derBayerische November/December 2024 - 7

Steps for Proper Paint
Preservation
Article and photos by Brad Will
W
hen a BMW enthusiast
purchases a car, the goal is
typically to preserve the
paint in great condition for years.
This is a realistic goal, if a few simple
steps are followed. First, a car with
existing exceptional paint should be
chosen for purchase. Once a suitable
car has been acquired, a plan should
be developed to preserve the paintwork.
A simple plan includes:
frequent hand washing and applying
a spray wax several times a year,
polishing the paint annually, and
protecting it with a quality paste wax
or paint sealant. Paint correction is
rarely necessary if a vehicle is
properly maintained. The key with
any paint maintenance plan is
consistency. A good rule is to make
vehicle cosmetic maintenance part
of the mechanical maintenance plan.
For example, hand wash, polish the
paint, and apply a wax, when your
engine oil is changed. If a proper
cosmetic maintenance plan is
followed, the paint will look great
for many years and help your BMW
hold its value.
The first step to preserving the
paint work, is to start with a car that
currently has paint in exceptional
condition. Correcting paint defects
is expensive and not without downsides.
If purchasing a new vehicle,
inspect it in natural light before
signing the paperwork. The paint
should be free of re-painted panels,
■ A BMW 330e after polishing and waxing with a quality carnauba wax.
small paint repairs, dents, car wash
scratches, and polishing marks.
A request can be made, in advance,
that the dealer not wash the car or
apply any sealants or coatings.
Thoroughly research dealer offered
sealants and coatings to understand
the value proposition before committing.
A
pre-owned car requires a
much more thorough evaluation of
the paint. Ideally, purchase a oneowner
car that comes with a full
history of the car and how it was
cosmetically maintained. Carefully
inspect the car in natural light to
identify re-finished panels and
evaluate the overall condition of
the clear coat. Even a ten-year-old
vehicle should have paint that is
glossy, clear, and without light
scratches. The presence of these
characteristics is an indication that
the car's paint has been properly
maintained. Typically, very lightsporadic
car wash scratches can be
reduced after purchase, and should
not necessarily be a deal breaker.
Inquire further about cars that may
have had " paint correction " , to find
out why the paint was corrected and
what steps were undertaken.
The clear coat can be thin if paint
correction has been done, reducing
the longevity. Walk away from cars
which have moderate to heavy
scratches, dullness, pitting, uneven
color, uneven paint texture, overNovember
I December 2024
7

derBayerische November/December 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of derBayerische November/December 2024

derBayerische November/December 2024 - Intro
derBayerische November/December 2024 - Cover1
derBayerische November/December 2024 - Cover2
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 1
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 2
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 3
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 4
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 5
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 6
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 7
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 8
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 9
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 10
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 11
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 12
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 13
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 14
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 15
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 16
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 17
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 18
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 19
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 20
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 21
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 22
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 23
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 24
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 25
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 26
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 27
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 28
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 29
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 30
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 31
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 32
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 33
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 34
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 35
derBayerische November/December 2024 - 36
derBayerische November/December 2024 - Cover3
derBayerische November/December 2024 - Cover4
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https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/derBayerische/derbayerische-november-december-2024
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