[jdink]

So it doesnt look like the dealership is going to be able to swap for the Sparkling Graphite 335i I wanted and i might be forced to endure the painful 2 month wait of ordering.

Let me just preface this question with the statement: I AM NOT looking for opinions or to start a debate on the two colors.

What I am looking for is peoples experience of having a Jet Black car in a state where it rains constantly 8 months a year (Washington). I'm more than willing to wash the car weekly in the summer to keep that Jet Black shine, but i'm just wondering how the car will hold up with constant rain. Will i end up with endless swirl marks? or will the rain be like a daily shower for the car (crosses fingers).

And to save you guys (you know who you are!) some time

[MadDog]

My daughter has a jet black car, and it looks like shit after it's been raining for a while. The dirt really, really shows on it.

[!Xoible]

Rain >>>>> Jet Black

[jdink]

Originally Posted by MadDog

My daughter has a jet black car, and it looks like shit after it's been raining for a while. The dirt really, really shows on it.

What is it about the rain that makes it look like shit? Is it because the car gets dirty and then the rain just spreads the dirt? Or does the rain alone cause issues? I'm hopeful that its the second, as the first could be taken care of without a full detailing of the car...

[!Xoible]

no, just makes it look super dirty. even if you wash the car and detail it, then it rains it will look dirty. everything dries dirty-ly on it... just dirty. always dirty

jet black looks like shit most of the time even 15 min's after detailing

[nmulax]

Rain won't cause swirl marks. Swirl marks are caused from incorrectly washing the car. As long as you handwash the car using quality products, you should be fine. Sure, it may still have the occasional swirl, but it should look pretty good.

JB will show that the car is dirty more then AW or TiAg. But SG shows dirt/dust as well. Though it hides swirls better then a non-metallic black.

[jdink]

So are you saying that if I get Jet Black I should also switch to geico and with the money I save on car insurance i can hire a detailing pit crew to live in my trunk and everytime I park my car they can pop out and detail my car?

Or are you saying I should invest in a large umbrella and drive at slow speeds?

[MadDog]

Originally Posted by jdink

What is it about the rain that makes it look like shit? Is it because the car gets dirty and then the rain just spreads the dirt? Or does the rain alone cause issues? I'm hopeful that its the second, as the first could be taken care of without a full detailing of the car...

Just the dirt from the road collects on it, especially on the back of the car and around the wheel wells.

[MadDog]

Originally Posted by mantis

no, just makes it look super dirty. even if you wash the car and detail it, then it rains it will look dirty. everything dries dirty-ly on it... just dirty. always dirty

jet black looks like shit most of the time even 15 min's after detailing

Actually, the car looks fantastic for more than 15 minutes after detailing. At least until you start driving it....

[Potty_Pants]

G35 jet black. NJ

After 1-2 hours wash/wax dust on the car. Rain provides rain spots, acid rain not helpful.

the need to wash the car all the time forces scratches in the paint requiring waxing. rinse repeat.

black may look awesome but those are the reasons why i went with spark graphite. too much work for me in my climate.

ppp

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by jdink

So are you saying that if I get Jet Black I should also switch to geico and with the money I save on car insurance i can hire a detailing pit crew to live in my trunk and everytime I park my car they can pop out and detail my car?

Or are you saying I should invest in a large umbrella and drive at slow speeds?

it means you have to wash it carefully yourself and invest in really soft MF towels and spend 4 hours detailing every time you want it clean. if you take it to a car wash or dont use the proper towels the swirls are gonna be sooo ugly on it

it also means you have to always park it inside

it's just high maintenance

btw, costco insurance is cheaaap

[E90330iS]

The mineral from the rain easily shows after the rain also. The rain isn't free carwash anymore

[BMWJZ4]

their is dust in every rain droplet..hence reason cars get soo dirty after it rains

[Perpetrator]

My past 3 cars have all been jet black, including my current E92. I hate the extra maintenance needed to keep it clean, yet I can't seem to like any other color on my cars. I deal with.

If you are indifferent about getting black, then I would say to stay away from it. If you truly yearn for black, then you will be willing to make the sacrifice.

[ScheerSpeed]

its funny, i have a friend at school with a 328i in Jet Black who doesnt take care of her car AT ALL, she takes it through the wash at the corner carwash...

i on the other hand am an obsessed detailer...

after driving in the rain her car looks cleaner than mine does after driving in the rain! i swear it has something to do with on a un-waxed car the dirt tends to blend in with the paint, while on a waxed car the dirt accumulates on top of the paint and the dirt keeps building up.

it pisses me off!

[BK]

Originally Posted by ScheerSpeed

after driving in the rain her car looks cleaner than mine does after driving in the rain! i swear it has something to do with on a un-waxed car the dirt tends to blend in with the paint, while on a waxed car the dirt accumulates on top of the paint and the dirt keeps building up.

Sheeting versus spotting, probably. Mine ends up with a ton of water drop spots after a rain, too.

[328i]

Jet black here, car looked alright until yesterday when it rained, the rain just made it look like shit. With 8 straight months of rain I wouldn't even consider black. In fact I'll never own a black car again, I learned my lesson.

[Geoff]

I have JB and have no regrets. I love how it looks after a detail. I think it's worth it for the deep look right after a detail.

If it's rainy season, there isn't a whole lot of sunlight to make the dust visible.

[BMW DIET]

dont get black .

[Last E92 M3]

yeah...one of reasons why i dont go for black cars unless it's "must" for a specific car.
always had silver-like cars...trying to go for white this time!!!

[jcarlucci1]

my jb car is CONSTANTLY dirty..i gave up on keeping it clean

[ScheerSpeed]

black FTW!!!

however if i were to get a E92 M3 it would be white, i just dont like it in black...