Going Individual - Azurite Black or Midnight Blue?

[Technic]

Originally Posted by jai5w4

I have looked over the Individual list, and I'm not about to order a green or orange car simply in an attempt to be more 'unique.' That's not why I'm interested in the Individual program.

Any non-standard/optional color may not be an Individual color but it will be processed under the Individual program.

Any of those blues will work great with Rust Brown so you can't do wrong.

[JulieDriving]

OP, here are a few more photos of Azurite in the sun.

I have others if you have not seen some of these.

I went through the same search process as you.

Personally, those pics of Midnight Blue look awesome. If the pricing were the same for the two for me, hmm... I'd be in the same dilemma as you!

[jai5w4]

Julie, I'd love to see more photos of the Azurite Competition M3.

Thanks!

[JulieDriving]

jai5w4, here are some more pics:

Not so much in bright sunlight (and the last one is an E92 335d), but gives you an idea.

The first one really is an Azurite, found on a dealer's lot. The dealer also had the sticker showing that it was an Azurite Black.

It glows when it's in sunlight. It looks like the first one when it's dreary/ overcast. And even when it's dreary, it looks like a very dark blue, rather than a black.

Here is an Individual catalogue (attached) with lots of pics of various cars in Individual paint & interior. There's even a page with samples of the various blues - Midnight Blue, Azurite, Carbon Black, Onyx, etc. (p. 48) - although those are notoriously not representative of the real colors, it may at least give you a sense of the spectrum...

From that catalogue, I get the sense that Midnight Blue is the lightest blue (of the dark blues). I thought about Blue Onyx as well, or Carbon Black.

[jai5w4]

Julie,

Thanks for the photos and information. Is the 335 azurite as well? And can carbon black be ordered on the e92?

[JulieDriving]

Originally Posted by jai5w4

Julie,

Thanks for the photos and information. Is the 335 azurite as well? And can carbon black be ordered on the e92?

Yes, the 335 is Azurite, I got the pic from the owner's thread (I forgot the member's name though...)

Whether or not a specific Individual color can be ordered will depend on BMW AG (BMW HQ). Apparently, they will only do a maximum of a certain number in a certain color per year, or something like that.

So I (had originally) put in a request for Midnight Blue to BMW Canada. You have to go through BMW [insert your country], who will then talk to BMW Munich. And wait a few days/ couple of weeks to get the answer. I got the answer a few days later, but then I decided to go with Azurite because I could get a package deal with Individual Trim and Shadowline for less than just the paint color alone if I went with Midnight Blue.

p.s. I remember I also had more luck searching for pics using the German words for what I was looking for. Which I guess makes sense since Individual is not normally offered in the US.

So for instance:
Azuritschwarz metallic (Azurite Black)
BMW Individual erweiterte Lederausstattung Novillo Oxydbraun/Schwarz (Rust Brown)

The UK also has a number of Azurite E92s that I have seen in my searches...

[jai5w4]

Awesome info. Thank you.

Separate question. If I do ED do they have to drill holes in the front for the euro license plate? Man, I'd like to avoid that.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by jai5w4

Awesome info. Thank you.

Separate question. If I do ED do they have to drill holes in the front for the euro license plate? Man, I'd like to avoid that.

No, the front plate is not mounted when you do ED. They actually hand you the front plate mount when you pick up the car at the Welt. I even packed mine away so there was no chance it could get mounted. Your front Zoll plate even remains on if you do PCD (they will remove it if you request it). But no one is going to mount the front plate, unless your dealer does it by mistake.

[jai5w4]

SamS,

Does one have to mount the plate if they wish to drive the car in Germany? What are the rules about front plates there?

I'm more torn about Midnight Blue and Azurite now than ever before. Damn…

[SamS]

Originally Posted by jai5w4

SamS,

Does one have to mount the plate if they wish to drive the car in Germany? What are the rules about front plates there?

When the car is delivered to you at the Welt, the front Zoll plate is mounted to the bumper with some very strong adhesive tape. You will need the front Zoll plate in Europe. I don't recall how the rear plate is mounted, but I'm pretty sure it is tape, as well. They take the rear plate Zoll plate off when it comes back to the US.

Originally Posted by jai5w4

I'm more torn about Midnight Blue and Azurite now than ever before. Damn…

I have Jerez, but I'm pretty sure the next BMW I buy will be Midnight Blue. Azurite is great, but I think the Midnight Blue will be even more interesting to look at vs. Azurite, on days when the sun is not shining.

[tico1028]

The Mid Blue kind of looks like a bluer JB. I love my JB, but man that Mid. Blue is pretty damn amazing....

But....the Az. Blk looks incredible. I'd probably like the Mid. Blue more though.

For an individual color option, I'd go with Fire Orange, but that's just me