[Game_Dev]

Should BMW be responsible for this?

I owned an E46 before and I never had this problem with the paint being exceedingly soft. It's especially tough for me since I like dark colored cars (graphite, jet black, etc).

I'm actually going back to the dealership tomorrow where they said they would remove imperfections (aka detail), but this doesn't solve the problem that the clear coat on the 3 Series paint is soft as a baby's skin.

[sparkyg]

Part of the problem is the use of environmentally friendly paint. It is water based and it may either cure very slowy or it may be just as you say, soft.

This is not necessarily a defect.

With new cars you have to be careful with the paint, use the softest microfibers and use caution at all times when washing.

That means no sponges, no stupid chamois, high pile towels only, the multiple bucket wash method, soft high pile wash mitts, etc.

[asif163]

Originally Posted by Game_Dev

Should BMW be responsible for this?

I owned an E46 before and I never had this problem with the paint being exceedingly soft. It's especially tough for me since I like dark colored cars (graphite, jet black, etc).

I'm actually going back to the dealership tomorrow where they said they would remove imperfections (aka detail), but this doesn't solve the problem that the clear coat on the 3 Series paint is soft as a baby's skin.

Not to get off topic but, I noticed your forum name is GameDev....out of curiousity, what game developer do you work for? Oh- I haven't noticed the paint being really soft....yet...and I hope I never do!

[Ryan(e92)]

Yup in an effort to be more enviromentally friendly their paint ends up being not as shiny and you can scratch it off with your fingernail. Its like a $99 dollar earl sheib paint job.

[asif163]

Originally Posted by Ryan(e92)

Yup in an effort to be more enviromentally friendly their paint ends up being not as shiny and you can scratch it off with your fingernail. Its like a $99 dollar earl sheib paint job.

You can scratch the paint off with your fingernail? Wow that's horrible- how long does it take for the paint to cure. I've had my car since for about half a month now but, it finished production in early Dec....am I in the clear?

[Game_Dev]

Originally Posted by asif163

Not to get off topic but, I noticed your forum name is GameDev....out of curiousity, what game developer do you work for? Oh- I haven't noticed the paint being really soft....yet...and I hope I never do!

I work for an external studio under Codemasters UK.

Also I notice the marring is less noticable on light colored cars, but if you were to put your paint under a strong light, you would notice it.

I'm fairly careful about my paint care. I use microfibers, clear coat safe soap, and dry with a large MF towel. But the 3 series paint of this generation is ridiculously soft.

[Game_Dev]

Originally Posted by Ryan(e92)

Yup in an effort to be more enviromentally friendly their paint ends up being not as shiny and you can scratch it off with your fingernail. Its like a $99 dollar earl sheib paint job.

I wonder if there are any ways to make the clear coat stronger for the BMW's of this generation. Forget the environment, I want my clearcoat to not be so brittle.

[asif163]

Originally Posted by Game_Dev

I work for an external studio under Codemasters UK.

Also I notice the marring is less noticable on light colored cars, but if you were to put your paint under a strong light, you would notice it.

I'm fairly careful about my paint care. I use microfibers, clear coat safe soap, and dry with a large MF towel. But the 3 series paint of this generation is ridiculously soft.

Nice- I love gaming so I was just curious- I always wanted to be a game dev but, ended up on Wall Street instead......

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by Game_Dev

Should BMW be responsible for this?

I owned an E46 before and I never had this problem with the paint being exceedingly soft. It's especially tough for me since I like dark colored cars (graphite, jet black, etc).

I'm actually going back to the dealership tomorrow where they said they would remove imperfections (aka detail), but this doesn't solve the problem that the clear coat on the 3 Series paint is soft as a baby's skin.

I agree with the soft paint, a lot of cars have that today, my Lexus LS 430 had soft paint too, especially the front bumper area. Using Zaino or Liquid Glass has become more important to keep a nice tough sealant on the paint to help out in that area, and as others have said, microfiber is our friend.

[!Xoible]

lol u complain about bmw paint like every day

[335i4u2nv]

i noticed this too! what a rip!

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by Game_Dev

I wonder if there are any ways to make the clear coat stronger for the BMW's of this generation. Forget the environment, I want my clearcoat to not be so brittle.

Have you try injecting it some steroid? (very hot subject lately in the news)

[nsanbyker]

If you're referring to paint chips, it is because the paint is more brittle. Like sparkyg said, the use of water based paints has changed the properties of the paint and made it harder acutally. The paint is fully cured when it leaves the factory. With solvent based paints, the flex additive worked well with preventing rock chips, but is not as effective with the water based paints.

[Game_Dev]

Originally Posted by mantis

lol u complain about bmw paint like every day

lol, it's my mission to expose BMW's soft paint man.

Hey, are we going to go to your place and polish my car or what?

[laurenty]

You should really watch your speed too.
I heard that if you drive too fast the paint will come off

[aut0sh0cker]

i noticed little paint chips around the front bumper and ive had the car less than a month!! i dont drive on rocks either...

hey Game_Dev, have you ever seen "Grandma's Boy"? haha

[vAnt826]

Every brand forum has a 'shitty paint' thread.

[sparkyg]

Yeah, true but b*tchin' feels good, can't wait to get my black...

[ezatnova]

The last 4 cars I've owned I could scratch the paint with a fingernail (not SCRATCH, but, you could see little fine marks under the right light). Anyway, IMHO this 335 paint is a lot better and stronger than my last car, a WRX. Subaru's paint chipped off left and right, and I've yet to have one chip on this car (shouldn't say it!). Granted, by "soft" you could mean scratch resistance, not chip resistance. Still, chipping is worse!

[Game_Dev]

Originally Posted by aut0sh0cker

i noticed little paint chips around the front bumper and ive had the car less than a month!! i dont drive on rocks either...

hey Game_Dev, have you ever seen "Grandma's Boy"? haha

Yeah. That movie is great, finally a movie about my industry.

I'm not like the wannabe Matrix guy though. I'm a lot cooler.

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by Game_Dev

lol, it's my mission to expose BMW's soft paint man.

Hey, are we going to go to your place and polish my car or what?

it dont take a mission to achieve it bro. it's obvious

[Mo]

I've had this problem and i truly believe that the paint just sucks. So, i called BMW NA to see what they can do since my car is 8 months old and looks as if its 3 years old and they basically told me they cannot do anything. The only think they will cover are paint imperfections, such as cracks in the paint and other things that never really happen. So i guess that of all of us who have dark cars just have to bite the bullet and live with it....