1999 Infiniti Background Info
The 1999 Infiniti Vibe
It's 1999. Everyone is panicking about the Y2K bug while you're cruising in a G20 or the executive-class Q45, feeling like you've reached the peak of Japanese luxury. This was the year Infiniti really leaned into that "stealth wealth" aesthetic. While the suburban driveways were full of champagne-colored I30s and rugged QX4s, we've focused on the ultimate survivor of the era: Black Obsidian. It wasn't just a color; it was a statement. If your Infiniti wasn't wearing this deep, ink-black finish, you were basically just driving a fancy Nissan.
Paint Health Check
Welcome to the heart of The Peeling Era. By 1999, Infiniti was using a two-stage basecoat/clearcoat system that looked incredible on the showroom floor, but it had a literal shelf life. The clear coat of this decade is notorious for "delamination"-or what I call the "Infiniti Sunburn." Because Black Obsidian absorbs every UV ray it touches, the clear coat eventually decides it's done being friends with the paint underneath. It starts as a small white bubble or a chalky patch on the roof or trunk, and once that clear lifts, it's a one-way trip to a total respray.
Restoration Tip
In this era of paint, a rock chip is a ticking time bomb. Seal your chips immediately before the clear lifts. On a 1999 finish, moisture and air love to crawl under the edge of a chip and start prying the clear coat away from the basecoat. Don't wait for the weekend; if you see a nick in that Black Obsidian, dab it and seal it. You aren't just fixing a spot; you're anchoring the rest of the clear coat to the car so it doesn't start flaking off like a bad sunburn.