Infiniti White Pearl Tri-Coat (QT1) Touch Up Paint

The Look

This color was the gold standard for Japanese luxury at the turn of the millennium. If you own a Q45, I30, or G20 from this era, your car wears a finish designed to look deeper and more substantial than a standard white. It has a creamy, sophisticated glow that changes when the sun hits the panels. Unlike the flat whites found on economy cars, this paint gives your Infiniti a heavy, expensive presence on the road. Because these cars have been out in the elements for over two decades, you should expect the original finish to have shifted slightly toward a warmer or more yellow tone compared to fresh paint.

Technical Details

This is a tri-coat pearl finish, which is the most complex type of paint to repair. You are working with three distinct layers: a solid white base, a translucent pearl mid-coat, and a clear topcoat. The pearl layer is where the magic-and the difficulty-happens. If you apply the mid-coat too heavily, the repair will look darker or more yellow than the rest of the car. If you apply it too thin, the white base will look flat and won't match the sparkle of the factory panels. This finish is excellent at hiding light road dust, but it will highlight any imperfections in your surface preparation.

Best Practices

You can usually find your paint information on a metal plate or sticker located on the firewall at the back of the engine bay, or inside the driver's side door jamb. Before you spray or dab Infiniti White Pearl Tri-Coat (check for code QT1), you need to shake it for 60 seconds. This is a three-step process, so do not rush it. Apply your white base first until the scratch is covered. When you move to the pearl layer, remember that more layers equal more color depth. Test the color on the included card after each layer of pearl to see how close you are to a match. Work in a garage or the shade to keep the surface cool, and always keep the container moving to ensure the pearl flakes lay down evenly.