[Paal Gjestang]

I do not quite know what you want to achieve with this comment. I only describe what I experience with the paint on my car. And I know what I'm talking about. This is my third X5M, and I also have several other BMW M's. Has been a BMW M enthusiast since 1980, and has never experienced anything like this. Of course, I understand that a ceramic film now has been established over the clearcoat. And still scratches / swivels are created. This time then presumably on this ceramic film. But why are scratches / swivels still so visible? Maybe because the ceramic treatment is not good enough. Maybe earlier because the clearcoat was too soft? Or; Could it be the paint and the depth in it that is the problem itself. I actually think it is so. Very nice to hear that you have a similar car in the same color, and that you does not have the same problem. However, the coating has not helped with the issues on my car.

[xmanpro]

I've said this multiple times on this thread this gen of clearcoat and/or paint is subpar.

[xmanpro]

Originally Posted by hdahman

how that has to do with the paint? the paint is currently underneath 2 layers
(1) Clearcoat (2) Ceramic coat

whatever marks you see now is on the ceramic

I coated my car using IGL Kenzo, wash it myself, 0 swirls.

Good for you. I don't got time for that and have brought all my M cars to the same wash for years and all of a sudden these guys can't wash cars? Doubt it. This paint imo is subpar.

[luckylingy]

To those of you struggling with TBII, I sympathize.

My (non-M) G05 is Black Sapphire Metallic, which is equally unforgiving and subject to the same clear coat. I coated my X5 prior to taking delivery (two coats of CQuartz plus a sacrificial layer of paint sealant). I run it through an automatic car wash at least weekly, then dry it myself. I occasionally apply CarPro Reload to maintain hydrophobic properties. 32,000 miles and 2.5 years later, the paint looked very good; after a 2-step paint correction and Reload application, it looks damn near perfect. (I have a pretty discerning eye, as a past concours judge and participant.).

Conclusion? Might be the paint but I doubt it. Definitely recommend a multi-layer quality ceramic coating, proper maintenance of that coating, and hand-drying using proper towels and technique.

[xmanpro]

I disagree. It's the paint. I had my f86 and f96 BSM for 4 weeks and took them to the same wash regimen and the f96 got swirled out more vs the f86. Side by side comparo and it was completely obvious.

I have ceramic on f96 now(never had it on f86) and has lessened the swirls but it's not awesome. I'll have to get it corrected multiple times a year. I guess it's just part of the program now.

[MrItaly]

Originally Posted by xmanpro

I've said this multiple times on this thread this gen of clearcoat and/or paint is subpar.

Armor up! Transparent 360 PPF FTW!

[RAUDERRIPPER]

Clear bra immediately after pickup from the dealer! Problem solved.

[xmanpro]

Yeah I get it. Can armor or ceramic or ppf or bra up but this weak paint still needs to be addressed by BMW.

[SlowX6M]

Originally Posted by Pål Gjestang

I do not quite know what you want to achieve with this comment. I only describe what I experience with the paint on my car. And I know what I'm talking about. This is my third X5M, and I also have several other BMW M's. Has been a BMW M enthusiast since 1980, and has never experienced anything like this. Of course, I understand that a ceramic film now has been established over the clearcoat. And still scratches / swivels are created. This time then presumably on this ceramic film. But why are scratches / swivels still so visible? Maybe because the ceramic treatment is not good enough. Maybe earlier because the clearcoat was too soft? Or; Could it be the paint and the depth in it that is the problem itself. I actually think it is so. Very nice to hear that you have a similar car in the same color, and that you does not have the same problem. However, the coating has not helped with the issues on my car.

Exactly, the X6M is my eighth BMW, and I also currently own a 2012 X5 in space gray and 2018 M2 in Long Beach Blue, and I never had a car with paint that swirls so easily. My previous 2017 Carbon Black X6M was bad, but not as bad.

I think the ceramic coating is snake oil, it doesn't really protect the clear coat from getting scratched. It might work to repel water and dirt, but not against swirls caused by towels and wash mitts.

[MrItaly]

Originally Posted by xmanpro

Yeah I get it. Can armor or ceramic or ppf or bra up but this weak paint still needs to be addressed by BMW.

I see your point, and it shouldn't be so delicate. But I put 360 PPF on Donnington previously , which is quite resilient, for the added protection that came in very handy during multiple minor scrapes and dings. Regardless of one's color choice, if you drive an expensive, elevated SUV on the highway and care about your paint, how could you not add a layer of film protection up front? I got back into BMWs after a long haitus just a few years ago with a pearl white X3M40i which was stolen and totaled after just one year. That hood and front end were so full of chips from small stones encountered during normal highway driving over the course of just a year. After that lesson learned the hard way, I said never again if I'm going to invest this much in an already depreciating automobile.

[GlennC]

Originally Posted by Pål Gjestang

My car is now coated with CPG CeramicPro. No significant improvement of the paint as I see it. Maybe a little bit more durable, but any use of polishing paper (after use of vax) or chamois leather (after gentle handwash) still makes small scratches /swivels. Totally unacceptable! BMW's Tanzanite blue metallic appears to be totally unsuitable as car paint. I'm just more frustrated than before.

If you're willing to make the investment, I suggest paint correction followed by full PPF. No more swirls....

[MOTOP]

Originally Posted by MrItaly

I see your point, and it shouldn't be so delicate. But I put 360 PPF on Donnington previously , which is quite resilient, for the added protection that came in very handy during multiple minor scrapes and dings. Regardless of one's color choice, if you drive an expensive, elevated SUV on the highway and care about your paint, how could you not add a layer of film protection up front? I got back into BMWs after a long haitus just a few years ago with a pearl white X3M40i which was stolen and totaled after just one year. That hood and front end were so full of chips from small stones encountered during normal highway driving over the course of just a year. After that lesson learned the hard way, I said never again if I'm going to invest this much in an already depreciating automobile.

Investing in cars you say? ;-0

[MrItaly]

Originally Posted by fe03h20

Investing in cars you say? ;-0

Well, I didn't say the returns on that investment were any good. They're quite poor, TBH. The only investment I've made thus far that really paid out was new car replacement insurance. It didn't cost much to add to my policy and paid a 20 percent bonus over actual cash value when my F97 was totaled out. That made the upgrade to the F95 an easy jump!

[Paal Gjestang]

Investment This car costs in itself approx USD 300' in Norway. Belive it, or not. Therefore, it would have been quite nice if this car also - like all other M-cars I have had and have - could have had a paint that could stay perfectly with normal care.

[MrItaly]

Originally Posted by Pål Gjestang

Investment This car costs in itself approx USD 300' in Norway. Belive it, or not. Therefore, it would have been quite nice if this car also - like all other M-cars I have had and have - could have had a paint that could stay perfectly with normal care.

Note to self, never buy a BMW in Norway under any circumstances...... That's just crazy expensive. Hell, I thought Italian prices were bad.....

[Mo2002]

This is very unfortunate. Sounds like a legitimate problem and it looks like the only good way to avoid all this is to PPF the entire vehicle. I'm glad I chose MBB over TB II.

[Samurai of 2day]

For those of you who are experiencing these unfortunate circumstances with maintaining TB2, I would like to say I'm truly sorry you have to deal with this.

It's such an amazing color when it looks the way it was meant to.

May I ask if those of you who are dealing with the swirls have been washing the car by hand on your own, or are these terrible outcomes a result of going to your local car wash...?

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by xmanpro

Yeah I get it. Can armor or ceramic or ppf or bra up but this weak paint still needs to be addressed by BMW.

"Weak paint" is not going to be addressed by BMW - because BMW is using the best paint the law allows - which means swirls and orange peel.

Your options:

(1.) Pick a color that doesn't show it like white

(2.) Become a detailing expert

(3.) All the other stuff like PPF, ceramic, et al


This is the "strongest" paint BMW - or any other manufacturer - is ever going use.

Here's my dirty 3 year old Tanz which was never touched by anyone but me:

[xmanpro]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

"Weak paint" is not going to be addressed by BMW - because BMW is using the best paint the law allows - which means swirls and orange peel.

Your options:

(1.) Pick a color that doesn't show it like white

(2.) Become a detailing expert

(3.) All the other stuff like PPF, ceramic, et al


This is the "strongest" paint BMW - or any other manufacturer - is ever going use.

Here's my dirty 3 year old Tanz which was never touched by anyone but me:

[img]

View post on imgur.com

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I've done coats of ceramic on the f96 and will have it paint corrected and touched up whenever the swirls get too crazy for my taste. Don't have time to wash these cars myself and don't want to. IMO This gen BSM still definitely weaker than last gen BSM - that's all I'm saying.

Looking at your beautiful M4, it's using last gen's paint. I've not had issues with last gen paint.

[Andrae26]

Originally Posted by xmanpro

I've done coats of ceramic on the f96 and will have it paint corrected and touched up whenever the swirls get too crazy for my taste. Don't have time to wash these cars myself and don't want to. IMO This gen BSM still definitely weaker than last gen BSM - that's all I'm saying.

Looking at your beautiful M3, it's using last gen's paint. I've not had issues with last gen paint.

Joe Achilles video on the new M4 tells the same story. He has TB2 and mentions the scratches in the paint and the car is only at 600 miles. It's just a poor quality paint by BMW. I will never buy that color again.

[oneway]

When our Q5 was in a fender bender, the repair shop made mention that the Daytona color will be very close, but that the clear coat applied by them was slightly different than the factory. Something about the clear coat they use was water based and the factory uses oil based. Is it possible the clear coat on US assembled vehicles is softer than that of German/overseas clear coat? Just a thought, not sure how accurate it is.

[RAUDERRIPPER]

Originally Posted by MrItaly

Armor up! Transparent 360 PPF FTW!

Co-sign!