2016 Buick Touch Up Paint (57 OEM Colors)

The 2016 Buick Vibe

By 2016, Buick wasn't just your grandad's Sunday cruiser anymore-they were trying to prove it with the sleek Cascada convertible and the "quiet-tuned" Envision. Our database tracks 57 different colors for this year, which is basically Buick's way of saying they had a mid-life crisis and bought the whole crayon box. They went heavy on the "Premium" branding, giving us names that sound more like indie band titles than car paint: Black Meet Kettle Pearl, Son Of A Gun Gray, and Limited Addiction Pearl. Whether you were rocking a Regal or an Enclave, the goal was deep, multi-stage depth that looked like a million bucks under the dealership LED lights.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to The Thin Paint Era. By 2016, the robots in the factory had become frighteningly efficient. They weren't spraying paint; they were "misting" it with the precision of a high-end perfume bottle. This "Robot Efficiency" means you've got just enough clear coat to look shiny, but not enough to fight off a determined gravel truck. On models like the Verano and LaCrosse, we're starting to see the "Horizontal Fade"-where the clear coat on the hood and roof decides it's had enough of the sun and starts to thin out or, in some cases, lift entirely. If your Abalone White Tricoat looks a little "chalky" or "crispy" around the edges, that's the factory clear coat surrendering to the elements.

Restoration Tip

When you're touching up a 2016, you have to respect the layers. This isn't the 70s where you can slap on a thick glob and call it a day. Because the factory finish is so thin, a heavy-handed repair will stand out like a sore thumb. The Golden Rule: Build layers slowly; don't blob it. If you're working with those fancy pearls like White Diamond or Flip Chip Pearl, apply your base color in thin, whisper-quiet passes. Let it dry completely before adding your clear. You're looking to build a "level" surface, not a mountain. If you try to fill a rock chip in one shot, the solvent will trap gas, and you'll end up with a shriveled mess that looks worse than the chip. Patience is your best tool here.