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      02-19-2010, 11:38 AM   #1
aalfonz
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Jet Black or Black Sapphire Metallic?

I know that most people go for the Black Sapphire Metallic, but why? The Jet Black costs several hundreds less.

Can somebody post some pictures of a Jet Black version for comparison?

Thank you in advance.
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      02-19-2010, 12:40 PM   #2
Chuck76
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Flat versus Metallic. Metallics cost more as they glisten/shimmer in the sun.

Only reason for me to get a metallic black versus flat... it hides the swirls a bit better in direct sun. Flat is very hard to manage. Well at least for me it is.

Last edited by Chuck76; 02-19-2010 at 12:49 PM..
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      02-19-2010, 12:48 PM   #3
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Black Sapphire has metal flakes which gives it a different dimension and change in color in different lights. It's pretty noticeable if you put the two cars side by side.
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      02-19-2010, 01:20 PM   #4
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my "Garage" has a few pictures of the Jet Black model, one of my previous 3 series was Black Sapphire Metallic, while the Jet Black is cheaper and a pretty color for the Z, the Black Sapphire Metallic really came into its own in the sun, beautiful sheen with a lot of depth. I bough the Jet Black model because it was a too good to pass up deal on a 3 month old Demo, otherwise I would have gone with the Black Sapphire Metallic, but I think it boils down to money vs. what makes you smile, neither one, in my opinion, is better or worse than the other except as Chuck76 pointed out, it hides the little swirls much better. But unless you have direct sun on both colors you would be hard pressed to see a difference from 10 feet away.
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      02-19-2010, 04:22 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckB View Post
my "Garage" has a few pictures of the Jet Black model, one of my previous 3 series was Black Sapphire Metallic, while the Jet Black is cheaper and a pretty color for the Z, the Black Sapphire Metallic really came into its own in the sun, beautiful sheen with a lot of depth. I bough the Jet Black model because it was a too good to pass up deal on a 3 month old Demo, otherwise I would have gone with the Black Sapphire Metallic, but I think it boils down to money vs. what makes you smile, neither one, in my opinion, is better or worse than the other except as Chuck76 pointed out, it hides the little swirls much better. But unless you have direct sun on both colors you would be hard pressed to see a difference from 10 feet away.
yup that pretty much is how it is.
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      02-19-2010, 09:26 PM   #6
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2009 BMW Z4  [8.00]
2004 BMW 525i  [0.00]
In Thailand Jet black and Metalic black are the same price.
I have my 2004 E60 in Black Sapphire, now my Z4 is Jet balck.
Jet black is more black or deeper black than Sapphire.
After the car wash jet black shines more in the sun.

I love both colors
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      02-20-2010, 12:18 PM   #7
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I prefer sapphire, but only when its clean

Check my pics for sapphire black z4.
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      02-20-2010, 01:05 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by Scott'sZ4 View Post
Ohhhh several hundred dollars less!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!! Im always amazed at people who buy expensive cars and then try and save a few hundred dollars.. Maybe we are living above our means perhaps???????
well,, if you are so amazed on other people then how come you cheapened out on the motor and probably a few other things. Isnt that like the pot calling the kettle "black"
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      02-20-2010, 01:39 PM   #9
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By saving a few hundred bucks less, you'd have to spend a lot more than that to maintain the jet black.

To maintain a black sapphire from swirls, one may have to detail the car every 3 months. Jet black, you'd be looking at a detail every month or so.
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      02-20-2010, 03:44 PM   #10
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metallic paint is much harder, so less maintenance.
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      02-20-2010, 04:06 PM   #11
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Endless topic...

I've had both side-by-side in my garage, '04 330i ZHP in BS and '05 528i in JB. Frankly, I preferred the Jet Black. They're both a bitch to keep looking good but I felt the JB looked better - deeper - when both were shined up. And it seemed to take a bit of imagination to see the metallic character of the BS.

Were it me, the only black I'd pay extra money for is the Carbon Black of the M3. YMMV.
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      02-20-2010, 06:02 PM   #12
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Actually there is no difference in the 'hardness' of the metallic vs solid paints since they both use the same clear coat on top
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      02-20-2010, 07:01 PM   #13
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Actually there is no difference in the 'hardness' of the metallic vs solid paints since they both use the same clear coat on top
Yes, I would agree.

The nature of "metallic" paint is that almost microscopically small metallic particles are mixed and suspended in the paint to give a glittery effect. The Achilles heel of any metallic paint is that it needs a clear coat to protect the base finish and to make the metallic particles shinny. The clear coat is very thin and can be easily damaged, exposing the underling color/metallic layer which won't last very long once exposed.

Solid paint is virtually the same product above, except no metallic particles and is actually far more durable because it's the same material through the entire layer. It doesn't require a clear coat and can be repaired far more easily.
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      02-20-2010, 07:18 PM   #14
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All of the above but the metallic is sooooooo nice in the sun !!!!
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      02-20-2010, 07:43 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alan64 View Post
well,, if you are so amazed on other people then how come you cheapened out on the motor and probably a few other things. Isnt that like the pot calling the kettle "black"



T
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      02-20-2010, 08:02 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by msimon18 View Post
All of the above but the metallic is sooooooo nice in the sun !!!!
Very true
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