[azf100]

I regret it. I had the exact same thought that I'd try something new, but wish I had gone with AW. Now thinking of wrapping it.

[XXX3]

Color can definitely affect resale, something not mentioned yet. With blue you’re going to love it, or hate it. White appeals to a lot of buyers, and the contrasting black trim on the M40 really pops. Just wish BMW would make the Mineral White available on the X3.

https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/artic...-color-to-buy/

[shemazar]

Had blue similar on my last SUV. Looked awesome when I bought it, but after a few years I got tired and wanted something more neutral (white/grey/black).

[sor]

Originally Posted by XXX3

Color can definitely affect resale, something not mentioned yet. With blue you're going to love it, or hate it. White appeals to a lot of buyers, and the contrasting black trim on the M40 really pops. Just wish BMW would make the Mineral White available on the X3.

https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/artic...-color-to-buy/

This is the exact reason why 75% of all cars on the road are some variant of white, black, or grey (and why there isn't much color selection from manufacturers). Even if you don't love them, you're probably not going to hate them.

Personally I love my phytonic. I ordered my car before they were available to see in person. O just got so tired of owning grey/black cars and took the plunge. I like the way it is brilliant in the sun and deep in the dark.

[FirstBMW19]

Was tired of white, silver, grey, so decided on and love Phytonic Blue with extended white merino leather.

[crowdedhouse]

Not regret as such but in Ireland where the skies are frequently grey and wet it's perhaps a little too dark. My last two were EBII (F30 and F36)

I ordered sight unseen, the choice of colours is pretty poor - don't want black or grey, AW looks very good on the X3 and I've never seen a Sunstone here.

[sinbad4]

Is tough choice. I dream in color, but always order dark grey. I ordered second car. I was at dealer 3x looking at Carbon Black (very dark blue) w/ Oyster. My buddy ordered PB w/ Cognac leather. I love these color options. Love them... but ordered my safe, boring Dark Graphite w/ Black leather.

I also find white to be.. cheap looking. Some cars, like another buddy's M2, look really good, but most look cheap to me.

If I was doing white, however, I would do what iroger did and pain the lower black trim. THAT looks good. 100% better.

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...=white+painted

[nvestr]

Thanks for all the comments. Interesting to see the polarizing perspectives on this.

Out of my last 6 vehicles, 5 have been white. The one exception I had bought used and was Pearl Black (2012 Acura TL SH-AWD Elite in Crystal Black Pearl). The experience with black was a bad one - my OCD drove me crazy looking at that car in the sunlight. And mine was freshly polished regularly but still so hard to keep up with. My white cars have been trouble free, except for the road contaminants and iron particles (that turn orange) that are more visible on white.

My wife's vehicles (family haulers) have always been White Tricoat (2010 Toyota Venza, 2016 Acura MDX and now 2019 Volvo XC90 Inscription) - wouldn't have it any other way. My current car, 17 MB C43 AMG, is Polar White (Mercedes equivalent to Alpîne White) - Designo Pearl White was not available when I ordered my MB due to shortages of some sort. I was afraid of being disappointed with the non-metallic white but I actually did not mind it at all. Non-met White is sporty and metallic is more of a luxury color.

In Canada, you can get Mineral White Metallic in the 30i X3 but only Alpine White in the M40i, which clearly echoes my above statement of luxury vs sport. The only thing I didn't like about Mercedes Polar White was it was easy to get swirl marks on it and VERY difficult to buff them off. Luckily those swirls did not show very much because of color.

My dealer just advised me that they have a 30i in Phytonic Blue that just came in... it's a sunny day out here so I will go check it out...

[nvestr]

Anybody ever gotten BMW to do a custom order color? My dealer seems to think it`s possible to custom order Mineral White in the M40i, but he hasn't asked BMW yet. I would get hit with a $400 custom order charge and potentially pay more than the regular $895 metallic paint fee. I guess it depends on how much more... I will explore that option before deciding

[RevNev]

I was going to order Phytonic Blue and changed it to Alpine White and I don't regret that.

[HoustonEaDo]

Originally Posted by nvestr

Anybody ever gotten BMW to do a custom order color? My dealer seems to think it`s possible to custom order Mineral White in the M40i, but he hasn't asked BMW yet. I would get hit with a $400 custom order charge and potentially pay more than the regular $895 metallic paint fee. I guess it depends on how much more... I will explore that option before deciding

I have never done it myself, but other forums have said the price is $5000-$5200 for individual colors - also seen people say it's more than that....I inquired about it on my previous BMW and was pretty much told by the dealer that they had no idea how to even order an individual color

[nvestr]

Originally Posted by HoustonEaDo

I have never done it myself, but other forums have said the price is $5000-$5200 for individual colors - also seen people say it's more than that....I inquired about it on my previous BMW and was pretty much told by the dealer that they had no idea how to even order an individual color

Actually got my answer back and BMW said no to a custom order in this case. I think they may only do custom orders on swankier cars (M cars or more rare cars)... Dunno, either way it got shot down.

[MrPorter]

Originally Posted by XXX3

Color can definitely affect resale, something not mentioned yet. With blue you’re going to love it, or hate it. White appeals to a lot of buyers, and the contrasting black trim on the M40 really pops. Just wish BMW would make the Mineral White available on the X3.

https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/artic...-color-to-buy/

OP is leasing it though...so while this is potentially relevant for other readers, it isn't for the OP.

[spangle1980]

Originally Posted by RevNev

I was going to order Phytonic Blue and changed it to Alpine White and I don't regret that.

I didn't get white cos I thought it was for women. But that looks f**king brilliant.

[ac328]

Originally Posted by BobsM3Coupe

Except for losing my way last year, I've only owned white colored vehicles for my last 8 vehicles.

Last year I thought I'd try a color change and got a 2018 X3 M40i in Phytonic Blue. While it looked good for a couple of months, I regretted not sticking with white. Depending on time of day and viewing angle, the blue didn't look good to me. When the bright sun was on it's profile, it looked good. But sometimes it showed to much purple and didn't look good. Even though I keep my vehicles immaculately clean, the PB, while not as bad as black, showed dust/dirt way more than I was accustomed to seeing.

Because of a problem with the 2018, BMW offered a repurchase (buyback), and I didn't question going back to my all time favorite white and ordered a 2019 X3 M40i.

So if you normally like white (and it sure sounds like you do), then don't make a mistake like I did.

Good luck.

Exactly I made the same mistake on a Z4 Silver Grey/black, it was cool because my other cars were white. Then I hated the grey and regretted not going white as you mentioned above. I myself think the Alpine White looks better, but color is a personal preference. 18 AW/Blk X3 m40i is what I went with. What issues did you have with your 18? What production month was yours?

[RevNev]

Originally Posted by spangle1980

I didn't get white cos I thought it was for women. But that looks f**king brilliant.

White's not an awesome colour and I would've preferred a metallic red, but none of the X3 colours are great and they're all pretty bland really. What changed my mind from Phytonic Blue was seeing an M4 in San Marino Blue which I thought was a nicer blue and made the Phytonic blue look a bit washed out in comparison.

Alpine White seemed like the best of a mediocre colour range with the right trimmings can look pretty sharp nonetheless.

[nogren]

Another thing talking against white is if you are driving it often in dirty conditions like around here in winter. See the "Dirtiest X3 thread".
White cars looks much worse quicker here, than for an example the Sophisto Grau, which is one of the reasons I went for the grey..
But I agree that a clean and polished AW with Shadowline trim looks great on the X3!

[Neo1130]

Only thing I regret about Phytonic Blue is the fact I live in the cloudiest state in the US so don't get sun to shine on it and show it's TRUE color.

[crowdedhouse]

Same as Ireland

[nvestr]

I am typically not an indecisive person but man I can't make up my mind.. GAh!

[nvestr]

Two professional photo shoots :





They both look real nice - the thing about the blue is it probably does not look that bright blue most of the time. Cloudy or during winter it's going to be much darker and in the Navy Blue category, which I do not like. I had a Carbon Black tester last week and since it's winter here and very cloudy, it looked navy blue and not black... I really did not like it in it's navy blue shade...

[Myk-D]

I don't regret it but (living in the UK) PB does tend to look a bit dull unless the sun's out. It works really well with Cognac inside, so I'm very pleased with that combination. Personally I think white would be my second choice, but that's probably because I've not owned a white car since the late 80's.