Time for a Color change? 88 Vert

[talltorontoguy]

I've got the vert stripped for it's M30 engine swap and while its apart I wanted to get it painted.

The car is presently white with navy interior... I'm on the fence about going with a deep blue (not purply), and maintaining the shadowline look. Will be putting BBS Style 5s (shown on E34 at bottom) on at the same time. I would really like diamond schwartz on black leather but...

Anyone have any thoughts on a suitable blue? The shades that have me most interested so far are:

- mauritius blue
- orient blue metallic
- macao blue (although I've heard it can have brownish hues)


Some pics below... photoshop anyone?









Various shades of blue, I like the orient the best out of this set. (not my picture)


Wheels from this car...

[Garageaholic]

Your car is so sweet. I want to buy a convertible shell and put my M30 drivetrain in it.

I think Avus Blue is the shit personally... Good luck and Please.... do a writeup with alot of pictures fellow M30'er

[talltorontoguy]

Thanks man. I will post pics etc. Poor thing is on stands with front clip just about gone and no drivetrain.

I'm really on the fence. Car is getting painted anyway, just a matter of whether I do it white or the blue. I've been surfing at e30.de and the best cars all seem to be in diamond schwartz. I can't do that unless I go to a black interior (or tan, which I don't like). So... deep blue exterior is the next best thing. Alternatively I can keep it white.

[JasonC]

I like that Velvet blue. My Corvair is close to that Orient blue and it's a PITA to keep clean.

[talltorontoguy]

Good feedback, I'm not too concerned about the cleanliness - car will never see rain or (gasp) snow. Pretty much a weekend toy. That velvet blue could work too...

I guess the thing is...

1. SHOULD I go to blue from white?
2. IF I go to blue, which shade?

If there are other shades not on that picture, feel free to throw it out there.

decisions decisions.

[JasonC]

I don't know if you want to keep it a BMW color? But i allways liked this blue, it's a 1970 Dodge/Plymouth color. code EB7, name Dark Blue Metallic (Dodge)...Jamaica Blue Metallic (Plymouth). I had two Darts this color and a S-10 that was close to it (it was a 1982 Chrysler blue)

[IRON-E]

LeMans Blue is hot!!

[VacMan]

If you're looking for a different wrinkle on the blue thing check out Carbon Black. It is a deep, deep blue and looks black in indirect lighting.

[talltorontoguy]

I thought the Carbon Black was... well... BLACK. I was wondering why that color was amongst the other blue panels in the pic! lol

Maybe that's the one.... anyone have more pictures of E30 with that color on it?

[e30_kid89]

Magic_black on maXbimmer had his car painted carbon black. when its in sunlight it is a VERY dark blue that hardly be noticed. He posted up some pics of his car.

[twothrees]

Cirrus Blau Metallic!

[ddavidv]

Allow me to rain on your parade a bit.
Color changes, to do right, are neither easy or cheap. You've got to do all the jambs at a minimum, and really should do the trunk, engine bay and undersides of those panels as well. The car needs to be stripped pretty much down to a bare tub.
Have you shopped the job at all? Very few body shops bother with full resprays anymore as (they claim) there is no money in doing them.
Personally, I think a clean white car is badass. :)

[talltorontoguy]

Appreciate the concern David and valid points. I know what I'm getting into. I'm doing the pre bodyshop work myself and will send a shell + panels to the shop. I will get a shell back from the shop and will reassemble the car upon return, along with a fresh M30 engine. :-)

The only question is what color I paint it. The process will be the same either way.

Here's a picture the car as of a few days ago. Remaining panels and interior will be pulled before heading off to shop.

[mikeedler]

here is carbon schwarz on my old touring.




I really didnt like it as much on an e30 compared to what it looked like on an e39 M5

[mikeedler]

I personally love this color here. mauritius blue-- unly looks good when it is VERY well taken care of.