[bren]

Make sure you don't mind your car looking different colors depending on the angle and lighting before you decide on CB.

Originally Posted by tank531

What the X3 really needs is a 'metalic' white. If you are keeping the car I wonder what AW will be like in 5 years - will the colour become dull or 'lost'?

Metallic whites are great for a Lexus. BMW has been painting cars AW for far longer than 5 years- shouldn't be too hard to find one and see what it looks like....

[X35D For Me]

I was originally going to have my 35D in white with the brown leather but then when I realised that metallic is a no-cost option, I changed over to Carbon Black as it's a better paint finish than a plain colour (hence it always usually costing extra). Carbon Black is a better bet than Sapphire Black as in the sunshine, Carbon Black is more of a dark blue than a regular black. As stated above, with the oyster leather - it's an awesome combination.

[sfax]

This has been done before BTW

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=585749

AW doesn't show the dirt as badly as CB and you don't get the swirl marks problem as badly with AW. CB looks great under certain lights but not really fan of the blue look (prefer DSB). Bear in mind that BMW's paint is now "greener" and that means it damages very easily

[Beyu]

While I'm not a fan of black suvs I think you should get carbon black since it's only available with M-sport.

All of my past cars were black or very dark colors and it's funny how people tell you that black cars are hard to keep clean. I currently have an AW X3 (1st white car I've owned) and it's definitely harder to keep clean, dirt is easy enough to wash off but bugs, tar, and tree sap are very hard to remove and even when you do it sometimes stains the paint an off color.

However if I had a choice I'd still pick AW a 2nd time, I think it really comes down to how long you'll be keeping the car and how dedicated you are to keeping it clean.

[Rodion]

To my understanding neither of these are colors. Hence I vote for empty.

I vote also that choose a color for your car, not "anticolor"

[Nahoa]

Originally Posted by sfax

This has been done before BTW

http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=585749

AW doesn't show the dirt as badly as CB and you don't get the swirl marks problem as badly with AW. CB looks great under certain lights but not really fan of the blue look (prefer DSB). Bear in mind that BMW's paint is now "greener" and that means it damages very easily

Sure does. Had a small stick fly up and hit my mirror this week -- 4 2mm diameter scratches through the paint.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by Nahoa

Sure does. Had a small stick fly up and hit my mirror this week -- 4 2mm diameter scratches through the paint.

I noticed a couple more little "flakes" when polishing my X3 on Saturday. I have no idea how most of them got there but only 3 are large enough to be of real concern/annoyance. I might start a new thread to compare notes. The paintwork certainly seems more fragile than my last VW

[lbjgh]

I plan on having the 3M stone guard installed before I take delivery ... it works great. I've had stone guard on my last two cars and it has eliminated a fair bit of damage.

Originally Posted by sfax

I noticed a couple more little "flakes" when polishing my X3 on Saturday. I have no idea how most of them got there but only 3 are large enough to be of real concern/annoyance. I might start a new thread to compare notes. The paintwork certainly seems more fragile than my last VW

[hekki]

To keep car without scratches i suggest to use CQUARTZ technology.

Look at that x6, looks like new.

[Horsey]

I was sold "BMW Seal & Protect" by my UK Dealer ... not convinced it does a thing since my wife's 135 had the treatment and gets a scratch when the wind blows ... but then I am also afraid not to take it either just in case ...

... anyone have any experience of "BMW Seal & Protect" ... and recommendations for a lazy person trying to protect their paint work?

[X35D For Me]

Originally Posted by Horsey

I was sold "BMW Seal & Protect" by my UK Dealer ... not convinced it does a thing since my wife's 135 had the treatment and gets a scratch when the wind blows ... but then I am also afraid not to take it either just in case ...

... anyone have any experience of "BMW Seal & Protect" ... and recommendations for a lazy person trying to protect their paint work?

I had it thrown in as part of the deal for free. Seems the car is easy to clean with dirt coming off easily. Not sure about it's resilliece to scratches or bird lime yet.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by lbjgh

I plan on having the 3M stone guard installed before I take delivery ... it works great. I've had stone guard on my last two cars and it has eliminated a fair bit of damage.

I've seen a few people applying solutions like this one and they do seem like a good idea. I just have a hang up about covering the car to protect the paintwork which you then can only see or touch through the plastic you've put on top. Not sure if this makes sense.

Also, some of the flaking is on parts of the car that wouldn't be covered. They're not stone chips. I think it's where something has eaten into the paintwork or adhered to it and taken some of the paint off with it when it was removed.

[lbjgh]

I'd rather have a clear film than dings and chips from road debris. It's sortof like wearing a 'safe'.

sfax, sounds like your wheels got the dose.

Originally Posted by sfax

I've seen a few people applying solutions like this one and they do seem like a good idea. I just have a hang up about covering the car to protect the paintwork which you then can only see or touch through the plastic you've put on top. Not sure if this makes sense.

Also, some of the flaking is on parts of the car that wouldn't be covered. They're not stone chips. I think it's where something has eaten into the paintwork or adhered to it and taken some of the paint off with it when it was removed.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by lbjgh

I'd rather have a clear film than dings and chips from road debris. It's sortof like wearing a 'safe'.

sfax, sounds like your wheels got the dose.

and I will definitely consider a film on the next car but too late for this one.

[Nahoa]

Originally Posted by sfax

I've seen a few people applying solutions like this one and they do seem like a good idea. I just have a hang up about covering the car to protect the paintwork which you then can only see or touch through the plastic you've put on top. Not sure if this makes sense.

+1

I know many folks here are very pleased with the film solution. Doesn't work for me. So far, the appearance of the chips bothers me less than the appearance of the film.

Too bad there isn't some type of stronger clear coat they could apply to the more vulnerable areas, but just there to limit any reduction in the greenness.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by Nahoa

+1

I know many folks here are very pleased with the film solution. Doesn't work for me. So far, the appearance of the chips bothers me less than the appearance of the film.

Too bad there isn't some type of stronger clear coat they could apply to the more vulnerable areas, but just there to limit any reduction in the greenness.

Exactly!

I don't have a case on my iPhone for the same reason

[Nahoa]

Ha! Same here.

[Dr Stig 2]

Originally Posted by Rodion

To my understanding neither of these are colors. Hence I vote for empty.

I vote also that choose a color for your car, not "anticolor"

Hmmm, in the world of physics technically only the RGB shades of 0,0,0 and 255,255,255 are not colours, the rest are.
The off white in AW and the blue in CB certainly keep them firmly in the legitimate colour spectrum.

FWIW, I dont buy light coloured cars as they show the shut lines more. (and any sags/ gaps in the bumper fits, etc.)

Again, a physics lesson, but the black hole effect is a term that descibes why gaps, cracks, shut lines, etc all looks dark on a light coloured finish. BAsically the light goes in and doesn't reflect out do they allways look in shadow.
With some cars, the shut lines are at odd places (3 series convertible anyone) so a darker colour lets the eye see the design curves of the car more than the shutlines / panel joints.

For me the kicker was the AW wheel arches of the X3 M Sport. They leave the mounting screws in black but you see them clearly in the inside edge of the wheel arches. I didn't like this so I went for the CB.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2

Hmmm, in the world of physics technically only the RGB shades of 0,0,0 and 255,255,255 are not colours, the rest are.
The off white in AW and the blue in CB certainly keep them firmly in the legitimate colour spectrum.

FWIW, I dont buy light coloured cars as they show the shut lines more. (and any sags/ gaps in the bumper fits, etc.)

Again, a physics lesson, but the black hole effect is a term that descibes why gaps, cracks, shut lines, etc all looks dark on a light coloured finish. BAsically the light goes in and doesn't reflect out do they allways look in shadow.
With some cars, the shut lines are at odd places (3 series convertible anyone) so a darker colour lets the eye see the design curves of the car more than the shutlines / panel joints.

For me the kicker was the AW wheel arches of the X3 M Sport. They leave the mounting screws in black but you see them clearly in the inside edge of the wheel arches. I didn't like this so I went for the CB.

Agree on the AW M Sport wheel arches. I can't believe they left them like that. It looks like LEGO.

Interesting and valid point on the shut lines. The flip side is that all of the new styling lines that have been added to the bonnet and the sides of the car are more prominent in lighter colours and that was very evident when I first saw a TiAg next to a jet black. That's a big plus for me

[Rodion]

Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2

Hmmm, in the world of physics technically only the RGB shades of 0,0,0 and 255,255,255 are not colours, the rest are.
The off white in AW and the blue in CB certainly keep them firmly in the legitimate colour spectrum.

I hope you saw my smiley there, I wasn't dead serious with my comment...

Again, a physics lesson, but the black hole effect is a term that descibes why gaps, cracks, shut lines, etc all looks dark on a light coloured finish. BAsically the light goes in and doesn't reflect out do they allways look in shadow.
With some cars, the shut lines are at odd places (3 series convertible anyone) so a darker colour lets the eye see the design curves of the car more than the shutlines / panel joints.

Good point, though light does come out, it is just reflected to wrong direction compared to nearby light.

Don't teach a Finn about reflections:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_reflector

With a

[lbjgh]

Well guys, seeing that there is was a 50-50 split my wife got the tie breaking vote for white. AW 2013 m-sport it is.

[Horsey]

Wife's will do that ...

I didn't even get to put it to a vote!