No Sparkling Graphite? What color instead?

TLud · 07-29-2008, 03:34 PM

Last week, my dealer confirmed my allocation for a Week 37 build for an '09 E92. I really, really want the Sparkling Graphite, but especially after seeing pics of the E92 in Le Mans Blue that South posted, it looks like that may not happen. My CA confirmed that the E90 would not be available in SG, but obviously couldn't say one way or another regarding the E92.

So, I'm basically preparing myself to be massively disappointed, and I'm trying to figure out what color I'd want instead. I've narrowed it down to the following four (in no particular order):

Jerez Black: I like the color a lot, but it would be a pain to keep clean.

Space Gray: I had silver gray on my E46, which seems very similar, but I don't really want the same thing. It also seems just a bit flat for my taste.

Melbourne Red: In some pictures, I love it. In others, it seems either too orange or too muted. It seems to look really good with the non-metallic tint.

Le Mans Blue: Never seen it on an E92 in person, so hard to tell how it will look. The official pictures never seem to look anything like the colors do in real life.

I'm getting the 19s and moonroof, and I'm planning to get the windows tinted with FormulaOne Pinnacle Ceramic.

Below are some of the best pictures of each color that I've found here on the forum (with tint and 19s). If the owners have any problem with me using their pictures in this thread, I'll be happy to take them down.

If Sparkling Graphite is no longer available, which color should I get?

lebreeze's jerez black E92

eeeboy's space gray E92

icemang17's melbourne red E92

south's pics of the Le Mans Blue E92

TLud · 07-29-2008, 10:22 PM

I went down to a local dealer tonight and saw JzB and MR E92 M3s sitting side by side. I really, really like the JzB, but there is no way I can choose that color because it shows every last scratch and grain of dirt. I'm lucky to be able to wash my cars once a month, so it just wouldn't work for me. The MR looks really nice in person. I think with tinted windows it'll look really sharp. I've ruled out the blue, so it's between Space Gray and Melbourne Red...

pittsy · 07-29-2008, 10:26 PM

JzB is awesome!! I love it!

Mr.AK · 07-29-2008, 10:31 PM

That red is UNREAL. I still love my Alphine white. But damn that red it nice.

TLud · 07-29-2008, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pittsy

JzB is awesome!! I love it!

I love the bluish tint of the JzB. It looks stunning in person. But after seeing a somewhat dirty one today at the dealership, I just know that I wouldn't clean it often enough to keep it looking sharp.

MTROIS · 07-29-2008, 10:55 PM

Hey TLud...what a difficult question... after all the car looks great in all colors anyway, but here is my 2 cents:

- Space grey is classy but not so much sporty and in my opinion would not give credit to the car since you are taking the sunroof (i.e., you won't have the contrast with the Black Carbon Roof)
- LeMans Blue: always great and sporty, but I would get tired of it after a little while... but that is only me.
- Jerez Black, is great, especially since it is a M-specific color so a top-2 pick! (I personnaly went to Jet Black because I wanted to keep the number of color variants on my car in quite a minimalist way: everything wil be black/carbon black+ the 19" wheels which are polished/black...so all in the same shades)... but is indeed a pain to keep clean (I personally don' t mind...even if it is only 15 minutes a month....these 15 minutes will pay back for all the time when the car will be dirty!)
- Melbourne Red...well also a top-2 for me! I really hesitated until the last minute to take this color, but in the end I had been waiting so long to finally get a black car that I did not go for the red.

Again....such a personal decision, and in the end, just follow your gut's feeling!

Enjoy your week!

TLud · 07-31-2008, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTROIS

Hey TLud...what a difficult question... after all the car looks great in all colors anyway, but here is my 2 cents:

- Space grey is classy but not so much sporty and in my opinion would not give credit to the car since you are taking the sunroof (i.e., you won't have the contrast with the Black Carbon Roof)
- LeMans Blue: always great and sporty, but I would get tired of it after a little while... but that is only me.
- Jerez Black, is great, especially since it is a M-specific color so a top-2 pick! (I personnaly went to Jet Black because I wanted to keep the number of color variants on my car in quite a minimalist way: everything wil be black/carbon black+ the 19" wheels which are polished/black...so all in the same shades)... but is indeed a pain to keep clean (I personally don' t mind...even if it is only 15 minutes a month....these 15 minutes will pay back for all the time when the car will be dirty!)
- Melbourne Red...well also a top-2 for me! I really hesitated until the last minute to take this color, but in the end I had been waiting so long to finally get a black car that I did not go for the red.

Again....such a personal decision, and in the end, just follow your gut's feeling!

Enjoy your week!

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. I agree with you that nothing beats a black car when it is clean. And JzB is one of the coolest colors I've ever seen on a car. I just know that being the anal, type A person that I am, it would really bug me to not be able to clean it all the time.

I'm 90% sure that I'm going to go with the Space Gray, but I'm going to bring my wife and compare it side-by-side with the MR this weekend.

Blake · 07-31-2008, 01:34 PM

JzB FTW!

nusevad · 07-31-2008, 03:19 PM

Jerez FTW.

Sedan_Clan · 07-31-2008, 03:27 PM

MR or SG. LB is nice as well. I'd never buy a black car.

TLud · 07-31-2008, 04:40 PM

Funny, the votes in the poll are just about dead even for the JzB, SG, and MR. Big help there!

MTROIS · 08-01-2008, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLud

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. I agree with you that nothing beats a black car when it is clean. And JzB is one of the coolest colors I've ever seen on a car. I just know that being the anal, type A person that I am, it would really bug me to not be able to clean it all the time.

I'm 90% sure that I'm going to go with the Space Gray, but I'm going to bring my wife and compare it side-by-side with the MR this weekend.

But then, pleeeaaase, tell me that you will take it with the Carbon Roof....
In any case, no matter what you will pick, once you will be behind the wheel... it won' t matter anymore!! Only the road ahead... and everybody behind you!

Year's_End · 08-01-2008, 07:24 PM

Le Mans blue for sho.

TLud · 08-03-2008, 02:46 AM

Quick update: Since I was still torn, I decided to go check out colors in person at a different dealer in town. Long story short, I saw the Interlagos blue and it blew me away. It's amazing how much better it looks in person than in pictures. The dealer had three M3s next to each other (the IB, a MR, and JzB). There were ten or so customers checking them out, and they were all standing around and staring at the IB. I called my CA on the spot and told him to change my order to IB.

The fact that it's such a rare color is icing on the cake.

PLAYON · 08-03-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLud

Quick update: Since I was still torn, I decided to go check out colors in person at a different dealer in town. Long story short, I saw the Interlagos blue and it blew me away. It's amazing how much better it looks in person than in pictures. The dealer had three M3s next to each other (the IB, a MR, and JzB). There were ten or so customers checking them out, and they were all standing around and staring at the IB. I called my CA on the spot and told him to change my order to IB.

The fact that it's such a rare color is icing on the cake.

I think you made a good choice man.

TLud · 08-03-2008, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLAYON

I think you made a good choice man.

Thanks. It just goes to show that if you're undecided about which color to get, there is no substitute for seeing them in person.

Deda · 08-03-2008, 11:25 AM

i will go for MR!!

Voltigeur · 08-03-2008, 11:50 AM

-

JzB FTW:

sayemthree · 08-03-2008, 02:51 PM

what color should I get?

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156103

TLud · 08-03-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sayemthree

what color should I get?

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156103

Thanks, man. Obviously, I'm not looking for others to pick something personal like a color for me. This thread was more of a fun exercise to get me thinking about what color I really wanted.

positiveions · 08-03-2008, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLud

I went down to a local dealer tonight and saw JzB and MR E92 M3s sitting side by side. I really, really like the JzB, but there is no way I can choose that color because it shows every last scratch and grain of dirt. I'm lucky to be able to wash my cars once a month, so it just wouldn't work for me. The MR looks really nice in person. I think with tinted windows it'll look really sharp. I've ruled out the blue, so it's between Space Gray and Melbourne Red...

+1. I love that color. I used to have E36 M3 with Schwarskzoff Black (don't know if I spelled correctly). God that color was very unique. It had a hint of red, with some blue-depending on the concentration of sunlight or any light.
Eli

Sticky · 08-03-2008, 07:13 PM

Jerez is just awesome, but yes, it must be clean to have the full impact. After seeing Jerez in person, I decided that is the color I want. I had an Imola E46 M3 but Melbourne just does not look as good to me. Having trouble finding a Jerez DCT coupe though.

View Poll Results: What color should I get instead of the Sparkling Graphite if it is replaced?
Jerez Black	25	33.78%
Space Gray	30	40.54%
Melbourne Red	13	17.57%
Le Mans Blue	6	8.11%
Voters: 74. You may not vote on this poll

07-29-2008, 03:34 PM	#1
TLud Colonel 108 Rep 2,279 Posts Drives: '12 Golf R Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (3)	No Sparkling Graphite? What color instead? Last week, my dealer confirmed my allocation for a Week 37 build for an '09 E92. I really, really want the Sparkling Graphite, but especially after seeing pics of the E92 in Le Mans Blue that South posted, it looks like that may not happen. My CA confirmed that the E90 would not be available in SG, but obviously couldn't say one way or another regarding the E92. So, I'm basically preparing myself to be massively disappointed, and I'm trying to figure out what color I'd want instead. I've narrowed it down to the following four (in no particular order): Jerez Black: I like the color a lot, but it would be a pain to keep clean. Space Gray: I had silver gray on my E46, which seems very similar, but I don't really want the same thing. It also seems just a bit flat for my taste. Melbourne Red: In some pictures, I love it. In others, it seems either too orange or too muted. It seems to look really good with the non-metallic tint. Le Mans Blue: Never seen it on an E92 in person, so hard to tell how it will look. The official pictures never seem to look anything like the colors do in real life. I'm getting the 19s and moonroof, and I'm planning to get the windows tinted with FormulaOne Pinnacle Ceramic. Below are some of the best pictures of each color that I've found here on the forum (with tint and 19s). If the owners have any problem with me using their pictures in this thread, I'll be happy to take them down. If Sparkling Graphite is no longer available, which color should I get? lebreeze's jerez black E92 eeeboy's space gray E92 icemang17's melbourne red E92 south's pics of the Le Mans Blue E92
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07-29-2008, 10:22 PM	#2
TLud Colonel 108 Rep 2,279 Posts Drives: '12 Golf R Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (3)	I went down to a local dealer tonight and saw JzB and MR E92 M3s sitting side by side. I really, really like the JzB, but there is no way I can choose that color because it shows every last scratch and grain of dirt. I'm lucky to be able to wash my cars once a month, so it just wouldn't work for me. The MR looks really nice in person. I think with tinted windows it'll look really sharp. I've ruled out the blue, so it's between Space Gray and Melbourne Red...
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07-29-2008, 10:26 PM	#3
pittsy Captain 60 Rep 860 Posts Drives: Jerez...E92 M3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	JzB is awesome!! I love it! __________________ 08 E92 M3 Jerez Black \| Bamboo \| 6MT \| 18s \| 5% tint \| No iDrive \| Heated Seats \| V1 hardwire \| ///M Alu Pedals \| Matte Black Grills \| Painted Reflectors \| CF Roundels \| GP Thunder 8500k \| Remus Race Exhaust \| VMR V701 18s Matte Black
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07-29-2008, 10:31 PM	#4
Mr.AK Second Lieutenant 41 Rep 242 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 e92 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore MD iTrader: (0)	That red is UNREAL. I still love my Alphine white. But damn that red it nice.
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07-29-2008, 10:55 PM	#6
MTROIS Major 188 Rep 1,153 Posts Drives: on the wrong side of the Ocean Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Jersey, USA iTrader: (0)	Hey TLud...what a difficult question... after all the car looks great in all colors anyway, but here is my 2 cents: - Space grey is classy but not so much sporty and in my opinion would not give credit to the car since you are taking the sunroof (i.e., you won't have the contrast with the Black Carbon Roof) - LeMans Blue: always great and sporty, but I would get tired of it after a little while... but that is only me. - Jerez Black, is great, especially since it is a M-specific color so a top-2 pick! (I personnaly went to Jet Black because I wanted to keep the number of color variants on my car in quite a minimalist way: everything wil be black/carbon black+ the 19" wheels which are polished/black...so all in the same shades)... but is indeed a pain to keep clean (I personally don' t mind...even if it is only 15 minutes a month....these 15 minutes will pay back for all the time when the car will be dirty!) - Melbourne Red...well also a top-2 for me! I really hesitated until the last minute to take this color, but in the end I had been waiting so long to finally get a black car that I did not go for the red. Again....such a personal decision, and in the end, just follow your gut's feeling! Enjoy your week! __________________ 2019 M2C MT (ED + PCD) \| 2008 M3 Coupé MT \| 1995 M3 LTW MT \| BMW CCA HPDE Instructor
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07-31-2008, 01:34 PM	#8
Blake Banned 755 Rep 4,649 Posts Drives: Chevy Aveo Join Date: May 2008 Location: Parent's Basement iTrader: (7)	JzB FTW!
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07-31-2008, 03:19 PM	#9
nusevad O! So Sour!! 552 Rep 15,615 Posts Drives: Fast 240z / Slow M3 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: 'Merica! iTrader: (24) Garage List 1971 Datsun 240z [0.00] 2008 M3 [9.60]	Jerez FTW. __________________
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07-31-2008, 03:27 PM	#10
Sedan_Clan Law Enforcer 25063 Rep 22,282 Posts Drives: '22 Chalk Gray Porsche C2S Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: ..in your rearview!!! iTrader: (26)	MR or SG. LB is nice as well. I'd never buy a black car.
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07-31-2008, 04:40 PM	#11
TLud Colonel 108 Rep 2,279 Posts Drives: '12 Golf R Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (3)	Funny, the votes in the poll are just about dead even for the JzB, SG, and MR. Big help there!
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08-01-2008, 07:24 PM	#13
Year's_End Lieutenant General 1138 Rep 12,444 Posts Drives: 2020 Shelby GT350 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	Le Mans blue for sho. __________________ Past: '08 E92 335i\|ZPP\|ZSP\|6AT Past: '15 Mustang GT\|401A\|PP\|6MT Current: '20 Shelby GT350\|6MT
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08-03-2008, 02:46 AM	#14
TLud Colonel 108 Rep 2,279 Posts Drives: '12 Golf R Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Texas iTrader: (3)	Quick update: Since I was still torn, I decided to go check out colors in person at a different dealer in town. Long story short, I saw the Interlagos blue and it blew me away. It's amazing how much better it looks in person than in pictures. The dealer had three M3s next to each other (the IB, a MR, and JzB). There were ten or so customers checking them out, and they were all standing around and staring at the IB. I called my CA on the spot and told him to change my order to IB. The fact that it's such a rare color is icing on the cake.
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08-03-2008, 11:25 AM	#17
Deda Major General 563 Rep 7,034 Posts Drives: BMW M5 comp Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Croatia iTrader: (0)	i will go for MR!!
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08-03-2008, 11:50 AM	#18
Voltigeur MacroRisk 109 Rep 2,523 Posts Drives: M3 E92 ED'09 / 335d Sport DD Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: TX iTrader: (0)	- JzB FTW: __________________ Just thinking of something not so witty ///M3 E92 '09 Jerez Black \| 6MT \| Ext Fox Red \| Tech \| Prem \| 19s \|Heated Seats \| iPod \|Smartphone \| Euro Deliv June 09 Sold: 540iT / 530i / 323i
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08-03-2008, 02:51 PM	#19
sayemthree Major General 597 Rep 5,448 Posts Drives: ‘20 X3mC ‘20 Raptor ‘04 X3 6mt Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: usa so cal , AZ iTrader: (0)	what color should I get? http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156103 __________________ Fore Sale Rare 6 speed manual X3 3.oi silver over grey. PM me
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08-03-2008, 07:13 PM	#22
Sticky Banned 78 Rep 2,244 Posts Drives: E92 Jerez DCT M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Anaheim Hills / Malibu iTrader: (0)	Jerez is just awesome, but yes, it must be clean to have the full impact. After seeing Jerez in person, I decided that is the color I want. I had an Imola E46 M3 but Melbourne just does not look as good to me. Having trouble finding a Jerez DCT coupe though.
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