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Opinions please: Wheels and colours

Specific discussion about the E89 2009 Z4 (sDrive35is, sDrive35i, sDrive30i, sDrive23i)
pariahrob
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Opinions please: Wheels and colours

Post by pariahrob » Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:56 am

Hi all,
I'm at the stage where I want to make a couple of changes but I can't decide, so I would love any opinions you might have. Obviously I might ignore them but you may think of something I haven't, so...

I have my lovely white M Sport, highline, which I recently debadged. I'm going to be fitting an MMI this weekend and possibly painting my wing mirrors black. I like gloss black details on white cars.
My question is should I go for black lci style indicators? Then should I have my current alloys (I don't even know what they are) painted gloss black, or should I just replace them? Or just a simple refurb.
Either way I'm looking at a BBK too, at some point.

These photos really make me want rear spacers too!

Thoughts?

Cheers, Rob.
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mr.tourette
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Opinions please: Wheels and colours

Post by mr.tourette » Fri Mar 12, 2021 12:04 pm

I always think black wheels are just a step to far as you lose the detail of the wheel (unless you have a black car and really want the full stealth look) I'd opt for a gun metal or graphite look to really get a nice contract to the paintwork whilst still highlighting what is quite a nice looking oe wheel
if its got tits or tyres..its trouble :D

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Opinions please: Wheels and colours

Post by enuff_zed » Fri Mar 12, 2021 12:35 pm

mr.tourette wrote: Fri Mar 12, 2021 12:04 pm I always think black wheels are just a step to far as you lose the detail of the wheel
And as I've mentioned before, anything less than a recently blacked tyre will look grey and tatty on a black wheel..................IMO
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Opinions please: Wheels and colours

Post by Pickster » Fri Mar 12, 2021 2:43 pm

pariahrob wrote: Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:56 am Hi all,
I'm at the stage where I want to make a couple of changes but I can't decide, so I would love any opinions you might have. Obviously I might ignore them but you may think of something I haven't, so...

I have my lovely white M Sport, highline, which I recently debadged. I'm going to be fitting an MMI this weekend and possibly painting my wing mirrors black. I like gloss black details on white cars.
My question is should I go for black lci style indicators? Then should I have my current alloys (I don't even know what they are) painted gloss black, or should I just replace them? Or just a simple refurb.
Either way I'm looking at a BBK too, at some point.

These photos really make me want rear spacers too!

Thoughts?

Cheers, Rob.
31f8648b-f01d-4cde-8d91-fdb397798cd8.jpg37bc8824-d98d-46c2-8573-50ca64abaa07.jpg358db576-e9dc-4c1d-a1ac-e53c3c938c63.jpg
The wheels look like 400M style to me assuming they are 18" you don't se them much on the zed's they're standard on 3 & 4 series.

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Opinions please: Wheels and colours

Post by Pbondar » Fri Mar 12, 2021 3:19 pm

I like the look of black against a light coloured car, its true that photographically its difficult to take a good shot of a black wheel against a light car (cameras struggle with the contrast) but in the flesh they look a treat if clean.

How much black you put is your choice, some people have done the roof / mirrors /roll hoops etc
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Opinions please: Wheels and colours

Post by Zed Baron » Fri Mar 12, 2021 3:44 pm

I couldn't and still cant decide what colour to refurbish by alloys (whether I keep the 326's or not). I did a mockup in photoshop but that still didn't help make my decision, so I think Im going with boring old silver again.. if/when I sell them they may appeal to a larger audience
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Opinions please: Wheels and colours

Post by Pickster » Fri Mar 12, 2021 4:41 pm

Zed Baron wrote: Fri Mar 12, 2021 3:44 pm I couldn't and still cant decide what colour to refurbish by alloys (whether I keep the 326's or not). I did a mockup in photoshop but that still didn't help make my decision, so I think Im going with boring old silver again.. if/when I sell them they may appeal to a larger audience wheels.jpg
I prefer the black, I've been contemplating getting my 326's done in black and am gonna bite the bullet and do it in the next week or so black wheel on melbourne red car. :driving:

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Opinions please: Wheels and colours

Post by Argyll Andy » Fri Mar 12, 2021 4:58 pm

Zed Baron wrote: Fri Mar 12, 2021 3:44 pm I couldn't and still cant decide what colour to refurbish by alloys (whether I keep the 326's or not). I did a mockup in photoshop but that still didn't help make my decision, so I think Im going with boring old silver again.. if/when I sell them they may appeal to a larger audience wheels.jpg
What about a graphite/shadow chrome/gunmetal? that’s the colours I was considering getting mine done if I was going to keep the 326’s

Silver probably will appeal to a wider audience but I also think black would narrow it. Personally the only issue I have with black wheels is the ones with more intricate styling and design can loose that but maybe that just in photographs and as Peter says they look better in the flesh

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    Opinions please: Wheels and colours

    Post by Ole gits rule » Fri Mar 12, 2021 5:10 pm

    Graphite, gunmetal are the way to go, we have gunmetal on our 1 series coupe and that looks ok in my opinion, keeps the definition well and hides some of the brake dust.
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    Opinions please: Wheels and colours

    Post by True-Blue » Fri Mar 12, 2021 5:26 pm

    Black makes wheels ‘look’ smaller, not a fan of black wheels personally but I do think they can look ok on white and silver cars.
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    pariahrob
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    Opinions please: Wheels and colours

    Post by pariahrob » Fri Mar 12, 2021 5:43 pm

    Thanks all.
    I’m not persuaded one way or another yet. That said the black on yellow looks ace and has helped me decide on the lci indicators in black.
    As for wheels still not sure. My wife has black on her white clip and it looks great. But different wheels and car so...

    I hadn’t considered the brake dust element. Although it’s a daily driver I don’t do huge miles and I clean regularly so might not be too much of an issue. It’s definitely in my mind now though.

    Keep it coming!

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    Opinions please: Wheels and colours

    Post by Boltz » Fri Mar 12, 2021 6:06 pm

    OP and Zed Baron.....for yours black wheels, Msport gloss black front grilles and while you are at it gloss black for the LCI indicators. 👍
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    1536Z4
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    Opinions please: Wheels and colours

    Post by 1536Z4 » Fri Mar 12, 2021 6:21 pm

    Pbondar wrote: Fri Mar 12, 2021 3:19 pm its true that photographically its difficult to take a good shot of a black wheel against a light car (cameras struggle with the contrast) but in the flesh they look a treat if clean.
    I agree with Pbondar . I had mine powder coated piano black after much deliberation and I am really happy with them which is what counts . They do however look better in the flesh than in photos . Maybe next time there is a forum meet we should all change wheels ( not keys ) with each other and make up a gallery :wink:
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    Opinions please: Wheels and colours

    Post by pariahrob » Sat Mar 13, 2021 10:41 am

    Think I’ll start with black mirrors and lci indicators.
    In for a full service next week and once that’s done I’ll decide on the wheels.
    I’m veering toward black still but not 100%.

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    Post by Zed Baron » Thu Jul 15, 2021 11:55 pm

    So finally the car is booked in for the alloy refurb.... still have the dilemma A) silver B) black or C) dark charcoal grey (a BMW colour)? :slaphead:
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