BMW X3 Service & Repair Manual: Bonding on painted/primed surfaces

IMPORTANT: These repair instructions apply only to components of the outer skin and not to structural components.

These include roof outer skin, tail panel, rear side panels and components of the luggage compartment floor.

Follow the vehicle-specific repair instructions.

Only the repair method described there must be used! Conform with safety regulations .

Overview of topics:

1. Equipment
2. Expiry date of consumables
3. Preparation of surface
4. Bonding coat
5. Hardening times
6. Subsequent treatment
7. Disposal of adhesive

1.0 Equipment

• CLEANING AGENT R1
• ADHESIVE K5
• CARTRIDGE GUN

2.0 Expiry date of consumables:

• Glue cartridge is marked with a date.
• Do not use adhesive after this date.

3.0 Preparation of surface:

3.1 Preparation of the surface on the vehicle (series status):

• Establish a level bonding surface (e.g. grinding).
• Do not sand primed bonding surfaces.

  If the bonding surface is painted in the vehicle colour, the paint must be completely sanded off.

• If necessary, pre-clean bonding surfaces with cavity sealing wax remover.

  Clean bonding surfaces with cleaning agent R1.

• Allow cleaned surfaces to dry for approx. 5 min.

  Bonding surfaces must be completely dry.

3.2 Preparation of the surface on the vehicle (replacement of a bonded component):

• Remove adhesive residue completely from vehicle. Remove all old reinforcement plates if necessary (e. g. rear side panel).
• Do not prime in the area of the bonding surfaces! Adhesive insufficiently bonds to primer.

  If priming is needed after straightening work, cover the bonding surfaces.

• If necessary, pre-clean bonding surfaces with cavity sealing wax remover.

  Clean bonding surfaces with cleaning agent R1.

• Allow cleaned surfaces to dry for approx. 5 min.

  Bonding surfaces must be completely dry.

3.3 Preparation of surface on new part:

• Do not remove primer on new part.

  Do not grind/sand bonding surfaces.

• Clean bonding surfaces with cleaning agent R1.
• Allow cleaned surfaces to dry for approx. 5 min.
  Bonding surfaces must be completely dry.

4.0 Adhesive application:

• Processing temperature of glue cartridge 18 ºC 30 ºC.
• Object temperature, vehicle and new parts, at least 15ºC.
• Do not use an air-powered cartridge gun.
• Insert glue cartridge into cartridge gun, remove cap and allow both adhesive components to emerge. Strip adhesive components uniformly and attach mixing tube.
• Allow approx. 10 cm of mixed adhesive to emerge and then apply the mixed adhesive first on one side of the bonding surface.
• After applying the adhesive, check whether an adhesive component has emerged at the back of the glue cartridge. If yes, break off the bonding procedure. Clean new part. Use new glue cartridge.
• Pot life of mixed adhesive approx. 2 h. A change of mixer is necessary only if no material has flowed through the mixer for a period of 30 min.
• Join components and secure in position.
• Remove excess adhesive.

5.0 Hardening times:

• Do not move the vehicle before the adhesive has hardened.

  Check the degree of hardness of the adhesive with a fingernail.

  If the adhesive cannot be pressed in any further with a fingernail, the vehicle may be moved (without engine force) for further processing applications (e.g. painting).

• Vehicle strength for driving applications is achieved after: 48 h at an object temperature of at least 15 ºC (corresponds to approx. 18 ºC room temperature).

  Or 1 h in the spray booth (spray booth temperature 80 ºC/object temperature 60 ºC).

• When using radiant heaters, make sure that the object temperature does not exceed 85 ºC.

  Excessively high temperatures will destroy the adhesive.

• Remove contamination caused by adhesive residue immediately.

  Hardened adhesive can only be removed mechanically.

6.0 Subsequent treatment:

• Reseal areas which are cavity-sealed as standard.

7.0 Disposal of adhesive:

• Hardened adhesive is disposed of as normal waste.
• Empty glue cartridges are disposed of as normal waste.
• Non-hardened adhesives and mixtures of adhesive and solvent and the like must be disposed of as hazardous waste.

These regulations apply to the Federal Republic of Germany.

For other countries, comply with the (possibly differing) nationally applicable regulations.