I have been seriously considering the purchase of a new 3-Series Coupe. While looking at the local dealership, I noticed that all of the BMW finishes tend to have a bit of an orange peel appearance. That bothers me a little. I would expect a 100% smooth finish with no swirl marks and definately not the orange peel. Does anyone else notice this?

Yup. It seems to be worse on the non-metalic paints.

I have been seriously considering the purchase of a new 3-Series Coupe. While looking at the local dealership, I noticed that all of the BMW finishes tend to have a bit of an orange peel appearance. That bothers me a little. I would expect a 100% smooth finish with no swirl marks and definately not the orange peel. Does anyone else notice this?

I believe it's been talked about quite a bit on the forums, and I notice it on a lot of European cars as of late. It may be that they are forced to use different types of paint or a different type of painting process.

Yep, my Sparkling Graphite E90 has a lot of Orange Peel. It doesn't bother me like it does some folks though, so it's no big deal to me.

I saw orange peel this summer at some car shows on new BMW,s, Mercedes,Ferarri F-430, and some other big money cars and exotics. There was a Porsche club there also with a couple of new 911,s, Cayman S,etc. Just about all of them had some orange peel on them.After seeing that it doesnt bother me to see some on my 07 335i coupe.Besides you really have to look for it to notice it.

Thanks! I really appreciate everyone's opinion. Please keep the comments coming.

Thanks,
Bob

I guess people have to stop considering orange peel to be an anomaly and start accepting it as a feature of the new paint processes. Maybe 15 years from now people will complain when paint has no orange peel, and will call it apple peel effect :D.

I don't get it. I just purchased an alpine white 335i coupe and i don't see what you are all talking about...

Can someone tell me what to look for...

I don't get it. I just purchased an alpine white 335i coupe and i don't see what you are all talking about...

Can someone tell me what to look for...
If you don't notice it do yourself a favor and don't look for it, if you don't know if it is there or not is will definitely not bother you. Not many "normal" individuals would notice it anyway (by "normal" i mean not car nuts, errr enthusiasts like us :stickoutt).

He is right. It is just for nuts like us. Enjoy your white one. They are great cars.
Thanks,
Bob

Yep, both our 335's have some degree of orange peel. I've read it's a byproduct of the water based paints they are required to use on new cars these days. Since it's so uniform, it just doesn't bother me in the least. And I think you really have to look hard for it to begin with. Just my .02 worth.

You can get rid of the "orange peel" if it bothers you.
Many custom painters will perform a process similar to the following:

Three step hand wet sand:
1- Wet sand with 1000 grit "wet or dry" paper.
2- Wet sand with 1500 grit "wet or dry" paper.
3- Wet sand with 2000 grit "wet or dry" paper.

Machine polish (buffer at less than 1750 RPM) with either 3M, Mothers, or MeGuires compound followed by a finshing glaze.

It's a lot of work, but the finsh will look like glass when finished.

Al. Wise

I notice some orange peel on my TiAg 335i. I had an Imola Red (non-metalic) E46 with no orange peel. There is a gorgeous black E550 (about a year old)in my building's garage with no orange peel.

Good information! Thanks to everyone. Keep the dialogue going.
Bob

My Jet Black is on order. Non Metallic. I'm scared to look!

You can get rid of the "orange peel" if it bothers you.
Many custom painters will perform a process similar to the following:

Three step hand wet sand:
1- Wet sand with 1000 grit "wet or dry" paper.
2- Wet sand with 1500 grit "wet or dry" paper.
3- Wet sand with 2000 grit "wet or dry" paper.

Machine polish (buffer at less than 1750 RPM) with either 3M, Mothers, or MeGuires compound followed by a finshing glaze.

It's a lot of work, but the finsh will look like glass when finished.

Al. Wise


You are also taking away a few years off of the paints life.

Dimes - Don't be afraid to look. It will be a beautiful car. Jet Black is what I would get. Just enjoy it.
Thanks,
Bob

Lodoss,

Yes, it will remove a mil or so of clear coat, but that's the price you pay for perfection after the orange peel exists.
Orange peel in the clear coat is typically caused by use of a slightly too fast curing activator. The volatiles in the clear coat dry too quickly for it to totally flow out.

I have performed this very process on many muscle cars and Harley's to get the best looking show finish possible.
It is not for the faint of heart as too much pressure with the polisher can burn through the paint. Typically this occurs on sharp crease areas.

Al. Wise

My Jet Black is on order. Non Metallic. I'm scared to look!
Mine looked gorgeous on delivery. I didn't even notice orange peel till I was reading about it here and looked for it. I have to say that even now that I know it exists, I don't notice it unless I consciously stare looking for it.
I was at the dealer today and even a $90K white 550iA had orange peel if you looked at it at a certain angle, but nothing that "normal" people would notice and definitely nothing to be worried about unless you have a severe case of OCD.

My Jet Black is on order. Non Metallic. I'm scared to look!

There is no need to worry. Mine is Alpine White (non metallic). I just picked it up a few weeks ago and spent 3 full days detailing it and I never noticed.

Day 1 – Wash, Clay and 3 layers of Zaino (Z2), 1 layer of Z6
Day 2 – 3 layers of Zaino (Z2), 1 layer of Z6
Day 3 – 3 layers of Zaino (Z2), 1 layer of Z6

Then I read this post yesterday and went home to look. If you look at the hood from an angle under florescent lights, you can see it. If you don’t focus on it, you can’t see it. It will not be an issue as I didn’t see it when I wasn’t looking for it (i.e. 3 days of detailing under florescent lights).

There is no need to worry. Mine is Alpine White (non metallic). I just picked it up a few weeks ago and spent 3 full days detailing it and I never noticed.

Day 1 – Wash, Clay and 3 layers of Zaino (Z2), 1 layer of Z6
Day 2 – 3 layers of Zaino (Z2), 1 layer of Z6
Day 3 – 3 layers of Zaino (Z2), 1 layer of Z6


When did you finally get a chance to drive the car :D. I know I will get flamed, but cars are meant to get dirty and they will. Being obsessed with the finish will only take away from the time/fun driving. Take care of your car but within reason, but then reason is relative right? :stickoutt

(P.S. no offense intended to you stejus. Not people are created equal and some are just that more picky. Enjoy nonetheless).

Dimes - Don't be afraid to look. It will be a beautiful car. Jet Black is what I would get. Just enjoy it.
Thanks,
Bob

We have jet black. I really noticed the orange peel when we picked it up, but after a few washes and waxes, I don't notice it.

When did you finally get a chance to drive the car :D. I know I will get flamed, but cars are meant to get dirty and they will. Being obsessed with the finish will only take away from the time/fun driving. Take care of your car but within reason, but then reason is relative right? :stickoutt

(P.S. no offense intended to you stejus. Not people are created equal and some are just that more picky. Enjoy nonetheless).


I can’t be the only one out here that doesn’t want to drive a dirty car. I personally have a thing about driving a clean car (both inside and out). I will even drive my winter unit if it’s going to rain for one day. That saves me from having to wash it again during the weekend. My other two cars don’t get nearly as much “detailed” attention as does my 335i.

I just sold an 03 Acura CL-S 6sp privately for 18.5K. When the guy came to look at it, he was amazed on how clean the car was. You can tell cars that were neglected and then detailed before selling. Not the case here. This car was cleaned properly throughout the years and it was in showroom condition (no dings, dents, scratches, swills).

I can’t be the only one out here that doesn’t want to drive a dirty car. I personally have a thing about driving a clean car (both inside and out). I will even drive my winter unit if it’s going to rain for one day. That saves me from having to wash it again during the weekend. My other two cars don’t get nearly as much “detailed” attention as does my 335i.

I just sold an 03 Acura CL-S 6sp privately for 18.5K. When the guy came to look at it, he was amazed on how clean the car was. You can tell cars that were neglected and then detailed before selling. Not the case here. This car was cleaned properly throughout the years and it was in showroom condition (no dings, dents, scratches, swills).
You are not alone I am sure, but since I only have 1 car, I have to drive it daily rain or shine or snow or slush and to detail it (or even wash it) everytime it gets dirty, means I'll spend my whole spare time washing/detailing cars. Don't get me wrong, I wash it almost every weekend or whenever they forecast a 2+ day stretch of dry weather, but if I were to do it any more often it would be as if I picked up an 0 pay internship job at the detailing shop. I'd rather spend my spare time doing other stuff, but then that's just me :D. Oh and my car looks amazing on the inside considering I have 2 kids. Outside, most of the time cleaner than 99% of the cars out there until I run into someone like you ;).

I find that the more application of liquid glass, the less I notice the orange peel, which doesn't bother me by the way, but here's a pic after 12 coats have been applied. Taken with a Nikon D40x with CP-L filter on an 18-55mm lens.

http://scott.micciche.homeunix.net/bmw_3872.jpg

Very nice!

ig ot the montego blue and i ahvent noticed anything, and i got mine in the middle of the las vegas summer......

My Jet Black is on order. Non Metallic. I'm scared to look!


Just try to get used to it. The last 2 weeks after I hand wash it on Monday and garage kept.. it seems to rain the weekend. It does get a lot of swirls though.. like I said just try to get used to it.

I also have the jet black metallic; it is orange peel city under my garage fluorescent lights, but appears smooth as glass when outside or from a distance. I agree with the suggestion - don't bother looking for it if you don't notice. I think that putting on a nice wax somewhat blunts the orange peel effect.

I have the Montego Blue Metallic. Not had a problem with orange peel. Did notice recently alot of swirl marks or microscratches in direct sunlight. Washed, polished, and waxed. I had been washing weekly and polishing once a month or so. Polish did the trick. Thought about claying, but don't think I need to. The finish is very smooth.