Is it true Alpine White requires different "special" care? See article

[tracy8282]

Now I'm concerned I made the wrong choice. Well, actually it was my only choice with the packages I wanted and it has HK. Slim pickins
3 year lease Alpine white x40i

I came across this article on BMW .com Seriously? Why don't people talk about this?
https://www.bmw.com/en/automotive-li...-on-paint.html

"Matt paints need to be cared for in a totally different way"
Martin Jaworski
Product Manager BMW Color System

What have I gotten into? I thought this had a tough clear coat?
I know many of you hand wash. Unfortunately, I now have some
physical limitations and am not able to hand wash or power wash my car. I am meticulously clean and keep my cars in best shape I can.

I was looking into ceramic coat b/c of carwash. I will be taking it through the best one available. (hard stop)
Never thought Alpine White was anything other than "not metallic".
No one has ever mentioned it needs special care, I have not read about it until today.

What do you know /what to do?

Thanks!

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by tracy8282

Never thought Alpine White was anything other than "not metallic". No one has ever mentioned it needs special care...What do you know /what to do?

not true. BMW alpine white (300) is a solid, flat paint which is not the same as matte paint. no one mentioned it needs special care, because it doesn't.

your alpine white has a gloss clear coat unlike the matte paint that article you linked mentions, which BMW calls "Frozen" paint. those require special care.

you're fine. "much ado about nothing."

[tracy8282]

Whew, that's great news! The article is not clear. I just read Great tips for taking care of your paint.
Indeed, "Much ado about nothing"

That being said,
It's being delivered next week from out of state.

Is there a type of ceramic coating that's better than another?
I also read esp w AW it would be good to get PPF on body behind the wheels and in front of door where tire debris can damage.
Suggestions?
I'm turning it in in three years but I like to keep it looking good. A little prevention up front can be worth it.

Thanks and Cheers!

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by tracy8282

Whew, that's great news! The article is not clear. I just read Great tips for taking care of your paint.
Indeed, "Much ado about nothing"

That being said,
It's being delivered next week from out of state.

Is there a type of ceramic coating that's better than another?
I also read esp w AW it would be good to get PPF on body behind the wheels and in front of door where tire debris can damage.
Suggestions?
I'm turning it in in three years but I like to keep it looking good. A little prevention up front can be worth it.

Thanks and Cheers!

great news on your pending delivery!
if there's a chance you will purchase after the lease, i would recommend protection, but personally, i wouldn't invest too much. still, you are entitled to spend the money and protect however you please. my previous car was a metallic white '15 Audi Q7 that i had for 5 years. in hindsight, i would've done ceramic for sure. my detailer uses Gyeon for ceramic, and i'm very pleased with it. i've also heard good things about CQuartz. inquire about durability. there are products and applications that will last 3 years, so do it once, and you're good!

as for ppf, most folks recommend full front and lower rocker panels including the lower doors at minimum. i would include the A pillars if you go this route. i ppf'd my whole X5 because i did a stealth transformation and plan to keep it a while.

there is ongoing assumption that ppf and/or ceramic will increase the value of your car at lease-end, but they won't. if u purchased and sold the car privately, it could. (i don't know about trading it in.) some auto insurances may not cover ppf or ceramic after an accident. just some stuff to keep in mind...

enjoy and be safe!

[Auricom]

Originally Posted by tracy8282

Whew, that's great news! The article is not clear. I just read Great tips for taking care of your paint.
Indeed, "Much ado about nothing"

Congrats on the new vehicle!

Actually the article is clear and talks about BMW paints in general.

Then it's specifically calls out topic #7, Matt or Matte paints.

"No sheen: matt paint is a special case "Matt paints need to be cared for in a totally different way," Martin Jaworski stresses..."

Then it continues on to clarify:

"…However all other types of automotive paint such as metallic or effect paint, do not need any special treatment. "They have a clear coat layer, which means they are not different from solid paints in the kind of care they need," Jaworski says.

[todd92]

Alpine White is neither matte nor flat. It's definitely gloss and needs no special care of any kind.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by todd92

Alpine White is neither matte nor flat. It's definitely gloss and needs no special care of any kind.

if u search this forum, most regard "flat" as meaning non-metallic irrespective of the glossy clear coat as a way of defining its lack of "depth" compared to more complicated metallic, pearl, or multi-layer paint colors like Mineral White Metallic (A96). BTW, i did mention in my post #2 above:

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

your alpine white has a gloss clear coat[...]

when speaking about house paint, it's true that "flat" does mean matte or non-glossy, but we ain't talkin' houses here...

[tracy8282]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

if u search this forum, most regard "flat" as meaning non-metallic irrespective of the glossy clear coat as a way of defining its lack of "depth" compared to more complicated metallic, pearl, or multi-layer paint colors like Mineral White Metallic (A96). BTW, i did mention in my post #2 above:


when speaking about house paint, it's true that "flat" does mean matte or non-glossy, but we ain't talkin' houses here...

LOL! I guess we could call it "satin"
I searched forum for Alpine White didn't find much. Not that it isn't in here somewhere.
In the last week , I'm trying to learn how to use the forums and more about my BMW. Don't think I'm doing well with either.
Thanks for taking the time.

[tracy8282]

Originally Posted by Auricom

Congrats on the new vehicle!

Actually the article is clear and talks about BMW paints in general.

Then it's specifically calls out topic #7, Matt or Matte paints.

"No sheen: matt paint is a special case "Matt paints need to be cared for in a totally different way," Martin Jaworski stresses..."

Then it continues on to clarify:

"…However all other types of automotive paint such as metallic or effect paint, do not need any special treatment. "They have a clear coat layer, which means they are not different from solid paints in the kind of care they need," Jaworski says.

Thanks.
Auricom, you are always here with a response. Do you know of a place or a thread for newbie BMW owners, specifically for the x5 40i where I can ask "dumb" questions about the car and features.
Seems like not a lot of talk about that here, or am I missing something?
You know I'm still learning the Forum.
I'm really curious and excited about the tech and want to use it.
I've checked out You Tube and know the car has it's own videos.
It would be nice to interact.
Thanks.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by tracy8282

LOL! I guess we could call it "satin"
I searched forum for Alpine White didn't find much.

nah, AW is definitely not satin, which would imply a matte finish, which it's not. its clear coat is glossy, no doubt about it.

similar topics may be old or discussed in different model forums or both:
https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1564706
https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...=973107&page=2
https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=985433

Originally Posted by tracy8282

Do you know of a place or a thread for newbie BMW owners, specifically for the x5 40i where I can ask "dumb" questions about the car and features.
Seems like not a lot of talk about that here, or am I missing something?
You know I'm still learning the Forum.
I'm really curious and excited about the tech and want to use it.
I've checked out You Tube and know the car has it's own videos.
It would be nice to interact.
Thanks.

i haven't seen a dedicated sticky thread for the 40i. unfortunately, this site's search engine doesn't display known threads on a specific search topic, keywords and all. there are many duplicate threads about the same topic/issue, but that could be a combination of the above and/or just being too lazy to search and find the answers especially if the thread is many pages long.

i'm a newb myself here, so i've used the search query often. if i can't find a specific answer, i tend to tag this guy: Auricom possesses a plethora of knowledge and has skillful navigation on this forum when providing answers. i imagine someone at his desk with 3 or more monitors pulling up reference info from the interwebs... screenshot this, cut, copy, paste, boom... "here you go, guys!"

[Auricom]

Originally Posted by tracy8282

Thanks.
Auricom, you are always here with a response. Do you know of a place or a thread for newbie BMW owners, specifically for the x5 40i where I can ask "dumb" questions about the car and features.
Seems like not a lot of talk about that here, or am I missing something?
You know I'm still learning the Forum.
I'm really curious and excited about the tech and want to use it.
I've checked out You Tube and know the car has it's own videos.
It would be nice to interact.
Thanks.

Many X5/6/7 forum members browse the forums and are here to help. Bimmerpost forum members range from new BMW owners to multi-BMW, long time owners and enthusiasts. It's not particularly a "chat" or talk forum but leans more to specific discussions, topics, Q/A and fixes.

Feel free to ask "dumb" questions about the vehicle or features but there's a quiet expectation that owners are familiar with their new vehicle and have downloaded the BMW Driver's Guide which is the digital owners manual mobile app or printed manual.

The G05/06 X5/6 forums are pretty lax compared to other model lines but if you're looking for more information about a specific feature or in general, there are plenty of members to answer and help out as much as their able.

Congrats on your new vehicle and looking forward to the introduction and pics!

[todd92]

Alpine White is glossy paint. The clear coat is not what makes it glossy. Paint can be glossy without being metallic, mineral or other depth improving additives.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by todd92

Alpine White is glossy paint. The clear coat is not what makes it glossy. Paint can be glossy without being metallic, mineral or other depth improving additives.

Whether or not you're correct about its compound, many have described AW as "flat" in that it doesn't have any "depth" or metallic flakes despite it being glossy, and it's been well understood and accepted what they meant even if it wasn't accurate. did you even peruse the links above and read how it's been described this way by others who posted as much as 7 years ago and now you want to make some feeble correction based on a technicality?

when people ask about AW and told it's "flat" compared to MWM, they understand, which is helpful in their decision making. you stating to the nth degree that AW is not "flat" due to technicality isn't helpful.

(You must be that guy at parties.)

[todd92]

No, I am not that guy. Flat means flat. No sheen. It does not mean lacking depth. Because others use the term incorrectly, I'm a nitpicker?

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by todd92

No, I am not that guy. Flat means flat. No sheen. It does not mean lacking depth. Because others use the term incorrectly, I'm a nitpicker?

yes. your inflexibility with the use of the word "flat" isn't helping anyone.
we aren't using the word incorrectly.
using words outside of their literal meaning which still makes sense in context is called figurative language.
maybe try it sometime? omg, you literally are that guy.

[todd92]

This thread only exists because the OP read the posts that erroneously referred to Alpine White as flat. "Everybody knows what they meant by flat". Apparently not.

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by todd92

This thread only exists because the OP read the posts that erroneously referred to Alpine White as flat. "Everybody knows what they meant by flat". Apparently not.

now you're just making things up. in post #1, the OP referred to an article. it's not entirely clear whether the article made him think AW was matte, or if he already thought AW was matte then came across the article and wanted clarification about its care. he didn't even mention he read other posts. neither he nor the article mentioned "flat" anywhere at anytime, but the article uses the word "solid" which accurately describes AW because it's neither metallic nor matte.

the key word regarding the use of "flat" in this and other threads characterizing AW is context, specifically when differentiating from similar colors such as MWM or even Audi's Glacier White. it seems this concept is difficult for you.

"Everybody knows what they meant by flat". CORRECTION: Apparently not you.

[tracy8282]

Well as you said nZtZia in your first post:

"much ado about nothing"