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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 F10 Technical Topics Wash, Wax, Detailing and Cosmetic protection/repairs Dark Graphite care
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      08-09-2011, 10:10 AM   #1
claycourter01
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Dark Graphite care

I currently have a Titanium Silver E90 and am considering a new F10, either Cashmere Silver or Dark Graphite II.

I know the DG would be harder to keep clean; I would be interested in your experience with detailing DG, relative to the silver colors, i.e., how much more maintenance required; thanks
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      08-09-2011, 11:36 AM   #2
HouseofPang
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DG is not too bad actually, dust shows but because of the metallic, it can hide minor swirls and streaks pretty well.
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      08-09-2011, 01:12 PM   #3
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I find DG requires near religious upkeep to keep it looking good. I might be more OCD than others, but it requires a light wash every 2 days for me to keep the bugs off the front bumper. I give it a full wash weekly and a full detail bimonthly to monthly. Keeps it looking brand new. If you properly wash your car you won't get swirls, the worst you'll see is longitudinal scratches down your paint which are VERY easy to hide with polish if they happen to show up.

Overall, not an easy color to keep looking new.
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      08-09-2011, 02:03 PM   #4
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I have both colors. Silver is the easiest color to keep clean and swirls are hard to see unless under sunlight. DG isn't as bad as black, but on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being silver and 10 being black, it's about a 7. While the metallic flake will mask some swirls, dust shows up very easily.
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      08-10-2011, 01:29 PM   #5
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thanks to all for your input
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      08-12-2011, 12:09 AM   #6
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I'm having paint protection film put on the hood, bumpers, front fenders, mirrors, headlights and fog lights on DG2. Hopefully that will help some on those panels.
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      08-15-2011, 07:09 PM   #7
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If you know how to properly wash a car (2 bucket method) and use the right type of towels, tools, etc., then maintaining a new silver car is just as labor intensive as maintaining a new dark graphite. When you don't properly maintain a dark colored car, then you'll have swirl mark issues that probably won't be seen as much if the car was silver. Then maintaining the dark graphite will require much more work.

So if you're the type that likes to detail and work on cars, I'd go for the dark graphite as it looks so much better when well maintained. Otherwise, go with silver.
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      08-16-2011, 12:19 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ridonculous View Post
If you know how to properly wash a car (2 bucket method) and use the right type of towels, tools, etc., then maintaining a new silver car is just as labor intensive as maintaining a new dark graphite. When you don't properly maintain a dark colored car, then you'll have swirl mark issues that probably won't be seen as much if the car was silver. Then maintaining the dark graphite will require much more work.

So if you're the type that likes to detail and work on cars, I'd go for the dark graphite as it looks so much better when well maintained. Otherwise, go with silver.

thanks! that's an interesting perspective; I hadn't thought of it like that
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      09-13-2011, 11:01 PM   #9
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I own a dark graphite metallic 535i and the paint is amazing. Highly recommend it. Stands out from all the boring black BMW's out there today.
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      01-19-2012, 01:39 PM   #10
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I also own a 535i that is dark graphite love the color and I use Zaino on it works great awesome! only pain is the brake dust
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      01-19-2012, 03:52 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SkiingMonkey View Post
I find DG requires near religious upkeep to keep it looking good. I might be more OCD than others, but it requires a light wash every 2 days for me to keep the bugs off the front bumper. I give it a full wash weekly and a full detail bimonthly to monthly. Keeps it looking brand new. If you properly wash your car you won't get swirls, the worst you'll see is longitudinal scratches down your paint which are VERY easy to hide with polish if they happen to show up.

Overall, not an easy color to keep looking new.
I am going to disagree with you on this (completely based on MY experience so not looking to start a flaming war here). The bugs are a product of where you live and drive so the color of the car I feel is irrelevant. I wash my car weekly, by hand most times but have used a couple of quality automatic washes if i'm in a pinch for time, and it still looks new after having it for about 6 months. Skiing, do you keep your car garaged? I do and feel that is the biggest saviour to keeping my car looking good this long.

Prior to my DGII F10 I had a Monaco Blue 750 and feel that was way harder to keep clean. Just my 2cents
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