BMW 535I Touch Up Paint (16 OEM Colors)

The Color Breakdown

BMW offered the 535i in 16 different flavors, ranging from the "I'm late for a board meeting" classics like Sterling Silver Metallic to the more adventurous "I might have a summer home in the Alps" vibes of Laguna Green Pearl. Whether you're rocking the quintessential Alpine White or the 80s icon Bronzit Beige Metallic, they really went for it with a palette that balanced German restraint with just enough metallic flair to keep things interesting in the driveway.

What to Watch For

Before you get to work, you need your "secret recipe" code. Pop the hood and look at the strut towers (the round metal mounds near the engine)-usually on the driver's side. You're looking for a small black or silver sticker, often with the name in German, like Alpinweiss. As these cars age, the clear coat on the hood and roof can get a little sun-tired and start to lift, and that low-slung nose is basically a magnet for rock chips. If you see some white, flaky edges around a chip, don't worry; it's just the car showing its age, and it's nothing a little focus can't fix.

Driveway Repair Tip

Since so many of these BMW shades-like Calypso Red or Glacier Blue-are packed with metallic flakes and pearls, they require a little extra "wake-up call." Shake your touch-up bottle or pen for at least a full 60 seconds (count it out!) to make sure those sparkles aren't just sitting at the bottom. When you apply the paint, think of it like nail polish: two or three thin, whisper-light dabs are much better than one big, gloppy mountain. If you're filling a deep rock chip on the hood, use the tip of a toothpick to drop the paint in exactly where it needs to go.