Have adopted a 2003 Black/Black Mini Cooper S JCW, but not sure which flavor black it is. Is there any easy way to tell? Mine does not have any discernable "metal flake" to the finish. Does that make it Jet Black, or are these distinctions moot and the names just a product of a certain year's advertising?

 

there is a fairly big difference. Jet Black is a solid colour, whereas Astro Black is a metallic colour. does your paint have the "sparkles"?

 

03 black=jet black
06 black=astro black. jet black discontinued and replaced w/ astro in 06

 

I believe that if it's an '03, it's Jet Black.

 

Take a look under the bonnet on the passenger side. It will say what your color is.

 

Astro black didn't replace jet black. THey were both available for 04 & 05.

If you open your hood, check the left side strut tower, the color should be on the VIN plate.

 

Thanks for clearing that up guys. Guess my MCS is JB/JB then...

Either way a b%&^$ to keep clean, but looks great when it is

 

I hear ya!!




Be sure to post in the Jet Black Rules thread!

 

Jet Black is a great color on the MINI. But like you say, it only takes a few minutes before the dust shows up on the finish. Today I took my JB/JB MCS out in public--GASP--dusty!!! LOL. I spent all day Autocrossing yesterday and didn't have time to wash the MINI before taking my son to school today. And while I knew it was dusty, it didn't look nearly as bad as the black Corvette to my left or the black BMW with horrible swirls and scratches in the paint. LOL.

As for Astro Black--the paint almost doesn't even look black sometimes--like a shade of blue or grey. It's a nice color, but JB is way better.

 

half the fun of owning a black car is developing OCD therefore having excuses to let yoru better half allow you to purchase detailing supplies!!! Its a good thing :D

 

this thread was in regards to an MCS. for the S models there was no option for the Astro Black until '06... in '06 the astro black replaced the jet black for all MCS's.

But you are correct that MINI's have had Astro as an option for a few years, just not for an S

 

Yeah, you are right! Astro Black reminds me of Carbon Black on the BMWs. I had an E46 M3 in Carbon Black, that was a fine color.

People used to get so confused when I'd tell them it was Carbon "Black". In the sunlight, they'd say, "but it's dark blue!?"

Then I'd have to explain carbon paper on old receipts where the front side is dark blue, but on the back it's black. I guess we can say the same thing about looking up to space. Most people think the universe is black, but it's actually more blue...or is it?

 

Very cool photo!! I love it.

-Heather

 

i had to go with AB becuase JB was no longer avaible... I hate u all!

jk... I still love JB to best!

 

JB....da best!

i love the color id plate under the hood says "black".

awesome.