bmwe21.net forums

Hi all,

I'm really curious if anyone else before researched the subject of comparing the colors of the E21. I have found this information about OEM colors offered in the specific periods of time:

https://bimmertips.com/bmw-e21-oem-paint-color-options/

In the last column cells are filled with the specific color, but how accurate is it? As we know on the web we use a RGB system to represent the colors, therefore RGB values can be collected from the table, but how close would it be to the REAL color of the paint? Is there a way to obtain the comparison chart between different colors?

I personally think that the most reliable information would be the page from the original sales brochure with printed samples of the colors. Any other ideas? Thanks

In my experience there is no reliable method of checking colours other than actually seeing the car in colour. Printed representations use a different process and will therefore be slightly different, the same goes for looking at colours on a computer screen.

It's also worth remembering that manufacturers paint formulations and technology have changed over the years which makes it impossible to accurately compare colours without actually having the car in front of you.

I'm with Keith on this one even though this is a nice listing that goes further than that we have here on the website. This is also a very useful one, pardon the German text haha: https://www.e21-board.de/wbb/farbtabelle/

e21Keith wrote: Sat Aug 15, 2020 7:43 pm In my experience there is no reliable method of checking colours other than actually seeing the car in colour. Printed representations use a different process and will therefore be slightly different, the same goes for looking at colours on a computer screen.

It's also worth remembering that manufacturers paint formulations and technology have changed over the years which makes it impossible to accurately compare colours without actually having the car in front of you.

But there is another challenge here: find 2 originally painted cars and bring to the same location to be able to compare them. Difficult.

Jeroen wrote: Sun Aug 16, 2020 12:08 am I'm with Keith on this one even though this is a nice listing that goes further than that we have here on the website. This is also a very useful one, pardon the German text haha: https://www.e21-board.de/wbb/farbtabelle/

Nice link, thanks

But there is another challenge here: find 2 originally painted cars and bring to the same location to be able to compare them. Difficult.
[/quote]

Try and find 2 cars nearly 40 years old that haven't had any paintwork, even if you do it's likely that the original paint will have faded over time.

e21Keith wrote: Sun Aug 16, 2020 12:19 pm Try and find 2 cars nearly 40 years old that haven't had any paintwork, even if you do it's likely that the original paint will have faded over time.

Exactly. That hopefully explains why I'm trying to debate other methods of comparing the colors...

I think that's the point, there is no solid and 100% reliable method of comparing colours.

So, in the end, all colours that come un a certain range are oke. I restored my 323i, had it painted Polaris 060, as it was from the factory. Will it match 100% with thr old paint? I will never know. And as far as I can compare with a 323i that came of the productionline in the same week as mine qnd which hase (alledged) original paint, the colour is spot on. But what if it is close, but not spot on? Who cares and who will be able to judge it?

I think if you have painted it in the same colour that's great.

I am just curious of how much difference there was for example between Iberishrot and Hennarot etc.