[bfleming]

Hi All, I'm currently on the E90 LCI (& more recently F20) side of the house, but considering stepping things up to a pre-owned F10 this year.
I know most F10's in this area (UK) seem to be in very conservative colors (Black, Grey & Silver are most popular), White is not too common, but there are a few Blues out there too that I'm not sure about. Reds are virtually non-existent, but there are some Gold ones too that I'll be avoiding for sure.
My E90 LCI is in Bluewater Metallic which I think is the nicest color car I've ever owned.
What are people's opinions? Specification first & color second?
Thanks in anticipation.

[Surly73]

I'm not sure about everyone else here, but when I started with BMWs (E39/E46 days), I became interested in them because of how they drove, not how they looked to other people. I could get a four door family sedan with spacious trunk that came with RWD, manual transmission, and was worthy of Pilot Sport tires.

I know the driving experience has been diluted in all of the F-series but I guess the ultimate question is what are your priorities? I'm not sure the Internet can solve that for you

If you want RWD and manual transmission, from what I've seen I'm afraid that those are going to be your limiting factor.

[wcr3d]

I waited and searched until I found both.

[Ickdeep]

Definitely specs first. You can always change the color of the car via wrap. But it costs a lot extra to get those additional packages installed later. IE I made sure my car xdrive (couldn't even image what that would cost to upgrade), heated seats, heads up display, etc...

And I only found one car with all the specs I wanted so I bought it. Be picky about what you are going, not the color is comes in.

[bfleming]

Everything this side of the pond is rear wheel drive, and I have a good choice of auto & manual cars; most here are diesel (520d's are very popular, 530d's are around, and 535d's are thinner on the ground but still available). My question was more 'what colors should I avoid buying if I want to resell the car in 2 years'. I get bored easily LOL

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by bfleming

Everything this side of the pond is rear wheel drive, and I have a good choice of auto & manual cars; most here are diesel (520d's are very popular, 530d's are around, and 535d's are thinner on the ground but still available). My question was more 'what colors should I avoid buying if I want to resell the car in 2 years'. I get bored easily LOL

If you are buying to sell, get one of the boring colours with a black interior.

If you are buying to enjoy the car, sort the spec and hope it is in a colour you can live with.

I bought my F11 on specification, as I had a priority on options to be included. Colour and trim had to have second place. I had no choice, as a 535i with all the key options was (still is) rarer than hen's teeth.

I ended up with Sophisto Grey with Cinnamon leather/trim. Not my first choice, but a classy car all the same, and gets very positive comments.

[bfleming]

Nice spec. I really like this interior colour combination of Oyster & Black:


The car I'm currently considering is this colour. Not too offensive, but what are people's thoughts as it's not that common...

[EL Jeffe 5]

I travel 1700miles 2735km to get my alpine white.

[mko9]

I would definitely be looking for spec over color. That said, I have an Imola Red e46 and a Tasman Green F10. I did not want the German car standard of black, white, silver, or grey. I would avoid black or other dark colors - they show the dirt.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by mko9

I would definitely be looking for spec over color. That said, I have an Imola Red e46 and a Tasman Green F10. I did not want the German car standard of black, white, silver, or grey. I would avoid black or other dark colors - they show the dirt.

LOVE my Carbon Black!!!!!!

Yeah... options over colour.

[Apples12]

I think if your going for a diesel stick to LCI+

The earlier ones still had chain issues, a relatives 11plate 520d chewed it's chain and spat the engine just before Xmas, albeit he had 160k+ miles on it.

Im in a 520d LCI, my must haves were simple, auto, xenon's, dab, pro nav and that was it! Lovely car to chew up the 25k+ miles a year I do in it

[zinengineer]

Black sapphire metallic looks awesome when washed; next day shows dirt. All depends on how OCD you are

Get the specs you want, color is secondary. That's the route I went

[darrylh]

I agree with specs over color. I just brought my car home yesterday. Cold weather package and multi contour seats were must-haves. I didn't get the paddle shifters I wanted, but the mileage is awesome.

[STANxDAxMAN]

Originally Posted by bfleming

Nice spec. I really like this interior colour combination of Oyster & Black:


The car I'm currently considering is this colour. Not too offensive, but what are people's thoughts as it's not that common...

I hope you don't wear jeans a lot with the white interior.

[johnhva]

Exterior color (Alpine!) is important but you'll spend most of your time driving looking at the interior color. When searching for my LCI CPO I had to have Mocha Nappa Contour interior, which was relatively rare.

[bfleming]

Originally Posted by johnhva

Exterior color (Alpine!) is important...

In some markets maybe, not here in the UK. To most people white in a 5 series still says 'I used to be a police car'!


Silver should have the same stigma, but doesn't!

[en1gma]

Another vote for Spec first, then colour.

[johnhva]

[QUOTE=bfleming;22631830]In some markets maybe, not here in the UK. To most people white in a 5 series still says 'I used to be a police car'!


Hmm. That wagon doesn't look white to me...

[Jayphil]

Spec first, color after. 5 series can look good in any colors if done correctly even silver like mine, a color that many enthusiasm are tired of, can be very stunning. To me the time silver look at is best is during sunrise, sunset or during night, still looks good under full sun but not impresive like other available colors.

[bigshout]

Originally Posted by bfleming

In some markets maybe, not here in the UK. To most people white in a 5 series still says 'I used to be a police car'!
[IMG]http://cdn1.autoexpress.co.uk/sites/...ling-025_0.jpg[/IMG]

Silver should have the same stigma, but doesn't!
[IMG]https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5071/7...53ee3d13_b.jpg[/IMG]

Dude white was the most popular colour for all cars sold in the last 3 years in the UK, with black topping the chart for the last 6 months. There are plenty of white f10's for sale. Your probably find the biggest selection of individual cars in Europe here in the uk, however most are M5's. if rare is what your after one will turn up.

Colour shouldn't be your preference and I agree with most, people are tempted by specification over colour and price over everything else. Pick a car with the right spec and engine, lowest miles and for the best price.

I chose a 535i as diesels have bad press right now and will depreciate quicker in years to come because of it. I was lucky to find a car with £13k worth of options, 1 owner and low mileage. When it comes to resale it won't hang about.

[bigshout]

If your looking for rates colours this is the first individual Atlantis non M5 F10 I've seen for sale.

I just found a great car on Auto Trader:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...01712302349413

[Tasmanian]

Do NOT buy a Tasman Green BMW!! It makes it easier for us to pick them on the used car lot and enjoy the exclusivity!

Tasmanian

Originally Posted by mko9

I would definitely be looking for spec over color. That said, I have an Imola Red e46 and a Tasman Green F10. I did not want the German car standard of black, white, silver, or grey. I would avoid black or other dark colors - they show the dirt.