[Mark228i]

Had a 128i and received dings, had a 328i and never saw one ding (for the same amount of time) saw 228i and M235i cars at the dealerships with dings. Was the metal better on the 2011 3 series or higher?

[JustChris]

Is this serious, was the metal better? Soooo many other factors surely!

[ska///235i]

Like bumpers??? Those are plastic

[Lucky13]

They invented a better metal but only put it on the 3 series, they screwed all the other BMW owners. Titanium doors, hood, bumpers and all fenders. Ford thinks they have something with aluminum, ha.

[overcoil]

Maybe not the quality of the steel but maybe the curvature lends itself to deformation as opposed to other formations.
I find this post entertaining, because I spotted a 428 at a dealer today with an unusual ding on a door, about four inches long, you could tell it was caused from a 3 or 4 series door by the angle.
Seemed unusual as far as door dings go.

[JustinCredibleM]

You can't correlate different metals to how susceptible they are to dings lol. There are too many factors to where the car has been, curvature of the metal, paint thickness, and a bunch of other variables.

[G82Dude]

As you go up the BMW range, and different series, the metal gets thicker, so 3 series metal is thicker and therefore better than a 2 series body; 4 is better than 3 and so on. That's why you pay more money as you go up the range. The 1 series is made out of kitchen foil apparently...

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by uke92dude

As you go up the BMW range, and different series, the metal gets thicker, so 3 series metal is thicker and therefore better than a 2 series body; 4 is better than 3 and so on. That's why you pay more money as you go up the range. The 1 series is made out of kitchen foil apparently...

Thanks - I always wondered why the 7-series weighted more than the 1-series.

[lichenlt]

Originally Posted by uke92dude

As you go up the BMW range, and different series, the metal gets thicker, so 3 series metal is thicker and therefore better than a 2 series body; 4 is better than 3 and so on. That's why you pay more money as you go up the range. The 1 series is made out of kitchen foil apparently...

LMFAO

[TB///M3]

Originally Posted by uke92dude

As you go up the BMW range, and different series, the metal gets thicker, so 3 series metal is thicker and therefore better than a 2 series body; 4 is better than 3 and so on. That's why you pay more money as you go up the range. The 1 series is made out of kitchen foil apparently...

[Cripple]

Originally Posted by uke92dude

As you go up the BMW range, and different series, the metal gets thicker, so 3 series metal is thicker and therefore better than a 2 series body; 4 is better than 3 and so on. That's why you pay more money as you go up the range. The 1 series is made out of kitchen foil apparently...

You've found the cure for cancer. Thank you for this accurate information

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Cripple

You've found the cure for cancer. Thank you for this accurate information

And in other news, 20 dollar bills are being printed on thicker paper than 10s, and those thicker than 5s, and 1 dollar bills are being printed on Kleenex.

[Mark228i]

Surely all BMW's don't have the same metal. $$$$$$$$talks

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Mark128i

Surely all BMW's don't have the same metal. $$$$$$$$talks

In actuality, they most likely do. Variations would be design-dependent, depending on the shape of the die into which the metal has to be drawn. Additional thickness would not just be for the sake of adding weight to larger cars, already struggling to meet CAFE requirements. Surface sheetmetal plays little role in impact management, so the goal in any vehicle is to have the lightest body possible (check use of aluminum in Audi and new F150). Any weight saved by not having more mass than necessary has cascading benefits throughout the rest of the vehicle (lighter vehicle can use lighter weight suspension components, etc.). The money that is talking is cost reduction, wherever possible, to the vehicle manufacturer.

And, don't call us Shirley.....

[golf_234]

The answer is.. mixed. It is true that some 5 series have an aluminum hood. But for the most part you are looking at steel body panels on cars. Some cars like the R8 have a lot of aluminum on them, just depends on weight and structural goals.


The above is from the e92

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

Thanks - I always wondered why the 7-series weighted more than the 1-series.

Originally Posted by lichenlt

LMFAO

Originally Posted by 2blue4you

Originally Posted by Cripple

You've found the cure for cancer. Thank you for this accurate information

Originally Posted by Sportstick

And in other news, 20 dollar bills are being printed on thicker paper than 10s, and those thicker than 5s, and 1 dollar bills are being printed on Kleenex.

I was being mischievous! Blame British humour (or lack thereof)...

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by golf_234

The answer is.. mixed. It is true that some 5 series have an aluminum hood. But for the most part you are looking at steel body panels on cars. Some cars like the R8 have a lot of aluminum on them, just depends on weight and structural goals.


The above is from the e92

Certainly the E92 had an aluminium bonnet (hood), so imagine the new 4 would too and maybe the 2 to help the weight distribution? Indeed, the new 4 has the lowest C of G of any BMW vehicle at the moment...

[nachob]

I thought the 2011 3 series had plastic fenders? If so, that would explain a lot.

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by nachob

I thought the 2011 3 series had plastic fenders? If so, that would explain a lot.

E92 (2008 on) definitely had plastic wings (fenders)...

[Ramos]

Coupe are more likely to get door dings than sedans because of the longer doors. There I solved your mystery !!

[Mark228i]

My 128i coupe = Dings
My 328i coupe = No Dings

[five3three]

Originally Posted by Mark128i

My 128i coupe = Dings
My 328i coupe = No Dings

My 335i = Dings

My 128i = No dings (don't have one)

It's really just luck and doesn't matter what you have.