What to do 2013 M3

one13M · 09-15-2012, 01:23 PM

Have a question for the community. How hard is it to maintain Alpine White on your M3? To me, it is one of the best colors especially with the carbon roof, but with it just being a gloss paint and not metallic would swirling and what not be worse than a metallic? Obviously I know that the darker the color the harder to maintain, but beyond that.... Any AW owners can chime in? Thanks.

zblake · 09-15-2012, 01:52 PM

Mine looks "good" almost all the time. We garage our cars at night and I wash every two weeks and polish/wax every 6 months. From ~20 feet it looks great always, but the white does show road dust, bugs, ect. The AW doesn't show light scratchs, ect much at all. The cf roof shows water spots like crazy.

I personally think grays and silvers look the best the majority of the time given the same amount of dirty-ness as other colors.

But, if you are a person who is really concerned about the appearance of a car (like me), they all look f'd up after a couple days from the wash. Dirt and grime is dirt and grime.

I just got done with a 3 hour wash and light detail of my wife's black S550 and I actually think black hides a lot (just not dust). Its much harder to polish and wax dark colors (as you said) because the swirls, ect show much more.

Sorry for the long response.

THE TECH · 09-15-2012, 02:25 PM

Paint is paint for the most part. While swirls are harder to see on a non metallic white, they are still as easily put there.

NHman · 09-15-2012, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by one13M

Any AW owners can chime in?

AW is a very rare color for the current production M3. That level of knowledge may not exist....end dry humor.

one13M · 09-19-2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NHman

AW is a very rare color for the current production M3. That level of knowledge may not exist....end dry humor.

I get that it isnt. The color I am hoping to get approved is very are

. The AW is a fallback option, but since the other color is a gloss and not metallic, sort of the same rules apply. It is also a lighter color as well, but blue.

Cheers.

valeram · 10-09-2012, 04:04 PM

It is easier to hide swirl marks on a white color car. Hand wash only to minimize it.

09-15-2012, 01:23 PM	#1
one13M New Member 4 Rep 14 Posts Drives: 2013 M3- Ordered Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	What to do 2013 M3 Have a question for the community. How hard is it to maintain Alpine White on your M3? To me, it is one of the best colors especially with the carbon roof, but with it just being a gloss paint and not metallic would swirling and what not be worse than a metallic? Obviously I know that the darker the color the harder to maintain, but beyond that.... Any AW owners can chime in? Thanks.
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09-15-2012, 01:52 PM	#2
zblake Enlisted Member 6 Rep 45 Posts Drives: C63, P31, etc. Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Norcal, USA iTrader: (2)	Mine looks "good" almost all the time. We garage our cars at night and I wash every two weeks and polish/wax every 6 months. From ~20 feet it looks great always, but the white does show road dust, bugs, ect. The AW doesn't show light scratchs, ect much at all. The cf roof shows water spots like crazy. I personally think grays and silvers look the best the majority of the time given the same amount of dirty-ness as other colors. But, if you are a person who is really concerned about the appearance of a car (like me), they all look f'd up after a couple days from the wash. Dirt and grime is dirt and grime. I just got done with a 3 hour wash and light detail of my wife's black S550 and I actually think black hides a lot (just not dust). Its much harder to polish and wax dark colors (as you said) because the swirls, ect show much more. Sorry for the long response.
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09-15-2012, 02:25 PM	#3
THE TECH BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 307 Rep 13,093 Posts Drives: BPMsport 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas iTrader: (45) Garage List 2013 Nissan GTR [0.00] 2019 Sierra Denali ... [0.00] 1999 Nissan Silvia [0.00] 1999 Nissan Skyline ... [0.00] 1998 Toyota Supra [0.00]	Paint is paint for the most part. While swirls are harder to see on a non metallic white, they are still as easily put there.
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10-09-2012, 04:04 PM	#6
valeram Major 37 Rep 1,413 Posts Drives: 992 TTS, 991.2 GT3 T, F80 M3 C Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dublin, OH iTrader: (0)	It is easier to hide swirl marks on a white color car. Hand wash only to minimize it.
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