Current Owners: Post your Orange Peel

[UltimateBMW]

So, I'm interested to see how consistent BMW is with the orange peel paint problem. If you guys have any pictures where it comes out, please post them so we can compare from as large of a sample size as possible.

I'll get things started off with this picture I found a while ago that shows it pretty bad.

[npcars]

im sorry, i have an untrained eye. where is this "orange peel" you speak of? ive heard it in all over the forum, but i cant spot it. what is it? what causes it? sorry for the inconvenience

[nusevad]

Look at the reflections underneath the side vents and to the side, they appear very blurry much like the texture of a orange peel. BMW is notorious for this...however i heard that with proper waxing, claybar and whatnot you can minimize the orange peel.

[Big Windy]

here are two more obvious ones from the Silverstone II thread. somebody mentioned that it has to do with the materials underneath the base coats of the paint and their inability to absorb the coats the same as the metal. i also believe that some cameras are better at detecting this than the human eye, so it might not be as obvious IRL.

[nusevad]

Yikes, that car has it bad...but then again almost all production cars will have some level of orange peel, some less than others.

[Lil. Lucas]

Originally Posted by redmtclimber

here are two more obvious ones from the Silverstone II thread. somebody mentioned that it has to do with the materials underneath the base coats of the paint and their inability to absorb the coats the same as the metal. i also believe that some cameras are better at detecting this than the human eye, so it might not be as obvious IRL.

Sadly it is, the paint on the E92 is apauling. It really is as bad as my dad looking to swap over his E46 next month and I really couldn't care less what colour he gets, its all going to look like shit! Their have also been many reports on the E92 3'ers having "way" too soft clear to the point where you cant wipe away polish/wax without reintroducing marring into the paint. BMW need to get this under control quick.

[Epacy]

I read on another forum it is due in part to having to use a water-based paint to appease some environmental groups in Germany.
Couldn't tell you if this is wholly accurate.

Still, this shouldn't be happening to this effect.

[Big Windy]

Originally Posted by Epacy

I read on another forum it is due in part to having to use a water-based paint to appease some environmental groups in Germany.
Couldn't tell you if this is wholly accurate.

interesting idea...but then you'd think that Audi or VW would either a) suffer the same problem or b) have found a solution that BMW could steal.

[UltimateBMW]

From wikipedia:

Gloss paint sprayed on a smooth surface (such as the body of a car) should also dry into a smooth surface. However, various factors can cause it to dry into a bumpy surface resembling the texture of an orange peel. The orange peel phenomenon can then be smoothed out with ultra-fine sandpaper, but it can be prevented altogether by changing the painting technique or the materials used. Orange peel is typically the result of improper painting technique, and is caused by the quick evaporation of thinner, incorrect spray gun setup (e.g., low air pressure or incorrect nozzle), spraying the paint at an angle other than perpendicular, or applying excessive paint.

[Keto]

My Carbon Black E46 has plenty of it -- I'm sadly adjusted to it now. "Oh, well, it's not on the hood" is my mantra.

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by UltimateBMW

From wikipedia:

That is terrible if this is how BMW operates.

[UltimateBMW]

Ok well, it seems like its more commonplace than not for a BMW to have orange peel.

So maybe we are looking at it the wrong way? Maybe we should see it as texture and added depth to the paint! err YEAH!

[Mark]

All BMWs have had this effect for a few generations now. In person its not really very obvious at all, only when you are washing your car and you are looking at it from up close or if you are using a high res macro lens. If you are standing a few feet away from the car you really aren't going to notice it at all.

[nusevad]

my older gen. 1991 w124 300E has no Orange peel at all, after a wash and wax the reflection is perfect. However after i wash the E39 and wax the Orange peel is really evident. Just shows you how car companies are getting lazier when it comes to quality.

[npcars]

Originally Posted by FifthStreetz

Look at the reflections underneath the side vents and to the side, they appear very blurry much like the texture of a orange peel. BMW is notorious for this...however i heard that with proper waxing, claybar and whatnot you can minimize the orange peel.

thanks, i'd always seen this on my 3....especially after washing it. now i know what its called. it looks pretty bad. not gonna lie.

[The CSL]

Every time I go to the local dealer, every car I look at has very noticeable orange peel. My '93 model 3er doesn't.

[NewhouseEnt]

This has been a problem for decades with most cars. Easy fix. Color Sanding. Have a very reputable, professional shop "color sand" the entire car, emblems off, moldings off... should be about $500-$800.
You will not believe how stunning the car will look. Get the wrong shop to do it though, and they'll ruin the clear or worse.
In my old Concourse shop (we prepped Pebble Beach cars) the finish should be absolutely flawless under florescent lights. Every mistake, scratch and color swirl will show up if done in a properly controlled atmosphere. Remove all imperfections under fluorescents, and you can imagine what it will look like in the sun!
Its WELL worth it.

[Epacy]

Sure, $800 right after spending $70k on a car to fix new factory paint.
Should not be neccesary,

[nusevad]

Originally Posted by NewhouseEnt

This has been a problem for decades with most cars. Easy fix. Color Sanding. Have a very reputable, professional shop "color sand" the entire car, emblems off, moldings off... should be about $500-$800.
You will not believe how stunning the car will look. Get the wrong shop to do it though, and they'll ruin the clear or worse.
In my old Concourse shop (we prepped Pebble Beach cars) the finish should be absolutely flawless under florescent lights. Every mistake, scratch and color swirl will show up if done in a properly controlled atmosphere. Remove all imperfections under fluorescents, and you can imagine what it will look like in the sun!
Its WELL worth it.

If i can find a place to do that around me i will def. try that.

[///MArdor]

Is the BMW orange peel a problem in both the metallic and non-metallic paints?

[OzStriker]

Here are some photos of a black Aussie SS-V Commodore, costing less than 1/3 what the M3 costs, I would appreciate other opinions, but I think this Commodore has a far better finish than the M3. Those SSII shots look terrible.

[chris719]

My father has a MB CLS500 and it has some orange peel, but it is really only noticeable in the reflection of a high intensity flourescent light. My G35 has almost none. I have heard that MB and BMW use a softer clearcoat in order to minimize rock chips at autobahn speeds. My G35's clearcoat is excessively prone to rock chips it seems, but seems to be less prone to swirl marks than the CLS500 and my brother's e90 335i.