Orange Peel - United Bimmer Community

**CAPiTUL** · 04-27-2007, 06:17 PM

Does anybody know how to gauge what is acceptable? I just got my bimmer out of the shop for some body work and the orange peel is absolutely ridiculous! When it went it, it had very minimal amounts of orange peel. Now, it is horrible! I sent it back once and they said they'd work on it. Now, they said its as good as it'll get, which isn't NEARLY as clean looking as it was going in! This occurred at a major dealer, as well - not a fly by night shop.

Anybody have any suggestions?

**ts03m3** · 04-27-2007, 06:36 PM

Was the whole car painted or just a portion. If just a portion take it back and have them match the existing finish. Depending on the orange peel texture, I've shot a 2nd clear coat and then color sanded it to smooth it out. (reason for the 2nd clear coat is to add material so as not to sand down to the base color).

**CAPiTUL** · 04-27-2007, 07:43 PM

Thanks, TS. They painted portions, which ended up being almost the entire car. Hood, Fenders, top of bumper, doors, quarter panels, trunk, and top of rear bumper.

**chris325i** · 04-28-2007, 01:03 AM

hey man i done the body work and painted both of my vehicles. the key to getting a mirror smooth finish is to spray the clear coal on thick, i put 3 to 4 coats when i spray, and then wet sanding, aka color sanding with 1500 grit sandpaper, and then follow that with 2000 grit if you want it super smooth. follow that with a 3 cut buffing job and you'll be able to brush your teeth in the reflection. if you dont want to do it yourself then demand it from your body shop. if they're any good then they would have done that anyway. hope this helps you out.

**mullethunter3** · 04-28-2007, 01:10 AM

Pics?

**CAPiTUL** · 04-28-2007, 05:01 PM

Yeah, they supposedly wet sanded it, but it doesn't look a whole lot better.

Pics? It's very difficult to get pics of orange peel. I tried a few times and you just can't tell in a photo.

**ts03m3** · 04-28-2007, 06:07 PM

If your not getting results from the shop that painted the car, and the work was done on an insurance claim, contact the ins co. and tell them your not happy with the results from the shop. The ins co's carry more weight with getting a shop to complete the job to your satisfaction. I've known people who's Ins Co sent the car out for re-painting at a different shop at their expense.

But if you took the car in at your own expense, the shop knows they can usually get by with what they are doing to you.

**chris325i** · 04-28-2007, 11:16 PM

if i were you i would just wet sand it myself until you were satisfied with the way it looked. its not brain surgery or anything like that, just keep a close eye and make sure you dont cut to deep, but when your using 1500 grit sandpaper its pretty hard to do that. just make sure your keeping the surface free of debris and stuff that can scratch it. use warm soapy water and a wet sanding block or a paint padle to back your paper. then just buff it up real good and you'll have a slick ride my friend.