1973 BMW Touch Up Paint (19 OEM Colors)

The 1973 BMW Vibe

Welcome to the year the "Ultimate Driving Machine" really found its voice. In 1973, if you weren't carving corners in a 2002 tii or cruising a 3.0 CS, you were probably just waiting for someone who was. BMW went absolutely mad with the palette this year-we've got 19 shades in the books, ranging from "look-at-me" safety colors like Inka Orange and Golf Green to the boardroom-ready elegance of Ceylon Gold Metallic and Night Blue. It was a time when your car could look like a piece of high-end German candy or a sophisticated piece of industrial art, and frankly, we've never quite recovered from how good a 2800 looks in Agave Green.

Paint Health Check

We are deep in the Single Stage Era here, which means your Bimmer's finish is basically a living, breathing thing. Unlike modern cars that hide behind a plastic-like shield, this paint is "all-in"-the color and the protection are mixed into one thick, honest layer. But here is the rub: 1973 was also the era where Karmann-built bodies were practically delivered with a side of oxidation. If your paint looks like a dusty chalkboard, that's not "patina," it's the pigment dying of thirst. The metallics like Fjord Blue and New Polaris are especially temperamental; they tend to thin out until you're looking at the primer's ghost, and once that happens, no amount of wishing will bring the shimmer back.

Restoration Tip

If you're touching up a survivor, remember: it needs wax or it dies. Since there's no clear coat to protect the pigment, oxygen and UV rays are the enemy. Before you apply any touch-up, you've got to strip away the "dead" oxidized layer with a light rubbing compound until the true color (be it Malaga Red or Sahara) actually peeks through. Once you've leveled the field and filled your chips, seal that finish with a high-quality carnauba or sealant. Think of it like moisturizing old leather-if you leave it dry, it'll flake away until there's nothing left but memories and rust.