Best no-compromise fix for paint chip

luvartcars · 12-12-2010, 03:00 PM

My dealer chipped my E90 M3 Silverstone during the 1200 mile maintenance. This is the first and only chip on the car! I know I will inevitably get some chips from driving but it's such a shame to get one at the dealer. My M3 is not a daily driver either so I'm not as likely to get chips from door dings because I don't usually park next to anyone. I may be dreaming but this could be the only chip for a while.

The dealer has told me that they will fix it any way that I want. The chip is very small but right in the middle of the crease on the rear door so it's noticeable. I looked at the chip with a magnifying glass and the damage looks like it is past the clear coat and into the paint, but I don't think into the primer.

My detailer looked at it and thinks that the only way for the repair to not be seen (considering Silverstone) is to repaint the entire side of the car. This is obviously extreme so he thinks I should have the dealer agree to repaint the side of the car in the future, after there are other dings, and they are OK with this.

Is repainting half the car overkill? I'm worried the car will never be the same. On the other hand I've had a BMW dealer do body work on our E46 and they repainted it 3 times before we were happy so I'm nervous about their ability to do a good fix. I also don't feel like experimenting with a localized fix if it's really not a realistic solution. I would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks

bmstyle71 · 12-12-2010, 04:27 PM

come on man its not the space shuttle. just have them touch it up and you're good to go. but that's just me. if you have an infatuation with you car and treat it like your wife and kids combined...then do what you have to.

MuttGrunt · 12-12-2010, 04:41 PM

If it's a small area thats hard to notice, I'd recommend touching it up via Clean-prep-touch up-sand-polish. Painting a panel or a side is never what you'd want unless you're confident in their ability to give an OEM-quality paint job, which isn't very likely.
A good painter/shop will have to work extremely hard to match the color of the vehicle closely (very hard to do), and even when the color is near perfect, they'll have to paint, sand, and polish the panel(s) to match the OEM orange peel so that the work isn't noticeable. Quality work is hard to find and do, and I personally don't have a lot of trust in a dealership to have it done right.

luvartcars · 12-16-2010, 10:05 PM

Thanks for the help guys.

Gkap · 01-11-2011, 11:55 AM

If they are saying they will fix it any way you want
then research the best method of fixing it and take that route
whether it be expensive or not its there fault.

12-12-2010, 03:00 PM	#1
luvartcars New Member Drives: 2011 E90 DCT, 2004 330ci 6MT Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Santa Monica, CA Posts: 7 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E90 M3 [0.00] 2004 330ci [0.00]	Best no-compromise fix for paint chip My dealer chipped my E90 M3 Silverstone during the 1200 mile maintenance. This is the first and only chip on the car! I know I will inevitably get some chips from driving but it's such a shame to get one at the dealer. My M3 is not a daily driver either so I'm not as likely to get chips from door dings because I don't usually park next to anyone. I may be dreaming but this could be the only chip for a while. The dealer has told me that they will fix it any way that I want. The chip is very small but right in the middle of the crease on the rear door so it's noticeable. I looked at the chip with a magnifying glass and the damage looks like it is past the clear coat and into the paint, but I don't think into the primer. My detailer looked at it and thinks that the only way for the repair to not be seen (considering Silverstone) is to repaint the entire side of the car. This is obviously extreme so he thinks I should have the dealer agree to repaint the side of the car in the future, after there are other dings, and they are OK with this. Is repainting half the car overkill? I'm worried the car will never be the same. On the other hand I've had a BMW dealer do body work on our E46 and they repainted it 3 times before we were happy so I'm nervous about their ability to do a good fix. I also don't feel like experimenting with a localized fix if it's really not a realistic solution. I would really appreciate any advice. Thanks
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12-12-2010, 04:27 PM	#2
bmstyle71 Captain Drives: jet black e92 m3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: tampa florida Posts: 637 iTrader: (0)	come on man its not the space shuttle. just have them touch it up and you're good to go. but that's just me. if you have an infatuation with you car and treat it like your wife and kids combined...then do what you have to.

12-12-2010, 04:41 PM	#3
MuttGrunt Banned Drives: beater;) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 872 iTrader: (0)	If it's a small area thats hard to notice, I'd recommend touching it up via Clean-prep-touch up-sand-polish. Painting a panel or a side is never what you'd want unless you're confident in their ability to give an OEM-quality paint job, which isn't very likely. A good painter/shop will have to work extremely hard to match the color of the vehicle closely (very hard to do), and even when the color is near perfect, they'll have to paint, sand, and polish the panel(s) to match the OEM orange peel so that the work isn't noticeable. Quality work is hard to find and do, and I personally don't have a lot of trust in a dealership to have it done right.

12-16-2010, 10:05 PM	#4
luvartcars New Member Drives: 2011 E90 DCT, 2004 330ci 6MT Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Santa Monica, CA Posts: 7 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E90 M3 [0.00] 2004 330ci [0.00]	Thanks for the help guys.

01-11-2011, 11:55 AM	#5
Gkap BMF Movement Drives: Women Crazy Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: GTA Posts: 2,660 iTrader: (1)	If they are saying they will fix it any way you want then research the best method of fixing it and take that route whether it be expensive or not its there fault.