2011 Infiniti Touch Up Paint (18 OEM Colors)

The 2011 Infiniti Vibe

In 2011, Infiniti was hitting its stride. The G37 was the official car of the "fast lane" suburban commute, and the FX50 looked like a spaceship that could actually haul groceries. Our database tracks 18 different colors for this year, which is a surprisingly generous spread for an era when most manufacturers were obsessed with "Fifty Shades of Grey." While the world was busy buying Silver Metallic and Platinum Metallic, Infiniti was sneaking out some real gems like Brownish Purple Pearl (the legendary Malbec Black) and Dark Red Pearl. It was a time of "corporate-cool" aesthetics-sleek, professional, but with just enough metallic flake to let people know you hadn't given up on life yet.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to The Thin Paint Era. By 2011, factory robots had become masters of efficiency, meaning they applied just enough paint to look good in the showroom, but not a micron more. This was the year of "Scratch Shield" technology-a self-healing clear coat that was supposed to "flow" back into shape when warm. In reality? Time hasn't been kind to that tech. If you're looking at a QX56 or an M56 today, you're likely seeing the dark side of "Robot Efficiency": the clear coat is often brittle, and on the White Pearl Tricoat models, delamination (peeling) isn't just a risk-it's a rite of passage. These cars don't just get "chips"; they lose little flakes of their soul every time a pebble hits the hood.

Restoration Tip

Because this era is defined by such thin factory layers, you can't treat a repair like you're frosting a cake. If you've got a chip in your Black Obsidian or Gray Metallic, build your layers slowly. Do not try to fill the entire crater in one go, or you'll end up with a "blob" that never levels out properly. Use a fine-tip applicator to place a thin skin of color at the bottom, let it set, and repeat until the depth is nearly level. Since the factory clear is so thin, your final clear coat layer is your only defense against the edges lifting later. Seal it tight, or the rest of that factory finish might decide it's time to retire.