Jet Black or Saphire Black

Thanks to all for your comments. Seems like I have some thinking to do now. I will keep you posted.

Originally Posted by dzaborn

This!

I've been where you are at, but liking Melbourne Red more every day.

Many cops consider Melbourne Red to be a personal insult.

They call it "Arrest Me Red!" for a reason.

Originally Posted by jeffnin

Coming from someone who has only owned Black BMW's except for a momentary lapse (see my signature below), I have to say that I still love Jet Black the best as it shines like no other when it is clean and streak/scratch free, but it is a very hard color to keep looking that way. Black Sapphire just doesn't have the depth of Jet Black, although it doesn't show the scratches as much as JB. You have to OCD like me, though, to keep either color looking pristine. Bottom line, JB is a truer black while SB is more of a very dark black/grey.

You have some great cars in your stable. However, I noticed you live in Phoenix. How do you overcome the over 100 degree days , and getting into Hot Cars? Do you use a car cover, or are you able to use a lot of covered parking areas. I have Las Vegas as part of my Sales Territory, and jumped into one of my Rental Cars and could not even hold the Steering Wheel for a few minutes. Our first Bimmer in 2006 was Jet Black, we loved it, but we are not the Wax it every Friday types either. We have opted for Red on the last two 3 Series. The Crimson Red and I am sure the Melbourne Red will not show the dirt.

I Love jet black. It has that deep black color when clean. It's a pita to keep clean. However, when it's clean it looks beautiful. I try to wash my car every week, and enjoy it.

JeeeeeeeeeeT Black for Sure!!

FWIW clean car this morning and after a Philadelphia -> Baltimore -> Philadelphia drive... ugh!

Originally Posted by voip-ninja

You should look at my picture threads of the sapphire black with everest gray interior. It's one phenomenal looking combination... but with a 3-series you really can't go wrong unless you go blue exterior and red interior

We also refer to these types of threads as "first world problems". Kind of like "waaaah, I can't get video out in my 2013 BMW from my iPhone 5.

I've got the black sapphire metallic with Everest grey interior, its a great combo. If you're going black outside, it's good to go with a lighter interior to break up all those dark colors. Black/black is a little too Audi-ish for my taste.

My car looks the same. Now we have an excuse to wash it up.

Originally Posted by thegandalf

Can you imagine all this discusion and finding myself choosing red in then end!

+2. I'd been trying to decide between Mineral Grey Metallic and Imperial Blue for the longest time but actually ended up with Estoril Blue in the end.

Originally Posted by DavidM1975

FWIW clean car this morning and after a Philadelphia -> Baltimore -> Philadelphia drive... ugh!Attachment 359244

I did a New York - DC same thing and the salt goes everywhere its hard to clean

Originally Posted by thegandalf

It's true that gray is terribly rendered on BMW's site, at list BJ's picts look a lot more dynamic.

I started this thread trying to get some input in help me decide between Jet and Saphire Black and now minreal gray is back in the mix. How can interior color be so complicated!!!!

Thanks all for your suggestions and comments. It's hard to be mad when at this point something so "trivial' as color is my toughest choice

Go with jet black I was confused between black or white. Then black obvious it's hard to maintain but it looks sexy. Go for it.

My previous bimmer was jet black and people still commented on how good it looked even at 12 years of age and 100k+(when it was clean of course).

We need rain to wash off all the salt on the ground. Till then, I rinse off the car.

Originally Posted by namelessman

My previous bimmer was jet black and people still commented on how good it looked even at 12 years of age and 100k+(when it was clean of course).

They were driving grey cars and just said that to be nice.

BJ

I would've gotten Jet Black but was forced into Sapphire due to my model. If you have a choice go Jet Black.

i've always preferred non-metallic paints for my cars but you can't go wrong either way

Originally Posted by finaloption

i've always preferred non-metallic paints for my cars but you can't go wrong either way

The metallic paint looks very good in bright sunlight and at night, however there are times when at a closer distance the metal flakes make it look dusty.

I'm willing to use a California Duster every day, and during the dry periods at least once or twice a week Quick Detailer and when it gets really dirty wash the bastard by hand.

There is nothing like a clean black car-absolutely nothing.

Originally Posted by thegandalf

I was planning on ordering the Mineral Gray but the more I think about it the more I like the idea of a black F30.

I never thought I would ever consider a black car, but the F30 looks so sexy in black!

...stick to the original plan of Mineral Gray.

...black looks sexy in just about 1 out of 30 days.

Originally Posted by LarryboysUDM

...stick to the original plan of Mineral Gray.

...black looks sexy in just about 1 out of 30 days.

Wrong. Only if you're lazy. Like any other color.

Originally Posted by boltjaM3s

They were driving grey cars and just said that to be nice.

BJ

I did recall they did drive grey cars and were at the dealership service bay praising the brilliant jet black while I was standing behind them talking to the SAs. BMW did cut back on the paint base layers(it used to be 5, now is 3) to save cost, so it is unclear if the new colors will hold up as well over time as yesteryear's ones.

I had jet black on my 328xi back in 08. It looks real nice clean, but the Black Saphire has a nice glimmer to it. I think if I had to do it all over again, that's the color I'd get. As others have mentioned though, Mineral Grey looks amazing in person, and I'd choose that over Black.

Mineral Grey does look great if you end up choosing luxury line. The chrome / black trim around the windows seem to pop nicely. If you get Sport line then Black / sapphire black looks much better imo. I'm happy with my Sapphire black Sport so far.

Originally Posted by EddieB

Wrong. Only if you're lazy. Like any other color.

My other car is black and I've had it for over 10 years. I've had more than my fair share of wash, wax, clean/vac; inside and out it looks around half its age. In terms of getting dirty, black is not like any other color...I would say it is the fastest to get dirty.

Originally Posted by chiba

Mineral Grey does look great if you end up choosing luxury line. The chrome / black trim around the windows seem to pop nicely. If you get Sport line then Black / sapphire black looks much better imo. I'm happy with my Sapphire black Sport so far.

+1 I have the exact same looking car on the outside.

I have owned dark colored cars for years and if you have a garage they are not as hard to keep clean as everybody says. My new car is a 528xi in saphire black and it looks great. What I do to keep it looking good is first strip all the crap waxes that have been used on it from past owners by washing it a couple of times with dawn dishwashing soap. Then I use zaino car polish which to me cannot be beat, I will put at least 2 coats on and another couple of coats in the next week or so and start and finish each coat with z6.

You can use only 1 coat if you want and it will work fine but I like to build it up so it stays on longer. Now for the easy maintenance every day when I come home from work and the dust is built up on the car I use a california duster to remove it which takes about 30 seconds, with the zaino the dust does not stick so it comes right off. If I am out a few times on windy days I might have to dust it twice a day, which again takes 30 seconds each time. If you don't let the dust sit on the car for days it comes right off, which saves many car washes.

If my car is not driven in the rain I can keep it showroom clean indefinitely without washing it. Even if it rains while I am at work as long as it is dry when I drive home I can remove most of the dirt with the duster then wipe it down with z6 detailer which takes me 2 minutes and the car looks like it was just washed and waxed. People think that I am non stop washing my car but that is not the case, during dry times I have kept my car sparkling clean with no car washings for well over a month with minimum effort.