I thought paint were still urethane based. If they are, orange peel is inevitable. If you want your car "show quality," you would have to take it to a professional detailer where they will sand, compound, and polish that baby until it's as smooth as a mirror. It would also cost an arm and a leg.

As for my silver grey, the paint job is equal to my wife Toyota Sequioia. I can see wavy lines from the shop lights at 6 inch viewing. But compared to my father black LS430 (Lexus), my beemer paint job looks crappy from 6 inches away . . .

BMW factory paint are not that great, IMO. :thumbsdown: By the pass, concave surface (like the end of the trunk) are more susceptible to orange peel and convex surfaces (like your hood).

 

I have noticed quite a bit of orange peel under the very bright light of the showroom when looking at the new cars at my local BMW dealer. I have also noticed it on Mercedes, so don't think it is confined to BMW. I think the beautiful, deep paint jobs of the past are pretty much history now. They spend a little less money and a little less time on them each year, and people continue to buy them so there is no incentive to improve the quality of the paint. Look on the trunk of Cadillac or any other american-made quality car and you will really see some orange peel in the paint.