Hi everyone, Hope all is well! I purchased a 2011 BMW with Citrin Black Metallic paint in January 2011 and don’t remember seeing what’s shown in the photos before, but just came upon same to my horror. The first two photos are of one damaged area and the second two photos are of another damaged area, so there are two areas in total, both on the passenger side of the hood. Each area is about 3 inches in diameter, raised and rippled, not etched, as one would think of bird droppings, which I believe eat into paint, which is why I wonder if this is a manufacturing defect, as it seems the bubbles/ripples formed from under the paint/clearcoat. The areas are hard, not soft, and are difficult to find see if not looking for them, as there is no discoloration. To the extent I don't recall seeing same before, could the heat experienced last week have caused some defect to come through? Or, is it impossible a manufacturing defect could have caused same, as it would’ve already shown last summer? Please advise to the best of your ability, as I would like to take this up with the dealer, but do not want to go in without a proper understanding, only for them to claim an external influence to be the cause. Thank you very much, JD
Was this a brand new car when you bought it? It almost looks like it could've been a shotty re-spray, but it's hard to tell from the pictures. This just recently appeared? If it was in fact repaired, I guess I could see non-removed contaminates prior to the re-spray causing this to come to a head over time.
One other question: was it left with some sort of acid rain on the hood in the sun, or did something get spilled on the hood and inadvertently left to bake in the sun?
Look like etching of some kind? Better closer pics would be better. Could be solvent flash off from poor repair. Spots are for sure etching from acid rain.
Every time I have seen anything similar, it has been on poorly resprayed cars with underlying contaminants and defects...however I do agree with obsidian in that could be caused by some type of acidic material left on it. I do not believe there is much to be done about this except finding out what lies beneath. You could try valu gard, and claying and polishing, but I do not believe that will help, if it is raised, more than likely the paint has failed and is no longer bonded to the surface... UNLESS...it could, possibly be some clear or same color stuff on ot, think tree sap or tar...? Maybe try stoners tarminator. just be carefu, whatever you do, and do it all at your own risk!
I think you need to take it to at least one, and better two, good detailers to get their opinions. If the detailers think you bought it with those issues then you need to try to take it up with your dealer but given the time lapse it would be an uphill fight. Hot weather certainly didn't cause that.
Yes, it was a new car and never repainted to my knowledge. Otherwise, yes, the damage appeared recently. No, nothing I know of. I always remove bird droppings and wash the car twice a month, on average. If rain caused this, wouldn't it have affected more of the car? Yes, it's raised, but you may have a point that it may be some type of clear coat, etc. Not sure how it could have happened, but possible nontheless. The car was new when I bought it, I looked it up and down and could not see the damage.
Two of the photographs exhibit long linear lines. It looks like the uneven constitution of product(s) that has been applying too thick and wiped-down afterwards. What products have been applied to your automobile?
Drop rings in photo 3 is what I'm referring to acid rain etches? Lots of round rings. Not the others. The first 2 like I said look like solvent flash off from poor prep before paint.
I honestly don't know of any product that's ever been applied; aside from minor bodywork to a totally different side/panel of the car (driver's side rear quarter panel), it's never been compounded/detailed. Gotcha, yes, it down poured the whole day before taking the pictures, and I see the white rings you refer to, which should go away with a wash, for which I plan tomorrow. So otherwise, you're saying there may have been poor prep work before painting the car (at the factory I presume?). Guess my main question is whether this is something that could have risen to the surface of the paint over time, such that it was done at the factory and not readily visible a year and half ago upon delivery. :|
Do you have anything objective to go on? IE: paint readings? Obviously pictures are tough to go on but it looks like the bottom of the defects are subsurface(chemical etch) but the lines actually kinda-sorta look like dropback or shrinkage that you get with not enough drying time in the situation of a repaint.
No, no paint depth readings. Would bodyshops have paint depth meters? It would make sense to get some readings before going to the dealer, right? So "chemical etch" marks would be subsurface? Are they such they would dig down into the paint from the surface down? Otherwise, you're saying there are characteristics of a repaint, which never happened from my knowledge. Aside from paint depth readings, how can I determine if the hood's been repainted? Thanks!
If you can find someone with a thickness meter, that would be your absolute objective measurement, deviations on a bi-lateral panel should be within roughly 10percent. So like measuring 1 corner to the opposite side, one fender to the other, as well as the overall thickness, which in your new BMW case should be about the same within 10-15microns(+/-) Well like it something reacts, chances are its not going to "build" on the surface. So yea basically most if not all damage actually 'eliminates' clearcoat and turns into below surface defects(as opposed to above surface). Swirls scratches, bird bombs, watermarks, concrete stains etc... Im only saying that from the picture(which isnt reliable) it looks like straight line, possibly hand sanding dropback. To check for repaint on something very consistent like BMW(because other cars aren't as consistent) check from one side to the other for texture differences, check for tape lines underhood(bearing in mind not all undersides are the same as the cleared exteriors) check for overspray. Look at it under parking lot white lights and see waht you see. BMW paint is usually smooth on the hoods, a very very very slight orange peel(whereas the quarters and doors are usually more textured). The consistency is very good.
Thanks for all the info! Please also note my car had this problem as well: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=546555&highlight=shadowline+trim
Very interesting. I noticed very similar marks on my brother's m3 last year. I am certain they weren't there when I gave the car a polish but they suddenly appeared out of nowhere. My guess was that it was clear coat failure. In for the results of this.
You would be amazed at what is repaired both at the port and at dealerships without your knowledge,I woul insist the dealer have the area service rep look at it. Just be a big pain,and work your way up the ladder. I have seen several new 5 series with poor spot repairs that did this several month's after purchased. After measuring the paint at the dealerships,they had no recourse but to repair it correctly. Good luck to you Mike
Clearer photos attached. Showed service manager today. Said paint is the only thing he can't authorize himself and that he'll contact corporate.
