A tale of two mattes: Photo comparison of my Frozen Black M4 vs my '12 Matte MB C63

[BrooklynG87]

Hello gang. So I know this isn't really a current comparison but I thought you guys might like to see some photos for comparison of my 2015 Frozen Black M4 vs my old 2012 Mercedes Benz C63 Edition One in Designo Magno Night Matte Black. Both very different yet similar. I know that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I can say this: if you want a brute violent scary fast car, then the C63 is your car. If you want a more refined, yet quick, fun, easy to use car, then the M4 is your car. I can also tell you that I am seeing almost half the fuel consumption on the M4. I was averaging 12 MPG on the C63 and 20 MPG with the M4. I missed the unbelievably loud and aggressive tone of the C63 from a cold start but surprisingly, the M4 (with the M Performance exhaust) still puts a huge grin on my face when pushing the Start/Stop button from a cold start. As I think you'll all see, it really isn't a fair comparison. The C63 despite the facelift it received in 2012, really looks dated compared to the more curvy modern M4. Also it's infotainment interface is comical compared to the new capabilities of the latest iDrive Nav systems. The paint on both is equally impressive! I would love to hear your opinions and thoughts! And finally some pictures. Enjoy!

[DrtyJrze]

Nice cars. I prefer the MB matte, it's more black. The M4 looks grayish.

[NickRac]

Love them both.

[AlpineE92M3]

Those are some amazing cars. Although the C63 paint looks more black, the M4 just looks stunning in the matte finish. Honestly, I don't think the C63 looks dated at all...it still has all the amenities that the M4 has, LED'S, Alcantara, great rims and steering wheel. These pictures just show the differences in each companies paint codes. Some are deeper in color depth with more clear coat or depth in the paint. Nice comparison. Great pictures, thanks for sharing!

[ciaranob]

Was staring at both for a while trying to figure out likes/dislikes but something that kept coming back was the fender style on the C63 - simply do not like them - they kinda look like an after thought - weird I know but the M4 to my mind wins in the style dept (especially when you add in the front end look) - very subjective I know and off topic re matte paint!

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by DrtyJrze

Nice cars. I prefer the MB matte, it's more black. The M4 looks grayish.

That was my first thought, but in reality, it's because the M4 pix are horribly overexposed. This changes the coloration and loses a lot of detail. Since these shots are in the same spot, look at the difference in color of the backgrounds and how washed out they are and how the details are gone. IMO, you should not use these photos to compare colors.

Not criticizing the photographer, I struggle with this too, but just letting people know comparing the two colors using these pics is not advisable.

[Jtjjen]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

That was my first thought, but in reality, it's because the M4 pix are horribly overexposed. This changes the coloration and loses a lot of detail. Since these shots are in the same spot, look at the difference in color of the backgrounds and how washed out they are and how the details are gone. IMO, you should not use these photos to compare colors.

Not criticizing the photographer, I struggle with this too, but just letting people know comparing the two colors using these pics is not advisable.

Agree with this.

[RowanBuds]

Love the differences, and the MB is way more black in the photos. I still can't believe they deliver a $5K upcharge matte color with gloss film on the rear quarter panels in front of the wheels.

Is the non-matte ppf there any less visible in person than in the photos?

[bimmerj]

Both look great. I am sure the tech in the M4 is light years, but the brake calipers should be replaced! The M4 is darker for sure, pictures are overexposed, as mentioned.

[jwilliams]

Matte Black is most definitely a fail on both cars. It looks finished and cheap and i don't think its does these two great cars any justice at all. Sorry.

[fiberwave]

How do you decide which one to drive each day?

[BrooklynG87]

Originally Posted by DrtyJrze

Nice cars. I prefer the MB matte, it's more black. The M4 looks grayish.

Originally Posted by NickRac

Love them both.

Originally Posted by AlpineE92M3

Those are some amazing cars. Although the C63 paint looks more black, the M4 just looks stunning in the matte finish. Honestly, I don't think the C63 looks dated at all...it still has all the amenities that the M4 has, LED'S, Alcantara, great rims and steering wheel. These pictures just show the differences in each companies paint codes. Some are deeper in color depth with more clear coat or depth in the paint. Nice comparison. Great pictures, thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by bimmerj

Both look great. I am sure the tech in the M4 is light years, but the brake calipers should be replaced! The M4 is darker for sure, pictures are overexposed, as mentioned.

Originally Posted by jordon335

Matte Black is most definitely a fail on both cars. It looks finished and cheap and i don't think its does these two great cars any justice at all. Sorry.

Thank you for the kind words (well most of you)... They are both seriously incredible pieces of machinery. Both cars really do attract a ton of attention.

Originally Posted by fiberwave

How do you decide which one to drive each day?

I wish I had that problem! Unfortunately I had the C63 from April 2013 until June 2014 and the M4 I just recently picked up this past April 2015 so I never had any overlap with both cars. But I agree it would be a pretty difficult decision if I had them both!

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

That was my first thought, but in reality, it's because the M4 pix are horribly overexposed. This changes the coloration and loses a lot of detail. Since these shots are in the same spot, look at the difference in color of the backgrounds and how washed out they are and how the details are gone. IMO, you should not use these photos to compare colors.

Not criticizing the photographer, I struggle with this too, but just letting people know comparing the two colors using these pics is not advisable.

Yes you are 100% correct. I am the crappy photographer who takes full blame for the M4 photos being super overexposed. I am not a photographer by any means and my stupid entry-level SLR was acting up that afternoon as well. In real life the colors are strikingly similar, even though I've never had both cars side-by-side to compare.

[Mr.SugarSkulls]

It looks fantastic either way. The m4 definitely came out brighter than real life (real life it looks much more like the black in those MB photos) but it looks so much more modern.

My FB m6 FINALLY ported yesterday. Hopefully I'll be getting her any day now

[Paulnet]

These look nice! (Sorry for digging it up...) Why there's a little clear paint exposed in front of the rear wheels? Did you use matte protection film to make it like that?

[BrooklynG87]

Originally Posted by Paulnet

These look nice! (Sorry for digging it up...) Why there's a little clear paint exposed in front of the rear wheels? Did you use matte protection film to make it like that?

That's actually stock from BMW to prevent against rock chips. Some others with Frozen colors have had that peeled off and wrapped with matte instead.

[M4FOREVER]

PM me I'm live in Brooklyn.

[JBGD]

Very nice cars! Definitely partial to the styling of the M4. Black paint tough to keep clean, is the matt paint even tougher??

[Fake News 2017]

Ugly wheels on the Merc

[dzvero]

Originally Posted by ciaranob

Was staring at both for a while trying to figure out likes/dislikes but something that kept coming back was the fender style on the C63 - simply do not like them - they kinda look like an after thought - weird I know but the M4 to my mind wins in the style dept (especially when you add in the front end look) - very subjective I know and off topic re matte paint!

M4 is more aggressive in the front

[TexasSurgeon]

Great pics..

M4 Frozen by far looks better. And you have to see it in person to appreciate the beauty of the paint job.

I have a frozen black M4. And I cannot go anywhere without multiple compliments on a daily basis