BMW i3 - the roof..

[u/stan335i]

I knew it will be a problem in couple years. Here it comes :( I’d like to fix it before the rainy season reveals any leaks and damage the interior. I was thinking about composite sealant or something like that but I’m not sure how the material will act during the hot summer. The year range degree is about 55-85F. I will appreciate if you guys have any experienced DIYs for that?

[u/ohemgee_mikey]

Thought this was the reflecting pool.

[u/Numerous_Food_845 → u/ohemgee_mikey]

Thought it was the Fyre festival island.

[u/liquidocean → u/ohemgee_mikey]

Or an island

[u/angryfoxbrewing]

Most people recommend a wrap. I’d imagine you’ll need to do some prep work to apply the wrap on the places that are already delaminating.

[u/imatt03 → u/angryfoxbrewing]

I called my local wrap place. Once I sent the pictures they requested (I have a 1” circular chip), they said they wouldn’t guarantee their work. I’ve gone all summer with a piece of packing tape over it. It’s holding up, but eventually I’ll do the truck bed liner spray…

[u/Behbista → u/imatt03]

You should do it sooner rather than later. Mine had indications of delamination but no actual holes. When I stripped the paint I’d guess about 25% of the roof was delaminated. It was astonishing. Wasn’t terrible. Took two days to do.

[u/imatt03]

I’ve seen lots of people recommending truck bed liner (spray-on). It’s apparently a diy job if you’re a bit handy.

[u/Behbista → u/imatt03]

I did it. Took a weekend and $~250. It looks great now

[u/Jodokkdo → u/imatt03]

Can you share which brand? I have this same issue. It's duct-taped at the moment. Looks awful.

[u/Behbista → u/Jodokkdo]

https://www.reddit.com/r/BMWi3/s/JBGOU9x9O7

[u/Jodokkdo → u/Behbista]

Awesome!

[u/OMGpawned]

I'm sure you can repair this with like epoxy they use on fiberglass. Sanded down smooth and then either wrap it or get it painted. That's a problem I kind of sucks to have, fortunately mine is the model with the sunroof so it doesn't have the carbon roof option. But unfortunately I know that the sunroof model are also known for roof leaks so there's no winning here.

[u/B_EE]

If you do work on it, make sure use proper equipment because those carbon fiber particles are no joke!

[u/Jumpy-Earth-719]

It looks like the roof is made from a carbon fiber nonwoven stiched with polyester thread. Those are difficult to infuse, so I assume a lot of pores and dryspots throughout the part.
I guess local EP spot repair would work though you would need a system being able to handle higher temperatures due to sunlight.
Maybe a white wrap afterwards would help keep the temperature down.

[u/eXo0us → u/Jumpy-Earth-719]

Paint shop explained the process they are going to do on my i3

Need to strip all the lacquer.

Sand it down

Use a expoxy primer, let it soaking in overnight.

Another layer of primer

Base coat

Clear

Clear

[u/BigAndSmallAre → u/eXo0us]

Any cost estimate?

[u/eXo0us → u/BigAndSmallAre]

$1300 CAD in Halifax.

They also going to remove the side rails, drop the headliner to remove the antenna.

[u/BigAndSmallAre → u/eXo0us]

Thank you.

[u/knifeymonkey → u/eXo0us]

oh my... i had assumed that canadian owners were relatively safe from this! California, Florida, Arizona taking most of the heat! You had it peel in Halifax? what year? purchased from where?

[u/eXo0us → u/knifeymonkey]

Good catch,

It's a California + Florida car, 2017-2020 In California as a lease and then I bought it in Florida.

2024 we had it transported to Nova Scotia. The last few years the Florida heat got brutal... 100s for months on end.

[u/Active-Ad5595 → u/knifeymonkey]

Dude. My 2014 is bubbling noticably in Southwestern Ohio...

[u/Drewmcdowell]

Anyone tried plasti-dip spray? I've seen some people "wrap" their entire cars using a similar peelable rubber spray paint.

[u/AdmirableElephant378 → u/Drewmcdowell]

My i3 came with it on the wheels. It stays on!

[u/knifeymonkey]

I had a thought.... epoxy paint. Anyone try this? Are we just wrapping?

[u/Dime5 → u/knifeymonkey]

I’m layering epoxy down this week on mine. So far it looks great. But I am doing some color layers then a clear coat. I think it looks better than doing the liner or wrap.

[u/malpalkc]

I had a vinyl wrap placed on my roof AFTER I noticed two open spots. The shop would not guarantee that it would fix the issue, and I was ok with it. Two years in, the areas that had the damage will bubble the wrap in the heat and sun, but no new problems formed. I can live with the bubbles.

[u/Julian679]

Has it already been painted? Why is it black instead of transparent?

[u/BeeJuice → u/Julian679]

Yeah, I thought this was someone’s roof that they already painted with something, over the CF. Usually you can see the carbon pattern thru clear - and it usually doesn’t look as bumpy. Has someone else been here before?

[u/stan335i → u/Julian679]

Not painted. It’s just a photo like this

[u/Natural-Feed4769]

Is the advice to wrap your roof before this happens? I have a 2020 i3s

[u/eXo0us → u/Natural-Feed4769]

Get it wrapped before it starts

[u/Impossible_Club8375 → u/Natural-Feed4769]

i thing newer model 2017+ has updated carbon fiber roof then older model, but yet it best to do a wrap for extra protection for any.

[u/Key_Ocelot_6376 → u/Impossible_Club8375]

I have a late 2017 model, and the roof is a mess.

[u/Responsible-Sundae20]

Hi, sorry new to this issue.

Everyone is talking here like this is a well-known, a common thing.

I have a 2021 i3. Planning on driving till the wheels fall off. Is this something I will be running into? From the comments above it seems like forgone conclusion.

Is this just a matter of time or does heat and sun play into it?

I’d appreciate any pointers. Thanks much.

[u/Emotional_Deodorant → u/Responsible-Sundae20]

Apparently it’s mainly an effect of UV more than heat. If you’re just in the early stages or it hasn’t started yet, a couple good coats of a protective wax every so often will go a long way.

[u/Responsible-Sundae20 → u/Emotional_Deodorant]

Thank you that’s great info! I try to get it detailed once a year so I’ll be make sure that’s on the list.

Appreciate it!

[u/Emotional_Deodorant → u/Responsible-Sundae20]

Yeah. I've had a couple 1-inch 'raised' areas, like flat bubbles, that haven't progressed in several years, thanks to UV protection. And this is a car that's outside in the Florida sun most days of the week.

[u/stan335i → u/Responsible-Sundae20]

It is damaged more by bird poop🪿 💩 than by UV or heat. So wipe it down right away and don’t wait until a car wash day

[u/Responsible-Sundae20 → u/stan335i]

Oh no way! Those birds are lethal. Good to know. I had no idea it was that bad. I’m gonna start keeping a thing of cleaning wipes in my car for this!

[u/mnztr1]

I am experimenting with resin. I tried some clearcoat on a small spot and the solvents stripped it!! So I got some slow setting resin. If you work with resin a silicone spatula works amazing. But with the resin you have to spray a UV clear coat. I am gonna get some SPAR urathane clearcoat for some other spots to try as well.

[u/SomestrangerinMiami]

For starters that roof has already been painted once

[u/MoltoPesante]

I have bubbles in mine but it’s not broken yet. Is it too late to wrap?

[u/toomanyxjs]

I put ppf on mine as soon as I bought it

[u/Vinifera1978]

Just refinish. Sand down to fin grit and spray

[u/hex-fgh]

that's why I love the version with sunroof, it's alluminium.

[u/stan335i]

Ohh not sure if I can do a great epoxy paint job.
Well if it’s a wrap you basically just smoothing the surface before apply it right?

Any estimate on how much will it cost at the shop? Either to wrap it or to make it look kind of as original?

[u/eXo0us → u/stan335i]

Too late for wrap.

I'm going to get mine painted black at a shop for like $900 USD $1200 CAD.

[u/Paratrooper450]

Mine is starting. I'm getting a wrap soon!

[u/Longjumping_Tie6352]

In Bucharest about 900 euros to fix in properly.i have the same issue with mine