Martin
|
Which colour would you have?I was going to shut up about my next car as it must be getting very Boring, but at the suggestion of gonnabuildabuggy, I am putting the colour choice to the vote. I'm leaving out Silver and Grey, I know they are quite popular but they are not on the shortlist.
So, what would you have? (You can't say none of the above!!!)
Carbon Black
Le Mans Blue
Imola Red
If it makes any difference, the interior would be Cream Beige/Black leather, with Anthracite Bamboo. That decision has already been made. So like this, but with the different
Having done that, I've still to try the Mercedes (Friday-Monday) and my local dealer has just put a 330d SE on as a demonstrator, so i think I'll have a got in that at some point!!
|
Matt
|
Imola.
|
cbeaks1
|
Imola is bloody brilliant.
|
TimR
|
| cbeaks1 wrote: | | Imola is bloody brilliant. |
+1.
|
Guitar Zero
|
Imola with black and cream will look the nubs
|
Pkh72
|
LeMans Blue would be my first choice followed very closely by the Imola Red.
Black would get to be a pain in the arse to keep clean very quickly.
|
Boxer6
|
I think Imola too.
LMB is just SO common, even if not on 5's (at the moment!!)
|
Nice Guy Eddie
|
I've voted for LMB but if you get it in red you'll deffo be able to find the car whenever you go for meetings as my office carpark is full of black and grey 520d SE's
|
Racing
|
| Guitar Zero wrote: | | Imola with black and cream will look the nubs |
^^ What he said.
|
Martin
|
Has Imola Red only recently become available on the 5 series? Looking on autotrader, there are only 09 reg cars in that colour. Le Mans Blue is the same I think, although there are a few around in that colour via the Individual scheme.
What were the M Sport specific colours before?
|
gonnabuildabuggy
|
| Guitar Zero wrote: | | Imola with black and cream will look the nubs |
+1. also as someone else said, you'll be able to find it easily. There are more grey/silver/black 520ds in the cricket/rugby club car park than anything else, even grey 320dSE's.
It will be a lovely car, there is no doubt about that, despite my ribbing. Were it my list that's what I'd choose (well maybe the 320d Coupe or A5 but that's not as a family car)
|
DaveGibson
|
Difficult choice but, since you've recently had at least one blue car, it has to be Imola.
|
Martin
|
My only concern with red is that it looks a bit 'in your face' and/or slightly aggressive (when combined with a BMW)?
It might work better with a 535d, but there is more than enough sheep in wolfs clothing going on with a 520d M Sport as it is!!
It's surprisingly popular though!
|
woof woof
|
It's not an attractive car, IMHO, sorry, but I just don't like the Bangle-ised look at all. Deffo a case of Emperors new clothes (IMVHO) and I've always believed that on anything but a German car the looks would be completely lambasted by the press and rejected by the public. I think that visually it's a total mess and needs all the help it can get and for that reason I'd go for the blue.
I have to ask....why? With those looks coupled to the ride (as I remember) why would you consider one of these? For me a BMW would have to be a couple of generations old.
Sorry.  I know I'm wrong, I drive an MX5.
The same question always raises it's head...if these were Korean or Chinese who'd buy one?
|
Apex clipper
|
Blue. *And not because I own one! The black is too common and the red just loses the lines of the car.
*A blue car not a BIMMER.
|
gonnabuildabuggy
|
| woof woof wrote: | | For me a BMW would have to be a couple of generations old. |
Martin's not lucky enough to be able to choose an E34 or E39 
It's tough be a company car driver. 
|
Guitar Zero
|
Imola red was available from launch on the M Sport E60 IIRC
I remember BMW car mag tested an imola red 535d M Sport back in early 2005.
|
Frank Bullitt
|
| Guitar Zero wrote: | Imola red was available from launch on the M Sport E60 IIRC
I remember BMW car mag tested an imola red 535d M Sport back in early 2005. |
Indeed - the 535d Clarkson tested (and driven by The Stig against a Clarkson-piloted 540i to prove whether diesel or petrol was faster around the track) was Imola Red.
Time to move from 'baaaaa baaaaa black, grey and dark blue Beemer have you any chutzpa' into something a bit more interesting...
Red 
|
Rodge
|
I voted red too. It shows that you are willing to take a risk and be different to all the other 5 Series drivers in the country in your 520D M Sport
|
Gurney
|
Another vote for Imola, even though the Blue is one of my favourite colours on any make.
Imola with black & cream, oh yes.
|
Mark
|
Imola. Every day of the week.
Le Mans is dull and you've already had that, Carbon is nice but it will always look dirty (even more than Red) and it's still pretty dull; ie doesn't stand out - and you'll just be another rep on the motorway.
If Imola is a no, no (your wife throws a fit), I'd go for Platinum or Space Grey.
Interior is spot on.
|
Guitar Zero
|
If your wife throws a fit - tell her to go put the kettle on and do some washing up.
The King of Homebase can have whatever chuffin' colour he wants
|
Dr. Hfuhruhurr
|
Obviously, I think Carbon Black is a great colour, but in this case, I'd go for red, especially if you're going to be in car parks full of 5-series.
|
Eff One
|
I love blue and am a particular fan of Le Mans blue... but as already said, you've already had an LMB car and Imola is just stunning. On a 5 series, I would choose it without hesitation.
|
BeN
|
Red. Just because it's not a common colour for the 5-Series.
|
TimR
|
There was an Imola Red 5 series estate sport parked along the street at the weekend and it looked pretty good and the colour is actually not too 'in your face' really.
|
Martin
|
It's interesting, because blue has always been my favourite car colour and I love Le Mans Blue in particular. The first time I had a free choice (406 Estate) I went for Metallic blue, then I had a Silver Bora (thought it would be easier to keep clean, which it was), before going back to blue again with the Passat. The other cars I had in-between were taken from the pool so I didn't have a choice, it was just luck that one was blue!!
I've never considered a red car before, but it does look good on the 5 series. If it was a normal bright red then it wouldn't be the same (red usually looks like you were too tight to go doe metallic!!). I wasn't sure what LMB would look like, but having now seen one, it looks great.
What about metallic vs non metallic in terms of ongoing maintenance and what it will look like after 100k miles?
GZ is right though, I will have whatever colour I want 
Mrs M wants black and that's in a comfortable third place (not just in this poll) so is already out of the running.
|
TimR
|
I think the red should be ok at 100k miles since that'll be in about 3 years won't it?
I think age has more of an effect on it fading than anything else.
|
Guitar Zero
|
All current BMW paint finishes are clear coated, not just the metallics - so it will look good as new at 100k miles
My car is clear coated too - one reason why I was happy to go for red.
|
PG
|
Tough call. My heart say red, my head says LMB.
But, your interior also influecnes the choice. I reckon red would look better with a tan leather interior (BMW configurator lists Natural Brown Dakota Leather, but it won't let me copy the image of the interior) rather than beige. The interior you have chosen looks better with LMB.
|
Martin
|
| PG wrote: | Tough call. My heart say red, my head says LMB.
But, your interior also influecnes the choice. I reckon red would look better with a tan leather interior (BMW configurator lists Natural Brown Dakota Leather, but it won't let me copy the image of the interior) rather than beige. The interior you have chosen looks better with LMB. |
That's exactly where I'm at, it's a head vs heart thing.
The Natural Brown isn't a nice colour in real life, definitely more brown than Tan. I thought it would be similar to the MINI, but it's darker and nowhere near as nice.
|
DarthBalls
|
Is carbon black the metallic black?
If so then I'd go with that. If not, then I'd go for the blue. I just don't think that red suits that car.
I think the current 5 is a great looking car but looks best in a dark metallic. My uncle's 5 looks like a similar colour to Racing's 1 series and looks great. The 5 is definitely Bangle's most successful BMW.
Mrs DB and I chose the colour of our cars based on what was in stock at the time. Both are silver, which hides the dirt very well. The Mazda silver has a fair amount of pearlescent-ness to it and looks very good in winter sun or 'golden hour' sunshine around sunset/sunrise as it picks up the lines very well.
|
gonnabuildabuggy
|
As it's a company car then you can afford to go heart over head a bit more.
Privately I'd be worried about resale, fading etc, as a company car - it looks great (esp with interior chosen) so S*d it.
This approach was also chosen by the guy I once with who chose a tart's purple velour interior over air con in a 316 where I used to work. The interior was so vile no-one wanted it despite it being a BM in the days when they were rare.
|
Guitar Zero
|
If you bottle it on the Imola, I think Mark's suggestions are spot on - the M sportz look great in Platinum or Space grey.
|
Martin
|
Yes, but grey is what I can see when I look out of the window!!
Far too many grey/silver BMWs already, that would really be bottling it!
It's between Imola and LMB.
|
Mark
|
| Martin wrote: | Yes, but grey is what I can see when I look out of the window!!
Far too many grey/silver BMWs already, that would really be bottling it!
It's between Imola and LMB. |
Au contraire - when you take a blue one you will be bottling it.
I'm not really a fan of silver on any car these days, but grey is a completely different story - it's lovely on the right car. Like an E60.
|
Martin
|
| Mark wrote: | | Martin wrote: | Yes, but grey is what I can see when I look out of the window!!
Far too many grey/silver BMWs already, that would really be bottling it!
It's between Imola and LMB. |
Au contraire - when you take a blue one you will be bottling it.
I'm not really a fan of silver on any car these days, but grey is a completely different story - it's lovely on the right car. Like an E60. |
Hardly, black or Silver would be bottling it. Anyway, I will go for what I like the best, which is the only way to do it!
Based on its popularity in the poll, I was thinking about the number of red cars on this forum and struggled to get past 1 
Not many people putting their money where their mouth is
The exception is obviously GZ, but I think he was just going for maximum HS spec
Imola is clearly not an ordinary red, I'm aware of that......
|
cbeaks1
|
My Focus Zetec S is Met Red and my last but 1 car, a Fiesta Titanium was Colorado red:
|
Eff One
|
Doesn't someone have a red MX-5?
My GTA was red - my first red car and I'd have another without hesitation.
|
Martin
|
OK, so there are a couple more
I was thinking about cars that were bought brand new, so a full choice was available and it wasn't about the right car at the right price.
Go out of that one (I think!!)
|
TimR
|
I've had 5 red cars - 3 of then non-metallic Austin Rover ones that started to fade eventually.
|
Martin
|
| TimR wrote: | | I've had 5 red cars - 3 of then non-metallic Austin Rover ones that started to fade eventually. |
Had, not have.......
|
TimR
|
| Martin wrote: | | TimR wrote: | | I've had 5 red cars - 3 of then non-metallic Austin Rover ones that started to fade eventually. |
Had, not have....... |
Well, yeah but if you look at my recent car purchases I've limited myself somewhat by going for stuff with a relatively small production run.
There were only about 90k Fiat Coupes made for the whole world, 20k M5s (and since it's a BMW almost nobody dared buy a red one anyway  ) and the Alfa was bought from stock and just happened to be black - which was my preferred colour anyway.
If I was in the market for a 5 series now and didn't have to worry at all about resale I would certainly be driving around surveying the ones on the road and buying one in a different colour (although not just for sake of being different, I'd have to like it as well).
As I said vbefore I saw a new 5 estate in red and it looked really good.
|
DaveGibson
|
I have always tried to get a different colour from the existing car when I've bought a new one. Out of 24 cars, nine have been blue, five red, four green and two silver. The rest have been one-offs (purple, brown, black and gold). I didn't manage it when I got the Rover 75 which was red, as was my previous Rover 600, but it was a different shade of red. I actually chose blue when I was at the dealer but the salesman later telephoned to say the particular car wasn't the specification it had appeared to be on the computer.
|
Eff One
|
I've seen a couple of Imola red M5s which look stunning.
If I were speccing a new Porsche it would be a Guards red Cayman.
|
Jasper
|
I voted for Red only because I love the look of the Bora so much in that colour
|
Racing
|
I've had three red cars - all Golfs.
|
Big TC
|
I've voted for red too.
However, I'm not sure about the cream bit inside. I'm not a fan of light-coloured interior. But that's only my opinion.
The current 5-series continues to grow on me, and I'm sooooo glad you've decided to discount silver, Martin!
|
scamper
|
Le Mans Blue is a bit old hat now. Red certainly would be different to executive black. Given the wide choice several weeks ago i'd bet most people would have guessed what car martin would choose and i don't mean that negatively
|
Boxer6
|
I'm sure someone, somewhere, has a red GTA?!?!?!
I'm not sure a Legacy Tourer would look good in red, even if they'd offered it as an option. You're choice of 5-series does look good in Imola Red, IMHO, and is why I voted for it.
Besides, you wouldn't want to be a member of the herd with grey, silver or black , would you???
|
BeN
|
| Boxer6 wrote: | I'm sure someone, somewhere, has a red GTA?!?!?!
|
That would be Gurney(?)
|
DaveGibson
|
Someone has a red Focus, too, I believe.
|
Star69
|
I believe so!
|
Martin
|
OK, red is more popular than I thought!!!
I went to the BMW dealers in MK today to have another look at colours and I'm really torn between Imola and Le Mans blue. Mrs M still wants black, but I've put my foot down! She definitely doesn't want red (so I'm tempted!!), she likes it but thinks a 520d in red with the M Sport pack is just wrong. Apparently if it had a 'decent' engine, then it would be ok.....
I think both finalists look great, it's a really tough choice but it will be my choice rather than chickening out!
|
Pkh72
|
Would de-badging it be deemed chav?
If not then nobody else need know it's a 520d so that sorts her problem with it out.
Next...........
|
Apex clipper
|
Will the other 'blue shady's' please stand up..all I'm hearing is red!
I voted Blue..who are the other 8? (like a scene from Prisoner)
Ummm?
Le Mans Blue
Imola Red
Hold on!
| Martin wrote: | It's interesting, because blue has always been my
favourite car colour and I love Le Mans Blue in particular.
|
|
Martin
|
| Pkh72 wrote: | Would de-badging it be deemed chav?
If not then nobody else need know it's a 520d so that sorts her problem with it out.
Next........... |
It could be seen as trying to hide the small engine, but I do prefer the look of the rear without the badge on, so might do is anyway.
We would know it was the basic engined model
|
Boxer6
|
| BeN wrote: | | Boxer6 wrote: | I'm sure someone, somewhere, has a red GTA?!?!?!
|
That would be Gurney(?) |
It IS Gurney, I know.
|
PhilD
|
I started reading this thread thinking it's got to be black and by the end I felt compelled to vote red, I feel brainwashed! It takes a lot for me not to choose black for ANY car, though the Grande Punto Sporting I was looking at in the dealer last week did look fab in red. So there you have it, red cars should either be small or Italian, preferably both
Go for black.
|
Boxer6
|
| PhilD wrote: | I started reading this thread thinking it's got to be black and by the end I felt compelled to vote red, I feel brainwashed! It takes a lot for me not to choose black for ANY car, though the Grande Punto Sporting I was looking at in the dealer last week did look fab in red. So there you have it, red cars should either be small or Italian, preferably both
Go for black. |
No, no - it has to be Imola Red for Martin.
I do agree with you about the GP though - I think they look the Biz in Red!
|
Jasper
|
I cast my vote before reading the thread and was hugely surprised that the majority of people went for red.
Driving about our roads is a dreary experience and a few more red cars on the road might help cheer the place up.
In reality I don't think i would put my own money into a Red 5 series but as a company car, I'd have one in a flash.
|
scamper
|
| Jasper wrote: | | I cast my vote before reading the thread and was hugely surprised that the majority of people went for red. |
That's it. As its Martin's car i picked Red. I wish he'd given us a pink or brown option
|
Dr. Hfuhruhurr
|
| Boxer6 wrote: | | I do agree with you about the GP though - I think they look the Biz in Red! |
GPs look the biz in any colour.
|
DarthBalls
|
| scamper wrote: | | That's it. As its Martin's car i picked Red. I wish he'd given us a pink or brown option |
Being a man, I'd imagine Martin would only be able to offer you the brown option, even if he is that way inclined.?!
|
Dr. Hfuhruhurr
|
Surely the brown option would be bottom of the list.
|
DarthBalls
|
It might be a hell of a jobby to find a buyer for a brown beemmer.
|
Dr. Hfuhruhurr
|
I expect it would only be Martin's number two choice.
|
scamper
|
Could not see Martin going for the difficult brown either.
|
Racing
|
Shame though - imagine the fun we could have with jokes about polishing turds...
|
DaveGibson
|
I didn't know you could get Dulcoease at Halfords.
|
Dr. Hfuhruhurr
|
It would be quite lax of the fleet manager to allow Martin to get a brown car. And it might make him think he was Senna.
|
DaveGibson
|
He'd need a matching music device - a SennaiPod.
|
DarthBalls
|
Does the 5 Series have an Immodiumbliser as standard?
|
Dr. Hfuhruhurr
|
I suppos-itory it probably does.
|
JohnC
|
Carbon Black is one of my all time favourite colours. It has a blue/purple hue to it and would be number one on my list. Blue second and Imola 3rd I'm afraid.
I don't think the red suits the 5 series well.
|
Parm
|
| JohnC wrote: | Carbon Black is one of my all time favourite colours. It has a blue/purple hue to it and would be number one on my list. Blue second and Imola 3rd I'm afraid.
I don't think the red suits the 5 series well. |
Yeah the 'hint' of blue in BMW Carbon black is pretty strong. In sunlight it makes it look more navy blue than black. In fact, it reminds me of Porsche's Midnight blue. Imola would be bottom of my list too for a 5-er.
Martin - your wife may just be right.... ;-)
|
Boxer6
|
I think it's fairly obvious what colour Martin will get...........
....don't you?
|
Dr. Hfuhruhurr
|
| Boxer6 wrote: | | I think it's fairly obvious what colour Martin will get...............don't you? |
I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about
|
Boxer6
|
Ha ha - Very Good!!
|
"him"
|
It was obvious from Page 1 wasn't it? After all, the red one was the only car shown in 3 photos... and going even further back was most "offended" by my post about red being a bad colour for a 5 series in another thread!
"He would have got away with it too, if it weren't..."
|
Martin
|
| "him" wrote: | It was obvious from Page 1 wasn't it? After all, the red one was the only car shown in 3 photos... and going even further back was most "offended" by my post about red being a bad colour for a 5 series in another thread!
"He would have got away with it too, if it weren't..." |
Was I offended? I'm sure I wasn't!!
So what's obvious, that I will go for red?
I do really like Carbon black, but there are a few issues. There are far too many black 5 series around, black is a sod to keep clean and I've always said that I would never have a black car (due to the cleaning issue). I'm already breaking one of my golden rules (soon to be out of date car), I can't break a second!
I've just filled in the order form........
|
"him"
|
| Martin wrote: | | Was I offended? I'm sure I wasn't!! |
I know you weren't...
What colour pen did you fill the form in with?
|
Mark
|
BLUE
LE MANS
|
Martin
|
I did try and leave a hint in my post.....
Seeing both Imola and Le Mans together on Saturday, the decision was made a little easier.
|
Frank Bullitt
|
| Martin wrote: | I did try and leave a hint in my post.....
Seeing both Imola and Le Mans together on Saturday, the decision was made a little easier. |
Blue it is then.
Make sure you remember the number plate otherwise you might never find it in the company car park.
Great car, nice colour, but not the right colour...
|
Mark
|
| Frank Bullitt wrote: | | Martin wrote: | I did try and leave a hint in my post.....
Seeing both Imola and Le Mans together on Saturday, the decision was made a little easier. |
Blue it is then.
Make sure you remember the number plate otherwise you might never find it in the company car park.
Great car, nice colour, but not the right colour... |
I did get the hint. Oh well, miserable blue and weeny wheels.
A great car indeed - I just hope you haven't bottled* it on the interior, too.
*Pussywhipped
|
Guitar Zero
|
| Quote: | | I did get the hint. Oh well, miserable blue and weeny wheels. |
An SE ?
I didn't get the hint BTW.
|
Martin
|
Taking inspiration from the good doctor, blue was used for the ......'s.
FB got the hint as well and used it to reaffirm his choice. I can't quite remember what vibrant/bold colour the A2 is
Mark obviously thinks that 18" wheels are weeny!!
Pussywhipped indeed! It was 100% my decision!! Mrs M wanted black and the majority of people on here seemed to want red. Cream Beige/Black with Anthracite Bamboo wood has also been selected.
So that's two of my rules broken, the current model thing and the no wood rule. I should have gone for black and got a hat trick
|
Mark
|
| Martin wrote: | | Mark obviously thinks that 18" wheels are weeny!! |
Was kidding - I don't really, but I do remember you having deliberations about upgrading them.
|
Martin
|
You're right, I did but they were getting on for £800 and I would have had to pay that myself, so I thought better of it!!
|
Pkh72
|
I voted for the Blue, you'll have a cracking motor there.
How long is the wait for it to arrive now you've done the form filling?
|
Martin
|
Obviously a man with great taste!!
Delivery is about 10 weeks as it's very likely it will be a factory order, but I will get a confirmed date when the order is placed with BMW.
If it is 10 weeks, then it will arrive when I'm on holiiday, so I'll have something nice to come back to. At least that means I won't get the normal feeling I have on returning from holiday!
|
JohnC
|
Good choice Martin. The Blue with cream leather has a real air of quality about it.
|
kraftwerk
|
Big cars look magic in red.
|
Eff One
|
Shame, I really thought you'd go for the red. You've already had a LMB car after all.
I've not had the luxury of comparing them in the metal, mind you.
|
scamper
|
Can't be bothered to read the above pages so can you list the full spec of your choice regarding this Alfa, sorry BMW, Martin? Not a 4 pot diesel is it? Shame.
|
Guitar Zero
|
O.k - so you've hom'd out on the red.
At least cough for the 19s to make up for it.
It's only 800 notes - pocket change for the king of Homebase
|
scamper
|
Grandad beige and le man's blue is so last year.
|
Martin
|
Too late for any spec changes now, the order has been placed!
scamper - You are unfortunately right about the 4 pot BMW and it's probably a similar cost to yours (33k)....... so I take it all back!! No towbar, mudflaps or other crap on mine though!!! I'm also not going for all beige (especially with std silver trim!), which is definately grandad spec!
So, I am having the following:
BMW 520d M Sport Business Edition Saloon
Le Mans Blue
Cream Beige/Black leather
Anthracite Bamboo Trim
Navigation System - Professional Multimedia
Standard spec / FG is quite good and includes: Leather, Sat Nav, Bluetooth, 6 x CD Changer, F&R parking sensors, Auto lights/wipers/dimming mirror, Cruise Control with brake function, automatic aircon, interior light pack etc.
Going for leather leather trim gives you a bit more than most, as it includes the door and centre armrests, door pulls and centre console (the area down past the gearlever). I've found a dealers info pack for the LCI model (facelift) on the Internet, it's very informative....
Then you have the M Sport kit, which gives you 18" wheels, electric sports seats, high gloss shadow line exterior trim, Anthracite headlining, M Aerodynamic bodystyling, M Sport MF wheel, M Sport Suspension and a shortened gear lever with M Sport gearknob.
Professional Multimedia gives you a whole load of stuff, including 8.8" High Resolution split screen, Hard Drive, 12GB storage for music files, DVD playback, USB port (uploading music on HDD) etc. As it has Bluetooth as well, you also get all the connected drive stuff, which gives you everything from News and Weather / Google via the internet to emergency assistance (it has an SOS button....). You can even talk to your car via the Internet, sending phone number or addresses to it remotely.......
I think that's enough information for now, I don't think I've missed much!!
Blame scamper, he did ask.
I was going to keep quiet
|
PG
|
| Martin wrote: | | Then you have the M Sport kit, which gives you 18" wheels, electric sports seats, high gloss shadow line exterior trim, Anthracite headlining, M Aerodynamic bodystyling, M Sport MF wheel, M Sport Suspension and a shortened gear lever with M Sport gearknob. |
That sounds like something you get on a mascara advert?
So, the head won then. Shame. Still, on the positive front it probably means your mid-life crisis has not appeared yet. Red would have been a no-brainer in that case.
|
