Wet sanding a brand new vehicle.

if you sand it then wrap it. but is it worth the $10k you will spend on such a typical car?

 

Wet sanding will take care of the orange peel. However if there are blemishes in the actual paint layer then nothing done to the clear will improve it. I've seen a full wet sand done by Topaz detailing out of the UK on something fairly exotic (don't remember the exact model, but it was laf/enzo tier). It'll cost a heafty chunk and you'll probably want to ppf it afterwards. If its worth it to you, it'll drastically improve the texture of the clear.

 

The problem you have is bigger than what you think. BMW uses a color coat covered by a clear coat. Wet sanding the clear coat probably will not solve your problem if it is magnifying the color coat.

Aston Martin has a great video of how they paint their cars and achieve probably the best paint finish in the business. Spoiler alert: they wet sand between the color coat and the clear coat so there is no orange peel being telegraphed through the clear coat (40 hours of hand work on each car).

Ferrari has the same problems. I looked at several new models and the orange peel was ridiculous for a $400k car.

If you are really unhappy with it get it wrapped. "Fixing the paint with wet sanding" in my opinion may end up repainting the car.

 

Here is an example of that process: start ~ 11:00 in.

 

The problem with us giving advise is we can't see the car and the OP's detailer can. You would think the detailer would be able to determine if the orange peel is in the color coat or the clear coat and advise appropriately?

I would normally say wet sanding is a bit extreme as I have seen some orange peel corrected by a good 3-stage polish. Maybe not to an "optically perfect" standard but good enough that most people would say the paint is smooth and shiny with really good gloss. But again - none of us can see the actual condition of the paint...

 

They do an amazing job! The California Sage finish on my DB9 is testament to that care - now many years out of the factory - and still perfect!

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As others have said, wet sanding is going to cost a lot of money. There are also risks associated with that such as sanding through the clear to the color beneath. You need a very good paint thickness that delineates between the various coats (i.e. clear, color, etc.). You could sand but if the clear coat isn't think enough you won't have enough clear to get rid of the scratches from sanding. There are other methods to remove orange peel without sanding but again, is it worth doing on a new car such as this? Are you going to keep the car, or will you get rid of it in a couple years for another? Just my .02

 

Clear coat is too dang thin to justify wet sanding, IMHO. A good detailer can flatten the paint out, but you’ll sacrifice too much of the clears protection to be worth it. I would fight the urge to chase perfection and just enjoy the car.

 

If your detailer has done this before on new cars, I’d let him do it.

I went to look at buying a new Benz a while back. When the salesman and I got to within 10’ of the car, I turned to the salesman and said, “I don’t want it.” He asked why. I told him, “Because the paint looks like crap”.

Your “detailer” needs to specialize in paint correction only. If not, find one who does.

 

But, I’ll be the first to admit that I know nothing about wrapping a car. Maybe it is God’s gift to car finishing now. I have no clue.

What I do know is, I’d never buy a car that’s wrapped. Pretty sure I’m not alone on that.

 

Go run it thru a car wash with those spinning brushes 25 or 30 times. You wound have to worry about the orange peel any more.

 

watch Yopaz Detailing on youtube. they sand a lot of brand new exotics.

 

If you get the right person it will turn out amazing. A few years ago my
599GTO. Which had all factory original paint just was not good enough for me so my detailer got a guy from Connecticut to come to VIRGINIA and wet sand the entire car keeping close monitor on the thickness of the clear coat. THEN after it was done we did a ceramic coating on it NO WRAP and it looked magnificent the rest of the time I owned it. Its all about having the right talent..

 

Are you're referring to Larry Kosilla from AMMO NYC (he's in Connecticut), he's not just an expert he's absolutely amazing in the detailing he does, a complete master. Check out his YouTube vids for example.

 

I will look him up but I was told at the time he was the best on the east coast..

 

Correct me if I am wrong.
Wet sanding can only cure orange peel if the orange peel is in the clear coat..or if it is a solid pigment coat with no clear coat.
If the peel is in the solid original coat, thats where the wet sanding will level off the high spots in the bumpy looking orange peel..
so if you sand a clear coat and the orange peel is in the base pigment coat, you really never touch the Orange peel.

 

You can always sand clear coat perfectly flat and polish it to a mirror. Only requirement is you have enough material to do so. If you are careful -most- factory paint jobs do, in my experience.

The sanded/polished clear will be the reflective surface regardless of the base coat.

 

INTMD8 is correct-- a LOT of bad information given above... there really is no such thing as orange peel in the base color... it's always in the clear as that is the reflective part... and there is PLENTY of clear on all new cars of all brands to do proper wet sanding. Wraps are just a cover and a waste of money. A correct wet sand and polish would've brought that paint right out beautifully. AND ALL new cars of all brands need polishing- They are all terrible when looked at with a light. Sanding marks, rotary buffer trails, overspray and all kinds of other marring exist and Aston Martin is one of the worst with this. Ferrari and Mercedes also bad. You don't even know the true color of your new car until you paint correct it... and in extreme cases, wet sand.