Did BMW make a mistake on the new M3 by not offering the traditional one or two exotic colors?

One of the things missing on the new M3 in our opinion is the choice of a couple exotic colors on the orderable color palette for the car.

In past generations there were colors like Daytona Violet, Dakar Yellow and Phoenix Yellow.

They did not sell that well but they sure brought people in the showroom and turned heads on the road.

We're a little disappointed they only have a Red variant which for the life of me I forgot the name of and Interlagos Blue carried over from the M5.

We would have added two signature exotics to the choices...We understand the M5 customer is a little more under the radar but we think there is a segment of M3 buyers that relish them.

They have also dumped the old two-tone color schemes inside and made the extended leather option available for the first time on the M3.

Do you agree with us and if so, what colors should they have chosen?

Agent001 - 7/9/2007 7:14:50 PM

-2 Boost

I would have offered the brushed aluminum looking color they displayed on the M Coupe in Detroit and a Lambo-style metallic orange...

001

mscottc1 - 7/9/2007 7:26:08 PM

-2 Boost

I still wish they had made good on the original promise to sell that paint option as a high-ticket add-on (the aluminum or nickel-alloy looking color). That was so incredibly cool!

candywhite - 7/9/2007 7:18:55 PM

-2 Boost

best color ever:
LAGUNA SECA BLUE!

mscottc1 - 7/9/2007 7:23:37 PM

-1 Boost

Imola Red-- it's actually one of the most "traditional" M-car colors out there, that and Interlagos Blue.

My thoughts exactly though- and I work at a smallish-but-growing BMW Center, not to mention my tastes run to those more exotic but less-popular colors....

I'd have done the Dakkar Yellow just for heritage reasons, or maybe even resurect Avus Blue? Interior-wise the verdict isn't sealed on the two-tone interiors from what I hear. I'd like to see the Lemon/Black option that's available in E90 sedans at the very least (with an extended leather option and alcantara headliner that'd be my top pick).

My biggest beef will be if they insist on keeping the carbon fibre roof panel ONLY & not even offering a moonroof option at least down-the-road. I know it's not an enthusiasts choice, but 9+ out of 10 of these cars' owners will desire a moonroof, including me.

Chip - 7/9/2007 7:48:35 PM

+5 Boost

Like What?

david989 - 7/9/2007 9:02:36 PM

-5 Boost

Like the Lexus IS-F.

audirevolution - 7/9/2007 9:43:33 PM

+8 Boost

The IS-F looks like a riceboy car. BMW has nothing to worry about.
Lexus also have ZERO experience with sports sedans. (Boring to drive usually)
I would be impressed if they match even the first gen M3.

audirevolution - 7/9/2007 9:44:00 PM

+8 Boost

And IMO, the IS-F looks worse than the ugly subaru Sti.

johnct - 7/10/2007 6:39:14 PM

+2 Boost

As Lt. Gen. Russel Honore might say to IS-F fanboys, "You sir are stuck on stupid."

Larry - 7/9/2007 7:46:41 PM

-4 Boost

white and silver, Blue, red and Black, maybe graphite grey, are must have colors, this is the best looking M3 ever, looks maybe worth the higher price vs. 335i, the 335i is hot as well.

Agent004 - 7/9/2007 8:03:50 PM

-3 Boost

Chrome Shadow

EnnNorak - 7/9/2007 9:02:00 PM

+4 Boost

I hate car companies that charge extra for most paint colors and offer only a few standard uninspiring colors. I call it blackmail marketing i.e. " want a nice color, so pay me more even though my cost is virtually the same."

EL34 - 7/9/2007 9:48:24 PM

+4 Boost

The I-SF only comes in that purple/blue color.

lenkun - 7/10/2007 12:19:39 AM

0 Boost

The problem is not the color, it's the design of the car. That body kit makes the M3 look RICED.

The other mistake BMW made was dropping the inline-6 and when copying the RS4, AMG C63/C55/C43, and the new IS-F's engine powerplant by offering a V8. Because all those super sedens have a V8, BMW decided it needs to dump the inline-6 and copy the rest of it's competitors.

If they really want to compete, BMW can compete with the inline-6 just like how Porsche can stay ahead with a boxer 6 engine. Instead of further refining their inline-6 engine like Porsche did, they simply went the easy way by copying the others with a v8 engine and dressing up the car with a RICED body kit. The consequence is an overweight vehicle that doesn't handle as well as the C63, IS-F, and RS4.

rg12345 - 7/10/2007 1:17:28 AM

+1 Boost

Youu, stop with the IS-F comments. We DO NOT KNOW how that car drives / handles. The car is not existing at this specific moment, pls stop bringing it in discussions. If all this talk about IS-F is just an easy way for the Agent001 to make people talk on this forum, please Agents, STOP. We got enough. I am sick of hearing how good will be the IS-F. Lets just wait and see. Not saying it won't be a great car, I am just thinking that we don't have any idea yet about how that car will be so how can we fight over it?

M53R - 7/10/2007 2:23:20 PM

+2 Boost

BMW DID NOT COPY ANY1 WITH THE V8!!!!!!! But the I6 had a small room for improvement so a V8 was a must!

NikolaiPetroff3333 - 7/10/2007 5:39:19 AM

+1 Boost

I had a Phoenix Yellow/Kiwi Yellow E46, it looked great.
The new M3 is a huge letdown in colours (among other things). Why, WHY BMW insists on not giving us regular red and not some muddy variation on it? Where is Laguna Seca? Why no tasteful purple colour? Why no yellow?
Audi RS4 (which I currently drive) offers candy blue, real red, real yellow, orange colours. Interior is all black, but can be had with seat inserts in the exterior colour and stitching.

Interior is even worse, we get the vanilla colours from the regular 3 series, except that the red interior in now muddy brown and bamboo is nondescript.
Where is Cinnamon? Kiwi? Blue? Heck, you can get those colours for a regular Z4 in Europe. Where are the bucket seats like the Euro RS4?

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/10/2007 6:45:16 AM

+4 Boost

Oh please, we all know you can order your M3 in any colour you like. If you like the Dakar Yellow from the E46, BMW Individual will be happy to spray it on the E92. And if there is a lot of demand, BMW will offer it in their standard colour range.

mscottc1 - 7/11/2007 2:28:12 PM

+1 Boost

INDIVIDUAL ISN'T AVAILABLE AT ANY PRICE IN THE US (NOT IN THE WAY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT)-- THE COLORS ARE WHAT THEY ARE FOR US....

NikolaiPetroff3333 - 7/10/2007 8:10:49 AM

+2 Boost

Individual is only offered in Europe for the 3er and costs a lot of money AND takes a while to process.

kvhd39 - 7/10/2007 8:51:39 AM

+2 Boost

Laguna Seca Blue is definitely a must. Also a must would be bigger/better wheel option. Those look too small on those tires and too small for the wheel well. Also, I didn't realize that the new 3 series coupe dropped the openable rear windows, I really liked that about the previous coupes.

mscottc1 - 7/11/2007 2:29:39 PM

+1 Boost

DITTOS ON THAT. I KNOW THE LEMON/BLK IS AVAILABLE BUT NOT IN E92/E93, UNFORTUNATELY. I'M HOPING WE'LL SEE IT ON THE 135...

M53R - 7/10/2007 2:26:24 PM

+1 Boost

If I buy 1, it will be either white or black.

M53R - 7/10/2007 2:27:45 PM

+1 Boost

btw is there an aluminum trim as an option?

johnct - 7/10/2007 6:34:39 PM

+1 Boost

The matte silver shor car color would have been cool.
Another option would be color shift paint similar the the Ford Mystic Cobra.

MunichRob - 7/11/2007 8:26:14 AM

+1 Boost

To bad they didn't have an M6 coupe to park the M3 next too for the photo-shoot.