To go Individual Paint or Not... (Jerez vs. Azurite)

[JulieDriving]

So.... in Canada we have a choice of *some* Individual options. (US owners, nothing to be jealous of, as our M3s cost significantly more )

My favorite colors are the very dark blue or black ones.

I heard that Jet Black is bad for swirls (and my salesman told me to avoid it). So I was leaning a bit more towards Jerez... but then I thought, "Frak, I'm spending so much money on an M.... maybe I should get Azurite?? It seems to be a bit bluer, and without the slight purple-ish tint that Jerez sometimes has... p.s. Midnight Blue is not on the Canadian website, but I suppose I could always ask my dealer if it's possible and if so, how much more it would cost...

I know it's a personal decision whether or not the difference between Jerez & Azurite is worth $4000 (n.b., the $4000 would include piano black, eucalyptus or maple anthracite trim), but I thought I'd ask for your thoughts anyways.....

In addition, if my car gets chips or gets hit and needs to be repainted or something, how hard is it to get matching paint or a matching paint job? Anybody know?

Thanks!

[quiksi]

I don't think any of the other dark colors would be much better at hiding swirls than Jet Black... Azurite is a gorgeous color though - I would think any reputable paint shop would be able to match the factory paint based on the code

[rye m3]

You already have a black 335. Why would you get a black M3? There are some adventurous blues or even Dakar yellow to choose from. I'd get crazy or just go Jerez.

[JulieDriving]

Originally Posted by quiksi

I don't think any of the other dark colors would be much better at hiding swirls than Jet Black... Azurite is a gorgeous color though - I would think any reputable paint shop would be able to match the factory paint based on the code

Thanks.

There was a thread (forgot which one) about an Individual color car where one of the posters said matching up the paint color on such a car was going to be a b*tch, which is why [said] poster said he would never go Individual...

I could ask my dealer.... but they know less than me(!) about the car...

[JulieDriving]

Originally Posted by rye m3

You already have a black 335. Why would you get a black M3? There are some adventurous blues or even Dakar yellow to choose from. I'd get crazy or just go Jerez.

You do have a point...

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by JulieDriving

Thanks.

There was a thread (forgot which one) about an Individual color car where one of the posters said matching up the paint color on such a car was going to be a b*tch, which is why [said] poster said he would never go Individual...

I could ask my dealer.... but they know less than me(!) about the car...

Any dark color will show swirls the same, Jerez or Azurite will be no better than Jet black.

As for matching the color, a good shop like IND can do it no problem. IND painted pieces and shipped them to me and they were a perfect match! Please realize I am extremely anal about paint and I also used to think that paint was impossible to match..... IND proved me wrong on that.

[JulieDriving]

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

Any dark color will show swirls the same, Jerez or Azurite will be no better than Jet black.

As for matching the color, a good shop like IND can do it no problem. IND painted pieces and shipped them to me and they were a perfect match! Please realize I am extremely anal about paint and I also used to think that paint was impossible to match..... IND proved me wrong on that.

Thanks for your input BMRLVR. That reassures me.

I LUV your Individual set-up btw. Awesome Moonstone/ Amarone/ Piano Black...

[aus]

It's easy for a paint shop to match a standard paint finish when they can pull the code off the strut tower. I don't know how it would work with an individual color.

And anyone who thinks Jet Black will hide swirls is GRAVELY mistaken.


.

[DJDeez]

Save the money you would in an individual option and have the vehicle wrapped in whatever colour you would like It'll still be considerably cheaper and you'll have complete paint protection!

[Legion5]

I think you're making a huge mistake by going with the darker colors. As an artist I can tell you that the M3 has unlike most cars has most of it's charachter in it's from, meaning the bulges and sublte folds in the body. You aren't able to see that with a darker color. There's just a huge majority of people who will agree that the M3 doesn't look good in lighter colors, and almost everyone in the know thinks so, I've spent 3 months researching the car and seen every color and option in person and even the salespeople agree by a wide margin the lighter colors look better so overall I think it's a huge mistake to get an M3 in a darker color, and especially to spend money and go out of your way to get it in that darker color.

[Totti]

Originally Posted by Legion5

I think you're making a huge mistake by going with the darker colors. As an artist I can tell you that the M3 has unlike most cars has most of it's charachter in it's from, meaning the bulges and sublte folds in the body. You aren't able to see that with a darker color. There's just a huge majority of people who will agree that the M3 doesn't look good in lighter colors, and almost everyone in the know thinks so, I've spent 3 months researching the car and seen every color and option in person and even the salespeople agree by a wide margin the lighter colors look better so overall I think it's a huge mistake to get an M3 in a darker color, and especially to spend money and go out of your way to get it in that darker color.

If you're telling me that doesn't look good you need to PM me with the address of your crack dealer so I can get some..

[DJDeez]

The second thread I've seen relating a black M3 to crack abuse

[Dackelone]

Maybe this will help you decide...

Jerezschwarz, Saphireschwarz, Rubinschwarz...

[hlmiii]

Originally Posted by quiksi

I don't think any of the other dark colors would be much better at hiding swirls than Jet Black.

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

Any dark color will show swirls the same, Jerez or Azurite will be no better than Jet black.

These two statements are not correct.

I have two "black" BMW's - a Jet Black M3 and a Sapphire Black 135.
The Jet Black car has been babied with hand washing and treated with figurative white gloves overall. Despite that it readily reveals any swirls and blemishes when viewed at any angle in most lighting.
The Sapphire Black car has been treated respectfully, but not with the same care. It's been taken through good car washes. It does not reveal swirls under most viewing. Yes, it will give up some evidence under the right angle and light, but it is much more forgiving than the Jet Black.

Sapphire Black is also not nearly so sensitive to the unavoidable dust that settles on a car within minutes of washing.

Overall, SB has 90% of the star quality of JB, with 20% of the problems.

[Lorde]

I'd say forget about dark colors and go Silverstone II. Too bad they don't offer Sparkling Graphite, I love it on my 08.

[MUFCbmwbear]

For individual I would consider MOnte Carlo, Moonstone or frozen gray.
all with rust brown extended

[Legion5]

Originally Posted by Totti

If you're telling me that doesn't look good you need to PM me with the address of your crack dealer so I can get some..

I think that pic actually proves my point really well. Most pics taken by cameras try to bring out the detail in black by doing auto exposure, but with this car, it's more realistic.

As you can clearly see the black hides every single part of the car that's supposed to be special. It just looks like a big black blob. All I see is headlights, chin spoiler, wheels and the turn signal, then black blob.

The M3 just looks like a regular car in profile, Jay Leno has actually said that in his review of the car, that at first glance it looks like a regular car. The last thing you want is to reduce an M3 down to a blob because then it brings out the fact it's a normal car.

The thing to do with an M3 is to show off it's sublte features as much as possible.

Compare the pic you just posted to this:



Yours = black blob

This = special car

[gr8one88]

black is black blah boring get blue or white or moonstone or something cool. black gets so much dirtier and gets so much hotter and you can see it at night and it just looks like a black benz you dont want a black M car black isnt exciting M cars are exciting get an exciting color man for real. no offense its just my 2 cents. i cant stand black cars i will never own one

[Seattle S65B40]

Originally Posted by Legion5

I think that pic actually proves my point really well. Most pics taken by cameras try to bring out the detail in black by doing auto exposure, but with this car, it's more realistic.

As you can clearly see the black hides every single part of the car that's supposed to be special. It just looks like a big black blob. All I see is headlights, chin spoiler, wheels and the turn signal, then black blob.

The M3 just looks like a regular car in profile, Jay Leno has actually said that in his review of the car, that at first glance it looks like a regular car. The last thing you want is to reduce an M3 down to a blob because then it brings out the fact it's a normal car.

The thing to do with an M3 is to show off it's sublte features as much as possible.

Compare the pic you just posted to this:



Yours = black blob

This = special car

Oh come on, Legion, that's a load of crap. Just because you're a photographer does not mean you are the last word on the assessing the visual reception of the M3 in different colors (obviously something that is completely subjective). I think we can all agree that car looks good in every color. Yes, lighter colors may show the lines more, but darker M3s are far from "black blobs."


The pic above (Bapesta206's car) is awesome and i can see every single line on that car.

[Erie Von Otto]

Well I agree, I think you all need to keep getting white/silver/blue/ect colored cars. The less Black "Blobs" the better, I say!

[F82_SID]

Originally Posted by rye m3

You already have a black 335. Why would you get a black M3? There are some adventurous blues or even Dakar yellow to choose from. I'd get crazy or just go Jerez.

Originally Posted by JulieDriving

You do have a point...

I had a black 335 with red interior and although I loved that combo, I had to get something different or I know I would have regretted it later. I really liked Jerez and if I was going to get a dark color that would definitely have been it, but in the end, the only real choice for me was MR. AND I LOVE IT!

[Grail05]

OMG so many arguments.. OP just get what you want.. in the end you will make the decision and us...

if u dont like a change buy the black or whatever special color, if you want something different use the money on the options not on the color though...

since i didnt read your thread much i assume that you ask regarding swirl marks. All dark colored cars are very visible when it comes to swirls specially black or purpliush black whatever it is if it has a hint of black swirl marks will just show up and obvious.