Peeling laquer

[TimCSL]

Washed the CSL this morning and noticed the paint lacquer has started peeling off quite badly on one of the front wings. Rang Dick Lovett, Bristol to discuss and assumed that the 12 year bodywork warranty (car was register June 04) would cover this only to be told that our cars only ever had a 3 year paint warranty and that peeling lacquer would not be classed as corrosion so will not be repaired FOC under the bodywork warranty I was also told that you cannot simply have the wing re-lacquered but it will have to be stripped, resprayed and then re-lacquered. This information seems to conflict will other stories I have read so would appreciate it if anyone can validate what I have been told.

[s.mac]

not sure about the warranty but it would need to be rubbed down and repainted

[Neil M]

That might suggest that the wing was repainted at some point in it's history, however as s.mac says it will have to be stripped, re-painted and re-lacquered, as the base coat isn't durable without the lacquer consequently it degrades.

[s.mac]

I've seen lacquer lift on new cars before, it happens.

[TimCSL]

Thanks for the replies. I know the front bumper was resprayed by the previous owner but not sure about the wings. The body shop manager did seem to think that it suggested the wing had had paint at some point. Does anyone know how good a colour match a main dealer can get or would people suggest getting the bonnet and other wing done too?

[s.mac]

If its had paint it wouldn't be covered under warranty anyway.
As regards what to do, depends on your cash flow and how you want the car to look. Paint will always get chipped and could get chipped when you drive out the paint shop....
Any good painter should get a good match, it's one paint code. Then it depends how good the painter is and how good your eye is at checking their work !!!

[JBird]

It can be matched quite well, and I have noticed a difference in the shade of grey when two CSL are parked side by side.

Here are some pics of a touch up being done (not my car). Interesting how the well the areas are blended in mid-panel.

[NZ_M3]

Originally Posted by JBird

I have noticed a difference in the shade of grey when two CSL are parked side by side.

That's because Glasurit (the paint manufacturer for BMWs and our CSLs) changed A08 (silvery grey) colour code 3 freaking times during 2003 - 2011.

In 2009 I think they changed it twice within a span of 3 months or something ridiculous. Had to do with their new paint system or something.

If you use the formula from 2003 (which apparently you can no longer do as one of the tints is no longer made) and the one that's on the computer currently you will get two very different A08 - its stupid.

Moral of the story - A08 will need to be matched to the car not off the charts.

I can take a photo of 3 bumpers I have done in 3 different generations of A08 from Glasruit code - they are all different!!!

[Mark CSL]

the moral of this story you should have bought a SB CSL easy to match 1 shade

[NZ_M3]

Originally Posted by Mark CSL

the moral of this story you should have bought a SB CSL easy to match 1 shade

Not worth it when the SB is slower

If you are getting it re-painted - also tell your painter to use a 'light gery" coloured primer instead of white - the original cars were all painted in a grey primer, so if you get a stone chip on the paint it's less noticeable, plus it keeps the originality of the paint system.

If you are really obsessed like me, you can always buy a micrometer and measure the paint thickness to see if it's over the suggested repainted max allowance of 80 microns.