I just bought a 2001 bright red Z3 and don't know if it came from the factory with lacquer paint and needs special washing, polishing, and waxing products or techniques. All my experience in auto paint care has been with clear coated US or Japanese cars.
Lacquer paint on Z3?
- Thread starter ragged claws
- Start date
I wondered the same thing about my 1997 jet black. no metalflake and if you try to dust it with a microfiber it leaves what looks like scratches. after washing it and using a chamois, it still doesn't look good to me unless I spray with a detail wax and even then I have to wipe lightly. never had a car with paint so temper mental.
Thanks 2Dunns. The paint on my car seems perfect except for some swirl marks from previous buffing. I just don't want to mess it up by using the wrong products or techniques.
Im sure the products may be a little different over here. I use products from griots garage. their best of show wax is killer.
I thought that Spartenburg (the only plant to make Z3s in production) started out with a water based paint shop. The article here seems to confirm that and my memory is not playing tricks.
https://www.bmwusfactory.com/manufacturing/production-overview/
With automotive water based paint systems in manufacturing plants all colours are clear over base. Primers and basecoat paints are waterbased. Apart from a few processes that used water slurry clearcoats (mainly Daimler) in the 1990s and some experimental powder coat clearcoat systems (including BMW) clearcoats are solvent based.
So your original paint would be what you are familiar with and your usual cleaning/polishing routine should work fine. If there have been repairs, or rhe car has been repainted, you may find that the surface responds differently to the original paint.
Hope that helps.
https://www.bmwusfactory.com/manufacturing/production-overview/
With automotive water based paint systems in manufacturing plants all colours are clear over base. Primers and basecoat paints are waterbased. Apart from a few processes that used water slurry clearcoats (mainly Daimler) in the 1990s and some experimental powder coat clearcoat systems (including BMW) clearcoats are solvent based.
So your original paint would be what you are familiar with and your usual cleaning/polishing routine should work fine. If there have been repairs, or rhe car has been repainted, you may find that the surface responds differently to the original paint.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for the knowledge. Sure responds like laquer.
Thanks roadvoyager1. This info helps a lot. Seems like you folks across the pond are fond of Autoglym products. They are available here in the US so might give them a try. I'll probably try the resin polish and the wax. The wax is quite pricey though.
I justed realized when we were talking about products ragged claw, that you are in the US. im so used to everyone being from
across the water I didn't even notice. I also had to laugh when I saw that it has a Canadian flag under me right now because I am on vacation at Niagra Falls on the Canadian side. Im from Canton Ohio.
across the water I didn't even notice. I also had to laugh when I saw that it has a Canadian flag under me right now because I am on vacation at Niagra Falls on the Canadian side. Im from Canton Ohio.
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Autoglym do make good products a lot of members here use them .
Think all zeds have clearcoat finish both our zeds are non metallic and both are basecoat and lacquer which helps a lot to stop sun fade that non metallic unlacquered finishes suffer badly from
Think all zeds have clearcoat finish both our zeds are non metallic and both are basecoat and lacquer which helps a lot to stop sun fade that non metallic unlacquered finishes suffer badly from
A bi*** to wipe off without causing a fine scratch on this black.