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Thread: Engine bay paint browning....

  1. #1
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    Engine bay paint browning....

    Hi all. I'm looking at a 91 M5 that seems to be in great shape. One thing is turning me off a bit and making me think twice about it. The car is alpine white. On the outside it looks great, but under the hood the paint looks browned in a lot of areas almost a tan/beige hue. Is this common on the e34's that are alpine white? It may just be from engine heat and age but I wanted to ask around before assuming anything. Any insight is greatly appreciated.
    Last edited by mose121; 11-08-2009 at 06:52 PM.
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  2. #2
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    Are sure the browning is not a pprotective coating that can be cleaned off? I have seen this with cars that have had after market rustproofing. Just a thought.

    Edit-Cosmoline-that's what I was thinking about. Just could not remember the name.
    Last edited by Russellc; 11-08-2009 at 07:46 PM.
    Thanks,
    Russell


    1995 BMW 525iA, M50TU, build date 1/95, Oxford Green/Parchment/leather/wood, EAT chip, Continental CD head unit, ASC+t, heated seats, lumbar support, HID & premium package abt 243k miles, rebuilt trany

  3. #3
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    Are you sure it isn't just Cosmoline?(the waxy crap they spray on everything and did nothing to preserve)

  4. #4
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    I'm pretty sure. It's a 91 so I can imagine it would still be on there. Cosmaline usually comes off with a few washes let alone years of them. The problem is I can't see the car personally due to it's location and my friend is doing the visual inspections. It also doesn't help that he doesn't have a high res. camera to take pics of it.
    Last edited by mose121; 11-08-2009 at 07:02 PM.
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  5. #5
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    Send us any pics you have. How often does an engine bay get washed, even in an M5. Theres quite a few E34s here that have the stuff all over.
    Dave
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  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by mose121 View Post
    Hi all. I'm looking at a 91 M5 that seems to be in great shape. One thing is turning me off a bit and making me think twice about it. The car is alpine white. On the outside it looks great, but under the hood the paint looks browned in a lot of areas almost a tan/beige hue. Is this common on the e34's that are alpine white? It may just be from engine heat and age but I wanted to ask around before assuming anything. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

    It's Cosmoline.

    It takes some intense washing to get it off, I'm talking pressure washing. Most people won't pressure wash so close to the engine. Have your buddy who's inspecting it, try wiping the yellow off with a little bit of lacquer thinner. Maybe adhesiver remover. It will come off.
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  7. #7
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    My Alpine White 530iT has the same thing.

    Otherwise the car is near perfect and I don't let it bother me.
    Eric

    '95 530iT


  8. #8
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    Mine has it as well... I have found more pressing matters to lose sleep over.


  9. #9
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    I have used a paint and varnish remover to remove it from other BMWs. Just be quick to get it off the paint (once the cosmoline is removed) or you could risk taking off some of the factory paint as well.

    The kids:
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  10. #10
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    My car had the same problem. Many dealers didn't wash the stuff off as they were supposed to. I ended up respraying my bay. Definitely isn't something that would bother me though if they rest of the car looks good

  11. #11
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    It's not quite cosmoline but something similar and surely the brown stuff the OP refers to.
    I am intimately familiar with "Cosmoline" it will wash off with steam and fuel oil. This was my job for a few miserable days as a teenager decades ago while employed at a Volkswagon dealership.

    If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue

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