[AidenL]

Hi all,

I'm new here, but have been a BMW driver since 1998, starting with a 318 iS, onto a 323 Ci, and currently an E60 520 i.

I'm not happy with the performance of the 520, I bought it on an impulse, for practicality reasons - I'm thinking of changing to an E90, 325 or more likely a 330 with the M Sport pack for delivery in January 06.

I see on www.bmw.co.uk that the new Sports pack is now available to order and the new blue is actually called Le Mans Blue.

Im torn between the blue and Sapphire Black - loved Topaz Blue on my 323 and currently have Sapphire Black on my 5.

Heres what I'm thinking of :

Exterior Le Mans Blue with beige Leather and Walnut

or

Exterior Sapphire Black with beige and Walnut

However, working in construction, I'm worried the beige carpets won't wear well - I assume you can't have black carpet with beige seats, like you can get with Terra or Lemon?

Lemon is tempting me, but I'm worried it might be too yellow? Would it work with blue of black do you think, and if I wen't with lemon, would you guys go with walnut or aluminium trim?

I'm a prolific poster on MINI2.co, have a MINI Cooper S Works with 210 bhp on tap, so I do want my BM to be as good a looker as the MINI

Also, with the Sports Pack on the exterior, would the wood be out of keeping with the sporty theme?

Love to hear what you guys think, and I hope to partake actively in discussions on here over the next few months......

[AidenL]

Would Le Mans Blue / Aluminium / Lemon work? Or is Walnut better with lemon, whatever the exterior colour?

Or would that interior combo be better with Sapphire Black?

[Broken1]

The aluminium (or titanium) goes very nicely with the lemon. I don't find my lemon yellow at all...It seems very white in the sun light and very cream in the shade!

I personally would go with black, well I did go with black...it's amazing...just a mission to clean! Oh well

[AidenL]

Thank you.........

Yeah, I know how it feels, acres of black to wash on the 5, and then the first shower of rain, and its back to square 1........

Aluminium is real aluminium, whereas the titanium is plastic - am I correct in assuming that?

[res_ipsa]

Hey welcome to the forum. Lemon would work with any dark exterior in my opinion. Aluminum+Lemon looks real nice, but then again so does lemon+wood hah. Have you checked out the interior pics thread? There's so many interior combinations there to preview

Here's that thread

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=352

[E90 Enthusiast]

Definitely go with Black Saphire and the Lemon interior. That is probably my single most favorite combo - wish the lemon was available in the States. From the photos, it looks like you couldn't go wrong with either walnut or aluminum trim, although I'm slightly partial to the classy look of the walnut myself.

[AidenL]

Thanks for the welcome guys.........

Its easy Speccin' a car I find, but the colour choice is so, so difficult - thats picture thread is great res ispa. but makes the choosing even harder in a way, cos they are all so nice............

[genesmasher]

I would love to get Le Mans Blue / Beige combo. Le Mans is not available in the US at this time, so I ordered the next best thing - Mystic Blue / Beige . I think either of your original choices is great, but the blue will be easier to keep clean than sapphire black. I personally am not a big fan of Lemon interior - I think you will get tired of it quickly, and it is probably the most difficult to maintain. Black is nice, but beige gives the car that classy contrast. Grey is just too timid and plain IMHO.

[kchika]

I like Le Mans Blue/Beige/Walnut. Saw something similar on an E39 M5 and IMO the two colours work together very nicely.

[AidenL]

Bearing in mind that I will be having the recently announced UK and Europe M Tech Sports Pack, which comprises Sports Seats, 135M 18" wheels, Anthracite roof lining , front spoiler, skirts, rear valance etc, would that sway any of the colour choices away from beige say?

I think what I'm trying to say is, if the car looks agressive outside, would wood / beige inside make it too classy inside / less sporty?

[AidenL]

I think, I think I may well go with Sapphire Black / Lemon and Aluminium......

M Sports Pack, 18"s, Professional Nav, Bluetooth, Lumbar Support, Hi Fi Speaker Upgrade and Xenons......

[Broken1]

oh wow. The lemon would look seriously HOT sporty stylish and classy with the black anthrasite roof lining! With allum and black outside...the thought even has me drulling!!!! WOW. Ps. The lemon isn't that difficult to maintain. BMW leather cleaner and a sponge...5 minutes...once every 2 weeks. :-)

[AidenL]

Yeah, the anthracite roof lining is included as standard in the M Sport Pack - and I really like the 135 M wheels on the E 46 too, good to see them being carried over.....

[stressdoc]

It's a personal choice. I'm with genesmasher and kchika: Le Mans blue with either beige or gray and walnut (or poplar) would be great. That is what I will get if I can; if not, then mystic blue. I prefer the less common colors, but function is my first consideration. My past bimmers have been green, beige, burgundy, orange, burgundy (all 1602s and 2002s), and, currently, alpine white w/ beige (323), which is wonderfully practical. There are a lot of great combinations. Sapphire black, lemon (or terra), and aluminum would be striking -- less traditional. I had a metallic black civic si a ways back and it looked good, but had all the drawbacks that others have mentioned. Heat, low visibility, scratches, dirt, ... It would be helpful to see them side by side. Maybe a trip to Dublin or even Munich... Do you all have to pay extra for the metallic?

[AidenL]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

It's a personal choice. I'm with genesmasher and kchika: Le Mans blue with either beige or gray and walnut (or poplar) would be great. That is what I will get if I can; if not, then mystic blue. I prefer the less common colors, but function is my first consideration. My past bimmers have been green, beige, burgundy, orange, burgundy (all 1602s and 2002s), and, currently, alpine white w/ beige (323), which is wonderfully practical. There are a lot of great combinations. Sapphire black, lemon (or terra), and aluminum would be striking -- less traditional. I had a metallic black civic si a ways back and it looked good, but had all the drawbacks that others have mentioned. Heat, low visibility, scratches, dirt, ... It would be helpful to see them side by side. Maybe a trip to Dublin or even Munich... Do you all have to pay extra for the metallic?

Yes, its hard to get a look at cars at dealers though, they come in and out so fast with the waiting lists.....

Metallic is extra here, except on the 330.....

[AidenL]

I just booked a slot with my dealer today for October production, November delivery :rocks: - spec still to be decided though......

[AidenL]

Well, my car is in Dublin at the mo, will be with my dealer later this week.......

[puck724]

shibby!!

[shimshimhada]

What color combo did you go with?

[AidenL]

I actually went with Le Mans Blue and Black Leather, with Aluminium trim.......the aluminium is being retrofitted , due to its disappearance off the options list from the factory......