1980 BMW Touch Up Paint (18 OEM Colors)

The 1980 BMW Vibe

1980 was the year BMW officially handed the keys from the grease-stained 2002 enthusiasts to the sharp-suited executives in the 320i and 530. It was the dawn of the "Yuppie" era, and the color palette reflected that shift from '70s earth tones to '80s high-tech. With 18 colors in our vault, it's clear BMW wasn't shy about variety. You had the executive class rocking New Polaris Metallic and Ascot Gray, while the bold ones were still tearing up the autobahn in Henna Red or the gloriously bright Corona Yellow. Whether it was a shark-nosed 630 or a stately 7 Series, these cars weren't just transport; they were a statement that you'd arrived-and you'd arrived fast.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Single Stage Era. Back in 1980, unless you were spraying a metallic like Arctic Blue, your BMW was wearing a thick, honest slab of enamel with no clear coat to hide behind. The problem? Oxidation. If your Bimmer has spent the last forty years battling the sun, that Alpine White or Black is likely looking more like a chalkboard than a mirror. This is a "chalky fade" where the surface pigment literally dries out and dies. If you rub your hand across the hood and it comes away looking like you've been handling dusty drywall, you're looking at a classic case of single-stage neglect.

Restoration Tip

The beauty of 1980 paint is that it's got enough "meat" on its bones to be resurrected. If you're touching up a survivor in Brazil Brown Metallic or Safari Beige, you can't just slap paint over the old surface. You need to buff away that dead, oxidized layer first to find the "live" color underneath. Once you've performed your repair, remember the golden rule of this era: It needs wax or it dies. Without a protective seal, those pores in the enamel stay wide open, inviting moisture and UV rays to finish the job the 1980s started. Treat it to a high-quality sealant or a heavy wax after every touch-up to keep that German steel from turning into a rust-flavored snack.