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08-25-2011, 12:48 AM | #1 |
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WTFBBQ cost cutting thin BMW paint
So, today I decided to meter the M3's paint, and holy cost cutting BMW!
The average thickness of all panels is less than 5mils! To put it in perspective, the E39 M5 that I also have has a paint thickness of about 6.5 mils. Well, after the paint correction it was more like low 5.5 mils. I decided to meter the paint because I noticed that on my less than 200 mile M3, there are already micro dents on the paint. The good thing is that it's just small superficial dents on the clearcoat and that it did not go through either the clear or the paint, but WTF man!?? Do we really have to cut over 2mils of paint thickness? Oh, and my aluminum and steel paint meter registered nothing on the fenders, what kind of composite material is it?
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08-25-2011, 01:21 AM | #2 |
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Don't assume because it's thinner that it's cheaper. This may have been a weight saving measure (BMWs are porky and engineers have been struggling to shave weight for the past few years) and depending on what was done with the paint it's possible (I have no specific knowledge of this paint) it's more expensive.
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08-25-2011, 01:24 AM | #3 | |
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And as the micro dents on my clearcoat demonstrates, thinner is most definitely not better.
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08-25-2011, 01:26 AM | #4 |
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It's injection molded, from a CFRP (i.e. some type of moldable resin, could be a type of ABS for instance, with carbon fiber strands mixed in it). The raw material (i.e. the pellets) have the glass or carbon fibers chopped into them already, so once they heat up and flow into the cavity, you get a finished part with some fiber content for added strength. The more fiber (to a point), the stronger, but also more brittle as it limits the plastic range of the material. Sorry for the poor explanation, didn't realize how tired I was until I started typing.
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08-25-2011, 02:11 AM | #5 |
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08-25-2011, 02:19 AM | #7 | |
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08-25-2011, 03:34 AM | #8 | |
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I can't imagine the 3 series fenders would be significantly different from those developed for the e63 6 series.
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08-25-2011, 09:48 AM | #12 |
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I cant understand how we are on M3 post and your bashing the OP. Id expect it in e90post but come on? the man has a valid point.
Having a white m3, i notice the chips and indentations on my car all the time. I am one of the most anal people you will meet when it comes to my cars. My 2 other e90s can get scratched, dented, and dinged and it doesnt affect me. But DONT FUCK with a mans M3. That being said, I fully agree with the OP, this paint is far too fragile! I look at E39's and E46's that are almost 10 years old and their paint still looks far more in tact than an E90 born in 06. The paint on the older models just held up much better, and i refuse to believe anyone can not agree with it. Sure its something small like paint, but for those who intend on keeping their cars for many years or even life its kind of dissapointing to have this to deal with. The amount of rock chips on my car drives me up a wall. I dont drive behind trucks, I dont drive through debris, and the indentations dont really cut all the way to the paint, it just damages the clearcoat. Fuck, is a little more paint THAT much to ask for?
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08-25-2011, 09:55 AM | #13 |
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If you think the paint is thin on our cars, try owning a DMC-12.
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08-25-2011, 10:56 AM | #15 |
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European manufacturers are begin forced to use less and less paint due to environmental reasons.
Dupont is constantly striving to keep up with regulations
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08-25-2011, 11:31 AM | #16 | |
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It's 200 miles, not 20K miles.
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08-25-2011, 11:33 AM | #17 |
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My M5 has clearbra on the entire car.
I just haven't gotten around to getting clearbra on the M5, because who would have thought at 200 miles that there would be any micro dents on the clearcoat.
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08-25-2011, 11:35 AM | #18 | |
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Even older BMW's have thicker paint than the M3, cars less than 8 years older than the M3. Cost cutting is all well and good, like not painting the underside of the panels whereas back in the E34 and E30 days they did. But thinning the paint has a direct impact on the durability.
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08-25-2011, 11:40 AM | #19 |
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BMW uses Glasurit.
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08-25-2011, 11:41 AM | #20 |
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I am not going to drive the M3 until it gets clearbra'ed. WHich means I would have to get my ass in gear and clay and wax the M5.
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08-25-2011, 11:47 AM | #21 | |
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My front bumper and hood have a few chips and dings, **** happens, then it gets fixed. |
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08-25-2011, 12:07 PM | #22 | |
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And you still have a respray'ed car.
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