Original paint depth

ratso70

ratso70

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I recently purchased a European '75 3.0 CSI which has been in the same family who imported it around 1990. During their ownership they never had anything done to the body so I'm trying to figure out if it still wears its original Fjord blue. I have a paint meter and was curious if anyone knows what ml it would measure if it were indeed never painted? I know modern BMWs would be in the 4-6 territory but have no idea what it would be for this car. Thanks and fingers crossed it is original!!

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My experience with paint gauges is that they are great in telling where there is filler but much harder to tell if there is additional paint.
 
I tend to agree with Chris on this one.

If the paint depth is consistent throughout the car and at a depth consistent with what might be considered a factory finish, then I would start looking at all the tell tale place's for inconsistency with factory - is the primer still showing in footwells, around fuse box, behind glove box - under rubbers consistent with outside.

Good luck, it would be great if it was original.

Unfortunately, even by 1990 most had been painted.
 
BMW Pete said:
I tend to agree with Chris on this one.

If the paint depth is consistent throughout the car and at a depth consistent with what might be considered a factory finish, then I would start looking at all the tell tale place's for inconsistency with factory - is the primer still showing in footwells, around fuse box, behind glove box - under rubbers consistent with outside.

Good luck, it would be great if it was original.

Unfortunately, even by 1990 most had been painted.
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Thanks. There isn't any overspray on the rubber bits or tape lines in the jams and the depth is consistent throughout but higher than I'd expect for a factory finish at 12mls or so.


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ratso70 said:
Thanks. There isn't any overspray on the rubber bits or tape lines in the jams and the depth is consistent throughout but higher than I'd expect for a factory finish at 12mls or so.


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Here are some shots from under the glove box, fuse box, door, and hood.
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Hmm, I spy overspray:

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From what I gather, the Karmann plate is added after paint.
 
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12 definitely means the car has been painted. New Rolls-Royce even at their thickest don't exceed 10 and average 6-7. Original 40 year old paint that started at 6 would be half as think or even thinner due to polishing etc...
 
Paint gauges: I have 2, an Elcometer and another one from some European brand. I bought a set of reference plates from Elcometer so I could check their calibration, and I find they are pretty accurate when measuring various plastic films (that I've first checked with a micrometer from our lab). Repeatability on these reference plates seems to be around 0.5 or less. My personal opinion is that 2-stage original paint is likely to be in the range of 5-9. And I've never seen a 2-stage BMW paint job from the mid 1970's that didn't have failing clear coat.
 
Being a metallic with clear coat, I'd wager 99:1 that it has been repainted. I had a '73 3.0 CS from early '75 through early '80's. It had been garaged most of the time, 2 years in Boston and then in Delaware. By late 1976, the clear coat was crazing SO badly that BMW agreed to pay 50% of the cost to repaint the entire car with total removal of OE paint and 2 stage refinish. Had similar experience with a '73 MB 450 SL, but it took about 12 years for it to require refinishing. Had it done at 15 years.
 
7 ml is the Bc/Cc measures, metal to top coat, the car is too nice to have original paint to my opinion, very nice though!
 
ratso70 said:
Damn you ;)!!


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It will be fun to clean up that car and look on the bright side. Nice looking body that has been repainted very well to have held up so long semi neglected. I'd rather buy a nice car that had ten year old paint than two year old paint.
 
Nicad said:
It will be fun to clean up that car and look on the bright side. Nice looking body that has been repainted very well to have held up so long semi neglected. I'd rather buy a nice car that had ten year old paint than two year old paint.
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Very true. The body is overall very solid. It's been off the road since '97 and has 80k miles on it. Fortunately it was stored indoors and with only basic tlc, outside of a refinished gas tank, the car is running again and on track for being road ready in the spring. Here are some shots of when I brought it home a couple of months ago.

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Is the hood oxidized or just dusty? I guess the bumpers will get some new chrome. Looks like a nice project and fits in very well with the local architecture
 
Nicad said:
Is the hood oxidized or just dusty? I guess the bumpers will get some new chrome. Looks like a nice project and fits in very well with the local architecture
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Just dust. The bumpers are already cleaned up using simichrome. They're shiny with a very light pitting but fits with the overall condition.


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