[Shovelman]

And about 40,000 ways to order a BMW. Different models, colors, packages and options. Lots of unique cars out there.

Just wondering what's the most common.

3 series
black paint
black interior
x drive

[Dylan86]

I think with the 2 series, Black is less popular, next to Red being the least. I seem to find more White, Grey and Blue 2's than anything.

But mine is Black/Black, 6spd, loaded. White would be my next choice.

[jpnh]

Originally Posted by Dylan86

I think with the 2 series, Black is less popular, next to Red being the least. I seem to find more White, Grey and Blue 2's than anything.

But mine is Black/Black, 6spd, loaded. White would be my next choice.

I suspect alpine white is also popular because folks question whether or not they like any of the other avail colors to the order of $700 bucks

I love the red and some of the other colors but not $700 dollars more

[pz619]

Originally Posted by jpnh

I suspect alpine white is also popular because folks question whether or not they like any of the other avail colors to the order of $700 bucks

I love the red and some of the other colors but not $700 dollars more

110% agree. I like white, but I also like the blue. I just don't like the blue $700 more.

[HeyMoe53]

I agree about not liking other colors $700 more than Alpine White. Plus, my current 1-series is LeMans Blue, so I don't think I would want Estoril when it becomes time to order.

I'd love to know what colors will be available in '18. If something like Laguna Seca Blue were available, I would be tempted to wait.

BMW has offered some interesting colors over the years; it's a bit sad that the color choices for the M240 are so limited.

[pz619]

Honestly I would have gotten Valencia Orange if it was offered on the M235i. I feel like that was a major miss.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by pz619

Honestly I would have gotten Valencia Orange if it was offered on the M235i. I feel like that was a major miss.

It was!

[mumps]

Got my M235i in Melbourne Red and love it.

Actually looked for the color (used).

Chris

[Rayscott]

I paid the $700 for the Estoril Blue because I love it. What's 700 bucks on a car costing upwards to 50K if you really love the color. Eliminate an option. It's the overall appearance you're buying.

[Dylan86]

Originally Posted by jpnh

I suspect alpine white is also popular because folks question whether or not they like any of the other avail colors to the order of $700 bucks

I love the red and some of the other colors but not $700 dollars more

If I were building my own car, I might have opted for MW, or EB but I initially wanted a bare-bones AW sunroof delete 6mt car when I started looking. It's easy to say now, having bought a BSM CPO'd car that I "prefer" black, but honestly I think I'd have a hard time deciding, because the car looks so great in almost every colour.

I have stayed away from Black cars for a reason, but the BSM cleans up nice and shows really well and I'm happy being part of the "outsiders" club, having a black car, lol. I find BSM to be much better than a Jet Black or non metallic black, in regards to clean up and maintenance.

D

[B_Rice]

The most common on a 2 series would be
-drivers assist
-nav
-black interior
-white exterior
-8AT

[HeyMoe53]

Dealers seem to put either Black or Estoril on their lots, often with black interior.

And of course X-drive and an automatic.

I like Estoril, but I tend to not own two cars in a row from the same color family.

[Maynard]

I'd think that power seats would be almost universal, but since I'm almost always the driver I might skip them next time for the weight and price savings - I rarely adjust them much. The basic white or black look kind of 'fleet car' unless you dress 'em up, but they really look fantastic with blacked trim/grills, tint, and aftermarket wheels. It is disappointing how they narrowed down the color choices, and not sure why - I thought that the assembly line video I saw talked about changing colors on the line car-by-car, so shouldn't be that big a deal to offer more options?

[pz619]

Originally Posted by HeyMoe53

Dealers seem to put either Black or Estoril on their lots, often with black interior.

And of course X-drive and an automatic.

I like Estoril, but I tend to not own two cars in a row from the same color family.

It's obviously a regional thing, but I don't think I've ever seen an x-drive (non SUV) BMW on a lot around here. I've still never seen an x-drive 2 series in person.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Maynard

It is disappointing how they narrowed down the color choices, and not sure why - I thought that the assembly line video I saw talked about changing colors on the line car-by-car, so shouldn't be that big a deal to offer more options?

The plant builds different vehicles, not just 2 Series. The issue starts back at Design Office where the Planners confer and they select the color palette they can agree on to use the available paint systems in the plant, perhaps 10 or 12 is most common. Even if the guns can purge between different color vehicles, consecutively sequenced, there is still a limit to the total number of colors any plant can produce.

Further, all of these colors had to be developed and tested for UV resistance and other wear factors. Then, the suppliers of applied parts (front/rear fascias, for example) had to develop their internal processes leading to a color harmony approval on early vehicle development units. Once that is achieved, one can't just drop in a new color without all the testing which is needed.

These applied parts are also another choice-limiting factor. Even with just-in-time and in-sequence delivery to the plant, the inventory on hand takes up a lot of line space. Fascias are not small parts! With the variety of vehicles Leipzig builds times the color each one comes in, choices have to be limited to make everything fit.

The real problem, as I see it, are the original boring colors the Design Office and the Planners consense on. If the colors were interesting, the 13 they show should be plenty to pick from, but more than half are the "non-color" colors ranging from White/Silver/Grey/Black, etc...

[p912guy]

When it comes to color choices, manufacturers make what sells. There are a few of us buyers who would like a broad selection of "fun" colors, but we aren't the general car buying public. White, black, silver/gray and every color in between are popular with the masses, with an occasion red or blue thrown in. I read white was the number one selling vehicle color in 2015, I'm not sure what it was for 2016, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was white again. Before that, shades of silver/gray were the most popular. Further, most new car buyers aren't interested in ordering and waiting 4-12 weeks for their new car, when they decide it's time for a new car, they want to take it home today. Of course dealers want buyers to take it home today too. So when dealers "floor plan" vehicles, they are selecting the colors and option packages that are most popular so instant gratification can be had for both the dealer and buyer, hence limited color selections. I still remember the day I stopped by the local Audi dealership and the didn't have a single new vehicle on their lot that wasn't a shade of white, black or silver/gray - not even one red or blue one.

All that said, while my wife and I would have loved to have ordered a bright yellow, green, blue or red car (if available), my M235i is Alpine White because I as able to get it for a great price and it was everything I wanted except the perfect color. My wife's Q5 is Lava Pearl Gray because it also was a good deal and was 1 of only 5 2016's still available in late August with the right interior color and other options she wanted. On another note, my restoration project 912 was originally and will be Irish Green, so someday soon I will have some color in my garage again.

[B58togo]

Originally Posted by pz619

It's obviously a regional thing, but I don't think I've ever seen an x-drive (non SUV) BMW on a lot around here. I've still never seen an x-drive 2 series in person.

In upstate NY, it's pretty much all X-Drive on the lots. But then it's like trucks. Almost no two wheel drive pickups around here, but in the south, they're everywhere.