Washed my Moonwalk Grey '14 Mini Cooper S and noticed some paint and clear coat that flaked off by the driver's side fog light. Only has 800 on it

 

Might be protective spray?
Check with your service tech.
Is it still Moonwalk Grey underneath?

 

No, it flaked all the way off to the black plastic bumper. The paint flake fell off in my hand.

 

It's likely from a stone. It's common for a stone to chip and area but the paint to not actually come off initially, then to peal off later.

How large is the area? Any pics?

 

I don't think it's from a stone, a who 1/4 of a inch strip fell off.

 

Snap a pic and upload it here, let's have a look at what's going on.

 

Here's some pics.

 

Aw man, that's a drag. That's one of the problems with lighter colors, the black plastic shows through whenever there is a chip or damage. Although I do love your color, a lot.

Anyway, I'm thinking that it started from a rock or some sort of debris from a vehicle in front of you. Then it likely spread to the size you see now. I doubt it's a factory defect but you could certainly run it past your service department at the dealership.

Otherwise touch it up and you'll not notice it anymore. You'll be able to find it yourself, of course, but the average person looking at the car will never see it in a million years.

 

I just find it odd that it was right where the clear bra is. I think the clear bra installation may have had something to do with it. The Mini dealer is four hours away, if it's a paint defect from the factory they can tow it to them. Car only has 800 miles on it.

 

Ahh, I didn't realize a clearbra is involved here. That's a big difference. Did the paint flake off under the clear bra and both came off at once?? Or is it not where the bra covered?

 

It flaked off right where the clear bra stops. The paint is fine under the bra.

 

I read about an F56 owner in UK who noticed problems with his MINI's front bumper paint. I think it was something to do with the clearcoat coat. The dealership blamed spotty paintwork at port and had the bumper repainted.

When washing, did you use a high pressure sprayer? Possible the nozzle came too to that area and tore the paint off?

 

Maybe somebody pushed up against you while parallel parking?

 

That seems unusual. Paint will usually chip off when struck by a rock; that's peeling paint. Paint has flex additives in it so plastic parts (like bumpers) can sustain movement without cracking and flaking off. If this went all the way to the plastic, I would think that the part was not prepped correctly.

Matt

 

Took it to the auto trim place, they looked at the paint and said it looked like it was a poor factory paint job due to the fact the paint looks like it barely bonded with the bumper plastic. They're having the bra taken off, repainted, and then reapplied 30-days later.

 

Maybe the clear bra installer used a razor blade or other sharp instrument right along the edge and that caused the paint to peel.

 

These guys have been installing bra's on my vehicles since 2008. They're awesome. Also I've hear of some flaking paint in other 2014's, and just by looking at the paint you can tell it wasn't bonded to the bumper properly.

 

Peeled the two week old bra to reveal how bad the paint is.

 

Another

 

Dang, yeah I'm sure you've got a good case there with BMW...that's pretty obviously a defect.

 

Got the car back today. Did a outstanding job repainting it. Now in talks with Mini to get the money back to the trim place who paid for the repaint.

 

Did you get your dealer's approval to have the work done by the trim place?

 

Nope, I'm also not driving or having my car towed four hours, one way, be without a vehicle, go to the "approved body shop" by my Mini dealer (which has poor reviews), and wait a week or two without my car.

 

Did you ever get reimbursed for this? I'd like to know! Thanks.