I've read lots about the super soft BMW Jet Black Paint and what a pain it is to keep swirl free. I'm about to purchase a 335 and it seems like the only black exterior available to me for immediate delivery is the Jet Black, not the Black Sapphire. Is the Jet Black really impossible to keep swirl free, even with dedicated soft MF towels and careful treatment? I don't need 100% perfect, but would like 95%+ perfect. Any experiences? Thanks.
BMW Jet Black
- Thread starter jam
- Start date
Bigpoppa3346
New member
This topic has been covered countless times.
DO NOT NOT NOT buy Jet Black. It is the kind of paint that would make you want to sell the car.
DO NOT NOT NOT buy Jet Black. It is the kind of paint that would make you want to sell the car.
aclassvaleting
New member
buy it enjoy it you only live once :laugh::laugh:
I've had a black car before. I would tell you that the answer is that it isn't impossible to maintain the car in excellent condition. It is true that it will be very difficult to keep it at 100% unless it's properly stored.
It really depends on what you intend for the car. If, like me, you will use your car daily, you should come to accept that keeping the car pristine is not realistic. If you're OK with maintaining it looking good, then it is certainly doable.
It really depends on what you intend for the car. If, like me, you will use your car daily, you should come to accept that keeping the car pristine is not realistic. If you're OK with maintaining it looking good, then it is certainly doable.
Wait for the black sap if you want black that bad. Absolutely positively do not buy jet black. I work as a recon tech at a BMW dealer, I deal with that dreaded color on a daily basis. I have marred the surface with even the softest microfiber. You do not want to have this color, trust me. Bigpoppa said it with "Its the kind of paint that will make you want to sell your car." For me, its the kind of paint that makes me ask myself why I do this for a living.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Jam- IME it's hard enough to keep *any* vehicle (really) ~95% perfect and it seems like even the best pros here struggle to *get* Jet Black to that level, much less keep it there.
And I wouldn't worry about immediate delivery, in fact, I'd insist on taking a vehicle that's still "in the wrapper" even if that means special ordering and waiting a while (that "while" won't be much compared to how long you have the vehicle). This is a case where (IMO) immediate gratification is not the way to go.
And I wouldn't worry about immediate delivery, in fact, I'd insist on taking a vehicle that's still "in the wrapper" even if that means special ordering and waiting a while (that "while" won't be much compared to how long you have the vehicle). This is a case where (IMO) immediate gratification is not the way to go.
Bigpoppa3346
New member
MiamiS430 said:
You will not even be able to keep this car "looking good" unless you are polishing every month or two. Other black vehicles (like your MB) have harder paint, and will stay relatively free of marring for a while after a thorough polish and proper washing/drying techniques. Not with this paint. :hairpull
IF the OP does go ahead and buy Jet Black, I guarantee within a month he will start a thread complaining about all the marring he induced from a just a wash.
If you are jonesing for a black BMW, get their Black Sapphire, which has harder/more friendly paint.
Thomas Dekany
New member
The metallic black is a pretty good paint to maintain. However, as an owner of a dark blue car, I would say to stay away from dark colors. Even my car only looks really good if I keep it in the garage after washing it. 
Why not go for silver of white?
Why not go for silver of white?
imported_Picus
New member
if I had a jet black 335i I'd have sold it by now.
blucpe
New member
someone once said "black is not a color, it's a full time job", nuff said.
blk45
It's all in the prep!
blucpe said:
A black car is one thing, but a JB BMW is a completely different animal.
Probably the worst paint you could have on a car. As mentioned, it is so soft that you will want to sell the car. Anyone that purchases JB will regret it, I guarantee it.
dreamdrivedrift
New member
My car is jet black, with a TON of swirls which makes me sad everytime I look at it. After a few washes, swirling is noticeable, even with the two bucket method, patting it dry with microfibers..etc, etc, it's hard to maintain, but I looooooove it when it looks good.
Envious Eric
New member
just buy it...they look the best...and then plan on bringing out the polisher and hitting it with a solid one step with fillers every month
The thing I dont get when people say dont buy it is you have to be pretty neurotic about light swirling not to buy a jet black car. 99% of the cars on the road are marred up. By detailing it once a month, even if just a wax with fillers, your car will look better than most cars on the road still. My DD is swirled up, not as much as other cars, but it is and I dont care. There is more to life than trying to keep a car 100%, especially a DD
The thing I dont get when people say dont buy it is you have to be pretty neurotic about light swirling not to buy a jet black car. 99% of the cars on the road are marred up. By detailing it once a month, even if just a wax with fillers, your car will look better than most cars on the road still. My DD is swirled up, not as much as other cars, but it is and I dont care. There is more to life than trying to keep a car 100%, especially a DD
Accumulator
Well-known member
toyotaguy- Heh heh you and I are on absolute opposite sides of this particular fence
There's just no way I could stand to see marring on my (daily-driven) vehicles on a regular basis, nor would I want to redo any vehicle on a monthly basis (with anything). I just *have* to have paint that's hard enough to stay nice once I correct it.
But hey, that's just me and I guess that's, as they say, what makes it a horse race
Different people see this stuff differently 
Is the Jet Black *really* all that different/special/great-looking? I simply don't know from it, never pay much attention to recent Bimmers...to me they're just either black or they're not :nixweiss Is the black saphire a mettalic or something that makes the two colors that different?
There's just no way I could stand to see marring on my (daily-driven) vehicles on a regular basis, nor would I want to redo any vehicle on a monthly basis (with anything). I just *have* to have paint that's hard enough to stay nice once I correct it.
But hey, that's just me and I guess that's, as they say, what makes it a horse race
Different people see this stuff differently Is the Jet Black *really* all that different/special/great-looking? I simply don't know from it, never pay much attention to recent Bimmers...to me they're just either black or they're not :nixweiss Is the black saphire a mettalic or something that makes the two colors that different?
btmlinedan
New member
ah shiz......(attempts to find time machine wishing he could find an alpine white 540 instead of jet black)
btmlinedan
New member
to the OP-- i have a jet black 540i and have worked the paint a few times, and was *boggled* by how many swirls I had in the next few months. I didn't know about the two bucket method till it was too late, but still curious if it would help that much.
I still think it looks hot when it's cleaned up, it's just a full time cleaning it up ALL THE TIME. Some people love black, some hate...i'd rather have silver or white, but I found a great car for a great price with a ton of options so couldn't complain...Here are some old shots from last spring (after fresh detail)
I still think it looks hot when it's cleaned up, it's just a full time cleaning it up ALL THE TIME. Some people love black, some hate...i'd rather have silver or white, but I found a great car for a great price with a ton of options so couldn't complain...Here are some old shots from last spring (after fresh detail)