[Asymmetrick]

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Hello all,
Just been through the entire process of designing, ordering, and agonizing over delivery of my new G80 M3. One thing I obsessed over during the design/ordering phase was the nature of the changes caused by the various Shadowline options. IMO, these are some of the least well-explained options for the G80/G82 and BMW configurators do not do justice to these options. Also, I couldn’t find a thread on BimmerPost where this issue was addressed extensively, so I thought I would share below what I found out on this topic. I hope this is helpful to others who –like me– wonder if these options are worth it.

Shadowline Exterior Trim [code 760]:

• Standard on G80 (non-removable, so not an option)
• VIN decoding name: “Individual high-gloss satin chrome”. Could be a misnomer since it is not clear if all parts in the list below are made of actual chrome.
• Following parts will be either high-gloss black or black chrome color:

1. Window trims (i.e., window frames; window recess covers; B-pillar finishers; window guide rails; Hofmeister kink finishers; window triangles for front doors & associated mirror bases.)
2. Side fender badge/vent trims
3. Side skirt inserts
4. Front splitter – corner pieces.
5. Rear diffuser – corner pieces (aka “rear side diffusers”)
6. Rear diffuser – trim (i.e., insert surrounding main diffuser)
7. Rear diffuser – main part

Extended Shadowline Exterior Trim [code 7M9]:

• Standard on G80/G82 cars in Canada/US (can be deleted at no charge)
• VIN decoding name: “Ind.high-gloss Sa.ch.l.w.ext.con” (full name: Individual high-gloss satin chrome line with extended contents. Note that Satin Chrome is BMW-speak for black colored chrome.)
• The first two items on the list below will be changed to carbon fiber parts if selecting the M Carbon Exterior Package [code 71C].

1. Black mirror caps (note: top portion only. If option is deleted/not selected, cap color will match the car body color)
2. Black rear spoiler (note: if option is deleted/not selected, spoiler color will match the car body color)
3. Black chrome exhaust tips (note: tips will be silver-looking chrome if option is deleted/not selected)

M Lights Shadowline [code 3MF]:

• Base spec for G80/G82 cars in Canada/US: LED headlights without Shadowline.
• VIN decoding name (when adding Shadowline headlights to your build): “BMW Individual Lights Shadow Line”
• M Lights Shadowline option can be implemented with both headlight choices on the G80/G82 (i.e., standard LED or optional Laser lights).
• Appearance of M Lights Shadowline differs markedly when adding “Laser lights” to your build or keeping standard “LED lights”, leading to much confusion about this option. IMO, the option is much more noticeable when implemented in the LED headlights. Change is more modest for laser lights.
• Below are descriptions of the two different implementations of that option:

1. For the LED lights option: A V-shaped inlay piece in the light housing will be colored in black (part remains silver-colored if option is not selected). Specifically, the Shadowline inlay trim looks like a V on its side (< or >) with a much longer top branch.
   
   OR
   
   
2. For the Laserlight option: A single, mostly linear piece of metal in the top of the light housing will be colored in black if Shadowline is selected (part remains silver-colored if option is not selected). Specifically, the Shadowline part corresponds to the top eyebrow portion of the lights that runs parallel to the hood line.

Below are images of the 4 possible configurations (with and without orange highlights) to clarify which parts are affected by the M Lights Shadowline modifications.

[Asymmetrick]

Here are the pictures mentioned above:

[kiw1]

Thanks for the write-up!

[Forzanerazzurri]

Very helpful

[itrocks4u]

My vehicle inquiry report does not show codes 760 or 7M9. I have not requested deletion of extended shadowline trim, so not sure how that works?

[yousefnjr]

Man even in the pics it’s hard for me to tell the difference lol I am blind

[FoxberryJam]

Originally Posted by itrocks4u

My vehicle inquiry report does not show codes 760 or 7M9. I have not requested deletion of extended shadowline trim, so not sure how that works?

It's because those items are standard, not options

[Asymmetrick]

Originally Posted by itrocks4u

My vehicle inquiry report does not show codes 760 or 7M9. I have not requested deletion of extended shadowline trim, so not sure how that works?

Correct, that is the expected outcome if you did not proactively delete 7M9 when ordering.

When you car will be built, you can get the full spec details using one of the VIN search engines (www.mdecoder.com) and codes 760 and 7M9 will/should show up in your extensive build report.

[Asymmetrick]

Originally Posted by yousefnjr

Man even in the pics it’s hard for me to tell the difference lol I am blind

I know what you mean! The issue is with the Shadowline option in combination with the laserlights: the black/shadownline-colored part is small and typically obscured by reflection associated with the curved glass of the headlight housing. This makes it very difficult to take a clear photo of that section of the headlights. This is why I have labeled the relevant area in orange in the pictures to facilitate visualization.

Not an issue at all with the non-Shadowline version of the laserlights or either of the LED headlight variants. The pictures for these options clearly show the impact of the options.

[Nado]

Can someone post up a full front end picture of the vehicle highlight the shadowline with the laserlights, and nonshadowline with laserlights? The four photos above is kinda of hard to be to tell the difference. Just curious for some full front examples.

[Asmedbeats]

Thanks for this write up. I agonized over this with my build. Initially had non shadowline laser and thought I was locked with my individual order but my CA came through and got it changed to shadowline.

[Limegrntaln]

Seems a little off on the G80/82 wording.

Extended Shadowline trim is an option on the base model manual transmission car, you get chrome badges, chrome tips, body colored spoiler and mirror caps. Adding Extended Shadowline changes the spoiler, mirror caps and tips to black, leaves the badges chrome. $0 cost option.

There is no Shadowline badge option for the manual cars. The only way to get black badges on a manual, is to purchase the black competition badges at the parts counter, and when you install the badges, just don't install the "COMPETITION" badge. It's separate from the "M"

Competition trim gets Extended Shadowline trim as standard. Car comes with black mirror caps, black spoiler, black diffuser and black competition badges.

On the competition, there is a $0 cost option to "Delete Shadowline trim." This changes the spoiler and mirror caps to body color, tips to chrome, but keeps the badges black.

Adding the carbon exterior package to either the base model or the competition, overrides the mirror caps, the front bumper inlets, the spoiler and the rear diffuser to carbon, regardless of which Extended Shadowline option you selected.

Example: Competition Package, remove Extended Shadowline and add carbon exterior package. Mirror caps, spoiler, bumper inlets, and rear diffuser to carbon, and tips go to chrome. Badges stay black. Adding Extended Shadowline on this spec would only change the tips to black.

If you wish to make an edit to your original post and it's easier to just copy and paste mine, you can do that as well. Just wanted to clear that up a little.

[MachinesWithSouls]

This is good info.

If it helps, my car has all Extended Shadowline deleted, and the non-shadowline "LAY-ZOR" headlights, which I understand to be a somewhat rare option.

I have some shots of the full extended pack next to my car.

I also made a guide for the car to help answer questions like this here:

https://machineswithsouls.com/2022/0...-buyers-guide/

[Igor_M5]

No Carbon buckets, no care.

Edit: CF buckets with shadowline?

[Mistertmac]

Where's the option for human sized front grille?

[Blindside_137]

I like the headlights without the shadow line I think. The shadow line option makes the details appear much darker overall and harder to see IMO.

[MassComp]

I'm so glad I opted for the Laser lights with Shadowline....that and the standard Shadowline Exterior Trim.

Goes well with Skyscraper with the carbon exterior pkg. & 826M bi-color wheels...

[The Nerd]

Thanks for this summary! I had trouble with this decision in my order process. Quick question….I had always been told that the shadowline vs non-shadow line headlight option had no effect on the lense itself appearing darker or smoked. But in your pics, it definitely looks like the shadowline headlights DO appear to have a smoked or tinted lense. Is this correct?

[Asymmetrick]

Originally Posted by The Nerd

Thanks for this summary! I had trouble with this decision in my order process. Quick question….I had always been told that the shadowline vs non-shadow line headlight option had no effect on the lense itself appearing darker or smoked. But in your pics, it definitely looks like the shadowline headlights DO appear to have a smoked or tinted lense. Is this correct?

Hello: Good point. I've seen this suggested in several posts (smoked/darker overall appearance of Shadowline lights) but when observing Shadowline vs non-Shadowline optioned headlights first hand, I didn't see any evidence for this. This observation is valid for new cars on BMW dealership lots. There are folks out there who pay to get their M3/M4 lights smoked/tinted, but this is a completely different situation.

[Quadruple VANOS]

Originally Posted by yousefnjr

Man even in the pics it's hard for me to tell the difference lol I am blind

Huge thanks to OP for the providing this information, but those pictures are just horrible. For some reason a lot of people struggle to work a camera effectively. The white building being behind the camera; combined with the sun being behind the subject, makes for an image with horrible glare and reflection that obscures the message. We came so close to a spectacular thread here! Maybe someone else can update the thread with images that clearly show the differences?

[j23]

I may be in the minority here, but I prefer the laser lights without shadowline option. It actually looks like a proper headlight.

I'm guessing that folks who love shadowline are those who love black wheels. If you're not into black wheels, chances are you prefer shadowline delete.

[Asymmetrick]

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

Seems a little off on the G80/82 wording.

Shadowline trim is an option on the base model manual transmission car, you get chrome badges, chrome tips, body colored spoiler and mirror caps. Adding Shadowline changes the spoiler, mirror caps and tips to black, leaves the badges chrome. $0 cost option.

...

If you wish to make an edit to your original post and it's easier to just copy and paste mine, you can do that as well. Just wanted to clear that up a little.

Thanks Limegrntaln; these are all great points. Here are some thoughts on the points you raised:

- Limegrntaln: Shadowline trim is an option on the base model manual transmission car.
- Asymmetrick: Depends on the country and terminology. Here is what I mean:

1) In all countries, manual and competition G80/G82 models have the base "Shadowline Exterior Trim" (option code 760). Some parts included with code 760 can be changed to carbon fiber variants (e.g., rear diffuser) but not all (e.g., window trims). So, Shadowline Exterior trim (option code 760) is not an option for the base G80/G82, it is included on all cars but the extent of it depends on the number of optional carbon fiber parts added to the car.

2) Regarding the "Extended Shadowline Trim" option (code 7M9) –which I believe you are referring to above–, this is a selectable option for the manual M3 and a deletable option on the competition models in the US. This is not true in all countries: in Canada code 7M9 is included on both the base and comp models (can also be deleted if desired). The take home message is: Code 7M9 is a no cost addition on the manual M3 (in the US), and a no cost deletion on the competition M3. In other words, you can have it any way you want at no cost.

- Limegrntaln: There is no Shadowline badge option for the manual cars.
- Asymmetrick: You may be right on this one. I tried to find an official BMW reference for the black M3/M4 badges being "Shadowline" and could not. Same situation for the main kidney grille, brake/air duct inlays (non-carbon version), and antenna cover who are also high-gloss black elements and could –technically– be considered Shadowline. Again no word from BMW on these elements. So, in the absence of official documentation on the badges, kidney grille and brake duct inlays being Shadowline, I decided to not discuss these elements in my post. Let me know if you find an official BMW reference for any of these elements being genuine Shadowline. I will gladly modify my post if this is the case. Even it it is not, I might include a new category of "Quasi-Shadowline" features such as the kidney grille, brake/air duct inlays (base variant), & antenna cover.

- Limegrntaln: There is no Shadowline badge option for the manual cars.
- Asymmetrick: Let me know if the badge is officially considered a Shadowline element by BMW.

- Limegrntaln: If you wish to make an edit to your original post and it's easier to just copy and paste mine, you can do that as well. Just wanted to clear that up a little.
- Asymmetrick: I will update my post shortly to include helpful/constructive comments from the community. Thanks for your comments – I appreciate!