Stages of the BMW Paint Process

Dackelone · 06-02-2012, 12:49 PM

Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

BMW base paint steps for the 1 Series. Display seen at the AMI Leipzig show.

This color was Mineral White which is an option for X1s made at Leipzig.

BMW's six paint stages are:

1) Steel Panel
2) Cathodic Dipping Paint. Rust Protection.
3) Primer coat. Protection against stone-chipping. Color base for base coat.
4) Water based coat of final color. First layer.
5) Water based coat of final color. Second layer.
6) Clear coat. Brilliance and resistance against environmental influence.

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Video showing the process (paint process starts at approximately 1:22):

BMW335icoupe · 06-05-2012, 07:44 AM

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Fox128i · 06-05-2012, 08:10 AM

Love these type of posts... Thanks.

MARIO K · 06-05-2012, 08:13 AM

That's pretty cool!

illirep · 06-05-2012, 08:23 AM

Great video

Dackelone · 06-05-2012, 08:30 AM

Gangsta D · 06-05-2012, 08:32 AM

Interesting...

monkawekrue · 06-05-2012, 09:05 AM

cool

Ash83 · 06-05-2012, 09:30 AM

interesting ..nice video

Bimmer-Bob · 06-05-2012, 09:31 AM

"Protection against stone-chipping," lol.

Louchie · 06-05-2012, 09:48 AM

And to think. Some idiots cover it up with plastidip

sonicbimmer19 · 06-05-2012, 11:05 AM

This is awesome haha thanks Dack

Canuckles · 06-05-2012, 11:22 AM

Very Cool. The electrostatic paint application and the type of paint (water based for ease of overspray recovery and recycling) they use are what makes BMW one of the most ecologically friendly car makers. It's also why we have the orange peel effect lol.

lepp0012 · 06-05-2012, 12:11 PM

They forgot the step where they add the embarrassingly bad orange peel.

Seriously, why is this acceptable on cars costing $40k to well over $100k?

PaneristiDriver · 06-05-2012, 12:15 PM

Unfortunately they have some of the worst paint in the business with the terrible orange peel to being easily chipped by rocks and debris.

jphughan · 06-05-2012, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaneristiDriver

Unfortunately they have some of the worst paint in the business with the terrible orange peel to being easily chipped by rocks and debris.

I couldn't believe how chipped up my front bumper was after 6 months; my 08 Acura TL Type-S (frequently called out for having a high-quality paint job) didn't look that bad even after 18 months! And definitely no orange peel, which is blatant and embarrassing on my M3.

beemerman1984 · 06-05-2012, 12:38 PM

Interesting yes. But, my car has the worst orange peel paint finish I have ever seen, and the clear used on JetBlack scratches just using a micro fiber cloth on it. It's sad when you park next to a car costing 20 grand less that has a better paint job.

Dackelone · 06-05-2012, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beemerman1984

Interesting yes. But, my car has the worst orange peel paint finish I have ever seen, and the clear used on JetBlack scratches just using a micro fiber cloth on it. It's sad when you park next to a car costing 20 grand less that has a better paint job.

Using a MF cloth should not scratch your paint. Not unless you wash your MF cloths with fabric softener. Using fabric softener is a big no no with MF towels.

RLighty · 06-05-2012, 01:18 PM

Woah really interesting!
Thanks for the post

DrShimmy · 06-05-2012, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

"Protection against stone-chipping," lol.

I wish! Thank you for the post OP.

Red Bread · 06-05-2012, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Using a MF cloth should not scratch your paint. Not unless you wash your MF cloths with fabric softener. Using fabric softener is a big no no with MF towels.

Agreed, I have Jet Black and it's really not that bad. I've detailed just about every brand, and BMW paint is just about where you'd expect it, much better than Mazda and Subaru, not as nice as MB or Lexus and not all that different from Porsche or Ferrari. Things like Bentley and RR are a different story though as they get many more coats of paint, and hand wet sanding between each coat.

firechicken99 · 06-05-2012, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canuckles

Very Cool. The electrostatic paint application and the type of paint (water based for ease of overspray recovery and recycling) they use are what makes BMW one of the most ecologically friendly car makers. It's also why we have the orange peel effect lol.

And the wonderfully eco-friendly chipping paint at every corner!

06-02-2012, 12:49 PM	#1
Dackelone Moderator Drives: 135i Silber mit/Rot 6MT N54 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany Posts: 13,046 iTrader: (0)	Stages of the BMW Paint Process Featured on BIMMERPOST.com BMW base paint steps for the 1 Series. Display seen at the AMI Leipzig show. This color was Mineral White which is an option for X1s made at Leipzig. BMW's six paint stages are: 1) Steel Panel 2) Cathodic Dipping Paint. Rust Protection. 3) Primer coat. Protection against stone-chipping. Color base for base coat. 4) Water based coat of final color. First layer. 5) Water based coat of final color. Second layer. 6) Clear coat. Brilliance and resistance against environmental influence. Video showing the process (paint process starts at approximately 1:22):
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06-05-2012, 08:10 AM	#3
Fox128i First Lieutenant Drives: 2012 E82 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Dromund Kaas Posts: 318 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 128i [4.75]	Love these type of posts... Thanks. __________________ Deutsche Bahn, DB \| Österreichische Bundesbahnen, ÖBB \| Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, SBB

06-05-2012, 08:13 AM	#4
MARIO K Colonel Drives: 2008 Montego E90 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 2,946 iTrader: (6)	That's pretty cool! __________________ My Car: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=578103

06-05-2012, 08:32 AM	#7
Gangsta D Second Lieutenant Drives: 09' e90 335i /12' e88 128 vert Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Route 66 [So. Cal] Posts: 215 iTrader: (0) Garage List '09 BMW E90 335i [4.50] '07 BMW E 60 530i sold [4.00] '04 BMW E46 330i sold [4.50] '12 BMW E88 [5.00]	Interesting... __________________ ///Mods//Black Badges//Red Out Lights//Stubby ant.//20% Tint//Golf Tee //H&R Springs//H&R Spacers//Rear Fog //SmartTop//Splash Guards//Painted Red Calipers//

06-05-2012, 09:05 AM	#8
monkawekrue Colonel Drives: e46 M3 CB/e46 M3 AW/f25 X3 AW Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CENTEX Posts: 2,409 iTrader: (2) Garage List 2003 e46 M3 CB [0.00] 2004 e46 M3 AW [0.00] 2013 f25 X3 AW [0.00] 2007 e92 328i SG RE ... [0.00] 2007 e90 335i AW RE ... [0.00]	cool __________________ <<Selling my e46 ///M3>>

06-05-2012, 07:44 AM	#2
BMW335icoupe Lieutenant Drives: 2009 BMW 335i Xdrive Coupe Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 527 iTrader: (1)	Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

06-05-2012, 08:23 AM	#5
illirep Major Drives: 2002 M5 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Mercer County, NJ Posts: 1,361 iTrader: (28)	Great video

06-05-2012, 08:30 AM	#6
Dackelone Moderator Drives: 135i Silber mit/Rot 6MT N54 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany Posts: 13,046 iTrader: (0)

06-05-2012, 09:30 AM	#9
Ash83 Major Drives: 05' 325i/10' 135i/10' Audi A4 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 1,098 iTrader: (1)	interesting ..nice video __________________ Alpine White, Coral RED , Glacier Silver Aluminum trim, M sport, 6MT, NAV, HiFi, USB-iPod, Bluetooth

06-05-2012, 09:31 AM	#10
Bimmer-Bob ! Drives: 2010 128i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,959 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 BMW 128i [5.00] 2012 Ford Focus SE ... [0.00]	"Protection against stone-chipping," lol. __________________

06-05-2012, 09:48 AM	#11
Louchie D: Drives: e90 335i LCI Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 386 iTrader: (2)	And to think. Some idiots cover it up with plastidip __________________ Contact me for all your Architectural and Engineering needs in the greater NYC area MBA Engineering PC

06-05-2012, 11:05 AM	#12
sonicbimmer19 Lieutenant Drives: E88/F10 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 416 iTrader: (0)	This is awesome haha thanks Dack

06-05-2012, 11:22 AM	#13
Canuckles Private First Class Drives: MW 2011 E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: British Columbia Posts: 153 iTrader: (0)	Very Cool. The electrostatic paint application and the type of paint (water based for ease of overspray recovery and recycling) they use are what makes BMW one of the most ecologically friendly car makers. It's also why we have the orange peel effect lol. __________________

06-05-2012, 12:11 PM	#14
lepp0012 New Member Drives: 2007 E93 335i, 2007 E83 X3 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 17 iTrader: (0)	They forgot the step where they add the embarrassingly bad orange peel. Seriously, why is this acceptable on cars costing $40k to well over $100k?

06-05-2012, 12:15 PM	#15
PaneristiDriver Banned Drives: M3 Coupe Join Date: May 2012 Location: Here and there Posts: 130 iTrader: (0)	Unfortunately they have some of the worst paint in the business with the terrible orange peel to being easily chipped by rocks and debris.

06-05-2012, 12:38 PM	#17
beemerman1984 Private First Class Drives: 135i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Folsom, Ca Posts: 126 iTrader: (0)	Interesting yes. But, my car has the worst orange peel paint finish I have ever seen, and the clear used on JetBlack scratches just using a micro fiber cloth on it. It's sad when you park next to a car costing 20 grand less that has a better paint job.

06-05-2012, 01:18 PM	#19
RLighty Enlisted Member Drives: 120D SE Coupe Join Date: May 2012 Location: London, UK Posts: 32 iTrader: (0)	Woah really interesting! Thanks for the post

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