[amus3d]

Anyone else notice the paint on these cars is super soft? The real estate on these hoods don't help neither. Needless to say... got my first rock/paint chip on the front of the hood and maaaan is it an eye sore.

[ChiTownM]

Originally Posted by amu3ed

Anyone else notice the paint on these cars is super soft? The real estate on these hoods don't help neither. Needless to say... got my first rock/paint chip on the front of the hood and maaaan is it an eye sore.

Yes. Windshield is also an issue on this X5 over previous ones imho.

[TurtleBoy]

I bought a kit from these guys and the paint matched perfectly. https://colorndrive.com

[amus3d]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

I bought a kit from these guys and the paint matched perfectly. https://colorndrive.com

how is this different than Dr ColorChip? Does it "level" out better and not leave a dimple?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by amu3ed

how is this different than Dr ColorChip? Does it "level" out better and not leave a dimple?

I don't know what the difference is. I would assume you can have a dimple if you leave the paint raised. I actually did not try and bring the paint up to the existing level for the one ding I fixed. I'm sure it is just a matter of how much effort you put into making it perfect.

[Alan l.]

From what i've experienced all BMW's built in the US have crappier paint than the ones built in Germany. Chips a lot easier. My 2 year old M3 had less chips than my 4 month old X5M driving the same roads. You would think a slammed M3 being lower to the ground would have more issues.

[speedyman]

Seriously doubt that the Spartanburg plant here in the US uses inferior paint.

[codex57]

Originally Posted by speedyman

Seriously doubt that the Spartanburg plant here in the US uses inferior paint.

Why? What if there's fed regulation of some kind requiring a different formulation of paint than the kind used in Germany?

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by speedyman

Seriously doubt that the Spartanburg plant here in the US uses inferior paint.

My trip to the Munich plant the guide said the painting process at all sites are the same, using same techniques. I'd have to agree with you don't think there is anything different in the paint or process. I think the X5 is just a bigger target to hit. I don't agree with the style of painting BMW uses though due to it being a wet application no hardening cycle but it is much faster to do.

[speedyman]

Originally Posted by Tenac

My trip to the Munich plant the guide said the painting process at all sites are the same, using same techniques. I'd have to agree with you don't think there is anything different in the paint or process. I think the X5 is just a bigger target to hit. I don't agree with the style of painting BMW uses though due to it being a wet application no hardening cycle but it is much faster to do.

Didn't know that about the painting process, interesting.

[BobsM3Coupe]

For years now, all auto manufacturers are using waterborne paints. You can thank all the tree huggers worldwide for the soft paint on your vehicles.

[speedyman]

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

For years now, all auto manufacturers are using waterborne paints. You can thank all the tree huggers worldwide for the soft paint on your vehicles.

You can be absolutely certain that this is all going to get significantly worse. We will soon have the infamous John Kerry as our "climate Czar".

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

For years now, all auto manufacturers are using waterborne paints. You can thank all the tree huggers worldwide for the soft paint on your vehicles.

Yup this was apart of their talk as well!!! To me the worse part is the curing process. Even with waterborne paints most companies still paint layer - cure- paint layer - cure ect... BMW does not it gets wet paint on top of wet paint with no time between. This to me is what causes the paint to be so soft. That is what confuses the heck out of me....

[jad03060]

The primer on BMW is done by literally dunking the vehicle in a big vat of primer, then turning it 360-degrees, then pulling it out. In the process, the body is electrically charged so that paint gets everywhere.

The top coat(s) are painted by robots unless you select an individual color, and then, it's painted by humans. It's neat to watch...the robot scans the vehicle, identifies exactly what color is required and where it is relative to the arm, selects the right color paint head, then paints the vehicle. It can switch from one color to the next quickly. And, depending on the factory, one might be a sedan, the next a touring, the next a coupe...doesn't matter, the robot has been programmed to handle any of those made in that factory in any order or color. There's a water bath underneath to catch the overspray, that gets filtered and recycled (the water, not the paint!).

[iconoclast]

The only thing softer than the paint is the windshield. I have never seen such fragile glass on any other vehicle but since the recession and manufacturers switching to water based paint for "environmental" reasons (among the loss of "new car smell" from shift in chemicals and low VOC material) paint has become pretty poor and factory orange peel has become far more prevalent especially among lower priced vehicles. This has created a huge increase in demand and business for detailers who install PPF and ceramic coat etc. If you're extremely concerned with the paint and protecting it then the film will most likely be what you would want to install after paint correction.

Originally Posted by jad03060

It's neat to watch...

For anyone who has not seen it done:

[parkstr8]

I lease mostly - so I've learned to check my anal-retentiveness at the door. I still see the minute blemishes/scratches...but 1 good detail every year until its gone is fine with me.

If I were to purchase the car, the first thing I would do is PPF on the whole car. Regardless of how good or bad the paint is.

[Auricom]

Originally Posted by Tenac

I think the X5 is just a bigger target to hit

I concur. BMW design has been moving towards larger front ends - see X7 and new iX - there's more painted surfacing exposed to hit - despite improving aerodynamics. I could see the new iX front end requiring PPF to maintain its handsome good looks

Front end of my F34 was pelted after 3 years of driving and my G05 has nicks here and there. Probably a good thing I lease, LOL, as I'd obsessively fix all the chips that appear.

[Paladin1]

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

For years now, all auto manufacturers are using waterborne paints. You can thank all the tree huggers worldwide for the soft paint on your vehicles.

And the soy-based wiring covers, attractive to all furry varmints that chew.

[Timmer-Bimmer]

If paint chips bother you, like they do me, then I suggest getting paint protection film (aka a car bra) for the front portion of your hood.

[codex57]

Originally Posted by Paladin1

And the soy-based wiring covers, attractive to all furry varmints that chew.

All my neighbors who park outside are discovering this to their great dismay. I park inside and they haven't started trying to get in cuz there's so many easy access options to choose from.

[Alan l.]

Originally Posted by speedyman

Seriously doubt that the Spartanburg plant here in the US uses inferior paint.

This is just my observation after having a handful of German built bmw's as well as US built X vehicles.

I've had 3 X5's and i've noticed some areas having thin paint, some inner edges with barely any paint plus how easy it chips. Not to mention theirs a whole thread on the X3/X3M forum with a bunch of guys having paint flaking off the lower portions of their bumpers on nearly new cars.

I never really hear cars built from the motherland having these types of issues.

[Paladin1]

Running complaint with Q7s as well, and ours came from Slovakia. I suspect the barn-door aerodynamics of these big SUVs, as well as the county-sized real estate of the hood, have a lot to do with chipping issues. Roads matter too - I owned a Bronco in Idaho (the entire state paved essentially with gravel), whose front profile was basically a vertical wall. In spite of its considerable height off the ground, definitely earlier technology, non-environmentally friendly hard paint, and a hood plate, had the windshield replaced three times and looked like I had driven full tilt through a meteor shower during the first year. PPF is the definitive fix, as others mentioned.