Arctic Silver or Estoril Blue?

[M3boarder]

im looking to purchace an obdII M3 probably around next may-june or so, but obviously i cant stop thinking about this. so its time to try to decide on something very important...COLOR!! for a long time, arctic silver has been my ABSOLUTE favorite color on the e36...probably every other model too. but there is only one color that i would think of getting besides silver, and thats of course the beautiful estoril blue!! im still favoring silver over estoril, but im thinking that if i find a really nice estoril blue, i may just have to go for it. i just wanna hear your guys's opinions about color...maybe try to convince me towards either one ...explain why each is better, maybe post pics, and what not....at this point, its all about SILVER!!!!!

[///Matador]

estoril..without a doubt.......it is just not the common old black and silver that a lot of BMW's have.

I can tell you it gets a lot of attention..

[Midnight Shark]

I personally like artic silver because of it's uncommon type of silver. It has a bluish tinge to it and somehow the color illuminates during dusk hours, unlike the titanium silver on the newer BMW's which is almost like every other brand car with titanium silver.

I was once in that dilemma with both colors before buying. My favorite color is actually blue, because of the tantillating effects of artic silver coupled w/ a bluish tinge, I chose artic silver.

Just my 2 cents!

[LagunaSecaBlue]

gotta go blue, dude.

titanium silver is one of the worst colors, imho... arctic is ok, but it's no estoril

[Reno]

cosmos black =P

[Arman]

ARCTIC ofcourse!!!!



Arctic is unique, not your regular dull silver. Easier to keep clean and it ALWAYS looks good, even when dirty. Specially at night time, it has the most beautiful glow to it!

Both colors are good, but I personally have been in love with Arctic since the day I saw it in a parking lot in my school, no other color has impressed me more.....

One more thing to add, silver has always been BMWs color, The best handling post which is the best M3 poster has a 97 Arctic Silver in the front, out of all the colors, they picked Arctic.....

[Techno Violent]

Hmmm. Lets see . . . how many times a day do you see a metallic silver car? How many BMW's do you see in metallic silver? How many e36's do you see in metallic silver? How many M3's do you see in metallic silver? The answer to all of the above is: TOO MANY. Its a great color and EVERYBODY loves it and has it. Accordingly, there is absolutely nothing unique or special about silver.
What are the BMW Motorsport colors? Hellrot, Estoril and Techno.
Can you get a non-M3 e36 in estoril? Nope.
When is the last time you saw an estoril M3 on the road? For me, it was about a year ago. It is a beautiful AND exclusive color that will set a car apart from the crowd, instantly. Based on its color alone, the car is automatically transformed from just another M3, into a very special M3.
Its a no-brainer. Estoril.

[Arman]

Originally posted by Techno Violent
Hmmm. Lets see . . . how many times a day do you see a metallic silver car? How many BMW's do you see in metallic silver? How many e36's do you see in metallic silver? How many M3's do you see in metallic silver? The answer to all of the above is: TOO MANY. Its a great color and EVERYBODY loves it and has it. Accordingly, there is absolutely nothing unique or special about silver.

This is obviously very subjective to where you live, you may have only seen on Estroil, but I see Estroils as many as I see Silver, BUT I don't see too many ARCTIC Silvers......... just my .02

[KR - 318i]

Originally posted by Techno Violent

Can you get a non-M3 e36 in estoril? Nope.

Its a no-brainer. Estoril.

Yes... ... BMW Individual... ... However, I agree in full with your sentiments regardless...

We have both an Estoril Blue 1997 E36 328ic and a Arctic Silver 1997 E36 318i , and although I love the Arctic Silver and with simple clears and nice mods it looks clean enough to eat off ... ... The Estoril is definetely a much rarer colour, I have only ever seen a handful on the road over here in Syd, Aust... However, irrespective, in low light it looks gorgeous, in direct sunlight, the blue is amazing, at night it looks dark almost purplish at times; bottom line, you pick any hour of the 24 you have each day, and you will not for a second regret picking the colour....

Estoril gets my Vote (this from an Arctic Silver owner )

Mmm... However, I feel like sittin on the fence at the moment ... so I am just going to say a few words on Arctic as well --> "Look at Arman's car" ... hahaha, seriously, this Silver is an absolute treat to photograph or just stare at for a long period of time... Arctic has a blue tinge and clear look built into the paint, and its miles ahead of most other companies so called "Common Silvers" out and about... So yeah, you are definetely on the right track dood, and good luck with your M3 --> caus you will love either colour!!

[Techno Violent]

Arman, I live around the beltway from you. We're in the same area, bro. I'm not about to get into an argument as to whether estoril or silver is the more common color. That's like debating whether the sky is blue.
Like jet black vs. cosmos vs. some other variation of black, I lump all silvers together.

BTW, your car is hot, and I, like everyone else on this planet, LOVE the color. But that's exactly why I'd never opt for it. Didn't (or doesn't) your boy have a silver M3, too?

[Arman]

Originally posted by Techno Violent
Arman, I live around the beltway from you. We're in the same area, bro. I'm not about to get into an argument as to whether estoril or silver is the more common color. That's like debating whether the sky is blue.
Like jet black vs. cosmos vs. some other variation of black, I lump all silvers together.

BTW, your car is hot, and I, like everyone else on this planet, LOVE the color. But that's exactly why I'd never opt for it. Didn't (or doesn't) your boy have a silver M3, too?

thanks.......I like both colors also, I think M3 looks good in any color, it's all what your preference is......as far as my boy having the same color, actually two of my boys have ARCTIC, my friend had the choice of getting Estroil also, but he has been in love with Arctic since I got my car.

[M3X]

M3X Familia'

Here is the situation, the issue can be easily solved.

As far what color is the Best, well Whatever the color that you may like-that looks best to you...

As far as i am concerned - for the e36 Body, the Best, Now I Mean THE BEST COLOR IS FUKING

///AAARRRCCCTTTIIICCC SILVER...




THATS D' SHIT - ITS THE BEST COLOR - AND THERE IS NO
DISCUSSION ABOUT IT... I AM SORRY BUT THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT!!!

ITS EXOTIC ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT WWOOWOWOWWWOWOWOWOOWOWOWOW

To me, its the Baby E36 version of the E46 Chrome Shadow WoW what A Color thats Shit TOOO.

Thats It That was Not Too Hard...

[Proteinbeast]

Can't go wrong with either color, personally i'd go with estoril

But my 2 favorite BMW colors are Cosmos Black and Avus Blue

[Vitolo]

I've owned both.

99 Estoril Blue M3
97 Arctic Silver 318ti
95 Arctic Silver M3 (now Arman's)


Estoril just has the WOW factor, especially in bright lighting. At night it has a purple hue to it. Arctic really sparkles in the light, GLOWS at dusk, and epitomizes class at night. Arman helped me realize what a great color it is. My next car will be another Estoril M3, but dont forget I am a repeat customer of Arctic. Im not gonna vote because I really couldn't tell you which is "better" because it is simply preference. I will tell you that either choice will make you happy.

[Uber328]

I think Estoril Blue is a great color, and it my third choice when I start looking for an M3 in a year or so, but I think I'd get tired of it in a while. Arctic Silver looks great on the E36 body IMO. It really shows off the lines and angles of the sheet metal and glistens in the city lights at night.

Personally I think Arctic Silver is "THE" BMW color!!