Audi S3 Touch Up Paint (37 OEM Colors)

The Color Breakdown

Audi didn't hold back with the S3, recording a whopping 37 colors that range from "sensible boardroom member" to "track day enthusiast." They really went for it with the palette-you have the legendary Nardo Gray and Quantum Grey for that stealthy "primer" look, but then they hit you with the high-voltage Vegas Yellow, Turbo Blue, and Misano Red. Whether your S3 is dressed in a sophisticated Daytona Gray Pearl or a loud Cactus Green, this car was designed to be noticed, which makes every little stone chip feel like a personal insult.

What to Watch For

Before you start, you need to find your "Lacknummer" (that's German for paint code). Audi likes to play hide-and-seek; you won't find it on the door jamb. Head to the trunk, lift up the floor carpet, and look near the spare tire well or the battery. You're looking for a white paper sticker with a 4-digit code like LY9B or LS3B.

As for the paint itself, Audi clear coats are famously "hard." This is great because it resists light scratches, but it's brittle. When a rock hits your hood at highway speeds, the paint doesn't just dent-it tends to chip off in sharp, clean shards. Keep a close eye on the front bumper and the leading edge of the roof; these are the primary battle zones where the paint is most likely to give way.

Driveway Repair Tip

If you're working with one of Audi's many pearl or metallic finishes-like Sepang Blue or Glacier White-your biggest hurdle isn't the color; it's the "sparkle." Those tiny metallic flakes settle at the bottom of the bottle. Shake your touch-up pen or bottle for a full two minutes (play a song and don't stop shaking until it's over) to wake up those pearls.

For those deep "crater" chips on the hood, don't try to fill the whole hole in one go. If you drop a massive blob of paint in there, it will shrink as it dries and look like a raisin. Instead, use a toothpick to apply two or three thin layers, waiting about 20 minutes between each. It requires patience, but it's the secret to making that repair disappear into the bodywork.