Volkswagen Dark Bronze Effect (LB8Q/2J) Touch Up Paint

The Look

This is not your average beige or silver. It is a sophisticated, earthy tone that defines the mid-2016 era of the Beetle, Golf, and Jetta. On a Beetle, it leans into a vintage, desert-ready aesthetic, while on a Jetta or Golf, it adds a layer of premium weight that hides road dust far better than a standard black or grey. Since your car has likely spent a few years in the sun, you might notice the original finish has a deep, golden shimmer under direct light. It is a resilient color that ages well, but its complexity means you cannot rush the repair if you want it to disappear into the original panels.

Technical Details

This finish is a true metallic, meaning it relies on tiny flakes to create that signature depth. These flakes are heavy and like to settle at the bottom of the container, which is your biggest challenge. If you do not mix the paint thoroughly, the repair will look flat and dark. Metallics are also prone to mottling, which creates a striped or cloudy appearance if the paint is applied too heavily in a single pass. Keeping a consistent spray distance or using light, overlapping brush strokes is vital to ensure those flakes lay down flat and catch the light the same way the factory finish does.

Best Practices

Pop your trunk and lift the floor carpet to find your paint code on a white paper sticker near the spare tire well. Before you spray or dab Volkswagen Dark Bronze Effect (check for code LB8Q/2J), you need to shake it for 60 seconds. This is not a suggestion; those metallic flakes need to be fully suspended to match the rest of the car. Test the color on the included card to confirm the shade before touching the vehicle. Focus on thin, light layers to build the color slowly. This prevents the metallic particles from clumping together. Allow for ample drying time between layers so the paint can settle properly without sagging.