[Moz_e90]

Has anyone else faced the issue where the flat-black paint comes right off the metal strips on the roof (where the roof rack would attach)?

The paint on the metal strips started cracking while the car was under warranty. I thought it was unusual for a car of the price/quality of BMW. The dealer just called it normal wear and would not repair the paint.

Just the other day I noticed entire areas where the paint is completely gone, down to the metal (only the flat black paint on the strips).

Any do it yourself solutions? Trying to stay away from Krylon.

2006 e90, Sparkling. (The sparkling graphite paint on the roof itself is fine).

Thanks for any tips!

[scottluft]

What ended up happening with your paint?

[freshnezzz]

i have this also on the roof rack trim part it thats what you mean.

[shragon]

i'm having the same issue. though, i thought the strips were plastic?

i didn't notice the problem until after my warranty expired (i currently have ~75k miles).

if you're still under warranty, i would take it back to the dealer and complain. if your regular dealer is not willing to help you out, find another dealer to go to.

[Moz_e90]

Yes, the roof rack rails. These are flat black on my car. I don't think they are plastic b/c it looks like rust is starting to appear where the paint fell off. I noticed on new models, they are now painted to match the car.

BMW SF would not repair these under warranty last Fall, but the paint had not fully come off. Back then, I didn't expect the paint to come off altogether, so I didn't make as big of a deal as I should. They did replace the gasket on my windshield, which had basically turned tu putty.

I was hopefull someone knew of a recall. BMW should ABSOLUTELY be embarrassed. This kind of shit didn't happen to my old Volkswagens!!

[nineth]

I have the same problem on the driver-side roof rack rail / metal strip. The black paint has completely come off on several continuous inches of it and it's beginning to come off in adjacent areas. The passenger side rail is fine. One look at it and one can conclude it's not due to wear and tear, but just defective material. The paint is also kind of starting to come off at a couple of other edges of the same rail. I will try to get it replaced under warranty.

If warranty fix is not possible, does anyone know if it's cheaper to get the rail repainted or to buy a new one and self-install it? Is it easy to remove/install? Does a new one have to be painted to the color of your car or you get the rails for all colors? Thank you.

[asus389]

Same issue here - just posted pics in this thread:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=450570

Anyone get this fixed under warranty? Seems pretty crappy to be happening in cars that aren't that old. I have never had this happen in any of my previous cars, even ones I have kept twice as long.

[nineth]

Originally Posted by asus389

Same issue here - just posted pics in this thread:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=450570

Anyone get this fixed under warranty? Seems pretty crappy to be happening in cars that aren't that old. I have never had this happen in any of my previous cars, even ones I have kept twice as long.

I asked a service advisor and he said paint on the trim was not covered even with the original warranty. Is that metal strip really considered part of "trim"? In any case, it's pretty bad if defective material (if clearly established so) is not covered under warranty. He asked me to talk to the service manager whom I could find then. Will try again. Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for a reply to my previous post.

[Driv3r]

if you guys think your rails are bad. wait till I show you pics of mine.

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by asus389

Same issue here - just posted pics in this thread:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=450570

Anyone get this fixed under warranty? Seems pretty crappy to be happening in cars that aren't that old. I have never had this happen in any of my previous cars, even ones I have kept twice as long.

Just posted a DIY on how to take the rails off in this guys ^ thread.

Like other's have said paint is not covered under any warranty BMW offers. I can't remember if the rails were metal or not...I want to say no but I can't verify that. Just vinyl them. You can get "black out" tape from Autozone that fits over the rail perfectly....this is what I used. It matches the matte black vinyl I got for my window trim perfectly as well.

To the person who said the rails come painted body color now....I have an '06 and mine was painted body color. IIRC, cars with sport package with the shadowline trim, have the matte black rails. Non-sport package, like my car, has chrome window trim and body colored roof rails.

[shragon]

^ from my understanding, only 325i and 328i come with black roof rails. All others should be body colored.

I'm planning to take mine off when I have time. In the diy section, there is a diy for wrapping your roof. It also shows you how to do the rails.

I'm going to sand them down and paint them with rustoleum spray paint in black.

[MUrhino]

I've got an '06 Sparkling Graphite 325i w/ 62.6k on her. I've got paint flaking off the roof rails and have never once used the damn thing. This was my first BMW and quite possibly my last. I've had more "you've got to be kidding me...this is a BMW, that shouldn't happen!" moments than I care to experience again. So much freakin' plastic all over the place and guess what; after 5 years of heat, cold, and dust, all the plastic is pretty brittle. Makes me think of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee commercials tagline "Plastic can't be forged." May have to take one out for a test drive. Then again, maybe Audi or Infinity want my business.

[deanmc]

I had my right side replaced under warranty last year, but now my left side is peeling, and I'm out of warranty. I don't think it's covered under the CPO warranty, so I was just going to remove it and paint it flat black.

[E92-Lighting]

to the OP, do you park in the sun a lot daily?

[Blah937]

Anyone know what paint to use to touch up the trim? Or where to go to get it fixed?