Anyone regret not getting M package?

mtlcruisin · 04-20-2011, 07:48 AM

In canada it's about 2900, and I didn't want to spend that when I had other upgrades I planned on doing. Now, for all those who recieved or already ordered, do you guys regret not getting it? My only concern is the black paneling on the exterior of the vehicle. I find the car looks much more luxurious with it painted 1 color clean. Almost looks KIAish to have the black bottom.

Also, does anyone think it would be possible to paint over the black? Just curious, I know a garage here and they'd give me a great price, I'd leave the front bumper, I just want the back/sides to be solid. Would that even be possible to paint over or am I just out of luck?

frankwin · 04-20-2011, 08:05 AM

yes a good shop can correctly prep the bumper and paint them but it won't last as long as factory one.

LEDZEP · 04-20-2011, 08:36 AM

hmmm.... not so sure about that. Those black plastic parts are a sort of ABS plastic that has a texture to it. It might be a challenging substrate to paint. I'm sure it could be done, but might not hold up well at all, resulting in fading, chipping, and flaking.

Look at the bright side of it though, while those of us with M Sport are being paranoid about chips and scratches, you'll have less risk of that. I think that is really the purpose, to put more durable material on an SUV in the areas where stones are most likely to impact.

mtlcruisin · 04-20-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

hmmm.... not so sure about that. Those black plastic parts are a sort of ABS plastic that has a texture to it. It might be a challenging substrate to paint. I'm sure it could be done, but might not hold up well at all, resulting in fading, chipping, and flaking.

Look at the bright side of it though, while those of us with M Sport are being paranoid about chips and scratches, you'll have less risk of that. I think that is really the purpose, to put more durable material on an SUV in the areas where stones are most likely to impact.

I guess it goes both ways then. But, why would there be more risk of chips/scratches on the bottom of the X3 vs the bottom of any vehicle? In Montreal, the bottom of my car (cayenne) always gets filled with like little black specs of tar or something that are impossible to remove so that would be the only plus to keeping the black. I'll bring it to a garage when my car comes in and let people know what their options are. Just wondering if anyone already looked at it..

bekind · 04-20-2011, 09:41 AM

People paint these types of plastic with excellent results all the time. Just have a look at any of the Chevy Avalanche forums and you'll see some good examples. The first gen versions of those trucks had tons of plastic that many folks painted over.

There is a certain amount of prep work and a flexing agent MUST be used with the paint.

I think you could easily mirror the M versions painted surface in both looks and durability.

If you are worried about stone chips then you can have some form of a clear invisi-shield put on the lower painted pieces.

northX3 · 04-20-2011, 01:47 PM

Keep the black plastic panels... I live in Quebec and had a white car with white low body panels, and it was a yellow-brownish mess to clean during winter.
Plus the rock chips were going right on the paint (where the X3 has black plastic)
I much prefer the SE than the M sport for this reason

04-20-2011, 07:48 AM	#1
mtlcruisin Private First Class 45 Rep 187 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: montreal iTrader: (0)	Anyone regret not getting M package? In canada it's about 2900, and I didn't want to spend that when I had other upgrades I planned on doing. Now, for all those who recieved or already ordered, do you guys regret not getting it? My only concern is the black paneling on the exterior of the vehicle. I find the car looks much more luxurious with it painted 1 color clean. Almost looks KIAish to have the black bottom. Also, does anyone think it would be possible to paint over the black? Just curious, I know a garage here and they'd give me a great price, I'd leave the front bumper, I just want the back/sides to be solid. Would that even be possible to paint over or am I just out of luck?
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04-20-2011, 08:05 AM	#2
frankwin Private First Class 6 Rep 122 Posts Drives: X3 xDrive35i w/MSport and + Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Quebec iTrader: (0)	yes a good shop can correctly prep the bumper and paint them but it won't last as long as factory one.
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04-20-2011, 08:36 AM	#3
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 419 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	hmmm.... not so sure about that. Those black plastic parts are a sort of ABS plastic that has a texture to it. It might be a challenging substrate to paint. I'm sure it could be done, but might not hold up well at all, resulting in fading, chipping, and flaking. Look at the bright side of it though, while those of us with M Sport are being paranoid about chips and scratches, you'll have less risk of that. I think that is really the purpose, to put more durable material on an SUV in the areas where stones are most likely to impact. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
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04-20-2011, 09:41 AM	#5
bekind Private 2 Rep 86 Posts Drives: x3 35i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: ohio iTrader: (0)	People paint these types of plastic with excellent results all the time. Just have a look at any of the Chevy Avalanche forums and you'll see some good examples. The first gen versions of those trucks had tons of plastic that many folks painted over. There is a certain amount of prep work and a flexing agent MUST be used with the paint. I think you could easily mirror the M versions painted surface in both looks and durability. If you are worried about stone chips then you can have some form of a clear invisi-shield put on the lower painted pieces.
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04-20-2011, 01:47 PM	#6
northX3 Private 29 Rep 96 Posts Drives: 2011 X3 35i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Keep the black plastic panels... I live in Quebec and had a white car with white low body panels, and it was a yellow-brownish mess to clean during winter. Plus the rock chips were going right on the paint (where the X3 has black plastic) I much prefer the SE than the M sport for this reason
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