New Z4: Help me break my color combo indecision!

[jrothstein]

Hi guys,

Newbie here that's been lurking for awhile while trying to decide on a Z4. I'm about to take the plunge on a fully loaded 30i, but I simply can't decide on the color combo. I'd appreciate input on which of the options below y'all would favor.

1) Deep sea blue with Black Alcantara & Citrus yellow interior.

-I love the blue, and also love the black/yellow alcantara, just thinking between the blue and the yellow it may be too loud.

2) Deep sea blue with Ivory white interior.

- A classy combo but I'm worried about how the white will hold up and if I'll be spending every weekend scrubbing the interior.

3) Sapphire black with Black alcantara & citrus yellow interior.

- Mean and racy looking.

4) Sapphire black with Ivory white interior.

- Another classy combo, but probably the hardest color combo to keep clean

So, if you had to buy your Z all over again, which would you choose?

Thanks for the input!

[jpd]

black in Texas =hot

white leather good for owners who spend a lot of time detailing

[Vintage]

I am in Dallas and we have BS with Ivory = awesome. However, I voted for BS with Black/Yellow b/c it will look mean and rare.

[jrothstein]

Thanks for the input so far, keep the votes coming

Yeah, black leather in Texas is a royal butt roasting, but thankfully except for shopping, all parking is indoors. I'm in Dallas as well FYI. Hoping to make the decison by EOD, just trying to haggle the money factor with the dealer. Both local dealers are insisting they have to boost the BMW MF by .00004, so even with loyalty it's coming to .00017.

[Vintage]

the ivory is nice - it is never really that hot, even when exposed to sun for a while; the black and yellow just looks so cool . . .

[skier219]

I've had the ivory interior since December in my daily driver Z4. I was a little apprehensive at first, but it has exceeded all my expectations. I've only cleaned the interior once, and merely gave everything a wipe down with a damp cloth. The ivory actually looked better than the black parts of the interior, which show dust easily. Don't worry about it at all, just watch out for cheap dyed clothing which can bleed on any color of leather (and be more visible on light colors) and clean it up as needed.

As far as a combo, my advice is to decouple the interior and exterior, and pick each based on what looks best to you, then just do a sanity check to make sure they work together. Certain exterior colors make the Z4's lines really pop, while others mute them. And some interior schemes look like a million bucks (ivory) while others are just OK to me. Give yourself some freedom to choose. You can't go wrong at all -- it's a great car.

[Dr Stig 2]

Originally Posted by skier219

I've had the ivory interior since December in my daily driver Z4. I was a little apprehensive at first, but it has exceeded all my expectations. I've only cleaned the interior once, and merely gave everything a wipe down with a damp cloth. The ivory actually looked better than the black parts of the interior, which show dust easily. Don't worry about it at all, just watch out for cheap dyed clothing which can bleed on any color of leather (and be more visible on light colors) and clean it up as needed.

I also have the ivory - I have issues with the seat belts bleeding colour into the alcantra.

I have tried to clean it off but after a year I have a dark smudge on the passenger side alcantra strip.
The drivers side has nothing as I'm tall enough for the belt never to touch the seat.
I'm talking to BMW currently to get them to clean it and provide me with something that will keep it clean.
A design fault is my opinion. I have seen three ivory interiors, and they all have a black smudge where the seatbelt bleeds colour into the alcantra.
(They shoudl have gone with ivory seatbelts as well or at least black ones with a colourfast dye.)

[HerrK]

Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2

A design fault is my opinion. I have seen three ivory interiors, and they all have a black smudge where the seatbelt bleeds colour into the alcantra.

This is a design fault for sure. I am probably shorter than most at 65" (25.6 cm). BWM should have integrated a belt guide into the seat to prevent this. My black seat belt rubs against the edge of my Coral Red seam welt and leaves a black mark (I believe this is more dirt and not a dye transfer from the belt). It cleans up but has rubbed so much it has rubbed the red dye off of a small portion (1/4") which now is white. I just leave the small dirt stain on it now, I don't see it when I'm driving. The car is 1+ years old and I am now over the newness OCD phase. Like a skin wrinkle or salt/pepper hair I now view it as a character trait. If it gets any worse I will have them recover the seat. The car runs good & doesn't squeak or rattle. I love it with the top up or down, 12K miles and no problems with the 296's. Now please bring out that smoother 3rd Gen RFT Bridgestone!

[persian54]

The white interior is a paint to keep clean... we gave up...
But it looks nice still
just not as nice as new lol

[BlueZ4AZ]

I have the Ivory White interior, drive with the top down 95% of the time and I find the leather easy to keep clean. All it takes is a wipe down with leather cleaner every 3 weeks or so. White Alcantara is very easy to clean with Fabric cleaner if you get a spot or seatbelt marks.

[Wraith.]

I have Black Sapphire on Black... just looks mean all the way around and the INTERIOR is easy to clean at least.

[Chuck Tung]

I bought the metallic black sapphire, but if I had it to do over, I would not have chosen that color. I wanted the Mojave, but my wife veto'd, calling it poopy brown. Now I wish I stuck to my guns.

The Z4 doors have a complex shape of convex and concave surfaces, which express areas of light, dark and shadow, that really bring out the detail of the surface. When you get black, the dark and shadow areas are completely lost in the black color of the paint, leaving only the highlights visible. Much of the beauty is lost IMO.

I got the beige interior. I figured it would be elegant like the white interior, but be more resistant to dirt and wear.

[jrothstein]

Looks like I'll probably be getting the black exterior with ivory white interior. I really wanted the yellow alcantara, but the GF thinks it's totally fugly :/ . Still thinking of sticking to my guns and getting the yellow alcantara and just trading in the girlfriend instead.

[jpd]

Looks like GF has more influence than poll numbers. You can't go wrong with almost any of the Z4 color options. I ordered Melbourne Red and Black

[Vintage]

Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2

I also have the ivory - I have issues with the seat belts bleeding colour into the alcantra.

I have tried to clean it off but after a year I have a dark smudge on the passenger side alcantra strip.

To all ivory owners, this will truly solve your cleaning problems:

1) Add Woolite to warm-hot water (about a 1/4 Woolite to Water solution)
2) Use white terry cloth towel or microfiber (better) and dip it in the solution
3) clean the Alcantra and leather seats

It is easy and it restores the WHITE to the seats. Then, use a leather conditioner. I do this every two months or so and they look brand new every time.

[jrothstein]

Signing the contract this weekend. It will definitely be the ivory white interior-- just wavering back and forth on the black or blue exterior.

[integraworks]

Originally Posted by jrothstein

Signing the contract this weekend. It will definitely be the ivory white interior-- just wavering back and forth on the black or blue exterior.

Go with the Blue... The black is a wash out IMO, and you loose a lot of the gorgeous lines of the car. The Blue w Ivory is stunning.... I get positive comments every time I drive it. The Ivory is not an issue to keep clean either, I was quite surprised by how easy it is.

Enjoy.

[Dr Stig 2]

DSB with Ivory...

Real purdy!

[lux good]

[QUOTE=jrothstein;9806484]
So, if you had to buy your Z all over again, which would you choose?

Not blue or black.....too hard to keep clean!! (i'm too lazy to keep cleaning cars, prefer driving them) Having said that the black looks fantastic when clean and there is not bad colour on the Zed (apart from yellow )
So if I was ordering again I'd go for silver....no, white....no, space grey again!! One thing I would do is change my rims, horrible to clean (lazy again!!)

Hope that helps

[BlueZ4AZ]

[quote=lux good;9828838]

Originally Posted by jrothstein

So, if you had to buy your Z all over again, which would you choose?

Not blue or black.....too hard to keep clean!! (i'm too lazy to keep cleaning cars, prefer driving them) Having said that the black looks fantastic when clean and there is not bad colour on the Zed (apart from yellow )
So if I was ordering again I'd go for silver....no, white....no, space grey again!! One thing I would do is change my rims, horrible to clean (lazy again!!)

Hope that helps

Blue cars are not nearly as difficult to keep looking clean as black. Black is in a category of it's own. We have my blue 35i and my wife's black EX35. No comparison. Her car shows every minute flaw. Black is fantastic when clean, not so great if not 100% clean....but everyone that buys black already knows they are taking on that challenge. It takes me twice as long to get the EX35 looking as good as the 35i.

[Vintage]

I am trying to talk you into black sapphire.

[jpd]

Blue, Blue,blue