[AF]

Look at this picture of Fuse's car (thanks fuse) and look how his car looks like a pale blue . . . this is the thing I don't like about the Steel gray is that it looks like this pale blue color when it's dirty . . .
I just realized that I've been mistaking dirty steel grey cars for steel blue one's. I always thought this was a steel blue car unless I look at it real close . . . for some reason I always confused the 2 colors . . .

Why don't TD's or Indy Mikes car ever look like this color in the pictures :dunno:

 

[Guest]

Look at this picture of Fuse's car (thanks fuse) and look how his car looks like a pale blue . . . this is the thing I don't like about the Steel gray is that it looks like this pale blue color when it's dirty . . .
I just realized that I've been mistaking dirty steel grey cars for steel blue one's. I always thought this was a steel blue car unless I look at it real close . . . for some reason I always confused the 2 colors . . .

Why don't TD's or Indy Mikes car ever look like this color in the pictures :dunno:

My car ALWAYS looked EXACTLY like it does in my pictures.

Personally, I always liked the look of SG, clean or dirty, sunny or overcast. It's sort of an almost-black with the benefits of black without the extreme maintenance hassle.

IMO, fuse's car looks different (no offense fuse) due to poor picture quality and 15 inch rims.

EDIT- Look at THIS pic next to CD-55's ex-330Ci and JST's ex-323Ci.

 

[AF]

Tom,
It's strange because yesterday when I saw a E46 328i at the dealer that was dirty it looked like Fuse's car and I really couldn't tell what color it was. I actually ahd to ask the salesman to come outside and tell me what he thought. meanwhile a brand new 330Ci in the showroom looked just like your SG . . .

Also I noticed an SG 330i the other day and it looked like your color as well

Is it possible that as this color ages, it changes color or maybe the 99 & 2000 models are a different shade of steel grey ?


OR could it be that Fuse has a steel blue and doesn't realize it, you never know with him

 

[beauport]

I gave up a black car for the steel gray and personally I have not confused it with the steel blue. I have to second the opininon about how easy it is to maintain it and even when the car isn't clean it still looks very good, unlike the black that only looked good when clean.

 

[Guest]

More pictures of SG in this Edmunds review- http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/spin/46434/article.html

 

[ZBB 325Ci]

I have steel blue and have noticed that its sometimes hard to tell the difference between steel gray and steel blue -- especially in the shade.

I remember stopping by the dealer one time during the delivery wait and they had 2 CIs parked next to each other -- one was steel blue with tan (just like mine), the other was steel gray with gray. As I was walking up to them, I thought they were both steel blue, but one of them just seemed to be a bit darker... I felt dumb that I had thought they were the same color...

 

[Ack]

Alan, as long as you keep the car clean, it should look like it does in TD's picture. I personally like the Steel Grey color on the E46.

So I take it you're still trying to decide on color? When do you have to make your decision by?

 

[AF]

I have steel blue and have noticed that its sometimes hard to tell the difference between steel gray and steel blue -- especially in the shade.

I remember stopping by the dealer one time during the delivery wait and they had 2 CIs parked next to each other -- one was steel blue with tan (just like mine), the other was steel gray with gray. As I was walking up to them, I thought they were both steel blue, but one of them just seemed to be a bit darker... I felt dumb that I had thought they were the same color...

I know exactly how you felt because I feel that way most of the time when I see a SG or maybe it's when Isee a SB . . . I have no idea which is which sometimes . . .

 

[Guest]

I know exactly how you felt because I feel that way most of the time when I see a SG or maybe it's when Isee a SB . . . I have no idea which is which sometimes . . .

This sounds more like a problem to discuss with your optometrist.

For some reason, clean or dirty, sunny or overcast, I never mistook SG for SB or vice versa.

 

[AF]

This sounds more like a problem to discuss with your optometrist.

For some reason, clean or dirty, sunny or overcast, I never mistook SG for SB or vice versa.

How come I still like you :dunno:

 

[IndyMike]

For some reason, clean or dirty, sunny or overcast, I never mistook SG for SB or vice versa.

Same experience here. I only have difficulty at times when viewing SG or SB pictures on my monitor. And that can usually be attributed to either poor picture quality; my crappy monitor at work or a combination of the two.

But in-vivo I can always tell the difference with 100% certainty and from a good distance away, regardless of the weather. Especially when overcast because SG takes on an almost anthracite hue, which I really dig.

 

[Guest]

Same experience here. I only have difficulty at times when viewing SG or SB pictures on my monitor. And that can usually be attributed to either poor picture quality; my crappy monitor at work or a combination of the two.

But in-vivo I can always tell the difference with 100% certainty and from a good distance away, regardless of the weather. Especially when overcast because SG takes on an almost anthracite hue, which I really dig.

Funny you mention anthracite as my dad has an anthracite '00 528i SPP. I parked my ex-330i next to it many times and, in certain light, they were VERY similar. Of course, anthracite is one of my favorite BMW colors.

And while SG can look anthracite in certain light, SB can look lavender.

 

[IndyMike]

anthracite is one of my favorite BMW colors.

Same here. That and an old E30 color called Delphin Grey are probably two of my all-time favorite BMW colors.

And while SG can look anthracite in certain light, SB can look lavender.

Truth is, when we were first looking at E46 colors the wife was jazzed about SB, until she noticed the lavendar hue that you mentioned. This is not a bad thing and is probably pretty neat for those that have and love SB, but for whatever reason it just didn't work for us. :dunno:

Edit: For those that don't know what Delphin Grey looks like imagine Gray green, but in a much darker hue such that grey is the dominant color and light green is the soft undertone. A very nice, light greenish-grey is the result of this mix. Bummer that's it's no longer available and seldom seen anymore. :thumbdwn:

 

[AF]

Same here. That and an old E30 color called Delphin Grey are probably two of my all-time favorite BMW colors.

Truth is, when we were first looking at E46 colors the wife was jazzed about SB, until she noticed the lavendar hue that you mentioned. This is not a bad thing and is probably pretty neat for those that have and love SB, but for whatever reason it just didn't work for us. :dunno:

If tjhe steel blue always had that Lavendor color I would get it, thats what I love about that color but I don't think it always looks like that

 

[Guest]

If tjhe steel blue always had that Lavendor color I would get it, thats what I love about that color but I don't think it always looks like that

Just being honest...

It's that occasional lavender hue that completely rules out SB back when I was deciding.

But to each his own. I mean, I hate the grey interiors and I am obviously damn near the only one who feels that way.

 

[IndyMike]

If tjhe steel blue always had that Lavendor color I would get it, thats what I love about that color but I don't think it always looks like that

Ok, be gentle with me here because this monitor I'm using reeks, and therefore I
have to go from memory, but doesn't pic of vexed's coupe appear lavender to you?

I know it's in-doors and all, but I have seen this same hue in dark, overcast conditions on SB.

<img src=http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=5655>

 

[fuselier]

Steel gray never looks like blue. :tsk: When it gets dirty, it looks even "more gray", if that makes sense.

You're basing your decision on my ineptitude with the white-balance setting on my camera? Geez. It was harsh, winter light, and the camera was brand new.

I'll try to get some truer "gray" pics, if I think about it, this weekend.

 

[AF]

In the picture it does have that lavandor hue but I think for the most part Steel blue looks like a light shade of blue (kinda like a baby bluish )

 

[johnlew]

Ok, be gentle with me here because this monitor I'm using reeks, and therefore I
have to go from memory, but doesn't pic of vexed's coupe appear lavender to you?

On my work monitor, it's grey in back and blue on the fender. Someone in my parking garage has an anthracite (i think) 540i and whenever I see that it has a purple cast to me. Haven't seen it in sunlight.

 

[Mr. The Edge]

so what color is this?