[DUKEY]

Just ordered a 2012 535 Xdrive in Carbon Black with Black Dakota interior. I am really worried as to whether or not I made the right/best decision on the color?? Need some assertion that this was the right way to go. I wanted a car that STANDS OUT and makes people admire. Should I have gone with the Alpine White??

[Breach]

Carbon Black is a good color - it has a bluish tint so not my cup... of whatever you drink in NY, but it's nice, and there are not that many carbon black cars. I went for Sophisto Grey (Dark Graphite in the US) which I like a lot, but pretty much 50% of the F10's I see are that color ;-) Somehow I always associate white luxury cars with cocaine dealers for some reason ;-), but Alpine White is a good F10 color to, though if I have to choose between White and Carbon Black I'd have made the same choice as you. Colors are a personal thing. In terms of 'people admiring' if you're in this sort of thing I carbon black is as good color as any (as long as any is != space grey/silver metallic but again that's a personal opinion). You should invest in fancy rims if you want to impress IMHO.

[rdef]

I think it's the best color. They are also hard to find in that coloar on the used market--should help resale value, IMHO.

[1HOT BMR]

The most important thing is to see the colors yourself before you order. I look at dealer inventories on line and visit all the dealers within 60/80 miles from where I live and see all the colors I'm considering and as many interiors as possible - after that, the decision is easy. It should be your choice and yours alone, what others think is irrelevant IMO. If paint maintenance is important to you then consider this: chips, scratches and dirt are much more noticeable on dark than light cars.

[EdM5]

Originally Posted by 1HOT BMR

The most important thing is to see the colors yourself before you order. I look at dealer inventories on line and visit all the dealers within 60/80 miles from where I live and see all the colors I'm considering and as many interiors as possible - after that, the decision is easy. It should be your choice and yours alone, what others think is irrelevant IMO. If paint maintenance is important to you then consider this: chips, scratches and dirt are much more noticeable on dark than light cars.

[Peiper]

I will show you tomorrow some pics with space grey and M package. It is much better than carbon black because it shows the lines on the hood.

Finally it is up to decide but take into consideration space grey.

[Jimefam]

I LOVE my carbon black when it's freshly washed and waxed but it gets dirty fast and swirl marks and scratches are very prevalent on all dark colors.

[Madmcs]

After I ordered Carbon Black I was worried I had gone with the wrong colour. I kept seeing the dark blue colour and thinking I had made a big mistake.

Now that I have it, it looks great. Only downside is that you have to keep it clean to have it looking it's best. I've only seen one other carbon black on the road too so it's definitely an exclusive colour. Looking back, I would have chosen the same colour again without question.

[Bimmernerd]

In my case I switched the order from Carbon black for my 530dM xDrive Touring to Sophisto grey due to the maintenance issues for Carbon black. It is a beautiful color but hopeless to keep clean and every scratch shows for what I have heard.

[DUKEY]

I most certainly love the color ---- but still there is that little bit of uncertainty for whatever reason.

[DUKEY]

I have done just that --- looked at many colors, however still can not definitively decide!!!! Love the ALPINE WHITE as well - and obviously a light color -- it too is not easy to keep clean.

[aceman]

Well...

I was in the same boat as you - carbon black or alpine white.....I went the white route.
I must say - surf scratches annoy the crap out of me, and I REALLY liked the carbon black when clean - which usually only lasts for an hour or two from what i read

Anyway - i can not tell you how many compliments i've gotten on my AW msport - i think it looks more aggressive than the carbon black, whereas i think the carbon black is classier looking than the AW. All comes down to taste - the AW obviously also shows off the sculpted body work of the 5er better as well...

Good luck!

Aceman

[DUKEY]

Thanks Aceman !! Any photos of yours? Isn't the AW equally as hard to keep clean?

[aceman]

I really haven't found keeping her clean too difficult. Bigest area that gets dirty/dusty is the rear end. outside of that she stays fairly clean - particularly if you put some good wax on it...

Don't let me sway you - both are fantastic colors - like i said i was bouncing back/forth on the color for months - actually changed it from AW-CB-AW-CB-AW at which point the dealer said i was cut off

Here are some pics...

http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthre...ghlight=aceman

[DUKEY]

Thanks for the photos - much appreciated. It looks fantastic!! How did u know the percentage of tint to go with? Where in NJ was it done?

[andyk500]

I love my carbon black colour, but you must get black grills with it, makes all the difference.

[535MSport]

If that were the best color everyone would have one. Don't ya kinda think it is sort of a personal choice. Asking total strangers to affirm your choice sort of looks like you think you made the wrong one.

Good luck keeping it clean!!

[ibimmer954]

Wait a sec... you want a car that "stands out" and went with Black?

I'm guessing Graphite, Black, and White are the most popular colors. Seriously though, CB is a great color. Looks really awesome in the sun.

As for something a little more rare, my color combination of Deep Sea Blue/Cinnamon Brown is almost certainly more rare that CB/Black.

You gonna get the Nappa Leather with that? The Nappa is really nice and smooth.

[DUKEY]

Originally Posted by ibimmer346

Wait a sec... you want a car that "stands out" and went with Black?

I'm guessing Graphite, Black, and White are the most popular colors. Seriously though, CB is a great color. Looks really awesome in the sun.

As for something a little more rare, my color combination of Deep Sea Blue/Cinnamon Brown is almost certainly more rare that CB/Black.

You gonna get the Nappa Leather with that? The Nappa is really nice and smooth.

Back here in the Northeast - BLACK, WHITE and SILVER are very very prevalent. Hence my decision to go with the CARBON BLACK. Definitely wanted something a bit more unique. The one thing I am "slightly" concerned with the CARBON is that subtle undertone of DARK BLUE.
?????
Plus is it as difficult to keep clean as JET BLACK let's say???
Went with the DAKOTA LEATHER -- doesn't show scratches like the Nappa would.

[Madmcs]

Dukey,

I struggled to find some pictures of a Carbon Black car when I was looking so hopefully these pictures will really help. They were taken straight after the car came off the delivery truck and before it was PDI'ed.

The side profile pic shows how the colour can change in different lights.

[SchlauCow]

holy fuck at this post.
sorry for the no value added, but god damn...

[ibimmer954]

Originally Posted by DUKEY

The one thing I am "slightly" concerned with the CARBON is that subtle undertone of DARK BLUE.
?????
Plus is it as difficult to keep clean as JET BLACK let's say???

That's what Carbon Black is: Black paint with dark blue metallic flake. If the sun reflects off it, you see dark blue from the flake. In low light you see the black base color.

Will it be as difficult as JB? Probably not. But it will still be a whole lot harder to keep nice than silver. Think of it as a relative scale, hardest to easiest:

JB, Black Sapphire, Carbon Black, Imperial Blue, White, Deep Sea Blue, Graphite, Mojave, Light Gray, Silver

The order, of course, is up for debate.

On a side note, one of the coolest BMW individual colors I've seen is Ruby Black: Black paint with dark red metallic flake. Depending on the light you see black, deep red, or almost purple. Google that color.