The death of piano gloss black. Could this signal the end?

DocOfTheDead · 03-16-2023, 11:36 PM

https://www.motortrend.com/features/...trim-interior/

This trend is very prominent in Mercedes, Jeep, and Kia, as well as numerous others. I hope it ends, or at minimum can be optioned out. The new 7 series has the entire interior grab handle in gloss black and it literally kills the ambiance of elegance inside with its scratches and smudges.

chassis · 03-17-2023, 05:45 AM

But it’s cheap…

Patton250 · 03-17-2023, 05:53 AM

I’m not sure I can take any author of an article very seriously when he calls a Kia, any, Kia “ultracool”

Just saying.

Having said that getting rid of piano black paneling forever would be absolutely wonderful. I’ve never liked it.

AM340iMiami · 03-17-2023, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patton250

I’m not sure I can take any author of an article very seriously when he calls a Kia, any, Kia “ultracool”

Just saying.

Having said that getting rid of piano black paneling forever would be absolutely wonderful. I’ve never liked it.

For the price, the higher end Kia's with the premium interiors are pretty nice. Like the Palisade (Hyundai?). Wouldn't call it ultra cool, buts its pretty nice.

Also, piano black trim is the worst.

Chihuahua · 03-17-2023, 10:23 AM

I'm not a fan of piano black trim either, but I'd certainly take it over that 'soft touch' trim paint that peels if you look at it the wrong way.

heavyD^2 · 03-17-2023, 10:46 AM

I still feel piano black is better than silver painted plastic trying to look like metal. It just has to be executed properly (not cheap like you get with non-luxury especially vehicles) with a protective clear coat that enables you to be able to polish out mild scratches.

dreamingat30fps · 03-17-2023, 11:14 AM

Not a fan either, but I don't mind it as much if it's on the dash or somewhere where you don't really touch it. The earlier Model 3s had the entire center console in piano black and it was horrible. Luckily the previous owner of my used 2018 had already wrapped it and the new 2023 got rid of piano black altogether.

allinon72 · 03-17-2023, 04:54 PM

So because a Kia won't have it, that means the trend is over? That's peak 2023 journalism right there.

dreamingat30fps · 03-17-2023, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allinon72

So because a Kia won't have it, that means the trend is over? That's peak 2023 journalism right there.

Isn't there a famous saying... As Kia goes so does the nation... or something like that.

I forgot the Cayenne actually has piano black trim on the dash and doors. I don't mind it there. I have actually seen some in my same color with aluminum and other color trim and I hate them. Super distracting. I do like the natural none glossy wood that seemed to be in for a while.

MJBO · 03-17-2023, 08:48 PM

That glossy grey on the steering wheel looks worse IMO.

x622 · 03-19-2023, 03:58 PM

Fuck KIAs and fuck Piano black.

There's my erudite take.

Nahlem · 03-30-2023, 05:58 AM

Oh god how i hope the gloss black trend goes away! Piece of crap black plastic makes you want to murder your self! Just looking at it makes it scratch ! Oh look here is a droplet of water on a gloss black surface, well isn't that a shame its all scratched up now! Oh its windy outside lets hope the wind doesn't scratch it oooops to late the gentle breeze scratched your piano black plastic on a 85 000$ car.............

Forzanerazzurri · 03-30-2023, 01:16 PM

The Kia hate is entertaining. BMW drivers really have car market tunnel vision. Its not 1995 anymore, KIA/Hyundai are absolutely dominating the market with excellent products.

jmack · 03-30-2023, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

The Kia hate is entertaining. BMW drivers really have car market tunnel vision. Its not 1995 anymore, KIA/Hyundai are absolutely dominating the market with excellent products.

Minus the monthly fire recalls and instructing customers to park outside while waiting a year for warranty parts.

Forzanerazzurri · 03-30-2023, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmack

Minus the monthly fire recalls and instructing customers to park outside while waiting a year for warranty parts.

Stats and context matter. Statistically, you're not going to have your house burn down from your Kia. Any recalls related from fire are usually dealt with like this because the liability from one incident is so severe.

Meanwhile my e46 m3 has a sweet 100% failure rate feature where the rear axle carrier panel cracks and the subframe pulls away from the car like its made out of tissue paper.

Then there are the extras on classic and modern BMW engines like rod bearings destroying engines, vanos failures grenading engines, wastegates rattling, crank hubs spinning, etc. which BMW will kindly sweep under the rug.

I am a dedicated BMW owner but c'mon, they will not win any quality arguments among well-informed people.

x622 · 04-02-2023, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

The Kia hate is entertaining. BMW drivers really have car market tunnel vision. Its not 1995 anymore, KIA/Hyundai are absolutely dominating the market with excellent products.

I drive everything and I mean everything, I can't stand that they have the audacity to charge what they charge for it and still have the fit and finish issues that they have. Japanese and German are still superior, somehow they still haven't figured it out.

I'm also salty about that terrible split headlight design that they started and is now going on everything. Terrible.

M5Rick · 04-02-2023, 04:17 PM

Piano black is a cool upgrade and you don't have to touch it.

///MPhatic · 04-06-2023, 10:33 AM

2024 Porsche Cayenne

PORSCHE CAYENNE 2024 by SAUD AL-OLAYAN, on Flickr

x622 · 04-06-2023, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///MPhatic

2024 Porsche Cayenne

PORSCHE CAYENNE 2024 by SAUD AL-OLAYAN, on Flickr

My 992 turbo S had the same crap in it. Had to spend $400 on DB carbon CF covers just to cover that crap up.

Hate it.

///MPhatic · 04-07-2023, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x622

My 992 turbo S had the same crap in it. Had to spend $400 on DB carbon CF covers just to cover that crap up.

Hate it.

I'm a particularly clean type of guy, so I love the piano black. The only thing I don't like about it is that it sometimes reflects sunlight into my eyes.

03-16-2023, 11:36 PM	#1
DocOfTheDead Private First Class 451 Rep 122 Posts Drives: 2023 M4 6MT Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 Kia EV9 GT-Line [0.00] 2022 Toyota Tacoma ... [0.00] 2023 Hyundai Kona N [0.00] 2018 Lexus LC500 [0.00]	The death of piano gloss black. Could this signal the end? https://www.motortrend.com/features/...trim-interior/ This trend is very prominent in Mercedes, Jeep, and Kia, as well as numerous others. I hope it ends, or at minimum can be optioned out. The new 7 series has the entire interior grab handle in gloss black and it literally kills the ambiance of elegance inside with its scratches and smudges.
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03-17-2023, 05:45 AM	#2
chassis Colonel 8094 Rep 2,508 Posts Drives: 9Y0 Cayenne S Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Einbahnstraße iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 Porsche Cayenne S [7.69]	But it’s cheap…
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03-17-2023, 05:53 AM	#3
Patton250 Colonel 2964 Rep 2,538 Posts Drives: BMW X3,M5,Turbo S Join Date: May 2021 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	I’m not sure I can take any author of an article very seriously when he calls a Kia, any, Kia “ultracool” Just saying. Having said that getting rid of piano black paneling forever would be absolutely wonderful. I’ve never liked it. Last edited by Patton250; 03-17-2023 at 06:01 AM..
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03-17-2023, 10:23 AM	#5
Chihuahua Brigadier General 4478 Rep 3,366 Posts Drives: E30 329iS, E65 Alpina B7 Join Date: May 2012 Location: TBD iTrader: (0)	I'm not a fan of piano black trim either, but I'd certainly take it over that 'soft touch' trim paint that peels if you look at it the wrong way.
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03-17-2023, 10:46 AM	#6
heavyD^2 Colonel 3726 Rep 2,989 Posts Drives: X3M Competition Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Too close to Santa iTrader: (0)	I still feel piano black is better than silver painted plastic trying to look like metal. It just has to be executed properly (not cheap like you get with non-luxury especially vehicles) with a protective clear coat that enables you to be able to polish out mild scratches.
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03-17-2023, 11:14 AM	#7
dreamingat30fps Colonel 5967 Rep 2,025 Posts Drives: Miata, Cayenne, Model 3, F350 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: South Florida & NC iTrader: (1)	Not a fan either, but I don't mind it as much if it's on the dash or somewhere where you don't really touch it. The earlier Model 3s had the entire center console in piano black and it was horrible. Luckily the previous owner of my used 2018 had already wrapped it and the new 2023 got rid of piano black altogether.
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03-17-2023, 04:54 PM	#8
allinon72 Brigadier General 5065 Rep 3,859 Posts Drives: 20' M2C, 23' X1 Join Date: May 2017 Location: Indianapolis, IN iTrader: (3)	So because a Kia won't have it, that means the trend is over? That's peak 2023 journalism right there.
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03-17-2023, 08:48 PM	#10
MJBO Lieutenant Colonel 3509 Rep 1,770 Posts Drives: 2023 G81 M3 Touring Join Date: May 2012 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 23 BMW M3 Touring [10.00] 22 Toyota LC 300 [10.00]	That glossy grey on the steering wheel looks worse IMO.
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03-19-2023, 03:58 PM	#11
x622 Forced Induction Connoisseur 1195 Rep 928 Posts Drives: 23 X5MC / 23 720s Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: AZ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 BMW X3MC [0.00] 2023 Mclaren 720s [0.00] 2005 Honda S2000 [0.00] 2023 BMW X5MC [0.00] 1964 Ford Mustang [0.00] 1968 Pontiac GTO [0.00]	Fuck KIAs and fuck Piano black. There's my erudite take. __________________ Oy vey, look at all these shekels
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03-30-2023, 05:58 AM	#12
Nahlem Captain 1199 Rep 912 Posts Drives: None atm Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	Oh god how i hope the gloss black trend goes away! Piece of crap black plastic makes you want to murder your self! Just looking at it makes it scratch ! Oh look here is a droplet of water on a gloss black surface, well isn't that a shame its all scratched up now! Oh its windy outside lets hope the wind doesn't scratch it oooops to late the gentle breeze scratched your piano black plastic on a 85 000$ car............. __________________ Current Car: Bicycle Former Car:BMW i4 M50 Brooklyn Grey (MY22)\| BMW i3s BEV (MY19)\|Former Car: BMW X1 20d x-drive (MY16)\|BMW m235i (MY14)\|Former Car: BMW 120d (MY12)\|Former Car: Volvo C30 T5 R-Design (MY08)\|Former Car: Volvo C70 T5 (MY06)\|Former Car: Volvo S40 2.0T(MY1999)
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03-30-2023, 01:16 PM	#13
Forzanerazzurri Banned 6983 Rep 3,275 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Coupe/G80 M3CX Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Alberta iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 BMW M3 Coupe [0.50] 2022 BMW M3 Competi ... [5.12]	The Kia hate is entertaining. BMW drivers really have car market tunnel vision. Its not 1995 anymore, KIA/Hyundai are absolutely dominating the market with excellent products.
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04-02-2023, 04:17 PM	#17
M5Rick General 69516 Rep 22,256 Posts Drives: M5 F10 DCT Gunmetal Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: GB iTrader: (0)	Piano black is a cool upgrade and you don't have to touch it.
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04-06-2023, 10:33 AM	#18
///MPhatic The Seeker 15400 Rep 3,852 Posts Drives: OG M2 • Exige Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [8.75]	2024 Porsche Cayenne PORSCHE CAYENNE 2024 by SAUD AL-OLAYAN, on Flickr
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