Dealer wet-sanding brand new car to fix paint issues

willysp · 09-02-2009, 10:30 PM

I bought a new 2009 Z4 last Friday, took it home for the weekend with agreement that they'd do dealer prep and detailing this week while I'm out of town.

Over the weekend, I noticed about 15 spots on the car after washing off some bird droppings (from their lot).

Dealer says they needed to wet sand the car to fix the finish. I'm scheduled to take delivery Friday.

I've told them I'm surprised, that I want to hear from BMW NA that this is not an unusual step, and want that in writing.

Am I over-reacting? Thoughts, please!

TIA

Alext · 09-02-2009, 10:58 PM

Wet sanding is for serious defects in the clear coat only. I have wet sanded with success before on new cars. It just means your clear will be a bit thinner where they sanded. If they polish out the sanding marks properly with a good rubbing compound they it should be all good.

Z4 Beemer · 09-03-2009, 03:13 AM

As Alext says, wet sanding is really only for serious defects and will severely cut into your clearcoat. If its marks left from bird droppings then a good polishing compound might get rid of them. To be honest, I wouldn't let the dealers do this sort of thing and would use a good professional detailer instead.

willysp · 09-03-2009, 05:30 AM

Thanks for the replies.

I got more info from dealer last night - they want a detailing shop to color sand the car, and tell me it will improve the luster of the car, remove orange peel, and give the paint more "pop". And that, given the thickness of BMW clear coat, it won't significantly degrade the clear coat.

Nebraska99 · 09-03-2009, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willysp

Thanks for the replies.

I got more info from dealer last night - they want a detailing shop to color sand the car, and tell me it will improve the luster of the car, remove orange peel, and give the paint more "pop". And that, given the thickness of BMW clear coat, it won't significantly degrade the clear coat.

If I'm paying 60 grand for a car it better be damn well perfect. I will not accept ANY degradation of quality of appearance. I'd tell them to order another one but I'm kind of OCD like that.

Z4 Beemer · 09-03-2009, 07:35 AM

Wet sanding will certainly help remove the orange peel affect, but I think from what you are describing, it sounds a bit on the extreme side. You can easily achieve a glossy, wet look with "flake pop" without resorting to wet sanding. I don't think I would ever contemplate wet sanding a brand new car.

jannisa · 09-03-2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

Wet sanding will certainly help remove the orange peel affect, but I think from what you are describing, it sounds a bit on the extreme side. You can easily achieve a glossy, wet look with "flake pop" without resorting to wet sanding. I don't think I would ever contemplate wet sanding a brand new car.

Totally agree. Why don't you first try something more color-friendly like a finishing compound? I would suggest Farecla g3 and then g10, works wonders and if this doesn't work then you should put gas on your dealer. Such a thing is totally unacceptable in such a car.

willysp · 09-03-2009, 12:33 PM

Thanks all for the responses. The dealer has gone ahead and had a custom detailer do the wet sand. I've asked for measurements of paint thickness, and to meet with the detailer tomorrow when I inspect the car. If they can convince me with measurements that they didn't take much clear coat off, and there's no orange peel, and the finish looks like a mirror, and the car looks like it's ready to go to a show, and all this goes into their records, then I may accept the car with the agreement that they stand behind the paint well beyond the warranty period. (This is one of the oldest BMW dealers in the US, so I'd trust them more than most). We'll see.

09-02-2009, 10:30 PM	#1
willysp Private 2 Rep 85 Posts Drives: Z4 '09 35i DCT Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Indiana, US iTrader: (0)	Dealer wet-sanding brand new car to fix paint issues - ?? I bought a new 2009 Z4 last Friday, took it home for the weekend with agreement that they'd do dealer prep and detailing this week while I'm out of town. Over the weekend, I noticed about 15 spots on the car after washing off some bird droppings (from their lot). Dealer says they needed to wet sand the car to fix the finish. I'm scheduled to take delivery Friday. I've told them I'm surprised, that I want to hear from BMW NA that this is not an unusual step, and want that in writing. Am I over-reacting? Thoughts, please! TIA
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09-02-2009, 10:58 PM	#2
Alext Banned 138 Rep 2,042 Posts Drives: B M W Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Everest iTrader: (2)	Wet sanding is for serious defects in the clear coat only. I have wet sanded with success before on new cars. It just means your clear will be a bit thinner where they sanded. If they polish out the sanding marks properly with a good rubbing compound they it should be all good.
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09-03-2009, 03:13 AM	#3
Z4 Beemer Colonel 85 Rep 2,353 Posts Drives: 2009 Z4 sDrive 23i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 E92 [0.00] 2004 Z4 2.2i [8.00]	As Alext says, wet sanding is really only for serious defects and will severely cut into your clearcoat. If its marks left from bird droppings then a good polishing compound might get rid of them. To be honest, I wouldn't let the dealers do this sort of thing and would use a good professional detailer instead. __________________ E89 Z4 sDrive 23i... for the more discerning driver
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09-03-2009, 05:30 AM	#4
willysp Private 2 Rep 85 Posts Drives: Z4 '09 35i DCT Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Indiana, US iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the replies. I got more info from dealer last night - they want a detailing shop to color sand the car, and tell me it will improve the luster of the car, remove orange peel, and give the paint more "pop". And that, given the thickness of BMW clear coat, it won't significantly degrade the clear coat.
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09-03-2009, 07:35 AM	#6
Z4 Beemer Colonel 85 Rep 2,353 Posts Drives: 2009 Z4 sDrive 23i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 E92 [0.00] 2004 Z4 2.2i [8.00]	Wet sanding will certainly help remove the orange peel affect, but I think from what you are describing, it sounds a bit on the extreme side. You can easily achieve a glossy, wet look with "flake pop" without resorting to wet sanding. I don't think I would ever contemplate wet sanding a brand new car. __________________ E89 Z4 sDrive 23i... for the more discerning driver
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09-03-2009, 12:33 PM	#8
willysp Private 2 Rep 85 Posts Drives: Z4 '09 35i DCT Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Indiana, US iTrader: (0)	Thanks all for the responses. The dealer has gone ahead and had a custom detailer do the wet sand. I've asked for measurements of paint thickness, and to meet with the detailer tomorrow when I inspect the car. If they can convince me with measurements that they didn't take much clear coat off, and there's no orange peel, and the finish looks like a mirror, and the car looks like it's ready to go to a show, and all this goes into their records, then I may accept the car with the agreement that they stand behind the paint well beyond the warranty period. (This is one of the oldest BMW dealers in the US, so I'd trust them more than most). We'll see.
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