2018 Citroen Touch Up Paint (1 OEM Colors)

The 2018 Citroen Vibe

By 2018, Citroen was leaning hard into that "quirky but sophisticated" European aesthetic. Whether it was the bubbly C3 Aircross or the ruggedly practical Berlingo, the vibe was all about sleek lines and a monochromatic palette that screamed modern efficiency. In a year where grey became the new black across the continent, the only color that truly mattered was Gris Aluminum Metallic. It's the ultimate survivor-a shade that managed to look expensive on the showroom floor and hide a week's worth of road grime without breaking a sweat.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Thin Paint Era. By 2018, the robots in the factory had become a little too good at their jobs, spraying layers so precise and thin that they practically qualify as "breathable." While it looks great when it's fresh, this era is notorious for "Robot Efficiency" issues-meaning there isn't much material there to protect you from the real world. We're seeing clear coats that can be as brittle as a stale baguette, leading to stone chips that go straight to the primer and delamination that starts the second a bird decides your roof is a target. If you don't catch those chips early, the clear coat will start lifting faster than a Citroen on hydraulic suspension.

Restoration Tip

When you're touching up a 2018 finish, remember: you're working with a hair-thin factory coat. Build your layers slowly; don't blob it. If you try to fill a chip in one heavy go, you'll end up with a "volcano" effect that sits higher than the surrounding paint. Instead, use a steady hand to apply multiple whisper-thin layers, letting each one set up before adding the next. This mimics that tight factory finish and ensures your repair actually stays stuck to the car instead of peeling off the first time you hit it with a high-pressure hose.