[Albert]

Hi. I've got a 15 plate F56 JCW in Rebal Green with a red roof and mirrors: all standard extra. The dealership applied 'Williams Synthetic' to both the exterior and I tier of the vehicle.

When the sun shines on the real green paintwork there appears to be swirls within the paintwork that look as though they are in '3D'. As you change positions the swirls appear to move and change shape. They look like they were being viewed through a pair of 3D glasses that you wear at the cinema.

Has anyone any experience of this on a non coated rebal finish. Thanks.

 

[KYDan]

Not on mine, but the paint is ultra thin and I am hesitant to buff it out even though there some sort of swirl marks on it. I am trying different polishes to see if that helps. I like the Meguair's black wax as it helped on the C7, but not the mini. I do love the car though, it is a terrific performer and it makes me smile every time that I drive it.

 

[Rob Arias]

The paint is dreadfully thin and fragile. In 3 months I have more chips in the bonnet paint than any other vehicle I have owned. I am rarely on the expressway and stay mostly on back roads. It is very disappointing.

 

[KYDan]

Back roads are the problem for me as we do a lot of mountain events on rough roads with a lot of cars. When we traded the R56 it had a severe case of road rash, it looked as if it had white measles. It was the dark blue with a white primer and I did touch it up but it was still very evident. But, I think it was better than the finish on the F56.

 

[Furbytom]

The dealership have damaged your paint by causing swirls and hologram effect. They obviously didn't know what they were doing when they applied the product. I'd be livid! It's worth making a complaint and I'd be pushing for them to pay for you to take it to a professional to get the paint corrected and car detailed properly.

 

[Evlkarl]

Agree on the thin paint on the F56. The last Dust Storm here in Phoenix did over 5K with the damage to my car. Never owned a car that had such thin paint. Mini needs to do something about the paint.

 

[02fanatic]

So glad I didn't allow my dealer to detail the car. I detailed it myself.....no better way to get to know the car!

As for the paint, time will tell I suppose but my bet is the water based paint just doesn't have the strength as the tried & true acrylic enamels and lacquers of old. We're feeling the pinch of environmental friendly paint technology. Then again maybe it's just that MINI isn't spraying enough paint on!

 

[Blat7Chris]

My Thunder Grey car is swirl free, but the dealer has never washed it, not even before delivery, it was delivered dirty for that very reason. The damage just sounds like poor washing technique. If you are not a detailer yourself, then get a professional detailer to correct the damage, but this will remove the protect applied by the dealer. Once corrected you need to wash it with a safe technique or the swirls will return, this is all a slippery slop into the world of detailing.

 

[polarisboy386]

The paint is dreadfully thin and fragile. In 3 months I have more chips in the bonnet paint than any other vehicle I have owned. I am rarely on the expressway and stay mostly on back roads. It is very disappointing.

Get the "road rash" corrected, then invest in a clear bra for the car. It is a section of clear vinyl they overlay on the car which should help provide years of protection.

Just don't ever buy those god awful black bras you see many people with. Your paint will not last long if you do lol

 

[KYDan]

The clear bra is not problem free, a number of the members of our corvette club have them and there have been issues and it is rather expensive. They do help some in a lot of situations, however, if you get hit by a large stone they do not cover that under the warranty and the only way to repair it adequately is to have the entire treatment for that section of the car removed, then have the mar, ding, chip, dent, etc. repaired and then have the product reapplied. In the incident that I am referring to the cost to the owner was a little over $5,000 US. I really am considering just doing nothing and then at some point have the hood and front repaired as needed or just sell the car, take my licks and move on. That means buying another JCW! OK, as it will have the latest, greatest modifications and improvements and I now have enough first hand knowledge to know what I want when I order it!

 

[02fanatic]

The clear bra is not problem free, a number of the members of our corvette club have them and there have been issues and it is rather expensive. They do help some in a lot of situations, however, if you get hit by a large stone they do not cover that under the warranty and the only way to repair it adequately is to have the entire treatment for that section of the car removed, then have the mar, ding, chip, dent, etc. repaired and then have the product reapplied. In the incident that I am referring to the cost to the owner was a little over $5,000 US. I really am considering just doing nothing and then at some point have the hood and front repaired as needed or just sell the car, take my licks and move on. That means buying another JCW! OK, as it will have the latest, greatest modifications and improvements and I now have enough first hand knowledge to know what I want when I order it!

That sounds like good advice Dan! I hate chips probably more than anyone but I'll just enjoy the car as is & polish & wax the snot out of it while in my care! If I have paint issues it may be the time to get a striping kit or do something different!

Happy Motoring (& hurry spring!),

John

 

[Rob Arias]

The clear bra is not problem free, a number of the members of our corvette club have them and there have been issues and it is rather expensive. They do help some in a lot of situations, however, if you get hit by a large stone they do not cover that under the warranty and the only way to repair it adequately is to have the entire treatment for that section of the car removed, then have the mar, ding, chip, dent, etc. repaired and then have the product reapplied. In the incident that I am referring to the cost to the owner was a little over $5,000 US. I really am considering just doing nothing and then at some point have the hood and front repaired as needed or just sell the car, take my licks and move on. That means buying another JCW! OK, as it will have the latest, greatest modifications and improvements and I now have enough first hand knowledge to know what I want when I order it!

Im with you on this, have had clear bra's in the past. When I removed one in a similar situation it actually removed a dollar size of paint with it.

The cost to repaint the bumper was $350, less than the dang clear bra...