Big difference in keeping clean white vs grey?

[Kdawg1966]

Hi all,

It's down to the wire. My wife and I are debating between space grey and mineral white. I would like to know from those out there who have owned both: Is there a big difference in keeping the mineral white looking nice and clean, compared to space grey?

I've never owned a white car but my gut (and folklore) tells me that the white will be quite a bit more work keeping it looking clean, while grey can hide the minor stuff much better. Am I onto something here? Thanks.

[DuSh]

I had space grey Honda and now have Alpine White x5. No doubt space grey is easier to maintain clean. White is not bad, much better than black car to keep clean.
That been said - if i had to choose - winner would be .... wife. Works better in the long run - clean car or not

[kered]

I can't vouch for grey, as I'm currently driving a Carbon Black X5, but previously had a White Discovery 4 and I'd have to say that white was a surprisingly easy colour to keep looking clean. In fact I don't think I'd ever buy a black / dark colour car again.

Yes the white got road grime & dirt on it & boy do we have some muck & filth on the roads here in Ireland. But I felt that while I can only get one drive in bad weather with the X5 before it looks dirty, the discovery seemed to take longer before looking grimy.

The other benefit to white is that minor scratches don't show up a readily as on a darker colour & swirl marks from washing are virtually not existent. I find with the black car I'm having to be so careful how the car is washed to avoid swirl marks. In fact I've taken to washing the car myself now, something I haven't done for years.

White as a colour for cars was very much in vogue here again for the past couple of years & I think it's about to go out of fashion again. But in countries with plenty of sunshine, such as the U.S. I think a white car looks super, especially BMW's mineral white. So for my money white would be easier to keep clean. I can just imagine what that glorious summer sunshine reflected on a black car would show up.

[expidia]

As Kered just said.. . . dark colors like my jet black X5 take a lot of dedication. I wash mine by hand probably twice a week and thats with menzerno powerlock sealer and two coats of carnauba on it and a spray detailer finish coat.
I'm in a city and it gets dirty, just sitting in my paved driveway off of a paved neighborhood

Prior to this X5, I had a silver SUV. I got silver because as my son had the same silver SUV. He never washes his car. When I used to pull in his driveway "I'd say did you just wash your car"? And he'd say "not this past year"
Prior to my silver SUV my wife and I had twin Saabs. One midnight blue and one jet black.

My Wife's white Audi SUV I wash once a month vs my black X5 twice a week.

Go with one of the BMW silver or grey paint.

If you go dark . . . I bought mine a year old, if I was buying a new X5, I'd spring for one of those 5 year ceramic coatings.

[P1]

I had an Alpine White and my dad had Mineral White. Harder to keep clean than black.

[Scott2.0]

My current X5 is the first white (Alpine) vehicle that I've owned. I've had black cars before and finds the white shows much less than darker colors. Gray would likely be easier, but white isn't nearly as bad as I feared and way easier than dark colors to keep looking fresh between washes.

[Pastor Passum]

Originally Posted by P1et

I had an Alpine White and my dad had Mineral White. Harder to keep clean than black.

Um...I want some of what you're smoking

[Hrmmm]

Like others have mentioned, I believe white is pretty easy to keep clean. It doesn't show water spots easily (in case you missed a spot while drying it after a wash) and swirls are also well hidden (you can still see them at the right angle though). I think silver paint hides dust better than white, but white is way less maintenance than a dark color.

[P1]

Originally Posted by Pastor Passum

Um...I want some of what you're smoking

I've had two white cars and three black ones right now. The Jet Black is temperamental, but the Black Sapphire Metallics stay super clean. Love me some Power Lock...

[hyde]

Originally Posted by P1et

I've had two white cars and three black ones right now. The Jet Black is temperamental, but the Black Sapphire Metallics stay super clean. Love me some Power Lock...

What's power lock?

[Fozzy]

I currently own both space grey and alpine white. Haven't had alpine white in winter yet, but have owned white cars. With salt and sand they both hold up well but Space grey is probably a slightly better choice.

[P1]

Originally Posted by hyde

What's power lock?

It's the sealant I use on all my cars...

[BeeMdblU]

go with what you like better on the X5, dirt can be washed, changing paint color is another story.

[Nuckle]

I currently have a white and black vehicle. Just my opinion but to me a white car is way harder to keep clean. A black car is way harder to keep perfect. I see small blemishes in my black car way before my white but my white car looks dirty way before my black car. I am not sure if that makes sense but it is my opinion.

[zinengineer]

FWIW

Space Gray X5 - looks good even when dusty and dirty
Black Sapphire Metallic - looks dusty and dirty the day after I wash the thing; but oh so sweet when clean

Previously had a White MDX (OK, so we're talking BMW's, but white is white) - it always looked good, even in the middle of winter.

I'm not looking forward to the day when I actually decide to order a car....I'm not exactly sure what I'll do. So far, I've purchased a "lot" car and the CPO - get what's available.

for me, right now, the gray is easier to deal with but the black......

[pcadamo]

Alpine white for me. Overall not too bad. However - I get streaks under the doors on the white rocker panel (MSport). They seem to come from some kind of gook that seeps from the drain holes on the bottom inside of the doors. Maybe grease or rust resistant coat inside the door. Happens on ALL FOUR doors.

A bit of elbow grease with a clay bar takes it right off.

[spike5150]

Most dust is closer to light brown and light gray in color. White looks the best the longest (wifes). My space gray is a close second.

[Nuckle]

Originally Posted by spike5150

Most dust is closer to light brown and light gray in color. White looks the best the longest (wifes). My space gray is a close second.

That brings in an interesting question about location. Most of our dust is dark or red. Rough on a white vehicle.

[tnikolov]

I had an alpine white F15, which had a faulty engine (twice) and the whole vehicle was replaced by BMW. I got a brand new Space Grey F15.

The white needed 2-3 washes a week to look sharply clean. The grey one I only wash once every two weeks and looks super clean all the time. Same car, same garage, same driving habits. After getting used to both colors, I'd say I even like the grey better.

[originalgoods13]

Alpine White is hard to keep "clean" in a detailing perspective as you see every sap, brake dust, environmental fallout, exhaust soot. While it does not show scratches and swirls as much, the color looks dull when dirty.

Space Grey will be a no-brainer and it looks good in M-Sport trim.

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by Kdawg1966

Hi all,

It's down to the wire. My wife and I are debating between space grey and mineral white. I would like to know from those out there who have owned both: Is there a big difference in keeping the mineral white looking nice and clean, compared to space grey?

I've never owned a white car but my gut (and folklore) tells me that the white will be quite a bit more work keeping it looking clean, while grey can hide the minor stuff much better. Am I onto something here? Thanks.

Not even close, IMO.

I'd never owned a white vehicle before my X5, but had always read they didn't show dirt. Couldn't disagree more - it shows dirt so quickly/easily. I haven't owned a gray X5, but I had a Silver-Gray (very close to Space Gray) E46 3 series and it barely showed dirt.

Originally Posted by P1et

It's the sealant I use on all my cars...

Best stuff on the market!

[SCA]

Originally Posted by jiggz

Best stuff on the market!

+1 in regards to a sealant


Jescar is the US manufacture for Menzerna.