BMW Cars with 24-Carat Gold Paints are as Luxurious as They Can Get

We know BMW is a luxurious brand, but it really pushed the envelope here when it partnered with Czech Republic's Toplac and painted its i3 and i8 models with 24-carat gold paint.

Let's make this clear: it's not just gold-wrapped; gold dust was actually embedded inside the car's clear coat. That's why it's called Starlight Edition--the 24 carat gold dust look like golden stars when viewed at night.

"Proportional and shape-specific design of the BMW i3s and i8, it literally invites you to contrast the look, and what's more--underlines their distinctive characters. It is so naturally and elegantly the same as the stellar transition from natural gold to deep black. However, the surface has a further dimension--hundreds of thousands of golden drops visible from the immediate vicinity that have changed the original varnish into a real jewel," explains Zoltán Matuška, designer, and creator of Starlight.

Painting process

The painters in charge of the cars were Matuška and Miroslav Špičák. A special process was developed specifically for these vehicles. The entire painting process took six layers of BMW paint to make, plus four layers of gold to finish off the process. Each part of the car is infused with the gold dust--from the front fascia down to its rear. And the gold used by gold supplier Liebscher Blattgold GmbH was 23.47 carats.

Built for a good use

Only one of each car models will be painted in gold, which makes it a rare collector's item. It will be sold in a charitable auction to support the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation VIZE 97. This foundation is esteemed for its work in the medical and cultural assistance.

"The Foundation priorities are activities in the cultural field and medical assistance. It also initiates various projects concerned with human rights at home and abroad. Last but not least it responds to society’s needs at a given moment."

The "golden" vehicles first appeared at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival last July 4.