2011 Facelift X5: Official Thread with Pics & Press release and M-sport pics

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by LeMansX5

BMW does not wet sand the paint unlike Lexus and Acura who do on their high end models.

That would explain Acua and Lexus, but my 2005 Ford Focus and my Mother's 2008 Taurus have almost no orange peel, and I doubt they were wet sanded.

I think BMW is just being a bit too "Green" and is using to high a solids content in their clear coat to cut down on solvent fumes, but that's just a guess.