I did that also and to correct it I ordered a spray can of BMW Chili Red (code 851) and picked up a can of clear coat. (off the Internet) I taped off what I could and used aluminum foil to cover the rest of the parts and sprayed them. Now they look better than they came from the factory. :biggrin5:
the damage occured during the previous owner's time. Read more: http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/detailing/909-how-i-clean-mini-engine-bay-2.html#ixzz3IhNyKO2B
Problem Corrected Since I posted a photo of the damage to the paint under the hood caused by strong cleaners, I thought it appropriate to share, in photo format, the "after" image of the underhood paint. (Yes, I know there are a couple screws missing.)
Any body shop supply business can mix you the factory Chili Red in a spray can. It will cost about anywhere from $15 - $25 a can depending on the shop. BMW Chili Red (code 851)
Paint Source Not having an auto paint supplier near, I purchased rattle cans of paint through the Internet from Automotive Touchup Touch Up Paint and Accessories | AutomotiveTouchup I had read a thread somewhere and a poster had recommended this company. Where the new Chili Red meets the cowl at the back edge of the engine bay, you cannot see any difference in color. Wish I could say the same for the white. At the top of the back of the car, where the white top paint continues under the hatch, the white had washed off leaving splotches of red. Where the new white paint meets the old, there is a color difference, with the new paint having a bit of a gray cast. It took two 12.5 oz cans of Chili Red and 2 cans of Clear Coat to do the area under the hood.
I use S100 Total Cycle Cleaner. It has a yellow color for the carnauba in it which leaves a clean shiny finish. All you do is spray and rinse off. Better if you spray and brush the areas you can reach. The "bikers" use this for all the chrome around the engine. http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=s100+total+cycle+cleaner&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=4242730927&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7212925313885723149&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_4b5njn2aki_b
I have been wiping down the engine compartment with a damp MF cloth every week since new, and was fortunate to never get any build up. Got bit by a road gator and took it to a dealer to get it repaired. The next week I opened the hood and saw the same thing as your picture -- dealer said they did not do anything that could have done that. I was fortunate that I had recent pictures of the engine compartment and they repainted it for me. Whatever they had used even damaged some of the under-hood labels.