2017 BMW Touch Up Paint (74 OEM Colors)

The 2017 BMW Vibe

Welcome to 2017, the year BMW decided that if a car didn't look like a high-speed highlighter or a stealth bomber, it wasn't trying hard enough. We're talking about the era of the M2 carving corners, the i8 looking like it just fell off a spaceship, and the 4 Series Gran Coupe proving that four doors could actually look sexy. With a massive 74 colors in our database for this year, BMW was clearly feeling adventurous. Whether you're rocking the "look at me" vibrance of Austin Yellow Metallic or Yas Marina Blue, or keeping it boardroom-ready in Black Sapphire Metallic, 2017 was about peak variety and German precision.

Paint Health Check

You've officially entered the Thin Paint Era. By 2017, the factory robots had become so efficient at their jobs that they were laying down clear coats with microscopic precision. The good news? The finish is remarkably consistent. The bad news? It's thin. If you spend any time tailgating on the Autobahn (or just the I-95), your front bumper probably looks like it's been in a sandstorm. Because the clear coat is thinner than the lacquer on your grandad's E30, stone chips tend to "shelf" at the edges, and if you're not careful with a buffer, you'll find yourself staring at primer faster than a 335i loses its warranty. You might also notice a bit of factory "orange peel" texture-that's just the robot's signature.

Restoration Tip

When you're repairing a 2017 finish, remember: slow and low is the tempo. Because the factory paint is so thin, a giant "blob" of touch-up paint will stick out like a sore thumb against the flat, robotic factory surface. Instead of trying to fill a chip in one go, build your layers up in thin, patient passes. Let the color dry flat, then apply your clear coat just as thinly. If you over-apply, you'll end up with a high spot that's a nightmare to level out without burning through the surrounding factory clear. Build the bridge slowly, and the repair will vanish.