Lexus Black Sapphire Metallic Tricoat (8U0) Touch Up Paint

The Look

This is one of the more deceptive finishes in the Lexus catalog. On a cloudy day or in a dark garage, your GS350 or ES350 looks like a standard deep black. Once the sun hits the panels, the heavy metallic flakes wake up and reveal a deep navy blue that gives the car its name. Because your Lexus has likely been on the road since the late 2000s, the original finish might have darkened slightly from oxidation, so the blue "pop" is what you are really trying to restore. It is a formal, high-end color that rewards patience.

Technical Details

This is a metallic tricoat, which means the depth comes from layering a translucent middle coat over a solid base. If you are using a pen or a brush, the metallic flakes can be stubborn. They tend to clump together if you apply the paint too thick, which creates dark spots that ruin the chameleon effect. If you are using a spray, you run the risk of mottling-those ugly dark stripes that happen when the metallic flakes don't settle evenly. To avoid this, you must ensure each layer is thin. The blue sapphire glow depends entirely on the light passing through those flakes, so don't bury them in a single heavy glob.

Best Practices

You can find your color identification plate on the driver's side door jamb; look for the "C/TR" line to confirm your match. Before you spray or dab Lexus Black Sapphire Metallic Tricoat (check for code 8U0), you need to shake it for 60 seconds. This is non-negotiable for a metallic tricoat because the heavy sapphire flakes sink to the bottom of the container quickly. Test the color on the included card first to see how many layers of the mid-coat you need to match your car's current fade. Keep the container moving at all times to ensure the flakes spread out rather than piling up. Give each layer enough drying time so the next pass doesn't drag the previous one off the surface.