2006 Infiniti Touch Up Paint (27 OEM Colors)

The 2006 Infiniti Vibe

2006 was the year Infiniti decided to stop being "the other" Japanese luxury brand and started throwing hands. The G35 Coupes were sleek enough to make a German engineer sweat, and the FX45 was a V8-powered "bionic cheetah" that refused to blend in. With 27 colors in the catalog, Infiniti wasn't playing it safe. Whether it was the golden glow of Serengeti Sand Metallic, the futuristic Beryllium 16 Metallic, or the deep, liquid look of Garnet Fire Pearl, these cars were designed to be seen-and they looked best under the orange glow of a midnight streetlamp.

Paint Health Check

But here's the cold truth from the booth: 2006 was the heart of the "Thin Paint Era." The factory robots were getting a little too good at their jobs, stretching a gallon of paint further than a college student stretches a ramen packet. By now, your Black Obsidian or Ivory Pearl Tricoat is likely showing its age. Because the clear coat was applied with such "robot efficiency," it's brittle. One pebble on the freeway doesn't just leave a mark; it creates a crater. If you're seeing "road rash" on the hood of your M45 or QX56, it's because those microns of protection have finally reached their limit against the elements.

Restoration Tip

Since 2006 paint is notoriously lean, you can't just slap a blob of paint into a chip and expect it to disappear. The secret is to build layers slowly. Don't try to fill the entire depth of the chip in one go, or you'll end up with a "zit" that won't level out. Apply your base color in two or three paper-thin passes, letting it dry between each. This mimics the factory's tight finish and keeps the repair flush with the surrounding panels. You're a surgeon with a brush, not a mason with a trowel.