[bmw noob]

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My question is...do individual colors negatively impact trade in value later on? I.e. does a car with an individual color take a hit like a car with paint and body work (typically around 10%)? Or does it matter more what the individual color is (special blue versus neon orange)?

I’ve never done an individual color, and am leaning towards either San Marino blue or twilight purple.

I don’t mind the upfront cost…but if it also costs an extra $5k in lower trade in value (or whatever) that’s something to consider…

[ChargerHellcat]

Originally Posted by bmw noob

Hello all..I am considering San Marino blue (I remember drooling over a local M6 every time I saw it, and I still miss my Montego e92), but am wondering if it is individual enough to warrant the price. The pictures of twilight purple have also caught my eye as a potential alternative.

My question is...how much do individual colors affect value later on?

I know if you lease, and do an individual color, the entire cost for the color is depreciated during the lease term, meaning an individual color adds around $100/month (indiv charge less standard metallic pain fee over 36 months.)

I most likely will purchase and make my own lease by simply trading it in in 3-4 years (lease terms and money factor not advantageous right now.)

Assuming the car is purchased, does anyone have any idea what the impact on trade in value in 3 or 4 years would be for various colors? Obviously, some will affect it more than others, but there has to be a general idea of what to expect for something like San Marino and twilight purple.

I don't mind the idea of amortizing the cost, but if it adds an extra chunk of depreciation, i have to consider that as part of the cost also. For instance, if a car will likely get 10% less on trade in simply due to color, that could be an additional $4-5k, which would certainly sway my choice. (I can't help but weigh the value of each decision. Haha)

Curious myself. Frozen blue would fall into this category?

[bmw noob]

Originally Posted by ChargerHellcat

Curious myself. Frozen blue would fall into this category?

Anything outside the standard colors would count for sure. Even "stock colors" have some variance. Fact is, I can't see the demand for a highlighter green m3 being the same as for a white one. That said, i have no idea what the impact on resale/trade in would be.

[Hephaestus]

I ordered the hilighter green (San Paolo yellow) M4 and it's on a boat on it's way. But I saw on youtube this guy took delivery on a frozen black. Looked really cool! But when I was building the car I didn't see frozen black. Just frozen blue and white. I would have taken frozen black but now my rep is saying it wasn't offer. What say you? Is that a color to special order and how much? Considering letting the hilighter yellow car go and re-order special color.

[snareman]

I've wondered this as well since I have an individual color. I'm thinking that in the end it's going to be something like any other added on accessory to a degree. Yes, there aren't likely to be many Enzian blue M4's running around for people to buy and it's an amazing color, but I'm not expecting to get too much of my $4500 back as people will plug the options into autotrader or similar and see that this M4 with these options should be work $X and I'm betting that that X isn't going to include color money. Maybe I'll be surprised, but I'm not expecting much on the back end.

[rak299]

It is simply supply vs. demand. If you have the only hippopotamus gray one and someone wants it, it could command a big premium. If you have a color nobody wants, it hurts the value.

[evilalien]

I don't care. That said, I've seen a few posts etc where people make a big deal about Santorini. There are likely similar for other special paints. I wanted Santorini. Other people are similarly irrational about their favourite shade of blue.

['Cane]

It has minimal to no value for resale. It would only matter in a private sale, and, of course, only if you are able to find the right buyer for that specific color.

[chicagofan00]

Honestly, if this is of a concern to you I'd recommend just sticking to the stock colors. The whole point of going individual is to cater it more to you and your tastes.

[Mar48]

I’ll say I do think certain individual colors will bring you back more on resale to at least get close to making up the difference. At least that was my experience trying to buy an individual blue F80….

[bmw noob]

I edited the initial post as it is clear I did not ask the right question.

Thanks to anyone who responded so far. Hopefully my question is more clear now.

[bmw noob]

Originally Posted by joeynolegs

Considering letting the hilighter yellow car go and re-order special color.

Haha…I forgot about SPY. I actually like the color in pics, though I’d never have the guts to drive it.

Yes, frozen black would be an individual color. Most are around $4500. There is some variance based on the actual color you choose, and the model car you are buying. Best way to find out is to ask for sales rep what the price for color x is on the car you want.

Of course, if it’s straight black you could just get black and get a stealth wrap. Likely cheaper than individual option and would probably age better also.

[bmw noob]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

Honestly, if this is of a concern to you I'd recommend just sticking to the stock colors. The whole point of going individual is to cater it more to you and your tastes.

My question was phrased poorly. My concern is whether it will negatively impact the value of the car simply because it has an individual color. I don’t expect to get any positive value…I am just concerned that I would get “dinged” on trade in (like when a car has body work done you lose around 10% no matter how bad it is.)

In that case, the individual color would cost around 10k (450p + 10% value hit) which is a different level of cost to me.

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by bmw noob

My question was phrased poorly. My concern is whether it will negatively impact the value of the car simply because it has an individual color. I don’t expect to get any positive value…I am just concerned that I would get “dinged” on trade in (like when a car has body work done you lose around 10% no matter how bad it is.)

In that case, the individual color would cost around 10k (450p + 10% value hit) which is a different level of cost to me.

In that case, yes, it absolutely could. However, I still think if you are serious about going individual then this really shouldn't be something you'd want to really get concerned over. The whole point is to make it more your own and have something that is of limited production (color wise).

[bmw noob]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

In that case, yes, it absolutely could. However, I still think if you are serious about going individual then this really shouldn't be something you'd want to really get concerned over. The whole point is to make it more your own and have something that is of limited production (color wise).

Thanks. I’m torn. Lease rates suck, so probably going to purchase and keep for 3-4 yrs. safer color (San Marino, marina bay) would likely have minimal impact on value, but hard to justify cost for safe color. Fun colors (twilight purple, metallic lime green) are totally worth 4500, but could have much greater cost later.

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by bmw noob

Thanks. I’m torn. Lease rates suck, so probably going to purchase and keep for 3-4 yrs. safer color (San Marino, marina bay) would likely have minimal impact on value, but hard to justify cost for safe color. Fun colors (twilight purple, metallic lime green) are totally worth 4500, but could have much greater cost later.

You can almost never go wrong with a BMW blue and I would agree that you'd likely be safe with regards to any specific negative impact to the resale value by sticking with a shade of blue.

They'd still be worth it as something like SMB is just gorgeous and you'll love the way it looks each day you see it during ownership.

[V-Eight]

to me an individual color doesn't affect the resale price, here in Europe at least.

I'm experiencing it now, as I'm selling through an official dealer, my M140i with MP parts on (Mperf. lim. sleep differential and M. perfor. exhaust) and I had to remove them reintalling the stock one, as the price was the same. Every delaer bases the quotation through the Eurotax reselling guide (as I said, here in EU), that offer a major quotation only if you have some specifi options, for example Led hedlights, leather interiors etc. Mechanical parts or an individual color are not included, as they don't affect the price even if the car is wonderful, as in the end, the car quotation is that one, the only thing that count a bit is the mileage and the model year. So, I swapped to the stock parts again and I'll try to resell the Mperf. parts my own to earn something.

[vj123]

Its a matter of finding the right dealer / buyer when you are selling the vehicle. Yes most dealers will give you a reason that it will be hard to sell. But if you find the dealer who appreciates the uniqueness, they will offer the right price.

[merlin3008]

In my opinion, it really depends on the color. If you choose an individual color that has broad appeal and will attract interest, it will be easier to sell and/or trade. If you choose a color with limited appeal or that caters to a specific taste, it will be more difficult. Whether is a stock or custom color really doesn't trump the basic principles of supply and demand.

So that's my opinion on resale. My advice is to buy what you like. Life is too short.

[amzbimmer]

I have a different feeling in terms of resale. In my experience, the individual colors sell really fast on the forums, which I realize is not really a true open market, but even the dealers often sell the individual colors for more. Each time I have tried to buy an individual color in the past on the second hand market, I've found them to sell extremely quickly, and often at asking price.

I've also ordered an SMB G80. I think you should go twilight purple for uniqueness as there are already 4 other SMB blue orders on the forums (see other thread).

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by amzbimmer

I think you should go twilight purple for uniqueness as there are already 4 other SMB blue orders on the forums (see other thread).

Lol, if he goes Twilight Purple that would make at least the third on the forums (with another person here heavily considering it) and there are at least 2-3 that are not on the forums here that I'm aware of. In the end it is still a mass produced car and there will still be other individual colors out there except for the very rare colors that few are even aware of. The BMW blues will almost always be some of the higher produced individual colors though.

[amzbimmer]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

Lol, if he goes Twilight Purple that would make at least the third on the forums (with another person here heavily considering it) and there are at least 2-3 that are not on the forums here that I'm aware of. In the end it is still a mass produced car and there will still be other individual colors out there except for the very rare colors that few are even aware of. The BMW blues will almost always be some of the higher produced individual colors though.

Shh, don't tell him that. You caught me, just trying to push him away from SMB

I do love Twilight purple and strongly considered it.