2011 X5 35i M Sport paint chipping - dealer response

[darwin316]

You have sticky summer tires and painted extended flares. Those sticky tires pick up more rocks on the road than normal tires and flings them to the fender. I have an M3 and have this issue as well. The only way BMW could avoid this issue is by having non-painted fender flares (plastic). I say just enjoy your car.

[huxtea2]

Originally Posted by darwin316

You have sticky summer tires and painted extended flares. Those sticky tires pick up more rocks on the road than normal tires and flings them to the fender. I have an M3 and have this issue as well. The only way BMW could avoid this issue is by having non-painted fender flares (plastic). I say just enjoy your car.

I'm currently driving on 18" winter tire package (not sticky summers). They are still in storage.

It bothers me that BMW would sell a vehicle that is this prone to chipping. I'm sure regions with salt/sand would be worse for this issue, but based on other threads it seems to be a problem everywhere. I also wish the dealer warned me ahead of time because I would have either gone with Premium package or immediately proteced the M Sport with the PPF.