Saab Silver Metallic (268) Touch Up Paint

The Look

If you drive a Saab 9-3 or 9-5 from the decade spanning 1998 to 2007, you are likely very familiar with this shade. This isn't just a paint choice; it's the industrial, jet-inspired face of the brand. Because your car has lived on the road for quite a while, the finish has likely seen its fair share of winter salt and highway debris. This silver is exceptional at hiding light dust and road grime, but it requires precision to restore that crisp, machined-aluminum look it had when it left the factory.

Technical Details

This is a metallic finish, meaning it relies on thousands of microscopic flakes to catch the light. Silver is notoriously difficult to patch because those flakes are heavy and like to clump together. If you apply the paint too heavily in one spot, you will see dark, cloudy patches where the flakes have sunk to the bottom of the wet paint. You want those flakes to stand up and catch the light, not drown in a thick puddle. Achieving a uniform look depends entirely on how the flakes settle as the paint dries.

Best Practices

Before you spray or dab Saab Silver Metallic (check for code 268), you need to shake the container for at least two full minutes. Since those metallic particles settle at the bottom over time, they will not match your car unless they are fully suspended in the liquid. You can find your paint code on the driver's side door pillar or sometimes tucked inside the glovebox. To get an even look, keep the container moving and apply three or four thin layers rather than one heavy one. This prevents the silver from looking blotchy or striped. Always test the color on the included card and allow for a 10-minute drying time to ensure the flake density matches your car's current finish before you touch the bodywork.