Carbon black - how much does it suck?
02-11-2006, 10:40 AM
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My Ride: 525d Sport Touring, Carbon Black, Dakota Black Leather, Maple Wood interior trim
"How much more black could this be? And the answer is ‘None. None...more black’ " - David St Hubbins, Spinal Tap
Is it the experience of other forum members that this paint finish marks up/scratches at the lightest of touches?
In the middle of last year, I left my (then nine month old) E61 with the $tealer to have a ding over the offside rear wheelarch repaired/resprayed. When the vehicle was returned to me, the entire car was covered in fine (and some not so fine) scratches/whorls. Now, I tend to use a jet wash when I clean the car normally, so this wa sprobably one of the first times it had been cleaned by hand.
I complained (in the event the respray needed redoing as well - a real successful visit all in all) and the bodyshop manager to his credit bent over backwards to redress the 'damage'.
Since then, just been using the jet wash... until today, took it to a local well-respected hand wash place - there were two Mercs and an X5 there at the same time, so I decided it would be safe, especially as I'd used it a few years back regularly for my 3-series.
Result - whorls, whorls, whorls, heavier marks/scratches all over again... now, to my mind, there is something seriously wrong with a paint finish if it can't take normal cleaning... is this the experience of other Carbon Black owners? Or do I just have a sub-standard paint job on my car?
And can anyone suggest a good wax or something to help disguise the whorls/scratches.
Much appreciated.
In the middle of last year, I left my (then nine month old) E61 with the $tealer to have a ding over the offside rear wheelarch repaired/resprayed. When the vehicle was returned to me, the entire car was covered in fine (and some not so fine) scratches/whorls. Now, I tend to use a jet wash when I clean the car normally, so this wa sprobably one of the first times it had been cleaned by hand.
I complained (in the event the respray needed redoing as well - a real successful visit all in all) and the bodyshop manager to his credit bent over backwards to redress the 'damage'.
Since then, just been using the jet wash... until today, took it to a local well-respected hand wash place - there were two Mercs and an X5 there at the same time, so I decided it would be safe, especially as I'd used it a few years back regularly for my 3-series.
Result - whorls, whorls, whorls, heavier marks/scratches all over again... now, to my mind, there is something seriously wrong with a paint finish if it can't take normal cleaning... is this the experience of other Carbon Black owners? Or do I just have a sub-standard paint job on my car?
And can anyone suggest a good wax or something to help disguise the whorls/scratches.
Much appreciated.
02-11-2006, 10:47 AM
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My Ride: MY RIDE is DA real .-) HAMANN 5 aka BLACK MAMBA born on 16/06/2005/delivered on 05/08/2005 as following:
530dA (steptronic), Black II (JET), leather Dakota auburn black, mapple trim, head-up display, dynamic drive, active steering, adaptive xenon headlights (auto levelling) with headlight washers, alarm, comfort seats with massage function, advanced A/C, big compartment armrest, aux-in, MP3, Logic 7, Radio PRO, CD in-dash+cd changer, power rear sunshades, rear airbags, park distance control, auto dimming folding mirrors, smoking package, shiny shadow line (individual), fold down rear seats, ski bag, sport suspension, run flats on �116-style� rims (Good Year NCT5+), cup holders, debadged, fire extinguishers, additional permanent power outlet, BMW coat hanger, trunk release button (installed by Hobi), GPS tracking device and a big thx 2 Iceman.
Mods done:
� Authentic HAMANN FRONT APRON Including ellipsoid fog lights Item-No.: 10 060 110
� Authentic HAMANN REAR SPOILER Item-No.: 10 060 130,
� Authentic HAMANN HAMANN ALUMINIUM PEDALS For cars with manual gearbox Item-No.: 80 099 100 81,00 For cars with automatic transmission Item-No.: 80 099 120
� Authentic HAMANN FOOT REST In aluminium For left-hand drive vehicles Item No. : 80 099 122
� Authentic HAMANN HAND-BRAKE LEVER In aluminium For left- and right-hand drive cars Item No. : 80 099 216
� Authentic HAMANN Idrive of alu (sorry this is the only one in the World) but you can have it in carbon fiber ,
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� Authentic HAMANN COVER FOR OIL FILLER CAP In aluminium Item-No.: 80 099 117
� Authentic HAMANN SPORT REAR MUFFLER 4 TAILPIPES Sport rear muffler with four round stainless-steel tailpipes ( � 76mm ) Item-No.: 50 060 111
� Authentic HAMANN new add-on for M pack rear with diffusor for quad pipes -AVAILABLE NOW (http://forums.e60.net/index.php?act=ST&f=22&t=30630&st=0#entry332409)
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� ///M pack rear
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most improtant:
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Ultra-light forged 3-pieced light-alloy wheel, Cross-spoke-design,Spider in black, titanium, screwing,polished flange
DIMENSIONS : 9.0 J x 20 FA Item No.: 91 207 315
10.5 J x 20 only RA Item No.: 91 207 625
Recommended 20" Complete Wheel Set DESIGN EDITION RACE I went with most aggressive Combination A.10 FA 9.0 J x 20 / RA 10.5 J x 20 with tires: FA 245/30 ZR 20 / RA 285/25 ZR 20
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� Authentic HAMANN AIRBAG SPORT STEERING WHEEL 3-SPOKE Three-spoke design w their SMG paddles (For assembly O.E. airbag in exchange)
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E60.net Clings
Still to do list;-):
� Our Hobi's camera system from : ww.switchchange.com).
� Individual leather interior (auburn+auburn alcantara)... and drive with sheer drivin' pleasure ... until 2009/2010 F10 comes or E60 possibly a 540d V8 diesel early in 2009 badly juiced!
my Jet is non-metalic no **** protection at all so far ok, was because of speeds some chips on the hood, but quite small ones.
every month 2X full care, wash, wax and it is like new.
Cannot wait that this
winter finish...
every month 2X full care, wash, wax and it is like new.
Cannot wait that this
winter finish...
02-11-2006, 10:50 AM
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I think Carbon Black is the best looking color BMW has ever made. 
It's not the paint that is getting whorls and scratches ... it's the clear coat. :thumbsdown: It just shows up more with a dark color underneath it (Jet Black and Black Sapphire have the same problem).
It's not the paint that is getting whorls and scratches ... it's the clear coat. :thumbsdown: It just shows up more with a dark color underneath it (Jet Black and Black Sapphire have the same problem).
02-11-2006, 10:58 AM
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My Ride: E60 530d Sport - Carbon Black, Black Dakota Leather, Media Pack (satnav, bluetooth, CD changer), heated font seats, through load
Wash it by hand, or accept swirl marks. It's a fact of life with such a colour. I'm sure you wouldn't notice it with a lighter colour.
I was very unhappy with my car. Swirl marks everywhere even before I had driven it (out of the showroom)
I was told that the paint is quite soft when new. You'd think that they would have a paint that would survive the normal wear and tear of daily life.
Meguiars is a popular choice for car finishing. www.meguiars.co.uk
I was very unhappy with my car. Swirl marks everywhere even before I had driven it (out of the showroom)
I was told that the paint is quite soft when new. You'd think that they would have a paint that would survive the normal wear and tear of daily life.
Meguiars is a popular choice for car finishing. www.meguiars.co.uk
02-11-2006, 12:51 PM
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My Ride: 525d Sport Touring, Carbon Black, Dakota Black Leather, Maple Wood interior trim
"How much more black could this be? And the answer is ‘None. None...more black’ " - David St Hubbins, Spinal Tap
Originally Posted by BangleBox_530d' post='238485' date='Feb 11 2006, 07:58 PM
I was very unhappy with my car. Swirl marks everywhere even before I had driven it (out of the showroom)
I was told that the paint is quite soft when new. You'd think that they would have a paint that would survive the normal wear and tear of daily life.
I was told that the paint is quite soft when new. You'd think that they would have a paint that would survive the normal wear and tear of daily life.
Thanks for the Meguiars tip - you tried it yourself?
02-11-2006, 01:13 PM
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My Carbon Black paint seems soft as well. I use 3M Imperial Hand glaze to polish out the swirls and light scratches as neccessary and keep a good coat of wax on it. The other thing is to use more than one wash mitt - I have one that I use for the top half of the car, one for the rocker panels/lower bumpers, and another for the wheels. Keeping your wash mitt super clean does help reduce the scratches.
02-11-2006, 01:20 PM
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My Ride: 2006 550i Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Anthracite Maple Wood Trim, Cold Weather Package, Premium Sound Package, Sport Package, Steptronic, Navigation, Electric Rear Sunshades, Heated Rear Seats, Sirius Radio
With carbon black you are going to either need to invest a fortune in professional detailing or learn how to do it yourself. Go to autopia.org and go through the tutorials. Then purchase a Porter Cable dual action polisher and some pads etc. My last BMW was a Jet Black M3. I needed to do a complete detail if by mistake the dealership washed the car after service. Now I have silver and couldn't be happier.
02-11-2006, 01:21 PM
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My Ride: 525d Sport Touring, Carbon Black, Dakota Black Leather, Maple Wood interior trim
"How much more black could this be? And the answer is ‘None. None...more black’ " - David St Hubbins, Spinal Tap
Originally Posted by MacKay' post='238559' date='Feb 11 2006, 10:13 PM
My Carbon Black paint seems soft as well. I use 3M Imperial Hand glaze to polish out the swirls and light scratches as neccessary and keep a good coat of wax on it. The other thing is to use more than one wash mitt - I have one that I use for the top half of the car, one for the rocker panels/lower bumpers, and another for the wheels. Keeping your wash mitt super clean does help reduce the scratches.
One Grand Omega Glaze is another candidate that has come up - not as abrasive (apparently) as Scratch X - anyone tried it?
02-11-2006, 01:27 PM
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My Carbon Black paint seems soft as well. I use 3M Imperial Hand glaze to polish out the swirls and light scratches as neccessary and keep a good coat of wax on it. The other thing is to use more than one wash mitt - I have one that I use for the top half of the car, one for the rocker panels/lower bumpers, and another for the wheels. Keeping your wash mitt super clean does help reduce the scratches.
One Grand Omega Glaze is another candidate that has come up - not as abrasive (apparently) as Scratch X - anyone tried it?
[/quote]
I should also mention there is a big difference in wash mitts - the real sheepkin mitts are far softer and retain far less grit than the synthetic ones imo.
