[NGT2]

Originally Posted by JMP14

A new wrinkle....my SA just went to enter my build and apparently skyscraper grey is not available with m sport!!! That is just insane to me as the color first appeared on those M cars and it looks particularly great with the shawdowline trim. The red is also only a non m-sport option.

So looks like my decision is kind of being made for me...CBM. It's really not too much of a "settling" for me as for years any time I have seen a clean CBM 5 series it has always caught my eye. Last thought is I also like phytonic blue but as I have had an estorli blue 3 series for the last 5 years I am ready for a change from blue (I realize CBM is a very dark blue but it's distinct enough from estoril to make me feel like its a change).

Any last thoughts from anyone re CMB or Phytonic?

Just curious, have you considered dark graphite? It's got the gray angle covered and it really changes it's profile with lighting. Can be very dark or can show it's gray. Contrasts well on chrome and shadow line. Of course, I'm biased.

[HerkHealer]

Originally Posted by NGT2

Just curious, have you considered dark graphite? It's got the gray angle covered and it really changes it's profile with lighting. Can be very dark or can show it's gray. Contrasts well on chrome and shadow line. Of course, I'm biased.

IMO its the killer combo with 668 wheels and shadow line. Just flows everywhere perfectly. But of course I am biased.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by HerkHealer

IMO its the killer combo with 668 wheels and shadow line. Just flows everywhere perfectly. But of course I am biased.

It's definitely the best "black" of all the blacks. I put it in the black category. It's got a little gray in it and the metal flakes are outstanding. As I said, I had it on my F10 and never got sick of the color.

Carbon Black Metallic was a color I've wanted since my E38 because it's really a deep blue. I'm running out of BMW colors to try. I've had almost all of them. What I really want is an Imola Red M550.

[JMP14]

Originally Posted by NGT2

Just curious, have you considered dark graphite? It's got the gray angle covered and it really changes it's profile with lighting. Can be very dark or can show it's gray. Contrasts well on chrome and shadow line. Of course, I'm biased.

in some pictures i really like it, but when i have seen it in person it's just not one of my top choices. I am not a big dark grey fan...I like a bright silver, so bluestone and then skyscraper were closest options. Aside from that I lean towards blues...hence the phytonic and carbon black. At this point I would pay the premium for tanzinite blue as it's a nice in between for carbon black and phytonic. I've asked my SA about that so we'll see. I would not pay more than the $1950 it cost on the m550 tho. I suspect if they will consider at all they will want to charge a premium over that which will be a no go.

At the end of the day most all these colors look great, in part because i just love the style of the g30. it's a tough decision mainly because when having the ability to build to your ideal it's tough not to sweat the little details!

[JMP14]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

It's definitely the best "black" of all the blacks. I put it in the black category. It's got a little gray in it and the metal flakes are outstanding. As I said, I had it on my F10 and never got sick of the color.

Carbon Black Metallic was a color I've wanted since my E38 because it's really a deep blue. I'm running out of BMW colors to try. I've had almost all of them. What I really want is an Imola Red M550.

Joe...do you feel the CBM still shows off the lines of the car really well? in some pics I feel like it does, mainly when just detailed (your pics look great) but in other pics or videos, the lines of the car really seem to fade out. I don't know if that's just an artifact of not seeing in real life.

[2022M550i]

I think Skyscraper grey is an awesome color, what the hell is BMW thinking not offering it with the M sport package?

With respect to Bernina Grey not being offered anymore, I'm super glad that I got it. As someone else mentioned, the color looks incredible in person. It doesn't show dirt and it doesn't show pollen. The perfect combo. The look changes depending on sunlight. I'm kind of surprised about how many compliments I get on the color. People love it.

[BMW012]

Originally Posted by HerkHealer

I'd be mad if so. It hasnt been around that long at all........

bernina is gone now. short run.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by JMP14

Joe...do you feel the CBM still shows off the lines of the car really well? in some pics I feel like it does, mainly when just detailed (your pics look great) but in other pics or videos, the lines of the car really seem to fade out. I don't know if that's just an artifact of not seeing in real life.

I really do feel it shows off the lines, but I think it's a must to keep the cerium gray accents with the color. When you black out the bumper and vent trim, the lines get lost. Same for the wheels. Not a color for black wheels.

[BMW012]

definitely odd skyscraper isnt allowed with m sport. they have been pushing it on all the new m cars.

[jcal65]

Originally Posted by 2022M550i

With respect to Bernina Grey not being offered anymore, I'm super glad that I got it. As someone else mentioned, the color looks incredible in person. It doesn't show dirt and it doesn't show pollen. The perfect combo. The look changes depending on sunlight. I'm kind of surprised about how many compliments I get on the color. People love it.

I concur!

[JMP14]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I really do feel it snows off the lines, but I think it's a must to keep the cerium gray accents with the color. When you black out the bumper and vent trim, the lines get lost. Same for the wheels. Not a color for black wheels.

honestly that's spot on for what i think is part of my hang up right now. those cerium bits aren't an option on the 540. so they will all be black, which I agree kind of fades in a bit too much for my liking. I do plan on doing the bi-color wheels so a mix of black and silver which I think is a must if I can't have the 668M wheels (which at some point i may try to get as a summer option).

I see you have switched out a lot of your cerium bits for CF. do you think that goes as well and stands out more vs. the gloss black?

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by JMP14

honestly that's spot on for what i think is part of my hang up right now. those cerium bits aren't an option on the 540. so they will all be black, which I agree kind of fades in a bit too much for my liking. I do plan on doing the bi-color wheels so a mix of black and silver which I think is a must if I can't have the 668M wheels (which at some point i may try to get as a summer option).

I see you have switched out a lot of your cerium bits for CF. do you think that goes as well and stands out more vs. the gloss black?

I swapped out the grill and spoiler for Carbon Fiber. The stock diffuser was really gray, not cerium. On the grill, I felt the cerium trim on it looked too wide and made it look like a Lincoln. I wanted to take the edge off that. I am really happy with that decision. The M550 can be configured with a black grill with all the cerium pieces still there, so I didn't feel like I was deviating from stock with GF. On the spoiler, I just wanted something more aggressive than the tiny lip it's comes with. I decided to bookend CF here with the grill. I really hated the stock diffuser and I certainly wasn't going to keep it with the Dinan exhaust. That would not fit the look. I'm done with my enhancements, I think the mix is just right. I think a CF diffuser is just too much CF. (Forgive the swirls, this was before ceramic).

[DNYC1919]

White could always work.
Sports package, shadow line and black wheels with red brakes.
I also like tanzanite blue I see on the 550s. Too bad not offered on the 540.

[JMP14]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I swapped out the grill and spoiler for Carbon Fiber. The stock diffuser was really gray, not cerium. On the grill, I felt the cerium trim on it looked too wide and made it look like a Lincoln. I wanted to take the edge off that. I am really happy with that decision. The M550 can be configured with a black grill with all the cerium pieces still there, so I didn't feel like I was deviating from stock with GF. On the spoiler, I just wanted something more aggressive than the tiny lip it's comes with. I decided to bookend CF here with the grill. I really hated the stock diffuser and I certainly wasn't going to keep it with the Dinan exhaust. That would not fit the look. I'm done with my enhancements, I think the mix is just right. I think a CF diffuser is just too much CF. (Forgive the swirls, this was before ceramic).

this second picture with your comment on the cerium side vent and wheels and the chrome strip on the door handle highlights your point for me. without those elements, swapping them out for gloss black, the car just loses that something special for me. I know many people like the fully blacked out look...to each is own. but it's helping me make my decision. I may be coming back around to phytonic blue surprisingly enough.

[JMP14]

Originally Posted by DNYC1919

White could always work.
Sports package, shadow line and black wheels with red brakes.
I also like tanzanite blue I see on the 550s. Too bad not offered on the 540.

I do like that look...but not with the cognac interior which has been a priority for me. agree on the tanzanite. I've asked my SA re the ability to special order that. it's a long shot, especially bc I have a point it would become cost prohibitive for me but we'll see.

appreciate all the feedback to help with the decision.

[BMW012]

Originally Posted by HerkHealer

Dark Graphite ?!?! What a POS color to have on a car!

https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1787965

haha looks good to me! its a rich dark buttery color. It's good if your last car was black or navy and you still want something dark. definitely not a sporty color but looks good when its a dark/rainy/foggy out lol.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by JMP14

this second picture with your comment on the cerium side vent and wheels and the chrome strip on the door handle highlights your point for me. without those elements, swapping them out for gloss black, the car just loses that something special for me. I know many people like the fully blacked out look...to each is own. but it's helping me make my decision. I may be coming back around to phytonic blue surprisingly enough.

I agree with you completely. This is why I'm posting the pictures. Without the cerium gray accents it would not pop or accent the lines. I'm not a fan of the all black look either. A lighter or contrasting color is a better fit for gloss black trim.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by JMP14

in some pictures i really like it, but when i have seen it in person it's just not one of my top choices. I am not a big dark grey fan...I like a bright silver, so bluestone and then skyscraper were closest options. Aside from that I lean towards blues...hence the phytonic and carbon black. At this point I would pay the premium for tanzinite blue as it's a nice in between for carbon black and phytonic. I've asked my SA about that so we'll see. I would not pay more than the $1950 it cost on the m550 tho. I suspect if they will consider at all they will want to charge a premium over that which will be a no go.

At the end of the day most all these colors look great, in part because i just love the style of the g30. it's a tough decision mainly because when having the ability to build to your ideal it's tough not to sweat the little details!

I hear ya. It's all about your preference. I'll say this, it isn't near as much gray as I expected. The pictures don't really do it justice. You have to be in extremely bright light for it to look like a typical dark gray. The dealer sent me pics and videos when it was in their showroom on a white floor under white light and it looked typical dark dray (as it does on the website). I've never seen it appear that way in person. Luckily, I liked the reality version even better!

These sort of show how it looks in different light. First is right after getting tint, cloudy day. Second two are with different light hitting at the same time (the last one after ceramic coating was applied).

Again - all about what you want! You'll like whatever you pick.

[JMP14]

Originally Posted by NGT2

I hear ya. It's all about your preference. I'll say this, it isn't near as much gray as I expected. The pictures don't really do it justice. You have to be in extremely bright light for it to look like a typical dark gray. The dealer sent me pics and videos when it was in their showroom on a white floor under white light and it looked typical dark dray (as it does on the website). I've never seen it appear that way in person. Luckily, I liked the reality version even better!

These sort of show how it looks in different light. First is right after getting tint, cloudy day. Second two are with different light hitting at the same time (the last one after ceramic coating was applied).

Again - all about what you want! You'll like whatever you pick.

appreciate your perspective. These pics also highlight what I have gone back and forth with Joe on....with your chrome accents I think the graphite looks really good, better than it would with those in gloss black. Those subtle points of contrast are lost. For me that's an element I really want. And I definitely want the msport and shadowline.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by JMP14

appreciate your perspective. These pics also highlight what I have gone back and forth with Joe on....with your chrome accents I think the graphite looks really good, better than it would with those in gloss black. Those subtle points of contrast are lost. For me that's an element I really want. And I definitely want the msport and shadowline.

Yep that's a good point. Great point. And really something I'd not thought of when looking at different design combos. I agree it's nice to have contrast and with the darker colors and you definitely lose that on a 540 with m sport/shadow line. I can see now why you're leaning the way you are. I actually have an appointment to wrap the window trim and door handle chrome in gloss black next week, but I wouldn't change the grill, under the bumper, or side vents.

Even more reason it's asinine that skyscraper gray isn't available in m sport.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by JMP14

A new wrinkle....my SA just went to enter my build and apparently skyscraper grey is not available with m sport!!! That is just insane to me as the color first appeared on those M cars and it looks particularly great with the shawdowline trim. The red is also only a non m-sport option.

So looks like my decision is kind of being made for me...CBM. It's really not too much of a "settling" for me as for years any time I have seen a clean CBM 5 series it has always caught my eye. Last thought is I also like phytonic blue but as I have had an estorli blue 3 series for the last 5 years I am ready for a change from blue (I realize CBM is a very dark blue but it's distinct enough from estoril to make me feel like its a change).

Any last thoughts from anyone re CMB or Phytonic?

For the MY23 540i MSport the color options are:

Alpine White
Carbon Black Metallic (this color requires ordering MSport)
Black Sapphire
Phytonic Blue
Dark Graphite

However, if you order a MY23 M550i you can order Skyscraper Grey as all M550i are MSport.

My personal favorites for the 540i MSport are Alpine White and CBM.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by claykin

For the MY23 540i MSport the color options are:

Alpine White
Carbon Black Metallic (this color requires ordering MSport)
Black Sapphire
Phytonic Blue
Dark Graphite

However, if you order a MY23 M550i you can order Skyscraper Grey as all M550i are MSport.

My personal favorites for the 540i MSport are Alpine White and CBM.

So two great colors gone, none added. I know it's the last year, but that's kind of a bummer. Would've been cooler if they'd included the skyscraper if they have to drop Bernina.