Are ZCP M3's less desirable than normal ones?

[maw1124]

I embraced the wood in my E39 as well… I like the different vibe from my E46, little splash of color rather than spartan black and metallic everywhere.

That is a HUGEEEEE no for me but I'm not sold on carbon fiber as being great either, it can work under certain circumstances.

imo for this era of cars mb pulled off the classy wood interiors (burled walnut on beige) better than bmw which had better looking "sporty" interiors (brushed aluminum on black)…

I’m right in the middle of all this. I have the wood and leather thing (and alcantara) thing covered on other cars (MB and Audi) from the 90s and 00s, and wanted a little something different in this one. A little something different. Then all these manufacturers went all crazy with carbon fiber and metallic plastic all over the interiors, which is a LOT of something different. Too much for my tastes, including the carbon fiber accessories all over the place, interior AND exterior — key chains, mirror covers, bumper lips and spoilers, plastic-dip carbon fiber look alike products — just crazy, which is where this steering wheel fits for me. Sure, real carbon fiber weighs less than wood and might be easier to care for… which may matter in a Bentley Continental Speed or an SClass AMG, if you actually think you’re racing those cars and trying to shave a few pounds. But if you aren’t racing (and I’m not) I prefer the wood, generally.

But on this car with this color combo (Silver over Red), the brushed aluminum just kinda works to me, especially with the top down so the car’s interior and exterior treatments blend and play off each other. Same with Black on Black. It’s really one of the best designs I’ve seen BMW execute. I only wish they had kept the M striping stitched into the seats from the E36M.

maw

[usdmej]

it can work under certain circumstances.. I feel like my grandpa rolled up in his model T looking at the tan/birch

imo for this era of cars mb pulled off the classy wood interiors (burled walnut on beige) better than bmw which had better looking "sporty" interiors (brushed aluminum on black)

[oceansize]

birch wood trim on an E46 > cf trim any day of the week

That is a HUGEEEEE no for me but I'm not sold on carbon fiber as being great either, it can work under certain circumstances.. I feel like my grandpa rolled up in his model T looking at the tan/birch, only way it could be worse is if someone piled a bunch of Alcantara in there

[repoman89]

I embraced the wood in my E39 as well. So much so that I overpaid for a new walnut 6 speed shift knob from Schmiedmann to replace my ugly messed up one rather than just get the normal black leather one for half the price. I like the different vibe from my E46, little splash of color rather than spartan black and metallic everywhere.

[usdmej]

Now I disagree and feel that carbon fiber on the interior can be done well if done sparsely but I get his point. Obviously his comments are about aesthetics and not race car stuff.

birch wood trim on an E46 > cf trim any day of the week

[jet_dogg]

Carbon inside the cabin is pretty dumb to be honest though, unless it's something like entire door panels and such.

[oceansize]

Reminds of what Sreten from M539 restorations said in his last episode concerning his e60 M5:

"The interior is stunning doesn't need anything else, and leave the wood trim alone, I'm not going to replace it with carbon stupid fiber. I'd rather set it on fire than do that, I love the wood trim".

Now I disagree and feel that carbon fiber on the interior can be done well if done sparsely but I get his point. Obviously his comments are about aesthetics and not race car stuff.

[usdmej]

Really, carbon fiber for anything that isn’t decreasing weight or increasing strength looks terrible to me.

weird that your objective preferences guide your subjective tastes

any trim piece inside an interior be it plastic/metal/cf is there for decorative reasons

[Estoril]

That and deer whistles set a car off nicely.

Don't forget the adhesive ///M seat stickers that were popular years ago.

Also, snap-on plastic caliper covers.

[cobra]

Yeah. Carbon fiber steering wheels look terrible to me.

Really, carbon fiber for anything that isn’t decreasing weight or increasing strength looks terrible to me.

And in those cases, it's usually unidirectional or spread-tow fibers which don't look like the typical cosmetic carbon fibers. A really high performance piece might just look like wavy black plastic but be stronger than steel!

[Casa de Mesa]

... and smoked license plate starter pack.

That and deer whistles set a car off nicely.

[Obioban]

"WTF is that steering wheel?!" is the other thing I thought. Knowing what NOT to change on these cars seems to be where is all the money. It reminds me what attracted me to the car in the first place -- BMW M got it damned near bang on from the factory IMO.

maw

Yeah. Carbon fiber steering wheels look terrible to me.

Really, carbon fiber for anything that isn’t decreasing weight or increasing strength looks terrible to me.

[maw1124]

"WTF is that steering wheel?!" is the other thing I thought. Knowing what NOT to change on these cars seems to be where is all the money. It reminds me what attracted me to the car in the first place -- BMW M got it damned near bang on from the factory IMO.

maw

[sina]

They come with the smg vert and smoked license plate starter pack.

[jet_dogg]

The grill and that steering wheel 🔥