Has anyone worked on a 2016 BMW X5? Ceramiclear or no?

emmjay

emmjay

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Hello guys,

My dad has a 2016 X5 in Mineral White Metallic. I would like to work on the car, however, even though the car is now one year old, there are absolutely no signs of swirls. I have examined it with my pen light as well as I can but I cannot spot any spiderwebbing, even looked in the sun. And it is washed by someone else, at home, not me - so definitely not much care taken.

My question is, does BMW apply a similar Ceramiclear paint like Mercedes does? If that's the case, how can I go about to clean the paint up. Its white so I can see a lot of black spots in the paint that look like Tar or Iron. I have personally not seen any Tar or Iron removal products in Dubai, maybe Optimum Ferrex which I can ask the local OPT dealer for.

I had a similar issue with my Mom's Audi Q5(see pic below) that I detailed a couple of weeks ago. There were a ton of black spots, polishing with a compound and cutting pad got 70% off. But If I can get them off without polishing on this X5 that would be great. As there are no swirls - I can just get them off, clay and seal.



P.S. I have a Flex 3401, meguiars products and Hybrid pads - if it helps.

The Audi was really tough to work and so much crud was picked up and made my pads black too:

IMG_36823.JPG


IMG_36662.JPG


Any inputs or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Mukul
 
I have not worked on a 2016 X5 but have worked on 2016 3 series. There should not be any differences in clear that is used on the 3 series vs X5.

AFAIK, only Mercedes uses the Ceramiclear.

I would try to locate a chemical decontamination product to help remove the tar/iron deposits. You will be in better shape using a specific product for removing the contamination rather than trying to compound/polish them off with mechanical abrasion.

You will be well served with the 3401, Hybrid pads, and Menzerna products if you can get your hands on them.

Mike
 
Mike@DedicatedPerfection said:
I have not worked on a 2016 X5 but have worked on 2016 3 series. There should not be any differences in clear that is used on the 3 series vs X5.

AFAIK, only Mercedes uses the Ceramiclear.

I would try to locate a chemical decontamination product to help remove the tar/iron deposits. You will be in better shape using a specific product for removing the contamination rather than trying to compound/polish them off with mechanical abrasion.

You will be well served with the 3401, Hybrid pads, and Menzerna products if you can get your hands on them.

Mike
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike!! I actually have 2 BMW's in the house. The 3 series I worked on had swirls all over the car in less than one year and is my brothers car.I polished it and in less than 6 months it was swirls all over again. This is why I have this question. Both BMW's are washed the same way, by the same person. The 3 series is covered in swirls, the X5 looks amazing without a swirl in sight.

Here is the 328i I worked on - M205 and white polishing pad is all it took...

IMG_25893.JPG


I would like to get my hands on Menzerna but I am still unsure of this DAT technology and still a bit hesitant to use it. I have some Sonax 3-6 still new sitting in my closet for this reason.

If I do get the menz products, what would you recommend? I have loved my meguiars products due to their long working times in the hot temps of Dubai, so did not want to stray but if I must...

Cars I will work on more frequently:

My Accord 2016 in Golden brown metallic - soft paint for sure

BMW 328i M-sport 2013 - Metallic black - very easy to correct with just m205 and a white pad

Audi Q5 2013 - Glacier white metallic - HARD paint

BMW X5 - Mineral White metallic - uknown but looks hard to me

P.S. Are these iron removal products just spray on and rinse off after dwell? I am concerned because I read that it must be agitated and I really don't know how. Plus I am scared that if I agitate it, wont the iron particles scratch?
 
This is really just a stab in the dark and thinking out loud, but maybe the SUV type vehicles are painted with a harder clear based on the expectation the paint may take some more abuse being driven off road?
 
lawrenceSA said:
This is really just a stab in the dark and thinking out loud, but maybe the SUV type vehicles are painted with a harder clear based on the expectation the paint may take some more abuse being driven off road?
Click to expand...

I was told by the dealer than the paint on more expensive BMW's is different....that's the only statement he made and I feel he is right.

However, I want to know before I even touch the paint.

As its getting cooler out (lol 85-90)....I might be able to work more comfortably and make the car look better than it is.
 
Clay it and hit it with a nonabrasive Polish like Blackfire gloss enhancing polish. Since there's no defects, just clean it up and seal it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
ekennett said:
Clay it and hit it with a nonabrasive Polish like Blackfire gloss enhancing polish. Since there's no defects, just clean it up and seal it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I do plan on doing that either way, but just in case, I was only wondering that's all :)

Thanks though
 
My understanding is that BMW does NOT use ceramic filament paints. I would do exactly as you have planned with regard to a thorough wash and decon to remove as much as possible. I would then machine around with a good paint cleaner such as DG501 to remove what's left.

Personally i like seeing pads get nice and dirty like that. It confirms the paint cleaner is removing more stubborn stuff from the paint.
 
For future reference, with ceramic paint, it is only on the top that is ceramic. Not all of the clear. So when compounding "ceramic" clear, remember that.

Puckman said:
My understanding is that BMW does NOT use ceramic filament paints. I would do exactly as you have planned with regard to a thorough wash and decon to remove as much as possible. I would then machine around with a good paint cleaner such as DG501 to remove what's left.

Personally i like seeing pads get nice and dirty like that. It confirms the paint cleaner is removing more stubborn stuff from the paint.
Click to expand...
 
I've done a few X5 M's this year and found the paint to be medium to medium-hard. Very nice from the factory with few de-nibbing marks and not a ton of swirls from the dealer (at least on the one's I've touched). Defects polished out without much fuss. I'm not sure if BMW is using some sort of ceramic-clear technology like Mercedes-Benz but it does seem like really nice paint. Now if only they'd apply it a little bit thicker......................
 
lawrenceSA said:
This is really just a stab in the dark and thinking out loud, but maybe the SUV type vehicles are painted with a harder clear based on the expectation the paint may take some more abuse being driven off road?
Click to expand...

In the factories I have been in which run dual models (eg sedans and SUV's) through the paint shop the colours are of course different in the range but the clear is the same... all from the same materials supplier..
When i spoke to the paint engineers the same coverage logic is applied too.. ie same pattern (sequence coverage and passes), but of course different programs due to form factor..

Specialist off road lines running just off roaders may be different thinking something like Land Rover for instance...
 
View attachment 52720View attachment 52721

Op, suggest, wash, blow dry then iron x the paint (ensuring to aggitate the iron x with a foam applicator pads to work it in.. )
.. then clay.. then see if you still have any tar.. remove if evident..
Wash again when done perhaps adding a little APC .. now inspect... some swirls will ikely be evident (minor from claying if paint was filthy, some from LSP removal uncovering true paint condition)...

No Cermiclear on BMW paint... and the metallic white is clear over colour... so treat same as any other..

Test spot and least agressive first etc..

Re LSP mettallic whites are a good candidate for coatings... (extra gloss and getting white to pop is a PITA)
If not excellent results possible with numerous sealants and some hybrids.. (eg collinite 845 / 476s)...

I also topped with Pinnacle Souveran BUT it deffo darkens . warms the colour vs the collinite,.. nice slick finish though and it needed usingup. .so whatever..

All the best
 
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