I thought I would do an appraisal about buying then living with A BMW Frozen (or other Matte) paint finish. There is an awful lot of scaremongering on these paint finishes and the internet has made me change my mind on numerous occasions from pursuing a car with such a unique and nightmarish paint finish. I thought I would add some balance and my experience of living with it.
Firstly buying the car. What marks are on the car, are there to stay unless you have it painted. So the first thing to remember, it won't polish out! If you do that you turn the opaque lacquer to gloss and then your really knackered as it will look awful, and your dear little mark has now turned into an area that has a lovely shiny reflection. So when buying check out Every mark or scratch, as its there to stay. One thing to remember, you need to be extra careful where you park your matte paint car, a door ding sometimes does not leave a dent, but leaves a paint blemish, again something that will polish out on a gloss car but its staying on Matte! Another thing to consider is bonded on spoilers, stickers and adhesives, all much harder to get off on a Matte finish paint, because if you mark it, well, you get the idea! Mine is 10 years old and generally 95% original paint and has held up really well, it has just a few scratches and marks that I will picture.
These are the only real scratches on my car, they have probably been there for years. probably an owner just getting off a mark and unknowingly lightly scratched the car, On a normal paint finish It is something T-Cut will remove in seconds, but on Matte Paint, those scratches are staying!
I am running a small plate and these are little rub marks where a large number plate has been, something that would not trouble a gloss car and polish out, but again they are staying on Matte finish.
You can touch up and You can make it better with these.....
....and although I have captured it in the light, in the metal it can hardly be seen.
So Bird poo. So far its a myth to me, I have had a proper Shite hawk Raspberry seeded Scud missile land on the car amongst others, and as long as its been sealed it just does not bond and does not mar the paint. My car after 10 years shows no bird lime marks a sign of being looked after, but still the advice on poo, the sooner its off the car the better. If you live in an area with lots of cats, that would worry me, cats jumping on the car or using it as a scratch pad, you should look away from a Matte finish car. Cleaning Matte paint is so easy, its just soap and water, then towel dry, then seal, I use Chemical Guys Meticulous Matte Detailer Spray & Sealant and its excellent.
Matte paint does not photo well, it looks nothing like it does up close and personal, it really does need to be seen. The fact it only reflects light, while doing so it manages to pick up every lump, bump, bulge and sway line, I know its not for everyone, but I love it. I have had a Frozen Black edition now for some months, it has sat out side and been subject to most elements you come to expect. It comes down to how you look after, treat and seal the paint.
Firstly buying the car. What marks are on the car, are there to stay unless you have it painted. So the first thing to remember, it won't polish out! If you do that you turn the opaque lacquer to gloss and then your really knackered as it will look awful, and your dear little mark has now turned into an area that has a lovely shiny reflection. So when buying check out Every mark or scratch, as its there to stay. One thing to remember, you need to be extra careful where you park your matte paint car, a door ding sometimes does not leave a dent, but leaves a paint blemish, again something that will polish out on a gloss car but its staying on Matte! Another thing to consider is bonded on spoilers, stickers and adhesives, all much harder to get off on a Matte finish paint, because if you mark it, well, you get the idea! Mine is 10 years old and generally 95% original paint and has held up really well, it has just a few scratches and marks that I will picture.
These are the only real scratches on my car, they have probably been there for years. probably an owner just getting off a mark and unknowingly lightly scratched the car, On a normal paint finish It is something T-Cut will remove in seconds, but on Matte Paint, those scratches are staying!
I am running a small plate and these are little rub marks where a large number plate has been, something that would not trouble a gloss car and polish out, but again they are staying on Matte finish.
You can touch up and You can make it better with these.....
....and although I have captured it in the light, in the metal it can hardly be seen.
So Bird poo. So far its a myth to me, I have had a proper Shite hawk Raspberry seeded Scud missile land on the car amongst others, and as long as its been sealed it just does not bond and does not mar the paint. My car after 10 years shows no bird lime marks a sign of being looked after, but still the advice on poo, the sooner its off the car the better. If you live in an area with lots of cats, that would worry me, cats jumping on the car or using it as a scratch pad, you should look away from a Matte finish car. Cleaning Matte paint is so easy, its just soap and water, then towel dry, then seal, I use Chemical Guys Meticulous Matte Detailer Spray & Sealant and its excellent.
Matte paint does not photo well, it looks nothing like it does up close and personal, it really does need to be seen. The fact it only reflects light, while doing so it manages to pick up every lump, bump, bulge and sway line, I know its not for everyone, but I love it. I have had a Frozen Black edition now for some months, it has sat out side and been subject to most elements you come to expect. It comes down to how you look after, treat and seal the paint.