What Does It Mean When a VCI Film Is BMW-Approved?
If you’ve ever wondered what separates a regular VCI film from one that’s trusted by BMW — one of the world’s most quality-obsessed automakers — the answer lies in a single document: BFSV Test Report No. 7499/11, certified under the TL 8135-0043 specification.
BENZ Packaging supplies VCI (Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor) films that have passed this exact test — conducted by BFSV, the Institute for Consulting, Research, System Planning, Packaging Development and Testing at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany. This is the same laboratory that BMW itself uses to evaluate all packaging materials for its global supply chain.
So What Exactly Is TL 8135-0043?
Think of TL 8135-0043 as BMW’s entrance exam for VCI films. It’s a German technical specification (Edition 3, September 2002) that tests whether a VCI film can actually protect metal parts from corroding — not in ideal lab conditions, but under accelerated climate cycling that simulates real-world shipping and storage scenarios. The test evaluates three things:
- Does it actually prevent corrosion? — Tested through repeated humidity and temperature cycling (Appendix A)
- Is it physically strong enough? — Tensile strength tested per DIN EN ISO 527-3, dart impact per ASTM D 1709-09
- Is it consistent? — Thickness uniformity (DIN 53370) and density (DIN 53479) verified
How Did BENZ VCI Film Perform? Here Are the Actual Numbers
| Test Parameter | Standard Code | Result |
|---|
| Film Thickness | DIN 53370 | 92 µm |
| Tensile Strength (MD) | DIN EN ISO 527-3 | 29.55 MPa |
| Tensile Strength (CD) | DIN EN ISO 527-3 | 31.19 MPa |
| Dart Impact Resistance | ASTM D 1709-09 | 597.0 g |
| Corrosion Protection | TL 8135-0043 Appendix A | Grade 3 — “Good” |
Certificate: BFSV Test Report No. 7499/11 | Issued: May 10, 2011 | Lab: BFSV, Hamburg, Germany
What Does “Grade 3 — Good” Actually Mean?
Under TL 8135-0043, the grading scale works like this: Grade 2 means “middle” protection, and Grade 3 means “good” protection — which is the highest passing grade for VCI films in BMW’s system. In practical terms, it means the metal parts wrapped in BENZ VCI film showed minimal to no corrosion after being subjected to aggressive temperature and humidity cycling designed to simulate months of real-world exposure in just days.
Why Should You Care About BMW Certification?
Here’s what BMW certification really tells you about a VCI film: if it’s good enough to protect engine blocks, transmission housings, and precision-machined parts for a company that builds cars costing ?50 lakhs to ?3 crores — it’s good enough for your products too. Specifically, a BMW-approved VCI film means:
- Zero corrosion risk during transit, warehousing, and cross-border shipping
- No oils or greases needed — clean, residue-free protection
- Traceable quality — every batch linked to BFSV laboratory verification
- Global acceptance — any customer who sees “BMW TL 8135-0043 approved” knows exactly what it means
Available Across India from BENZ Packaging
BENZ Packaging is India’s leading manufacturer and supplier of OEM-certified VCI corrosion protection films. With 45+ years of packaging expertise, manufacturing facilities producing BMW-grade VCI films, and a client base of 200+ industrial companies, BENZ delivers world-class corrosion protection across India — as sheets, bags, tubing, or custom formats.
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*BENZ Packaging is the authorized manufacturer and supplier of Propagroup S.p.A.’s VCI product range in India. The PROPATECH VCI technology used in BENZ VCI films originates from Propagroup, Italy, and carries all associated OEM certifications including BFSV Test Report No. 7499/11 (TL 8135-0043). BENZ manufactures these products locally under a Certificate of Conformity issued by Propagroup (dated May 6, 2023).