Z3 Hardtop color difference

[vroomvroomman]

Hiya everyone,

Today I bought a hardtop, had been wanting it for a while. Found one that looked like the exact same color as mine, but when I got there, I noticed it was a lighter tint of grey then my car. I don't really mind the difference, gives it a nice two tone look, but I'm just curious about why that difference could be there. I don't think it's been repainted, and the paint itself also looks in good condition. It's a 1999 facelift Z3, with Stahlgrau as the color, yet the hardtop seems to have a lighter grey (not silver) (Didn't get any pictures yet, it was dark outside when I got back). I also know it's an original BMW hardtop. Does anybody know if maybe the Z3's that were produced before/after 1999 have a different stahlgrau/darkgrey paintcode?

Cheers

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Probably Sterling grey (code 472). Stahl grey (code 400) was a colour for the M roadster/coupe.

 

[vroomvroomman]

I think it would then be the other way around, since my car is not an m roadster, but it does say stahlgrau under the bonnet. But that could be a possibility. Thanks for the reply.

 

[elevensies]

I think it would then be the other way around, since my car is not an m roadster, but it does say stahlgrau under the bonnet. But that could be a possibility. Thanks for the reply.

yours may have been a extra order colour choice at time of purchase, whereas the roof may be the colour could be sterling grey???

 

[JasMin70]

could be just paint fade/ age patina car being in the sun longer than the top maybe - unless its *significantly* different !

*picture is worth a thousand words

 

[vroomvroomman]

Here it is!

Really does look like sterling grey as some indeed said.

 

[JasMin70]

yeah, thats not paint fade/ patina that's a different colour (how helpful am i ) still looks great though - what do you think of mine I think it will buff out nicely!

 

[vroomvroomman]

Yours looks good indeed! Don't get me wrong I do really like having some contrast between the HT & the body, but I feel like Stahlgrau & sterling grey are too similar to look amazing. I'm going to a shop near me that has a couple silver & black HT's, just to see what that'll look like. Since I have the chrome trim around the windhshield, I'm putting my money on that silver will look the best.

 

[JasMin70]

black looks good as does Silver/ Red combo ........

 

[Duncodin]

I do like a red softop on a grey or silver car but I'm not sure if that'd work with a red hardrop.

Z3 in hardtop really is nice but gotta be the same colour as the car to get that 'coupe' look. (IMO)

 

[JasMin70]

I do like a red softop on a grey or silver car but I'm not sure if that'd work with a red hardrop.

Z3 in hardtop really is nice but gotta be the same colour as the car to get that 'coupe' look. (IMO)

Agree, mine is in the shop being re-painted black should have it by Friday fitted just in time for Spring/ Summer

 

[RickyBobby]

Don't think I've ever seen a Steel Grey Z3 in person - the colour was only introduced in 1999 which was the runout year for pre-facelift cars, similarly Stirling Grey was only introduced in the final year of production for the facelift cars.

From memory there should be a part # under the rear frame of the hardtop and if you enter that in https://www.realoem.com/bmw/ it will confirm

 

[elevensies]

of no help whatsoever, but mine matches

 

[vroomvroomman]

That’s an amazing color!!

I went to a paint shop and they said it would cost about 750 euros including taxes to paint it the correct color. Since i’ll be putting the hardtop in storage soon for the summer, I think i’ll just get the rear window heating to work and shift the paint problem to next winter.

Anyways, thanks for the help everyone!!

 

[Stevo7682]

What you could maybe do if you want the contrast and the hardtop is winter use maybe you could get it wrapped instead then the options are many .
Stephen.

 

[vroomvroomman]

What you could maybe do if you want the contrast and the hardtop is winter use maybe you could get it wrapped instead then the options are many .
Stephen.

Did that too right after I went to the paint shop. For a wrap it would cost me around 500 euros. Since the price gap between getting it wrapped & painted isn't huge, I'd rather get it painted to get the best result, but maybe I'll do that next winter, when I'll actually use it. When the weather clears up here, it'll be top down all summer!

 

[JasMin70]

of no help whatsoever, but mine matches View attachment 358375

That is bold - love it

 

[JasMin70]

of no help whatsoever, but mine matches View attachment 358375

also love the stone chip defenders on the rear wing by the door - looks good and practical as well

 

[elevensies]

also love the stone chip defenders on the rear wing by the door - looks good and practical as well

thank you, the car is a widebody so the rear wings do get a lot of road grime hitting up at them, these carbon protectors are quite functional.