[crisby]

I have a short question to all drivers of a F20 with the paint finish "Estroil Blue metallic".

Yesterday I clean up my car for first time. On inner surface of the tailgate I saw a difference of the paint finish to the outside. It is a bit more darker and not so smooth like the outside and the rest of the body.

My question: Is it normal?

I'm wondering about because it looks a bit abnormal and messy. I've never seen BMW with such a colour difference at the inside of the tailgate.

Altough it's a bit tricky to show it on pictures you'll find attached some pictures.

[rickk]

Can't be 100% sure.. but I'm afraid it's supposed to be like that. They don't paint the inside of the engine compartment anymore either...

[Honziss]

Yes, it suppose to be like that. It's painted only with base coat and top coat is missing. Reason? Material save and speeding up of paint process (money save).

[SpokenHands]

Car manufacturers go to great lengths to save material (costs) and weight and you ill be surprised at the lengths they will go to seek those efficiencies. The inside of the engine compartment, inner frame covered up with trim, and the inner edge of the body do not receive all coats and in particular, the 'heavy' clearcoat that gives the gloss.

It is normal, and standard practice these days across many manufacturers.

Notice how your car doesn't have a cigarette lighter? (unless you tick the smokers pack option)

[AusF20]

On plastic components, the surface makes the paint look slightly different.

[crisby]

Thanks for your quick response!