First BMW purchase - torn between interiors/identities!

[youngb4]

Hello all, I'd just like to say that I'm very excited to be purchasing my first BMW, a lot of opinions and topics on this forum lead me to consider BMW as the final choice and showed me that they are worth every penny, so thank you!

In the very near future (hopefully early next week) I will be ordering a 2011 335i xdrive coupe, here's the trim I'm thinking:

Sapphire Black, M sport package, premium package, heated seats, 6 speed steptronic trans, ipod/usb, harmon kardon and nav/idrive. I know, I pretty much threw everything on there, but I'm looking to keep this car for a while and wanted it to be perfect!

Here's my delimma...and I know this has been discussed before... but i just wanted some recent, final oppinions before I go through with it. Do I do coral red interior with black bamboo anthracite trim or black interior with dark burl walnut trim? I know it's been said that people in general can feel very hit or miss about the coral red, so I was thinking this would probably affect the resale value down the line (black leather and standard wood grain and color is def. more conservative and really wouldn't be an issue for most buyers). At the same time, I'm purchasing an M sport coupe, its sporty by nature and I'd imagine if someone's in the market for that specific car, hopefully they'd think the red interior only adds to the european sporty appeal. (That's my thought :D) Also, I'd be curious to see if anyone can tell me how the coral red leather wears over time? I am in love with the red/black anthracite combo right now (and yes I know it looks especially sharp with Alpine White, but sorry I'm a black car guy), but will it get old and maybe a little too loud for me in 5 or so years?

I know I'm throwing alot out there, I think most of it is the excitement of my first BMW and I know realistically, I'd probably be happy with most of the interior options, but I just wanted some final oppinions before I do it!

Please let me know what you think, once again thank you everyone on this forum for all the info, I'm glad to be here!

[catch22]

To me, sporty cars need to have brushed aluminum trim, then again, I don't know what options E92s have.

[Speed6]

...you do not want a red interior...gets old pretty quick and does not add value to the car for resale. For the price of a new 335xi you could get a really good used car...just want to put that out there.

http://file.pipec.ru/posts/20080618/2_.gif

[youngb4]

Catch22 - Thanks, I know the brushed aluminum trim is available, but I have to say, It looked a lil bland to me in person, not bad, just not as good as I first imagined, I do think it looks pretty sharp with the red seats tho...decisions shouldn't be this hard!

Speed 6 - Thanks for your input as well, that was the first thought I had, I love it now, but will I after two years...

As far as other cars go, for me, there's just somethin about that '11 front end with the LED corona rings that just drew me in, don't get me wrong, I've seen some used M3s (for example) that would even be a lil under what I'm paying, but I like the idea of the 335xi's gas milage, all wheel drive, and most of all, that low end torque! If I was planning on tracking my car consistently, I'd probably be looking at other options, but the onlything I've tracked in my life was a friends pseudo shifter cart and we were just goofin around. Once again thanks for your input, I appreciate it!

Anyways, can anyone else weigh in on my situation?! Even if it means offering up your personal favorites that I didn't suggest, I'm still open to change at this point I suppose, I just don't want to rush into a decision I'll come to regret!

[youngb4]

Alright, don't know if anyones reading still, but I think I reached a verdict as far as colors go. I'm going to tell my dealer today that I'd like to do Sapphire Black, Dakota black leather and the bamboo anthracite wood trim. To me, the black on black on black is the perfect balance between sporty and luxury, if anyone still has an opinion, let me know!

[catch22]

Yeah, can't go wrong with black on black. Believe me, a few years from now, when e92s are what e46s are today, people will complain that they can't find black on black combo, and when you try and sell it, it will be that much more attractive.

[JustinE90]

i would personally go with red because i love "different" interior colors but thats just because all of my previous cars had been black.

black on black is great for resale though, can't go wrong.

[jwoods]

Congrats on your first BMW! I just got my first a little over a week ago. It's black with black interior and aluminum trim (which I prefer to any wood). I'm hoping my color choice will help at resale in a few years like the last 2 posters mentioned. Good choice not getting the red interior, and not just because I don't like red -lol. It would be harder to sell down the road, and I think you would get tired of it after awhile.

So it sounds like you are ordering your car, any ETA on arrival?

[SilverBeam]

I vote for the red too, I like it because it is pretty and different, and you won't be in a sea of black.

[robmpulse]

coral red > all others. That black wood trim should look nice, too. However, if it was me, I would get whatever comes standard (free) and have it wrapped with carbon fiber. Carbon Fiber w/ Coral Red is a very intoxicating color combo.

[Jetblack2000Ci]

Red would indeed look awesome. I looked at an M3 with a red and black leather interior at my local dealership. It was very nice. But I'll tell you that black on black on black never goes out of style. That would be my personal choice if I was purchasing a new car.

[vertbmw]

The red looks sweet, but the black will wear better and look nicer after a few years.

[maranello455]

How about Saddle??????? Its an in- between choice..........I think factory calls it " Saddle Brown Dakota".For trim the "Dark Glacier Alluminum" trim would look max! If you go to BMW USA web site,there you can visualize it,under the "build your own" section.

[youngb4]

Hey all, thanks for the replies! Sorry I've been a bit of a ghost, been really busy at the office, but yes its true, I have officially orderd my 335i coupe! :scream It's slotted for a december build date with delivery (hopefully) around mid January, though the sales manager said it could be as late as early to mid Feb. depending on if the holliday season delays production, I love christmas don't get me wrong, but right now BMW>>>>Santa!

Pretty much everyones comments mirrored my thoughts, I loved the idea of a red interior because it's def. different and looks very sporty when combined with the anthracite trim IMO. But I couldn't help but wonder if I'd get tired of it down the road and I could tell from my sales rep face when he saw the combo that not many people ask for it! All in all, I think the black on black on black should have just the right balance and shouldnt give me any problems when resale comes around.

And I did actually first consider the saddle brown leather, but when I saw it in person, I just didn't like it too much with the sapphire black, white, however was another story!

Note: I would def. consider my self a black car guy, but for some reason when I saw the 335i, and many other bimmers in the lot, in the alpine white finish, I was strangely drawn to it! Anyone else feel the same?

[kornkid8600]

There are some people that will go out of their way to not get a standard color like black. Either way though, the effect it will have on your resale value will prob be very minimal. I think you'll be able to find a buyer regardless, just so long as the scheme is harmonious.

[SilverBeam]

Hey all, thanks for the replies! Sorry I've been a bit of a ghost, been really busy at the office, but yes its true, I have officially orderd my 335i coupe! :scream It's slotted for a december build date with delivery (hopefully) around mid January, though the sales manager said it could be as late as early to mid Feb. depending on if the holliday season delays production, I love christmas don't get me wrong, but right now BMW>>>>Santa!

Pretty much everyones comments mirrored my thoughts, I loved the idea of a red interior because it's def. different and looks very sporty when combined with the anthracite trim IMO. But I couldn't help but wonder if I'd get tired of it down the road and I could tell from my sales rep face when he saw the combo that not many people ask for it! All in all, I think the black on black on black should have just the right balance and shouldnt give me any problems when resale comes around.

And I did actually first consider the saddle brown leather, but when I saw it in person, I just didn't like it too much with the sapphire black, white, however was another story!

Note: I would def. consider my self a black car guy, but for some reason when I saw the 335i, and many other bimmers in the lot, in the alpine white finish, I was strangely drawn to it! Anyone else feel the same?

All BMWs look best in white, in my opinion. Congrats on the new car, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.