[sharepointalex]

Has anyone blacked out their M340i / G20?

By this I mean removing the cerium grey parts and swapping for gloss black.

My M340 is portimao blue and I’m planning to swap all the cerium. I’ve done the grille, about to do the bumper inserts. Then the plan is a black M340 badge and the exhaust tips.

Looking for some photos if anyone has done this to theirs?

I’m thinking I might keep the cerium grey mirror caps though as the wheels are cerium and I’m not planning on changing to black.

Cheers!

[Makefish]

Any reason why you didn't buy the car with the Shaddow Line Pack as most of the bits you mention are included?

[sharepointalex]

Originally Posted by Makefish

Any reason why you didn't buy the car with the Shaddow Line Pack as most of the bits you mention are included?

It's not something I even knew about as an option at the time to be honest, I was mainly focussed on a couple of specific options hence I didn't get shadowline. Debating whether to keep the cerium parts in case I need to revert to stock or sell them.

[Makefish]

I intend replacing all badging with gloss black alternatives but I'm afraid I don't take delivery for a few weeks so no photos to show you the result just yet.... sorry!

[Charlie (Wessex)]

I know each to their own, but am I the only one who thinks the gloss black looks awful?

[Stooo]

Originally Posted by Charlie (Wessex)

I know each to their own, but am I the only one who thinks the gloss black looks awful?

Nope, it’s a good way to make your 340 look more generic and cheap

[bmnut]

Personally I don’t think it looks awful, I’m just not a fan and would not order it as a build option or change it as an aftermarket fit. To me the cerium grey or gloss black or chrome bits are highlights on the car against the paintwork and it’s a case of which ‘look’ you prefer. I have no intention of changing the cerium grey on mine once I get it, it’s had enough bloody money spent on it already just buying it anyway!
The only thing I would say is anyone who does swap bits after delivery then I’d recommend they keep the originals so they can be put back prior to resale at a later date, especially with some cars now having spec deletions, at least it keeps the car as close to ‘factory spec’ as possible. Could possibly impact on future resale value as something else that has been changed?

[xenon]

Originally Posted by Stooo

Nope, it’s a good way to make your 340 look more generic and cheap

So my 330i looks generic and cheap. Cheers.

[RAFats]

Originally Posted by bmnut

Personally I don’t think it looks awful, I’m just not a fan and would not order it as a build option or change it as an aftermarket fit. To me the cerium grey or gloss black or chrome bits are highlights on the car against the paintwork and it’s a case of which ‘look’ you prefer. I have no intention of changing the cerium grey on mine once I get it, it’s had enough bloody money spent on it already just buying it anyway!
The only thing I would say is anyone who does swap bits after delivery then I’d recommend they keep the originals so they can be put back prior to resale at a later date, especially with some cars now having spec deletions, at least it keeps the car as close to ‘factory spec’ as possible. Could possibly impact on future resale value as something else that has been changed?

I would certainly agree with keeping all of the original parts for all the reasons suggested. Personally, I also agree that it is a matter of 'taste' or more importantly how the car looks with the particular spec and options you have already matched up from the factory. On my last 2 cars M235i and X3 M40i I didn't particularly get on with the Cerium Grey. Whilst it looks good when really clean, I found it challenging to keep looking good and it water spotted and marked badly. I suspect against other's likes, the car I pick up on Friday has a blacked out grill and headlamp centres, although I specced matched body colour mirror housings and standard wheels - I don't like the black wheels. The blacked out front grill will highlight the grill on my new M440i in Mineral White but that's deliberate to make a feature out of the controversial look, a look that I happen to like. So I am looking forward to seeing the grinning grill in a couple of days.

[Falkirk300zx]

Originally Posted by sharepointalex

Has anyone blacked out their M340i / G20

I went for the almost all black look, shadowline kit but with the carbon fibre interior.

Will find out at midday if it looks good...

[RAFats]

Originally Posted by Falkirk300zx

I went for the almost all black look, shadowline kit but with the carbon fibre interior.

Will find out at midday if it looks good...

I’m sure it will look amazing. Share a look when you can.

[Trevski220]

I've got Portimao blue with shadowline and the M Performance Kit with a little carbon, have just changed the M340i badge to gloss black as that was the final piece of grey on the car (really think the badge should be part of the shadowline plus pack TBH)

[Charlie (Wessex)]

Originally Posted by Stooo

Nope, it’s a good way to make your 340 look more generic and cheap

Not quite sure I'd go that far, though of course we all have our own opinions. And of course opinions are like a-holes....etc etc

Generic is an interesting word to use in relation to such a mass produced car

Originally Posted by xenon

So my 330i looks generic and cheap. Cheers.

To me, and yes just my opinion, gloss black works with dark colours. Not sure it works well with, for example, white - others might describe it otherwise, but to my untrained eye, it looks clumsy.

Of course there will be some/many who think cerium looks awful. Great that we all have different opinions/tastes. Makes the world a more interesting place.

[Makefish]

Originally Posted by Trevski220

....... have just changed the M340i badge to gloss black as that was the final piece of grey on the car (really think the badge should be part of the shadowline plus pack TBH)

I agree, does seem a little odd that the M340i badge is the only part in Cerium Grey and not Gloss Black.

Tbh I like both looks, almost went for Black Sapphire with standard Cerium Grey accent parts but got persuaded (mainly by my two grown up kids) to tick the Mineral Grey and Shaddow Line Pack boxes on the order form!

[xenon]

Originally Posted by Charlie (Wessex)

To me, and yes just my opinion, gloss black works with dark colours.

Mine's grey and the gloss black shadowline works IMO.

[blaz]

Was worried about the bling version of the grille and the standout cerium touches but looks much better than i feared.

[johnboysafc]

Originally Posted by Charlie (Wessex)

I know each to their own, but am I the only one who thinks the gloss black looks awful?

Yup

[johnboysafc]

Originally Posted by sharepointalex

Has anyone blacked out their M340i / G20?

By this I mean removing the cerium grey parts and swapping for gloss black.

My M340 is portimao blue and I’m planning to swap all the cerium. I’ve done the grille, about to do the bumper inserts. Then the plan is a black M340 badge and the exhaust tips.

Looking for some photos if anyone has done this to theirs?

I’m thinking I might keep the cerium grey mirror caps though as the wheels are cerium and I’m not planning on changing to black.

Cheers!

Not a 340, but i think youll get the jist

[Charlie (Wessex)]

Originally Posted by johnboysafc

Yup

It's only the grille that I think looks awful. The other bits are just fine. But it's of course subjective. If my Used one had had extended shadowline, it would have been a deal breaker.

I wonder if it was matt rather than gloss, whether it wouldn't be better? But then it might look odd with other gloss bits.

[johnboysafc]

Originally Posted by Charlie (Wessex)

It's only the grille that I think looks awful. The other bits are just fine. But it's of course subjective. If my Used one had had extended shadowline, it would have been a deal breaker.

I wonder if it was matt rather than gloss, whether it wouldn't be better? But then it might look odd with other gloss bits.

You're absolutely right, its in the eye of the beholder
Ive used some carbon here and there but the main accents are gloss black anyway as you say

[sharepointalex]

Thanks for the replies all - didn't think it would be such a popular thread!

It's definitely a marmite thing - you either like the gloss black or you don't.

Appreciate the pics above to give me an idea what it looks like.

I may keep the M340i badge in cerium actually and change the rest to gloss black - undecided at the moment.

Just waiting for the replacement 'accents' to arrive for the front bumper and that's the front done!

[Rhino at Work]

ETTO of course. I don't mind the black grilles and anyway had no choice as I wanted the MSport Pro Pack but given the choice with Portimao Blue I would have stuck with the Chrome.