changing from M sport to SE

[Viperfreak2]

See the black 'dots' those are paint chips after 400 miles.

[Chris61]

I couldnt agree more. I think the tyres are the cause of the problem. It has the 20inch optional extra wheels and maybe the 19inch standards would have been ok. I have ordered the 20s on my new one, but hopefully the side steps will stop the problem.

[X5X]

If they do solve the problem, then I will try install the running boards on my m sport, somehow

The only problem is that if I paint the running boards to match my m sport kit, the paint would still chip at the front, but if I don't paint it, the plastic matt finnish would look weird on an all silver X5

[FatX5]

I have the 19's on my msport and they are no better, 2 weeks old and i could not beleive the chips. I paid a local clear bra guy to install the rocker panel, rear doors, and flares. They seem to be holdign up well, but in long island we only have paved roads. I would not take this car on an unpaved road or gravel road. Shame for an SUV, but it does look damn good! I will tinker with some custom mud flaps for the front. Bought the factory ones and returned them the same day, looked awful.

[Chris61]

It really is a shame as i couldnt agree more, i think the m sport is a brilliant looking car. I look at the SE model that i am getting and although it still looks great specced up, the new M sport looks even better in my opinion than my old one. But i cant live with the stone chipping. Here in the part of the UK i live, the roads arent too bad but i really could not believe how much the car had chipped. I would never have paid so much money for a car that needs to be covered in plastic to avoid paintwork damage. I really think BMW should have contributed more than £750 toward my new car, and i really think they should be offering side steps or sensible mud flaps for the car. Still who knows what the future holds, regards, Chris.

[paqs]

Originally Posted by Chris61

They did take it back and cut back the lacquer as much as they dared to, but it was still heavier than it ever was. The plastic front wings to the doors looks really bad, but then plastic does tend to paint a bit different than metal. believe it or not when they painted the cills they actually masked the matt black trim which really set me off as i had specifically asked they remove and renew the matt black trim after painting. Needless to say it was repainted again when it returned and the trim was changed as i had originally asked. The real point though is why the hell should a virtually new car need so much paintwork done on it in the first place. Believe me i clean the car and wax it so regularly so it is not as though i abused it in any way. I honestly think the car is a joke, regards, Chris.

I had a number of discussions with BMW about this chipping on my 08 4.8i including a meeting with a BMWUK manager, they sprayed most of the rear of the car, the paint finish was *ok*, silicone pin pricks, odd specs of dirt not fantastic but I've never seen swirl marks like it, they must have cut the car with a rotary polisher and then not used any finishing grade polish on it. They also applied the film, I didn't care too much as I was getting rid of it anyway.

I knew this stone chipping would also affect the M and BMW had always promised they would film up my X5 M before delivery, in the end though there was no film kit for it as its different shape from the X5 M-Sport (which they do have a kit for). Anyway they paid a 3rd party company to film the car but I had to drive the car 40 miles to get the film applied, would you believe it after 40 miles there was already one chunk out of the skirt, and I mean a chunk.

Its all bygones now anyway as the M developed an engine fault and I rejected it, now I have to go through it all again when the next M arrives in early March.....

I've got a brand new 40D M-Sport loaner which has been delivered with film already on it though, are these coming out of the factory with film now?

[X5X]

Here in the part of the UK i live, the roads arent too bad but i really could not believe how much the car had chipped.

I live in central London and it still chips!

[Jeg Norge]

no one bothered to install these 3m cut to fit clearbras? expensive but no more paint chips.