COLOR CODEUA138 - Dark Gray Metallic (Cladding)Lexus Touch-Up Paint

The Look

The early nineties defined Lexus as a brand that cared about the details, and your ES300 is a prime example of that two-tone heritage. This specific gray was never meant to hide in the shadows. It was designed to provide a sophisticated, rugged contrast to the primary body color, wrapping the lower half of the car in a protective-looking shell. Because your vehicle has likely been on the road since the Clinton administration, this cladding has probably endured thousands of miles of road salt and gravel. Refreshing this trim does more than just fix a scratch; it restores the sharp, intentional geometry that made the original Lexus design language so successful.

Technical Details

This is a metallic finish, which means it contains tiny flakes designed to catch the light. Metallics are notorious for a phenomenon called mottling, where the finish looks blotchy or striped. This happens because those heavy metallic particles want to sink to the bottom of the liquid or clump together during application. If you apply the paint too heavily in one spot, the flakes will pool and create dark patches that look nothing like the rest of the trim. Success with this color depends entirely on keeping those particles suspended and evenly distributed across the surface.

Best Practices

Before you spray or dab Lexus Dark Gray Metallic (Cladding) (check for code UA138), you need to shake the container for at least sixty seconds to wake up those settled metallic flakes. You will find your official color code printed on the white or silver sticker located inside the driver's side door jamb. Always test the color on the included card to ensure the shade matches your weathered trim before you touch the car. When you begin, keep the container moving at all times to prevent the paint from loading up in one area. Use thin, even layers and allow for plenty of drying time between them to ensure the metallic flakes lay flat and uniform.