My production date is fast approaching and now I am having second thoughts on my interior trim. I am having a BRG built with the gravity tuscan leather. Right now I have selected the piano black trim, but I am concerned about durability issues. Does the piano black scratch easily? The brushed alloy seems almost bullet proof. Which would you go with?

 

Honestly I'm not sure. What do you plan on having near your dash that's going to scratch it? It would seem to me that brushed aluminum is going to scratch just as easily as black painted plastic if you're rough enough with it.

 

Rusty - I am actually more concerned about the doors. The dash should be fine, but getting in and out might cause you to rub against it there.

 

While testing it out in the show room, the brushed alloy scratches much more and has a rough feel to start with.

I would definitely recommend the piano black.

For that reason and that I built a BRG/B S Clubman for a customer with Tuscan Beige Leather interior and in Canada, piano black comes as the only option with that interior upholstery... which is just fine with me because in person it looks KILLER!!!!!!!!!! SO NICE :D

 

IMO, brushed aluminum wouldn't go very well with Tuscan Beige and BRG. With that combination, I'd definitely go with English Oak. From the samples I saw, it seemed that all the options have a plastic coating, so they would probably all scratch about the same. Some just don't show scratches as much as others.

I have Piano Black and haven't had any problem with the door panels. If you are really concerned about scratches, look through the Detailing 101 forum in the General section. There are ways to remove scratches, and to protect plastic surfaces.

 

saw a BRG w/ English oak in the showroom when I picked up my car. it was beautiful.

 

here is 2 cents - from someone who has a 3 year old every time you shut the club door( normally - not hard) the seat buckle will slap against the trim piece. so i can see this one wearing first. it almost needs to be padded.
my trim is piano black (extremely shiny)

 

I think with the combo of tuscan leather and piano black you have configured a beautiful interior - but also the most vulnerable to obvious wear/damage/spillage/scratching. I had a turbo beetle convertible that has leather almost identical to the tuscan. It was beautiful but I was obsessive about keeping it cleaned and conditioned and not spilling anything on it. It looked perfect when I sold it 1.5 years later, but I never want obsess over light leather again. Combine that leather with easily scratched black plastic trim and I would become a neurotic obsessed mess with that combo. But maybe you're not like that .

 

Piano black shows finger prints big time. I have the standard checkered dash trim and very happy with it. Seems to be durable and doesn't show finger prints.

 

I didn't order Piano Black, but I have it now. It looks nice, but I am afraid to touch it. I'll have to get very soft cloth to clean it.

 

Well here's hoping your fears about the piano black will not prove a reality for me when I take delivery in the next couple of weeks. Fortunately I don't have too many sticky fingers around.

I will say that the thought has crossed my mind that IF I did find a scratch that some indelible black magic marker would work nicely.

 

IMO, if you're touching the dash so often that this is a problem, you're doing it wrong.

Does not apply to children or inconsiderate passengers...

My biggest fear with the piano black is it showing dust and such (given how often I drive with one or more windows down).

 

I'd agree except for the "secret compartment". I was excited to get my early R56 retrofitted with it until I got it and the fingerprints multiplied like rabbits on the thing.

 

Hey everyone. I actually posted a similar question on another thread, but thought I'd add to this one as well (thanks to everyone for their comments). I have a PW Clubman S on order with the Hot Chocolate Lounge Leather and Brushed Alloy Interior Surface (Cream White Color Line). I had a hard time deciding between the Alloy and Piano Black, but went with the Alloy as I thought it might show finger prints a little less. Honestly, still a little torn on the decision, but I think both will look great.

 

I was torn, too, but went with piano black/rooster red to match the exterior CR/B.

 

Fear not! Just stuff a small microfiber cloth in the door compartment and voila! Seriously. I am not a type A clean freak at all, but with both MINIs I've had either black leather or leatherette and anthracite colored dash, etc. I even have dogs. The dust issue has never been a biggie.

As always, go with what you think you'd really enjoy the most, as long as you can afford it.

 

I'm not supposed to talk about this, but I make sure there a piece of cloth between my wrist or elbow when opening the thing I'm not supposed to talk about. If anyone asks, I know nothing.

 

Tim, have you considered gloves? Father's Day or your birthday is coming.

 

I got fluid silver because I thought it looked cool. Only time will tell I guess, I'll see how smudged it can get starting in June!

 

Don't scare me like that. My only kids are the MINIs. Don't even talk like that. Gosh!

 

With BRG/Tuscan Beige, I would have definitely gone for the English Oak trim. Absolutely gorgeous! Between the 2 you mentioned though, I'd prolly go w/ the Piano Black b/c it would look better w/ your combination.

 

Sorry Tim, didn't mean to scare you. Perhaps your wife might consider giving you some tuscan brown driving gloves to wear while accessing your secret compartment?

Now back to NicoBlake, did you stick with your order? I often think of ordering to be akin to answering questions on a test - go with your gut and turn the page.

From a strictly personal point of view as the soon to be owner of a BRG/BLK Clubman with a piano black interior and the leatherette, I'd say with your lovely Tuscan Brown leather seats that the Piano Black or English Oak would look very nice.

 

I have brushed alloy and it is bullet proof.

 

i really like Piano Black and it looks classy with certain color interiors but the fingerprints and constant maintenance kept me away.

on a side note, since I am still officially a Mazda3 owner, Mazda just added Piano Black to their top line GT models interior (not as an option but as standard feature). The mid year 2008.5 (yes there is such a thing) model mazda3's all have it.

it looks totally wrong on the car though ...

 

I promise to report back after living with my piano black and give you an honest accounting of my experiences. What is funny, to me, about all this is that I chose this because I thought it would look better and would be much better at hiding imperfections than the standard color. Here's hoping!