COLOR CODEAX5 - Red Pearl TricoatNissan Touch-Up Paint

The Look

This color defined a specific era for Nissan, giving the Maxima a sporty edge and making the Pathfinder look more like a luxury cruiser than a utility box. Because your car likely hit the pavement between 2001 and 2012, that red has spent a decade or two fighting the sun. Red is notorious for losing its punch over time, so your repair might look a bit richer than the weathered panels surrounding it. Whether you are fixing a chip on an Almera or a scratch on a Primera, you are working with a shade that was designed to look deep and expensive.

Technical Details

This is a pearl finish, which gives the car a shifting glow when the sun hits the body lines. Pearl finishes are rewarding because they hide minor surface imperfections better than flat reds, but they require a steady hand. If you pile the paint on too thick in one spot, the pearl particles will bunch up and create a dark blotch. This is known as mottling, and it ruins the illusion of a factory finish. You want light, even layers to let the light travel through the paint and bounce back off the tiny mica flakes inside the mixture.

Best Practices

You can find your identification plate on the firewall in the engine bay or tucked inside the driver side door jamb. Before you spray or dab Nissan Red Pearl Tricoat (check for code AX5), you need to shake it for 60 seconds. This is a multi-stage process, so patience is your best friend. Test the color on the included card to see how the layers build up before you touch your car. When applying the paint, keep the container moving to prevent the heavy pigments from pooling in one area. Give the paint plenty of drying time between coats so the finish stays crisp and the pearl stays suspended exactly where you want it.