BMW Jet Black --What now??

[imported_Picus]

Are the problems lots of people are mentioning to do with BMW's "Jet Black" color SPECIFICALLY, or to ALL of BMW's paint colors? I'm just wondering if it has to do with all their paints in general (quality, process), or just an issue with that one color.



The reason I'm asking is I'm considering the purchase of an E90 3-series next year, and possible colors I would choose include Crimson Red (non-metallic), Barbera Red (metallic), or Titanium Silver.



This thread was starting to scare me a little.

The only BMW color I've come across that is this stupid soft is the Jet Black. All the other BMW's have what I would consider medium soft clear. Occasionally, you'll get a really hard one, but for the most part, I love correcting bimmers.

+1 The reason that I got BSM.

It's the flat colors. Jet Black, Crimson Red, and Alpine White are all very soft. You see it less on CR and AW though, for obvious reasons. The type of marring you get frequently on JB, the kind that vexes us all on Autopia, are the super light "rainbow" looking scratches from soft medium, like mf's or blue/red/white pads; you get it on AW and CR too, but it's hard to see since the colors are so much lighter than JB.



My car (sparkling graphite e92) is crazy hard. Like rock hard. Black Sapphire, Monaco Blue, Montego Blue, TiAG, and Space Grey all seem medium hard. Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure I've worked on as many or more e90/e92s than most.

 

[Bigpoppa3346]

The type of marring you get frequently on JB, the kind that vexes us all on Autopia, are the super light "rainbow" looking scratches from soft medium, like mf's or blue/red/white pads; you get it on AW and CR too, but it's hard to see since the colors are so much lighter than JB.

You know, I was always searching for the word to describe this marring, "rainbow" fits it to a tee. It seems to mostly be around the bottom half of the car, too, where the soiling is the heaviest. Come to think of it, I've almost never noticed this type of marring on the roof (probably due to lack of soil).



I always thought it was drying marring, but when I began to notice it much more so on the dirtier areas, I got to thinking.

 

[imported_Puckman]

Inzane - when I considered what colors I wanted for my E92 coupe it was between JB and Black Sapphire. After hearing of the reputation the JB had I opted for the BS and couldn't be happier. Very easy to correct and doesn't marr too easily. I value Picus' advice because of his experience and familiarity with many different paint conditions. My advice would be to avoid JB at all cost.

 

[imported_Picus]

You know, I was always searching for the word to describe this marring, "rainbow" fits it to a tee. It seems to mostly be around the bottom half of the car, too, where the soiling is the heaviest. Come to think of it, I've almost never noticed this type of marring on the roof (probably due to lack of soil).



I always thought it was drying marring, but when I began to notice it much more so on the dirtier areas, I got to thinking.

On BMW JB you'll often see if just as a result of wiping off polish residue after polishing. It's a giant pain in the ***.

 

[mrgoochio]

... I drive a JB 135i as my weekend car.. I haven't gotten the chance to try any paint correction but I can tell you it came swirled to hell from the dealer.. don't even get me started on marring and other defects.

 

[Inzane]

It's the flat colors. Jet Black, Crimson Red, and Alpine White are all very soft. You see it less on CR and AW though, for obvious reasons. The type of marring you get frequently on JB, the kind that vexes us all on Autopia, are the super light "rainbow" looking scratches from soft medium, like mf's or blue/red/white pads; you get it on AW and CR too, but it's hard to see since the colors are so much lighter than JB.



My car (sparkling graphite e92) is crazy hard. Like rock hard. Black Sapphire, Monaco Blue, Montego Blue, TiAG, and Space Grey all seem medium hard. Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure I've worked on as many or more e90/e92s than most.

So would you say avoid Crimson Red then? As I mentioned it is in my top 3 color choices at the moment, maybe even THE top.



(PS - I have no intention of buying another black car.. my Z is black and one is more than enough).

 

[imported_Picus]

I think you should buy whichever color you like the most. I get people asking me on e90post all the time if they should buy jb, and I tell them if it's their favorite, buy it. You just have to know going in that it'll probably be really, really soft. Would I buy jb or cr? No, I couldn't live with the upkeep.

 

[Holden_C04]

Got a picture of this "rainbow" marring so I know what you mean?



Oh, by the way...I love Imola Red. Great colour choice! JB is always a safe, but high maintenance choice. It will always look the nicest when clean but even a day after a wash it'll look a bit grungy. White is kind of blah, but still nice. AW is one of the nicer whites. BMW also has some nice blues to consider.

 

[Inzane]

You just have to know going in that it'll probably be really, really soft. Would I buy jb or cr? No, I couldn't live with the upkeep.

And your thoughts on Barbera Red? (that burgandy/wine metallic)



Thanks.

 

[zaxjax]

I love my Crimson Red E90. I will agree it is soft and a white pad took care of the "rainbow" spots.

 

[Holden_C04]

I love my Crimson Red E90. I will agree it is soft and a white pad took care of the "rainbow" spots.

Has Crimson Red replaced Imola Red or is it still around?

 

[Inzane]

I love my Crimson Red E90. I will agree it is soft and a white pad took care of the "rainbow" spots.

Gorgeous!! :2thumbs:



Is that a 330 or a 335?

Has Crimson Red replaced Imola Red or is it still around?

Imola Red is only available on the E90/E92 M3, AFAIK. Not the regular 3-series.

 

[zaxjax]

I got the 335i, fully loaded!



I don't believe that Imola Red is available for the 09 models, it was replaced with Melbourne Red

 

[Inzane]

I got the 335i, fully loaded!

Nice!



My current plan is to order an '09 next year sometime.

E90, 335i, 6MT, sport pkg, exec pkg, Crimson Red (top choice at the moment), and considering the Oyster dakota leather interior.

 

[zaxjax]

Oh I have an interior shot to make you drool!

Paddle shifters!!!!!!!!!!

 

[imported_Picus]

And your thoughts on Barbera Red? (that burgandy/wine metallic)



Thanks.

I like it.

Has Crimson Red replaced Imola Red or is it still around?

No more Imola. Actually, no more sparkling graphite either. Imola was replaced by Crimson on the 3, and Melbourne on the M (it's a metallic, no flat red for the M3). SG was reaplced by Tasman and Havana, both of which are pretty hideous (imo).

Got a picture of this "rainbow" marring so I know what you mean?

Let me dig around...



Found it.

That's a 335i coupe after one dealer wash. Most of the marring is super light, like blue pad and FPII light; but it's annoying and looks like crap.

 

[Holden_C04]

No more Imola.

Imola is such a gorgeous colour...

That's a 335i coupe after one dealer wash. Most of the marring is super light, like blue pad and FPII light; but it's annoying and looks like crap.

Yup! Definitely only happens on certain paint types. You won't see that on a Vette.

 

[Inzane]

Imola was replaced by Crimson on the 3, and Melbourne on the M (it's a metallic, no flat red for the M3).

Thanks for the clarification. I guess I was confusing the names for Melbourne and Imola.

SG was reaplced by Tasman and Havana, both of which are pretty hideous (imo).

I thought Sparkling Graphite was replaced by Space Grey.. Didn't one of those two above-mentioned colors replace the 06-08 "green" and something else?

That's a 335i coupe after one dealer wash. Most of the marring is super light, like blue pad and FPII light; but it's annoying and looks like crap.

Is that what I have to look forward to on crimson red as well? :nervous:

 

[imported_Picus]

Thanks for the clarification. I guess I was confusing the names for Melbourne and Imola.



I thought Sparkling Graphite was replaced by Space Grey.. Didn't one of those two above-mentioned colors replace the 06-08 "green" and something else?



Is that what I have to look forward to on crimson red as well? :nervous:

Sparkling Graphite and Space Grey co-existed on the e92 in '07 and '08, so I don't think it's really a replacement. Space Grey is significantly lighter than Sparkling Graphite. Sparkling G was just phased out for 2009, and Havana and Tasman are new, so I just assumed they were added to replace it. They're both darker greys, one is a green grey, the other a brown grey. Not sure why they ditched Sparkling, it was the #1 color for e90s and e92s in '07/'08, but who know why BMW does what it does.



Your Crimson Red should never look that bad - that was after a bad dealer wash; but that light "rainbow" looking marring is the stuff I was talking about. Sometimes you'll see that on JB just from buffing off polish residue/qd with a clean microfiber. CR gets it too, but it's harder to see. It's just really soft paint :/

 

[Inzane]

Sparkling Graphite and Space Grey co-existed on the e92 in '07 and '08, so I don't think it's really a replacement. Space Grey is significantly lighter than Sparkling Graphite.

Ah, ok. I hadn't seen them side by side before. But actually I haven't paid much attention to the E92 coupes because I always knew I'd be going for the E90 sedan.

Sparkling G was just phased out for 2009,



Not sure why they ditched Sparkling, it was the #1 color for e90s and e92s in '07/'08, but who know why BMW does what it does.

Sparkling Graphite was on my color short-list until I learned it was axed. But maybe it's just as well. One of the things against choosing Titanium Silver and Sparkling Graphic is how common and over-produced those colors have been. Which is one of the main reasons the two reds (crimson & barbera) are in my top 2... just a little bit more uniqueness/exclusivity, despite how common E90s are becoming on the streets these days.



BTW, what are your thoughts on Titanium Silver? (In terms of looks, paint quality, etc.)