2016 Tesla Touch Up Paint (15 OEM Colors)

The 2016 Tesla Vibe

Welcome to 2016-the year Silicon Valley officially took over the carpool lane. The Model S finally ditched that "fake grille" nose cone for a sleek facelift, and the Model X started flapping its Falcon Wings at anyone with a six-figure tech salary. While later years got a bit boring with the color palette, our 2016 database is a goldmine with 15 distinct shades. We're talking about the deep, moody Midnight Silver, the electric pop of Ocean Blue Pearl, and the absolute showstopper that was Signature Red Tricoat. Tesla was still trying to prove they could play with the big boys in the paint booth, and the variety showed it.

Paint Health Check

Here's the cold, hard truth from the spray booth: we are firmly in the Thin Paint Era. Back in the day, we used to measure paint thickness in "prayers and heavy coats," but by 2016, the robots in Fremont were programmed for maximum efficiency. This means the clear coat on your Model S or X is likely thinner than a smartphone screen protector. It's "soft" paint, too-if you even think about Jet Black the wrong way, it'll reward you with a fresh swirl mark. Because these factory coats are so lean, rock chips don't just graze the surface; they tend to punch straight through to the primer, especially on those flat, aerodynamic hoods.

Restoration Tip

Since you're dealing with "Robot Efficiency" levels of thickness, the golden rule for 2016 Tesla repair is: Build layers slowly; don't blob it. When you're filling a chip in a high-tech finish like Titanium Silver or White Water Pearl Tricoat, your instinct is to fill the crater in one shot. Don't. If you drop a giant bead of paint in there, it'll shrink as it cures, leaving a visible "belly" in the middle. Instead, use a fine-tip applicator to apply paper-thin layers. Let each one dry before adding the next until the repair sits just a hair higher than the surrounding clear coat. It takes patience, but it's the only way to match that factory-lean profile without making your hood look like it has acne.