[BigJake]

Fantastic color when clean, but second job keeping it that way

Would you do it again or are you all done?

[Patton]

Black solid is the best if you have to repaint a panel. I have had two black in a row and my next car will be black. I keep them nice in the summer but give up in the wintwr

[Markap]

I don't wash them that often so my last 3 SUVs have been white. Much less effort to keep them fairly presentable. I spend most of my time inside so I keep that part clean along with the windshield so to me, the car looks clean. I care less about what other drivers see & think,

[jman103099]

"Black isnt a color - it's a full time job."

I got a great deal on my car so I wasnt picky about the color. I knew black would be harder to keep clean and keep swirls/scratches away, and it is. Looks good for the few hours after you wash it.

Space Gray is my favorite color on many BMWs and will show far less swirls/scratches plus it looks clean for days after a wash!

[xDrive35i]

Originally Posted by BigJake

Fantastic color when clean, but second job keeping it that way

Would you do it again or are you all done?

Absolutely not. Don't do it. Just don't do it. I hate it. From the side profile, it dwarfs any wheels you get because the black goes with the black plastic fenders and the black wheel wells and the black tires. All you're left with is some silver colored rim and the car looks like it's riding on stylish spare tires. It's so dirty all the time, too. And BMW recommends that you don't wax the car until 90 days of ownership while the paint cures, so any damage your paint takes in that time frame is almost irreversible.

[Beyu]

I'd definitely recommend black cars just not the X3, Juddholland is right in that on the X3 it's just too much of one color.

However if you seriously dislike the black exterior trim, don't want the M-Sport pkg, or would like to murder out your X3 then the color would do nicely.

[richy577]

I'm getting my Alpine White one tomorrow, just getting rid of a Black Audi A4 which is 8 years old and still looks good now.

Ultimately Black is cool however it does need some regular cleaning.

Just fancied white for a change looked at all three of the black colours but ultimately thought for the saving with the other metallic colours I'd get another option instead.

[QTPie]

Argh, shouldn't read this thread - take deliver of CB X3 this Thursday.....

[Fryguy29]

Originally Posted by QTPie

Argh, shouldn't read this thread - take deliver of CB X3 this Thursday.....

I love my Carbon Black. Yeah, it's a pain in the ass, but I love looking at it when it's clean. I, however, am not obsessed about its appearance. I wash it once, maybe twice (usually once) per week and leave it at that. It looks really good until I wash it again. The winter is another story, but up here, all cars will look crappy. If you are Type A, then don't get black, if you aren't, get it. It looks awesome. Maybe there will be a day or two it's not tip top, but come on, it's not like you are taking it to shows.

[Teemo Panda]

I'm not going to go black again. I'm glad that BMW agreed to exchange my black 12 f25 35i for an equal value , went for a 13f25

[BigJake]

Originally Posted by QTPie

Argh, shouldn't read this thread - take deliver of CB X3 this Thursday.....

haha, don't feel bad. I ordered black sapphire

[terrytnt]

I love my CB 35i M-Sport. Yes I wash once a week with Zaino Show Car Wash and it's quick and easy (45 minutes) a few minutes more with a quick sprintz polish. Great trick by the way is to use my gas powered leave blower to dry the car, after a 5 minute blow, the wipe takes 3 minutes

[QTPie]

Originally Posted by Fryguy29

I love my Carbon Black. Yeah, it's a pain in the ass, but I love looking at it when it's clean. I, however, am not obsessed about its appearance. I wash it once, maybe twice (usually once) per week and leave it at that. It looks really good until I wash it again. The winter is another story, but up here, all cars will look crappy. If you are Type A, then don't get black, if you aren't, get it. It looks awesome. Maybe there will be a day or two it's not tip top, but come on, it's not like you are taking it to shows.

Bad news - am Type A.
Good news - I have a toddler, so many of my "Type A" traits have relaxed.
Bad news - I have a toddler, so have just about zero time to wash the car (was planning "once a month"... I know, I know! )

Oh dear!

[Leighton]

I like black so much that I picked black 19" wheels to carry the four new ContiSport 5P SSR performance summer spare tires that I just ordered. The Eagle LS-2s on 309 wheels will do fine as NYC winter tires. Frequent cleaning is just part of the price of the open-eyed color choice that I made.

[KingX]

Second black vehicle ....it's not that bad once you learn to keep up with small cleaning regularly...don't let it get out of hand otherwise you'll have to spend an entire weekend! But nothing looks as hot as a clean black vehicle

As a side note, I don't own more than one black vehicle at any point..two or more would be too much

[BenDiem]

Never again! Traded-in my blk C63 for a silver C6, for one reason and one reason only; The color! Never again!!! I couldn't keep it clean and the blk always looked grey, due to the pollen/dust...

BTW, I bought the C63 only because I got a great price, but after the novelty wore off, I knew the color was going to finally annoy me...

Those of you w/blk cars, God love ya. I don't know how you do it. On second thought, I know I have OCD, and I freak out when my cars get dirty. I admit it, blk is not the right color choice for an OCD impaired motorist...
Cheers,

B

[Want the thrill]

I wanted a black X3 but because I am ocd when it comes to a clean vehicle I went with the mineral silver. I still wash it 3 times a week and its not black. Can't even image how nutso I would be if I went with the black.

[kingpinx5]

When I was younger, and I had more free time. Washing and waxing the car on weekend was fun, and a hobby. Not anymore, not enough time in the days. Black car looks great, but I won't be buying another black car anytime soon.

[DouginNC]

I've had several black vehicles, and would certainly do it again. I didn't find the maintenance to be that onerous.

[EvilDrPorkChop]

Got Black Sapphire, and have to wash it weekly otherwise it just looks a mess. But i'd gladly get another black car, and black was the best colour.

[ando]

Jet Black for me. My X3 was my second JB BMW, ordered 2013 328i in JB. I just wash my car once per week and wax four times a year. I would do the same process to other colors except you just have to accept seeing light scratches up close. With one exception, bird bio, as you know black heats up and the bio can stain if not wiped quickly. Cheers.

[cheesebag]

My wife had one of the new Beetles about 10 years ago. looked like a mirror when clean but a day later not so good!