Paint defects brand new X5!

[///Armin]

In two areas on the front bumper near the grills the clear coat is over run. I just took delivery and had the car at the shop doing venture shield bra when these were pointed out to me. I can't believe it would be released from factory without some quality control. So disappointed.

I hope this is not because X5s are being made in the US factory!

[o-steve]

I had a 2001 3 series that had the same thing on the front fender. Didn't notice it until it was a few weeks old (took delivery on a snowy New York day). Never complained as the car was loaded with defects. Traded it in within 6 months.

[ard]

Might have been a bad repaint/repair at the VPC or at the dealership!!!!

They can repair damage during shipping without telling you.

Don't be so quick to blame the US factory....


Having said that, BMW paint is terrible- orange peel is embarrassing!

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by ard

Might have been a bad repaint/repair at the VPC or at the dealership!!!!

They can repair damage during shipping without telling you.

Don't be so quick to blame the US factory....


Having said that, BMW paint is terrible- orange peel is embarrassing!

Yeah, our 2010 M6 and 2010 750i had orange peel galore, but the 2011 X5 had what looked like grains of sand stuck under than paint..and I had like 3-4 little goopy drops of paint of clear coat running. BMW, German or USA assembled are not known for their great paint jobs. Mercedes is pretty good, but Audi and Porsche have amazing paint jobs, for being mass produced cars. No orange peel and so glossy and deep!

[ard]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

. BMW, German or USA assembled are not known for their great paint jobs. Mercedes is pretty good, but Audi and Porsche have amazing paint jobs, for being mass produced cars. No orange peel and so glossy and deep!

There is nothing 'magical' or 'skillful' about it: simply polish/buff the orange peel down to perfection... it is very labor intensive, so it is a cost factor. My BMW E39 M5 had no orange peel above the bottom 4-6". So they CAN do it, but they choose not to on the mass produced products.

The truly unfortunate thing is that consumers are unaware that it is even a defect!! I've seen posts here or BF where people brag about the finish, I point out the orange peel, and they say 'no it isn't'... pretty soon it will not be recognized as desirable by the market (to not have orangepeel) and every mfg will have it.

[ShantF1]

My X5 35i had that two.....they called a deatailer and got it out.... That's the shity BMW quality..... They think that their advance by using robots.... My maserati is hand made... I even went to the factory in modena Italy to pick it up.... I myself gave it a crazy detailed inspection under their special light and it the sun.... it passed..

[19us]

Had the same - all over rear panel of my 2012 X5. I noticed it at delivery and dealer was willing to work with me to resolve. They clayed it, wet sanded, and ultimately ended up fully repainting the whole thing - had the car for a week but looks great.

[///Armin]

Just an update:

Called dealer who I have been very happy with so far, best experience before this happend.

They are going to order another car and swap the bumpers for me and I will have a brand new one.

Now that's what I call customer service!

[ard]

Originally Posted by ///Armin

Just an update:

Called dealer who I have been very happy with so far, best experience before this happend.

They are going to order another car and swap the bumpers for me and I will have a brand new one.

Now that's what I call customer service!

I am willing to bet they will order a bumper skin, paint it, and put that on your car. They MAY order the same color, or have one on order already, but unless you camp out there and witness the donor car loosing a bumper and your getting that skin, it may not actually happen.

They are, of course, laughing at you: a new bumper skin they paint there or a new bumper skin painted in Spartanburg and shipped to them on a car are precisely equivalent. But try and explain that to certain owners....

[wslee]

I do have paint defect in my brand new 2010 X5 LCI before, look like dirts or bits cover under base paint, 1 in front bonnet, 1 in real lower tailgate. Have been a night mare dealing with my local dealer to resolve the issue. They sent my car to polish at the 1st attempt, found the defects are deep beyond repair. Sent the brand new car to repaint in the local paint shop who they claimed is the best in the market for 2nd attempt, come back with finger print mark on wet paint, thick edge & wavy surface.
I refuse to accept the car, than they want to sent for 2nd repaint, I was rejected the 2nd repaint suggestion. Make a several complaint to BMW Australia with no help, complaint till the dealer office manager with no help. Finally I treated to bring the issue to legal to claim back my money of the brand new car. Only by then they suggest to swap the 2 panels with another brand new car in their stock. Take nearly a month to resolve the problem.
You are very lucky that they swap the bumper for you straight away.
Now I have the engine oil too high warning, and my X is with the dealer at the moment.