1971 BMW Touch Up Paint (14 OEM Colors)

The 1971 BMW Vibe

In 1971, BMW wasn't just building cars; they were building an identity. This was the year the 2002 and the legendary 3.0 CS (the E9) were carving through the Alps, proving that luxury and sport didn't have to live in separate garages. Our database tracks 14 colors from this vintage-a spread that reflects the era's transition from the muted tones of the sixties to the bold, "psychedelic" earth tones of the early seventies. You had icons like Agave Green and Colorado Yellow leading the charge, alongside classics like Chamonix White and Malaga Red. If you're lucky enough to have a later 320 or 530 project on the lift, you know these pigments set the stage for everything that followed.

Paint Health Check

We are deep in the Single Stage Era here. Back in '71, the factory wasn't messing around with fancy multi-layer clear coats; the color and the gloss were one and the same. While that makes for a beautiful, deep finish, it means your paint is effectively "breathing." If your Bimmer has been sitting in the sun, you're likely staring at Oxidation-that chalky, hazy film that makes Malaga Red look like a dusty pink and turns Night Blue Metallic into a matte disaster. Unlike modern cars that peel and flake, these old-school enamels just fade away like an old photograph. If you don't feed it, it dies.

Restoration Tip

The good news is that 1971 enamel is incredibly resilient if there's still pigment left. Because there's no clear coat to delaminate, you can often "bring back the dead" with a dedicated polishing compound. However, once you've buffed away that chalky oxidation to reveal the true Atlantic Blue or Sahara underneath, you must seal it immediately. It needs wax or it dies. Without a high-quality wax or sealant, the raw, porous paint will oxidize again within weeks. If you're touching up chips, build your layers slowly; this paint was meant to have body, and a thin "modern" smear won't match the depth of that original factory pour.