Questions after I say what happened... I bought a used 2019 i3s last weekend and didn't notice the 2 hand sized areas where the carbon fiber was exposed. I mentioned it to the dealer and they basically said good luck. Called a different dealer and they said BMW won't allow a new roof to be sold unless it's to a certified auto body shop. They said the parts are $1500, but the auto body said they would do it for $6k. Needless to say I bought the i3 for $15k. Now I know why they were willing to sell it less than others. I will be trying your epoxy roof repair as I don't have $6k laying around. Do you remove the antenna or just use painters tape around it? It's in the 40-50 degree range in my area in Portland Oregon currently. Will I be ok doing the epoxy and paint in my garage at that temperature with the door open so I don't kill myself from the fumes? Do I need a painters breathing mask or will a N95 mask work well enough? If I continue to drive the car around in the rain before fixing it I assume that's potentially bad and shouldn't drive it at all until I fix it as I don't want it to get bad enough where I'm forced to get a new roof?
@StockySnail Thanks for your comment , and sorry to hear about your problem! You can certainly do it at that temperature in your garage, it might take a little longer to cure. You can use a faster curing epoxy, but I don't think it would be needed. Dealing with the carbon fiber and sanding is where you need the mask. Epoxy does not produce fumes as paint does, it just smells. I have done it in my garage during winter in Michigan below freezing with no problems. An N95 should be good enough, but you can also put a fan moving the air out when sanding and wear a better mask. You could also do wet sanding, which will reduce 80% of the particulate in the air. As far as driving it unprotected I would try not to, but there is a compromise you can do. You can lay down the epoxy and leave the sanding for warmer weather. This way the carbon fiber is protected and you can finish it more comfortably in the spring. As far as the Antena, I just put painters tape around it. I know, the best way would be to disassemble it, but I did not want to deal with the Hassel of taking it out and later figuring how to make it fit. Wish you much with it and feel free to reach out if you have any other questions!
@@How_RV_going_to_do_it What did you do with the rubber weatherstrip on the sides? Did you leave it, remove it, lift it up and put epoxy under it? Seems like the protective film that comes with the car would go up to and down the side edges requiring you to put epoxy on the edges as well?
@StockySnail I put the epoxy over the weatherstrip. My side pieces were brittle by the sun and I was afraid they would crack id I took them off. Also, if I ever have to replace the trim pieces on the side of the roof, I just cut the the weatherstrip and let the new one ride over the epoxy. I simply wanted a leak-proof coating, back to back. There is one more thing you need to consider, the front and the rear. You need to create a "dam" with good duct tape so the epoxy does not go over the gap and into the windshield. Once the epoxy is set but before is fully cured, simply remove the tape and trim it with a Cutter to get ride of the edge created by the tape. If you let it fully cure you will have to sane or grind the edge.
Thanks for the question. The Epoxy was applied pretty thick with a brush. It does self-level, so it really does not matter what you use.On the seals, I removed them and taped an edge, but you could also seal the edge with it.
@tadejpukl2254 you have to pry the side rails, they are attached to them or you can simply epoxy over the rubber. If you ever have to change the rails you will need to replace the rubber anyway
I'm currently doing this for my i3. Did you use the full 64oz of resin for coverage, or will 32oz suffice? Also thinking about adding in an opaque black color to the epoxy to conceal the water spots where the roof failed.
Thanks for watching! I used more than 32oz, almost 64oz (maybe 50-55oz). What I would do in your case would be 2 coats. Once with the color and a second one clear to give it some depth and shine. But if you just want to do one you should be fine, no problem.
The problem with this method is that the body around the roof is plastic, and plastic expands and contracts throughout the year when exposed to outdoor weather. What this means is that the plastic will expand into the 2k clear surface and cause spider cracks as a result of the 2k not being flexible. This man's roof will look like a spider web or shattered tempered glass within two years. It would be better to just wrap the roof and replace the wrap every 5 or so years.
@Robbie-mw5uu thanks for your comment. The resin and the 2k do have some flexibility, but plastic might have more expansion. I will find out in a few weeks, Florida is as extreme as it gets!
Looks good! Consider putting ”BMW” in the title to make it easier to search.
Good idea! Will do!
Questions after I say what happened... I bought a used 2019 i3s last weekend and didn't notice the 2 hand sized areas where the carbon fiber was exposed. I mentioned it to the dealer and they basically said good luck. Called a different dealer and they said BMW won't allow a new roof to be sold unless it's to a certified auto body shop. They said the parts are $1500, but the auto body said they would do it for $6k. Needless to say I bought the i3 for $15k. Now I know why they were willing to sell it less than others. I will be trying your epoxy roof repair as I don't have $6k laying around.
Do you remove the antenna or just use painters tape around it?
It's in the 40-50 degree range in my area in Portland Oregon currently. Will I be ok doing the epoxy and paint in my garage at that temperature with the door open so I don't kill myself from the fumes?
Do I need a painters breathing mask or will a N95 mask work well enough?
If I continue to drive the car around in the rain before fixing it I assume that's potentially bad and shouldn't drive it at all until I fix it as I don't want it to get bad enough where I'm forced to get a new roof?
@StockySnail Thanks for your comment , and sorry to hear about your problem! You can certainly do it at that temperature in your garage, it might take a little longer to cure. You can use a faster curing epoxy, but I don't think it would be needed.
Dealing with the carbon fiber and sanding is where you need the mask. Epoxy does not produce fumes as paint does, it just smells. I have done it in my garage during winter in Michigan below freezing with no problems. An N95 should be good enough, but you can also put a fan moving the air out when sanding and wear a better mask. You could also do wet sanding, which will reduce 80% of the particulate in the air.
As far as driving it unprotected I would try not to, but there is a compromise you can do. You can lay down the epoxy and leave the sanding for warmer weather. This way the carbon fiber is protected and you can finish it more comfortably in the spring.
As far as the Antena, I just put painters tape around it. I know, the best way would be to disassemble it, but I did not want to deal with the Hassel of taking it out and later figuring how to make it fit.
Wish you much with it and feel free to reach out if you have any other questions!
@@How_RV_going_to_do_it What did you do with the rubber weatherstrip on the sides? Did you leave it, remove it, lift it up and put epoxy under it? Seems like the protective film that comes with the car would go up to and down the side edges requiring you to put epoxy on the edges as well?
@StockySnail I put the epoxy over the weatherstrip. My side pieces were brittle by the sun and I was afraid they would crack id I took them off. Also, if I ever have to replace the trim pieces on the side of the roof, I just cut the the weatherstrip and let the new one ride over the epoxy. I simply wanted a leak-proof coating, back to back.
There is one more thing you need to consider, the front and the rear. You need to create a "dam" with good duct tape so the epoxy does not go over the gap and into the windshield. Once the epoxy is set but before is fully cured, simply remove the tape and trim it with a Cutter to get ride of the edge created by the tape. If you let it fully cure you will have to sane or grind the edge.
How did you apply the food grade epoxy resin?
How did you pour epoxy to get an even coat. Also what did u do with seal along the edges of roof.
Thanks for the question. The Epoxy was applied pretty thick with a brush. It does self-level, so it really does not matter what you use.On the seals, I removed them and taped an edge, but you could also seal the edge with it.
Hey there! Did you remove the rubber seals at the sides of the roof before applying epoxy resin? If so, how is it done?
@tadejpukl2254 you have to pry the side rails, they are attached to them or you can simply epoxy over the rubber. If you ever have to change the rails you will need to replace the rubber anyway
I'm currently doing this for my i3. Did you use the full 64oz of resin for coverage, or will 32oz suffice? Also thinking about adding in an opaque black color to the epoxy to conceal the water spots where the roof failed.
Thanks for watching! I used more than 32oz, almost 64oz (maybe 50-55oz). What I would do in your case would be 2 coats. Once with the color and a second one clear to give it some depth and shine. But if you just want to do one you should be fine, no problem.
The problem with this method is that the body around the roof is plastic, and plastic expands and contracts throughout the year when exposed to outdoor weather. What this means is that the plastic will expand into the 2k clear surface and cause spider cracks as a result of the 2k not being flexible. This man's roof will look like a spider web or shattered tempered glass within two years. It would be better to just wrap the roof and replace the wrap every 5 or so years.
@Robbie-mw5uu thanks for your comment. The resin and the 2k do have some flexibility, but plastic might have more expansion. I will find out in a few weeks, Florida is as extreme as it gets!
How many cans of 2K Clear did you end up using for those 3 coats?
@yetti96 thanks for the question. 1 and 1/2 would have been enough, and I ended using the 2 (once activated, the can only lasts 24 hours, so...)