Pontiac White Diamond Pri Metallic Tri-coat (98/WA800J) Touch Up Paint

The Look

This is not your average refrigerator white. This color was the premium choice for the Bonneville and the G6, designed to give those cars a high-end shimmer that a standard solid paint could never replicate. It has a warm, creamy undertone that looks like rich vanilla until the sun hits it. In direct light, the pearl pigments wake up and give the surface a deep glow. Since your Pontiac has likely spent over a decade on the road, you will notice that this finish hides light road dust and minor surface film better than a pure white, but it requires a careful touch to restore that original luster.

Technical Details

You are working with a pearl tri-coat finish, which is one of the more complex paints to match. This is not a single-step process. You have a base color followed by a translucent mid-coat that contains the pearl effect. If you apply the mid-coat too thick, the repair will look yellow or dark compared to the rest of the car. If you apply it too thin, the sparkle will be missing. Because of the metallic and pearl particles, there is a risk of mottling-where the flakes bunch up and create dark spots or stripes. This happens if the paint stays wet for too long or if the flow is too heavy in one spot.

Best Practices

Your first step is to locate the Service Parts Identification sticker to verify your color. On most Pontiac models, you will find this label inside the glove box or on the underside of the spare tire cover in the trunk. Before you spray or dab Pontiac White Diamond Pri Metallic Tri-coat (check for code 98/WA800J), you need to shake it for 60 seconds. The pearl and metallic bits are heavy and sink to the bottom of the container. Test the color on the included card to see how many layers of the mid-coat you need to reach the right shade. Keep the container moving at a steady pace to ensure the particles lay down flat. Always work in your garage or in the shade so you can manage the drying time and prevent the finish from becoming blotchy.