The Best Car Color? Let the Fight Begin...

I'd have to say Alpine White is the best for most of the issues raised - easy shade to match, hides swirls and rock chips, the whole bit. I'd say Imola is second, only because it's more prone to fade (he said authoritatively, having owned 3 Guards Red Porsches).
 
AW (with Red Interior) - Must be a Coupe too! Wife wanted the IB - thing gets dusty-dirty standing still.
 
Love the alpine white and like Imola Red,- it's a proper sports car colour, silver is for Fords, Nissans and... Oh yeah.. Aston Martins :poke:
 
I have black with red leather on my M. I love it. Had a 2.5 with same combo. I understand blac nto the best colour for dark grey weather, hey a little sunshine and it outs a smile on ur face> its always shining(provided u keep it clean). never had a car longer than 18months cant comment much on it. Had a silver which was good but it never stood out. Red definitely would be a good one but not for me.
 
Shipkiller said:
Starting a new thread about Car color.

The question is this:
Beauty aside, what is the best color for longevity? If you plan on keeping your car for more that four years, what color is best?
What hides imperfections the best?
What color is the easiest to fix those imperfections?
What holds the best shine over the years?
What color is the most fade resistant?
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Well, I'm certainly no expert on BMW's finishes, but here's what I assume or have experienced in the past on a variety of cars (over the years I've had 2 red cars, 2 silver, 1 dark gray metallic, 1 white, 1 dark green, 1 metallic black and 2 "flat" black). Plus, as you don't specify "only BMW/Z4 " (although I do realize where I am), I propose one can apply general theory to BMW's color lineup. This is conjecture and opinion only. Be kind.

So, I have heard that all BMW colors and finishes are comparatively "soft" due to their maintaining ecological manufacturing standards. This goes for both metallic and "flat" colors. Some just show marks, mars, scuffs and swirls more... but they are there. Until we get force fields, we will get stone chips. As long as there are courtesy washes, we will get swirls (NEVER courtesy wash)!

Longevity: I would assume Titanium Silver and Alpine White serve up equally stellar results for longevity. They likely reflect the greatest degree of solar heat and remain relatively cool compared to the darker colors. That's not to say I would choose either one for a car I plan to keep... I'd choose the color I love, pure and simple.

Imperfections: I would think A. White may slightly trump T. Silver on this, as there can be loads of imperfections in the paint process that can be seen in metallic jobs. Swirls and scratches, and etching from rain and bird droppings may also fare better on white. Even so, I suspect T. Silver holds the "clean/washed" look longer... Space Gray Metallic is also likely a good "clean contender."

Fixing Imperfections: Again, I would think White is fairly easy to correct (not talking re-spray, but "paint correction" via buffer pads, polish and someone who knows the craft of good detailing).

Shine Over the Years: I would think that Space/Stratus Gray Metallic would be nice over the years. It perhaps strikes a balance between "ease of care" and depth of color. It's shine shows off the highlights and shadows, and arguably offers the best of many colors.

Fade Resistance: Would have to be A. White. I mean, how do you fade white (ha ha).

So, the "IMHO Tally" chalks up Alpine White with the most win, place or show rankings for most categories. Hence, my ride is, naturally, Jet Black — the color that would rank last in the above categories and strikes dread into professional detailers the world over. But I love it. And I love how people respond to it. To be honest, I'd have loved Space/Stratus Gray, but I my last three cars have been black... maybe it's a phase.

On a side note, one of my favorite cars/colors was the MK1 TT Coupe in Aviator Grey. It looked like a rolling clay model and I loved its looks (my TT roadster was silver).

And so ends my lengthy, non scientific and easily derailed logical musings.

Cheers.
 
csmith319 said:
I think silver is the easiest to maintain - it doesn't look as dirty as others and it hides scratches etc very well.

However, I didn't WANT silver and have ended up with it as it was the best car available to me - I like it more now it's mine, but I think the car looks best in //m Blue (whatever that it - Monaco?).
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You got that right. Monaco Blue is awesome. :thumbsup: The dark colors are maintenance-heavy but they look fantastic after a wash and/or detail. The swirl marks become quite apparent under the sun with a dark color. I personally get tired of the silver/gray colors.
 
All of these colors that I wasn't aware of before. I thought that the only color choice was BRIGHT RED!
 
Shows how we are all different. I don't like the look of the Coupe in plain red! I think it looks a bit dull. Also I remember reds of old ending up pink after a few years of UV!! :gfight: :P
 
NO way! My red COupe looks the dogs bullocks, especially in the sun! Nah, just shows difference in prefferences. Personally I like to think all Z4s out there, Coupe or convertible, are all different in some way.
 
Silver :thumbsup:

zippster's ///M Ilove it :sweetheart:

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Alpine White gets my vote on looks but it is a proper PITA to keep clean!

Wouldn't swap it for the world -------- OK, maybe for an /M !
 
Black is the best color assuming you can keep it clean. That's a BIG task, but black looks the best by far IMHO.
 
I like all the colours really.

A car I'd really like would be a 3.0i SMG in Alpine White without mfsw and then some proper flappy paddles stuck on (F360 CS style), with red M sport seats and CSL's... finding one though :tumbleweed:
 
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