Black Roof Rails - M Sport Package

[fun ticket]

I have an '09 4.8 with M-Sport package. The roof rails are silver. I have seen a few pics on here with black roof rails. Is that an option or were they painted after-market? If so, anyone have any idea on costs, difficulty of removal, etc.?

[EdwardL]

When you order the M sport package I believe you can request black or silver. If you don't put in a request you just get the colour the factory picks. I don't know how they pick the default colour - with my carbon black M sport, roof rails were black by default.

Sorry no idea on costs and install but I'm pretty sure you can buy original BMW individual roof rails in black - a call to your dealer or google should confirm that.

[phattbam]

Hey fun ticket, if you decide to swap your silver rails for new black ones, PM me I'm interested in the M sport rails

[Mr.Impatient]

Originally Posted by EdwardL

When you order the M sport package I believe you can request black or silver. If you don't put in a request you just get the colour the factory picks. I don't know how they pick the default colour - with my carbon black M sport, roof rails were black by default.

Sorry no idea on costs and install but I'm pretty sure you can buy original BMW individual roof rails in black - a call to your dealer or google should confirm that.

Per my CA, no ability to request black in the US. too bad, i bet it looks great

[fun ticket]

Originally Posted by Mr.Impatient

Per my CA, no ability to request black in the US. too bad, i bet it looks great

Yeah, cant find any info that they are available in the US. Too bad, that is what I wanted to do. I was going to get back wheels but not sure how that would look with the silver roof rails.

What do you guys think?

[Mr.Impatient]

Originally Posted by fun ticket

Yeah, cant find any info that they are available in the US. Too bad, that is what I wanted to do. I was going to get back wheels but not sure how that would look with the silver roof rails.

What do you guys think?

It will probably be fine, but it probably only costs a couple hundred bucks to powdercoat the rails if you really want it.

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by Mr.Impatient

It will probably be fine, but it probably only costs a couple hundred bucks to powdercoat the rails if you really want it.

or you can sell the silver to someone here and buy the black.

[darwin316]

New poster here... just placed an order for a 2011 X5 35i with M Sport Package.

Quick question, does anybody know for certain that the M Sport retains the shadowline trim around the side window frames?

The official pics show shadowline trim, but the press release states "satinized aluminum trim".

I have the dealer I'm working with contact BMW to make sure. This car is for the wife and she doesn't want chrome/silver trims around the windows. She doesn't care about much about the color of the roof rails.

Thanks!

[arjuno]

Above posters are correct, the US is messed up this way. It's the price we pay for having access to the cheapest BMW's in the world compared to anywhere else. Our options are limited, and everything is pre-packaged. If you order the 2011 M Sport, you will get shadowline trim around the windows, BUT the M Sport low profile rails are satinized aluminum. The only way to match the trim is to get them aftermarket powder coated which isn't hard at all.

I was seriously debating getting an Alpine White or Silver M Sport (IMHO M Sport package works best on the lighter colors to off set all the black trim pieces, ie: bumpers, wheel arches etc on the regular models). I think if you are leaning towards the darker colors, M Sport is wasted since on the 2011s the black trim pieces/bumpers are not as noticeable like in the 2010s. I realize that there are some interior changes as well as some performance upgrades with the package (rims, suspension, speed limiter etc), but this is purely my opinion on the aesthetics of the exterior.

[EdwardL]

In my Australian M-Sport I have the aluminium trim around the windows and black roof rails. I don't think it looks half bad on carbon black...!