Help! Color Change

This is the scenario. I am ordering a 2012 E93 M3 and I WANT an Individual color (Monte Carlo Blue) but it CANT be ordered through the Military Sales Program (MSP). I can get it through stateside delivery of course but here is my azz pain below;

US (MCB) delivery $76.8k +TTT
Euro (MCB) delivery $72k +TTT
MSP order (demo) $58k +TTT

What are your thoughts on ordering through MSP then having it painted MCB by a BMW authorized paint shop? If ESS or any other Perfomance center had a car painted would it be any different than me getting it painted the color I wanted?

Blast away...and thanks for your input.

Don't get it painted. If anything get a wrap MCB and you'll protect the original paint. If you plan on keeping the car forever then you can do what you want with it but there are so many great colors for the M, it would be a shame to ruin a factory paint job........

You may want to contact M3 Piotr. He was able to order an individual US-spec Frozen Black through Pentagon Car Sales in Germany.

Not sure what the process was, but he got it done:

LINK

Bvernon and osteome thx. PM sent

do not have the car painted MCB. Either order it MCB or leave it as it comes.

You're crazy to have a car repainted.

Definitely do not have the car repainted.

Okay I hear "Do not have the car repainted", but being the devils advocate...why not? If ESS has it repainted as a "Project" is that any different than if I get it repainted?

Nutinup wrote

This is the scenario. I am ordering a 2012 E93 M3 and I WANT an Individual color (Monte Carlo Blue) but it CANT be ordered through the Military Sales Program (MSP). I can get it through stateside delivery of course but here is my azz pain below;

US (MCB) delivery $76.8k +TTT
Euro (MCB) delivery $72k +TTT
MSP order (demo) $58k +TTT

What are your thoughts on ordering through MSP then having it painted MCB by a BMW authorized paint shop? If ESS or any other Perfomance center had a car painted would it be any different than me getting it painted the color I wanted?

Blast away...and thanks for your input.

If you ever made a factory tour then you would know what delicate and complex process it is to paint a BMW.

Anything is possible, however, I don't recommend you do this since a) I am sure it will void your exterior paint warranty and b) you will not be happy with the results in fact you will regret it.

So as others said get something you like other then MCB or get the MCB and pay the price.

I am trying to talk my way into the LMB but feel its too dark a blue fo rme (beautiful though).....its almost decision time for sure. I may have to pony up bc I love that color.

Rolf-Dieter wrote

If you ever made a factory tour then you would know what delicate and complex process it is to paint a BMW.

Anything is possible, however, I don't recommend you do this since a) I am sure it will void your exterior paint warranty and b) you will not be happy with the results in fact you will regret it.

So as others said get something you like other then MCB or get the MCB and pay the price.

Nutinup wrote

Okay I hear "Do not have the car repainted", but being the devils advocate...why not? If ESS has it repainted as a "Project" is that any different than if I get it repainted?

You can do this ...

Have someone near your US home town check with a "Certified BMW Auto Body Shop" if it is possible and what consequences you are looking at.

BMW dealers in larger (cities anyway) use a certified body shop to do repair and paint work. A certified BMW Body Shop has some of the staff that passed training at BMW and certificates to that effect are displayed of the individuals that have passed this training.

Before you consider doing this get opinions from both the dealership and the body shop as to what the ramifications of something like this would be and how it will impact your warranty? My 2 cents on the issue.

Good Luck!

Nutinup wrote

Okay I hear "Do not have the car repainted", but being the devils advocate...why not? If ESS has it repainted as a "Project" is that any different than if I get it repainted?

As Rolf mentions above, painting and entire car correctly is a very complex process. And to do it right, you'd have to take everything off the car, like they do for restorations. And no shop is going to take out seats, carpet electronics, etc. just to do the paint "right". Project cars from ESS and the like are different because they spend $50K+ while modding the entire car, and take several months to do it. The car is half-apart, anyways!

I know you're in a spot where you can't tour the factory very easily, but maybe you can look on youtube for some videos of the factory paint process. It might help you appreciate just what goes into making a quality paint that can last the lifetime of the vehicle.

The other problem is destroyed resale value. Even if a shop agrees to repaint the entire car for you, it will cost a lot. And the resale value of a car repainted as a non-original VIN color will be terrible, probably $10K less than a comparable vehicle. So you'll dump at least $5K into paint, and get $10K less in resale value, you might as well take that money and order a real MCB Individual car and have it shipped back to you wherever you'll be stationed.

My turn to be devils advocate:
How many of you posting "Dont paint it" have complained about the orange peeling?
What if he were to find a shop similar to where ESS gets theirs done at, and they do a superb job? He would have the color he wanted AND no orange peel... Im just sayin.
(I would just pick another color myself like JZB, thats a badass color)

Nutinup wrote

I am trying to talk my way into the LMB but feel its too dark a blue fo rme (beautiful though).....its almost decision time for sure. I may have to pony up bc I love that color.

Here is a thread from Mark's M when he took delivery ... beautiful colour ... some great shots in this thread.

My 2012 is MCB and I love it ... colour changes with the light ... sun etc. as all colours do.

Here is Mark's link ===>CLICK

Here is Mark's former car during his ED trip ... I love that shot and made it one of my desktops

OKay...how about we look at it from this way, I am saving $14k at worse with ED. If I get it for $58k and lose 10k ON MSRP price (around $82K according to my possible stateside order sheet), I will still be up on it price wise. If I go through a BMW authorized paint facility...why would the paint not be the same quality? I am thinking in lines of who could tell if it was painted in North Dakota or Germany...better yet, who would care upon sale bc it would be back AW IF I ever sold it. Just trying to get all angles here.

ottoblotto wrote

My turn to be devils advocate:
How many of you posting "Dont paint it" have complained about the orange peeling?
What if he were to find a shop similar to where ESS gets theirs done at, and they do a superb job? He would have the color he wanted AND no orange peel... Im just sayin.
(I would just pick another color myself like JZB, thats a badass color)

I agree ... if he finds the right shop then he can do it ... as I said anything can be done for money ... how much is the question and what are the ramifications if he does do it i.e. warranty etc.

The $64K question is how much will it cost him and is it worth the $ difference in ordering MCB in the first place?

ottoblotto wrote

My turn to be devils advocate:
How many of you posting "Dont paint it" have complained about the orange peeling?
What if he were to find a shop similar to where ESS gets theirs done at, and they do a superb job? He would have the color he wanted AND no orange peel... Im just sayin.
(I would just pick another color myself like JZB, thats a badass color)

I don't mind the orange peel. No guaranty that a re-painted would not have it either. I'd rather look a mild-factory orange peel than get a glimpse of the original color in the door jamb, trunk, engine compartment, etc.

And yes, Jerez is awesome When it is in the sun, I just start at it in amazement.

IF you want MCB order it that way. Don't paint it. IF i were you there would be NO QUESTION that I would pass on MCB and choose a different color. the price gap is HUGE

Can someone link me to the ED thread (process)? I asked Ryan but he is probably busy...if I schedule delivery and DO NOT go to ride, see, etc my vehicle...will they ship it stateside or is it a MUST I go to Germany to do some paperwork for shipping?

I retired out of the USAF in 09 from Germany and really have seen all I need to see there so to speak. Thx

Nutinup wrote

OKay...how about we look at it from this way, I am saving $14k at worse with ED. If I get it for $58k and lose 10k ON MSRP price (around $82K according to my possible stateside order sheet), I will still be up on it price wise. If I go through a BMW authorized paint facility...why would the paint not be the same quality? I am thinking in lines of who could tell if it was painted in North Dakota or Germany...better yet, who would care upon sale bc it would be back AW IF I ever sold it. Just trying to get all angles here.

How are you going to get it back to the original color when you sell it?

How are you saving $14K with ED?

You're gonna know that it was painted in North Dakota every time you open the door, hood, or trunk and see the original color poking out, that's how.

Nutinup wrote

Can someone link me to the ED thread (process)? I asked Ryan but he is probably busy...if I schedule delivery and DO NOT go to ride, see, etc my vehicle...will they ship it stateside or is it a MUST I go to Germany to do some paperwork for shipping?

I retired out of the USAF in 09 from Germany and really have seen all I need to see there so to speak. Thx

If you do ED, you must be present to pick up and drop off the vehicle. They'll only release it to you.

Nutinup wrote

I retired out of the USAF in 09 from Germany and really have seen all I need to see there so to speak. Thx

But not in an E9X M3... whole. different. world...