Is the paint job on MINIs cheap?

I accidently tapped the MINI with the car door of my other car and to my surprise I chipped the paint! I could not believe it. I though that maybe I might have scratched it a little, but a chip?

In other cars I have/had the paint sems more durable and thicker. The layer of paint on the MINI seems so thin and fragile.

 

In spite of all the good reasons for MINI paint being what it is, this is still a constant source of frustration.

(I still love my MINI though)

 

i can only suggest you put about 10-13 thin layers of touchup on it, wet sand it, and polish it up.

 

WATER BASED PAINT

Blame the EPA for shoving down our throats the worst paint finishes in history

This is a problem with virtually every new car in the market today, not just MINI.

 

minis have enamel paint?

 

Newsflash! MINIs are assembled in England! British manufacturers are not subject to U.S. EPA regulations!

Even if they were assembled in the US, the paint restrictions that body shops have to comply with don't necessarily apply to auto manufacturers. The manufacturers would be able to use other options for controlling emissions -- such as painting the body in a more sophisticated environmment that captures the VOC emissions -- that would not be feasible for the corner body shop.

 

MINI paintwork is water based, not oil based. This is, apparently, a worldwide regulation as the more durable and chip resistant oil based paints tend to pollute more and produce more greenhouse gases.

Read boards from Acuras, Lexus, infiniti assembled in Japan. Number #1 complaint ----> The paintwork.

 

There are a ton of threads on this issue. But in answer to the original question - is the paint cheap? Dunno. Is it soft and easily marred - Yes. Is it reason to get rid of the Mini? Hahahahahahahahaha - NO!

 

My 2002 Audi has a great paint job that is very durable. I think it has more to do with cost cutting than regulations & the environment.

 

The paint on the MINI is not nearly as bad as the paint on my Z06. The MINI still looks great at 8,000 miles while the Z06 looks terrible at 2,700 miles. Even our BMW has quite a few scars on the front....so I think it's fairly prevalent on most newer cars.

 

Best investment I've made on my cars.

I clear bra the
- front bumper
- hood
- front fenders
- rocker panels
- rear wheel wells
- rear bumper (sides)

It's pretty transparent. the whole thing costs about $1,200. Worth every penny in my opinion.

 

i think he hit the side of the car...

 

I did hit the side of the car right near the fuel cap.

 

I only paid $350 (including installation) for my VentureShield clearbra applied to my 2005 MCS. 1000 times better product than the 3M cleabras, lifetime warranty, and 99% optical clarity Much better resistance and doesn't lose integrity overtime like the 3M product does.

$1,200? You got taken to the cleaners!

www.accuguard.biz