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      02-12-2016, 11:54 PM   #1
Curt2000
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Sunburst Gold F80 M3 ED Journal (+ Newly Remodeled Welt VIP Lounge Review)

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All Photo credit goes to my friend and talented photographer Jimmy Crook of Crooks Life Shots who accompanied me on this journey!
Background
With fond memories of the Santorini Blue European delivery in the spring of 2013 I found myself traveling to Munich for the second time. Just as before I had spent months milling over individual paint options with BMW David and Steve Thomas BMW. Scouring internet forums and old stock photos of every automotive paint color imaginable I would submit ideas to David weekly. David would then send my requests to BMW individual to see if the colors were available. Some were rejected, some were approved with significant extra cost, and others were approved at the standard $5,000 premium. My final options were Purple Silk Metallic, Telesto Grigio, and Sunburst Gold Metallic. Purple Silk Metallic was BMW’s consolation to the fact that they refused to paint the car Techno Violet and was a color which had already been ordered on other cars. Telesto Grigio, a Lamborghini color, had been ordered several times as well. Which left me with the risky option of Sunburst Gold Metallic which had found its way onto one 2013 E92 individual order which was posted online but seemed to slip into obscurity. I chose the rarest of my options even though I had never seen it in person. It was a gamble and came with all the excitement and uncertainty inherent of a $70,000 bet that it wouldn’t turn out hideous.

Arrival
Something I failed to take advantage of on my first trip was the complementary limousine service offered by BMW to ED customers. To my delight I was finally one of the lucky few to be greeted by a chauffeur holding a sign with my name on it at the airport exit. He escorted Jimmy and I to a brand new 750Li and whisked us away to our hotel in the city center of Munich.


Hotel
The Platzl Hotel is centrally located on the adjacent block to the historic Haufbrauhaus and only a couple blocks from a plethora of historic Bravarian landmarks such as the Marienplatz and Frauenkirche. It exceeded all my expectations of charm and style which were promised from online reviews. The whole hotel was decorated with retro German artifacts blended with modern furnishings and appointments. Even the friendly hotel staff was dressed in culturally rooted Bavarian attire which was a great final touch to the whole experience. The room, which was surprisingly affordable considering the location, was very spacious, comfortable, and seemed to have been very recently re-decorated/updated. The complimentary breakfast buffet was the most impressive spread of high-class European culinary deliciousness which I have ever experienced. All-in-all, I was very pleased with my accommodations during the trip and would highly recommend the Platzl to anyone considering traveling to Munich.


New ED Lounge
My trip had been postponed due to Euro Deliveries not being available for most of January and the first week of February due to the delivery center being closed for re-modeling. Having spent time in the VIP lounge at the Welt back in 2013 I can say I wasn’t disappointed with the experience. However, as BMW is known to do, they greatly improved an already good thing! The new lounge is both luxurious, sleek, and comfortable. They made great use of decorations that served as dividers between various seating areas that provides a higher level of privacy than the old design. The lighting is very soft and you can hear soothing music which creates an almost surreal atmosphere. The buffet seemed unchanged from what I remembered and offered a spread of complimentary beers, brats, finger foods, coffees, and pastries.





The Sunburst Gold M3
Remember that $70,000 gamble I told you about? Walking out on that balcony to see the car for the first time was reminiscent of walking into the living room on Christmas morning as an adolescent. As I gazed down upon my new obsession I burst into a spontaneous giggle. The color was stunning! I felt a wash of relief and happiness as I knew my gamble had paid off. After a short while I met with my welt delivery employee who took me to the car. She said that the color was unlike anything she had seen during her time at the Welt and that all the employees had been buzzing about the car since it had arrived. In shade and low light, it takes on a copper hue which washes-out in direct light to a pale gold with several shades in-between. This diversity in color extenuates the lines of the car perfectly. It does not agree with the chrome grills which will be replaced immediately upon U.S. delivery and will go well with the satin black & carbon fiber parts which I have selected for the build. The color is very loud and is impossible to ignore which was my goal and ultimately why I chose it in the first place. The interior is an enthusiast’s carbon cloth with CF trim and 6MT, the same as my E92. The only option I selected was the lighting package which was enough of a functionality and appearance upgrade to warrant the cost. Unfortunately, due to the cost of renting snow tires, the forecasted February weather, and the fact the Nordschleife is closed for tourist laps until late March I decided not to drive the car. Instead I immediately signed the shipping paperwork so she could be delivered state-side as soon as possible.

To sum-up what I believe will be the communities reaction to the color I will quote my delivery consultant’s sentiment: “I very much like the color and although I would not choose this color for my personal car I am glad you have chosen it so that we can all still admire it.”

Once again I have returned home completely satisfied with my BMW European Delivery experience. It is the only way to purchase a new BMW and a once (or multiple) in a lifetime experience. I look forward to receiving the car stateside and to many miles/years of sheer driving pleasure!



Check out the whole 400+ picture album on Crooks Life's Flickr.

Also check out our KW Suspension Factory Tour!
__________________

Former Car: '16 SUNBURST GOLD F80 ///M3--6MT/Carbon Cloth (ED Thread)
Former Car:'13 SANTORINI BLUE E92///M3--6MT/Speed Cloth/ZCP(ED Thread)
INSTAGRAM:@C2KMotorsports

Last edited by Curt2000; 02-15-2016 at 03:38 PM..
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