Black vs. gray instrument cluster - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Kain · 12th June 2006, 21:18

Which do you prefer?

jclyman · 12th June 2006, 21:44

I have grey, but prefer black.

spatterso · 12th June 2006, 22:05

Really enjoy how the gauges stand out in grey. Wish the 06 M5's came with grey gauges, but they don't.

Beamer_usa · 12th June 2006, 22:09

Black definetly, grey is to ricey for me, kind of reminds me of Nissan Maxima IMO, of course!

ycchan · 12th June 2006, 22:20

Black

cableguy · 12th June 2006, 22:21

Prefer my Black but unfortunately getting a Grey one next week.

C.

Kain · 12th June 2006, 22:49

Could someone post some pics of the gray dials? I've seen the black ones in person but not the gray ones.

gtobynj · 12th June 2006, 23:54

Attached

wilsodh · 13th June 2006, 00:49

I've often wondered why they went with gray in the first place...less contrast with the numbers. Nonetheless, I give gray a slight edge.

Dave

Stickman · 13th June 2006, 02:29

The purpose of a dash is to convey data quickly to the driver through the instruments. I do NOT like the gray background because it reduces the contrast with the numbers - thus making the instruments harder to read. In some lighting the difference is hardly noticable. But in other lighting situations, I've noticed the instruments are quite hard to read. (Sorry, I can't remember now exactly what lighting situation this was.)

So I vote thumbs down on the gray because it detracts from the primary purpose of having the instruments in the first place.

Interesting that as of now, this is a draw 50% black, 50% gray. I would pay to get the black on my 2002 dash if I could.

cosioboy · 13th June 2006, 02:31

I love the grey, one of the many subtle touches in the M5 that diifferentiate it from 'lesser' E39s.

It would be interesting to see if the new E60 Beast will see this feature changed when it is due for a facelift.