Not saying Mineral doesn't look good, but Alpine is a brighter, whiter white.

 

Mineral has a cream-ish hue to it and is metallic, while Alpine is white as white can get, but it's flat.

 

Long term effects? Does the metallic help reduce effects from the sun?

 

The metallic will 'pop' in the sun.

 

Prefer Alpine.

 

I'm becoming a bigger fan of white lately. I love blues also and love the deep sea blue on the 5 series. However, my last few vehicles have been black and grey (albeit my AA Yellow Defender) and I am looking for a change from the dark side.

 

Alpine is more classic white, and it's been with BMW for decades. For a very good reason.

Car makers are trying to capitalize on the popularity of white cars, and they all have their own designer whites. I dislike most of them, especially the pearlescent ones, as they seem more gimmicky than anything else.

 

I went through the same dilemma on my new 335i order. I wanted my white to "pop" more....even on non-sunny days, so I went with Alpine. I'd be afraid that the Metallic may look like a slightly dirty white at times. On the flip side, I've seen a few Metallics lately, and they do look good. Plus, the Metallic will hide scratches more....

 

I still have no idea why someone would pay extra for a "color" that is only distinguishable from a free one if you spend lots of time staring at it up close.

 

Alpine is cheaper initially, and also cheaper to re-spray (doesn't have clearcoat 2nd coat) or to touchup dings. Rubs out better than metallic/clearcoat, too.

Had a white 525i - loved the alpine white. Got tired of the black interior.

I wish they had other enamels other than white and black (and sometimes red).:dunno:

 

i'm pretty sure that both alpine white and jet black are both basecoat/clearcoat paints.

 

I love AW to me it's a bonus it's free. I really don't like Mineral White it looks like 'cream' color to me and also very similar to the metallic White lots of Lexus models are seen in.

 

I like the mineral white and if it was available for the M sport line I would have chosen that color.

 

I have not regretted for one second my Mineral White. Depending on the light, it has different color personalities. At times, it has sort of a silver look. I find that it tends to color more toward a silver hue, than a cream color hue, but at times it does look a little cream. Oh, and to be fair here, at times it looks looks like AW. I find myself looking into the garage, just to see the white sparkle. My wife also has commented on it and she is not anywhere near a car person...

 

I have a mineral white coming. Between white and mineral it's a coin flip for me but mostly it's something different.

 

I chose AW mostly as a memorial to my dad who taught me to be a car nut and always liked white cars. He would have been thrilled to know I own a BMW.

 

I went into the dealer with Mineral white in mind. He didn't have any on the lot, but showed me the swatches of it and I didn't LOVE it like I thought I would. When I saw the Alpine white I knew I had to have it.

 

mineral white

I got the mineral white and love it, that said I think alpine white is stunning also. If you want something that is consistently BRIGHT look at me white then I say go alpine, if you like it having different hues/tones based on the lighting then i say go the mineral. Either way you cant go wrong.:thumbup:

 

i would go with mineral white, it is not common and looks great. Alpine white is very good but out there for too many years, for X3 i went with metallic black and Grey metallic for 328xi, Metallic looks better and ages better, my E90 metallic graphite looked great on 6 year old car.

 

I am going with mineral white. After having a metallic blue, then a jet black, I never want a flat color again. AW is great but I'm over flat.

 

Is that a personal preference thing, or due to technical up-keepings of the types of paint? I always thought flat colors like AW and Jet Black were easier to maintain in terms of hiding defects more (though not sure about that) and being easier to paint match if need be, or touch up (pretty sure about that.... ?).

My only problem with AW or any flat white in general is that they've become soooo popular, they're starting to lose their "pop" to me. I.e starting to give me that dreaded "Delivery Van/Refrigerator/Appliance look, like a blank canvas. That said, I will always strongly consider a flat white when I car shop.

My previous 2 cars were Mercedes Arctic Whites, which are more creamy than Alpine White, and they both started getting more yellowy-creamy after just a year, which made me weary of whites in general (in Europe you see many M-B Taxi's that are obviously not well cared for, yet still pretty new, with Arctic Whites that have turned so yellow you'd almost think it was a different color).

 

Plus MW is great. It appears edgy to me, not girly like some would say.

 

Alpine White is... PURE.

 

Now the opinion of a owner of both Alpine and Mineral White BMWs....

The alpine is a basic bright white.
Mineral white is not quite a pearl as there is no pinkish or purplish hues. Just a nice metallic luster that absolutely pops in sunlight or any other bright light source! If it is overcast the color is quite bland. My e65 was alone and was very easy to maintain! After about two weeks with my Mineral F01, I am very pleased but still adjusting.
To summarize: Alpine white is a nice, clean, conservative color that always looks nice on bimmers. Mineral is a more adventurous and definitely much more rare!

BigMarcus ~ EVO 4G LTE

 

Fyi... The signature pic is my old car. The 7 in the pic above is my current car.

BigMarcus ~ EVO 4G LTE

 

I'm half tempted to go mineral just for a change for my 3rd white car in a row. Before my first BMW I had a Pearl white (what ever Infiniti calls their version) G35 and I really liked the pure white of the AW better when I got it. Tough choice. Unfortunately, this thread hasn't helped sway me one direction or another. At least my 435 will be an entirely new car than my current 335. That might make it easier to keep the AW and not mind something new.

 

Just make sure you see whatever color you want. Do not go by only what you see in online pictures. Pictures are nice and come close, but they are not exactly the same as in person IMHO. You have to live with the color (any color you pick.)

I never owned the came color twice in a row on a car. Never had white so figured it was time.

 

Putting them both side by side, I'd take the Mineral white because it's a classier looking color that pops when the sun hits it right......The Alpine white is sportier though.

Just my opinion, and it depends on what you're looking for.