a fruity skin. Every one I've clapped my beady eyes on have it. It's still a mass produced car sprayed by stupid robots.
Now my lovely EBII car, has very slight orange peel. In normal light conditions nada. Under flourescent light, just a bit.
I'm a happy bunny.

[GuiltyNL]

Originally Posted by Stan876

Not great pictures clear bobbles are tree sap but paint is flat on my Skoda Yeti.

You need to take pictures of the reflection of items you see in your paint. For example you have to look at yourself in the reflection of your paint.

The photo's you took now are without any depth, you can see the metallic though.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by F30AM

Now listen Big Boy.
5 Series also have a fruity skin. Every one I've clapped my beady eyes on have it. It's still a mass produced car sprayed by stupid robots.
Now my lovely EBII car, has very slight orange peel. In normal light conditions nada. Under flourescent light, just a bit.
I'm a happy bunny.

Well my 550i M Sport (the only 5 series I have owned) was "Spotless" the best paint job of any of my BMW's.
The others had some, but not much.