BMW 535 Touch Up Paint (14 OEM Colors)

The Color Breakdown

The BMW 535 is a masterclass in "Executive Chic." While BMW recorded 14 distinct colors for this legend, they clearly had a favorite neighborhood on the color wheel. We're looking at a sophisticated spectrum ranging from the crisp Alpine White to the moody Lapis Blue. They really leaned into the era's love for metallics, giving us the iconic (and controversial) Bronzit Beige Metallic and the surprisingly appetizing Salmon Silver Metallic. Whether your car is dressed in Arctic Blue or the deep Diamond Black, these colors were designed to look fast while standing still in a corporate parking lot.

What to Watch For

Before you pop that touch-up cap, you need to find your "Birth Certificate"-the paint code. On the 535, BMW usually tucked this away on a black-and-silver sticker located on the driver's side strut tower or occasionally on the underside of the hood itself. Now, for the reality check: these cars were built as the "Ultimate Driving Machines," but the clear coat wasn't always the ultimate survivor. Keep an eye on the hood and roof, as the clear coat on these older models tends to get "tired" and may start to flake or peel. If you're rocking Cinnabar (that classic red), watch for fading; it has a habit of turning a ghostly pink if it spends too much time in the sun.

Driveway Repair Tip

Since so many of these 535 colors-like Delphin Metallic or Cosmos Blue-are packed with metallic flakes, your biggest challenge isn't the color, it's the gravity. Those tiny sparkles like to settle at the bottom of the bottle. Give your touch-up pen or bottle a vigorous shake for a full 60 seconds (set a timer!) to wake those flakes up. When applying, remember: thin is win. If you try to fill a deep chip with one big "blob" of metallic paint, the flakes will sink to the bottom and the spot will look darker than the rest of the car. Apply two or three paper-thin layers instead. It requires patience, but your 5-series deserves the royal treatment.