2016 Smart Touch Up Paint (14 OEM Colors)

The 2016 Smart Vibe

2016 was a strange, hyper-efficient time. While everyone else was chasing Pokemon GO monsters, the Smart Fortwo was zipping into parking spots the size of a postage stamp. Smart didn't just give you a car; they gave you a personality on wheels. With 14 colors in our vault, it's clear they weren't shy. You had the high-gloss standouts like Flame Yellow Tricoat and Orange Metallic, but 2016 was also the year that "flat" became the new "fast." Options like Light Green Metallic (matt) and Crystal White (matt) proved that Smart owners wanted that high-end, textured look on a city-car budget. It was a kaleidoscope of Rally Red and River Silver Metallic darting through traffic-a far cry from the sea of beige crossovers we see today.

Paint Health Check

Welcome to the Thin Paint Era. By 2016, factory robots had become surgically precise-and notoriously stingy. They applied just enough base and clear to cover the panels, leaving you with a finish that's about as thick as a single strand of hair. On a Fortwo, you're dealing with thermoplastic body panels that flex and breathe. This "Robot Efficiency" means your clear coat doesn't have much of a "bite." If you've noticed your Deep Black or Graphite Pearl finish looking like a dimpled golf ball, it's because those thin layers can't handle rock strikes or high-pressure car washes like the old heavy-bodied enamels could. When the clear coat on these plastic panels starts to fail, it doesn't just fade-it often lets go in sheets because the bond was lean from day one.

Restoration Tip

When you're touching up a 2016 Smart, you have to respect the thinness. Build your layers slowly; do not blob it. Because these panels are plastic and prone to flexing, a giant "mountain" of paint will eventually crack or pop right off. Apply several whisper-thin coats of your base color-especially those tricky metallics like Light Blue Metallic-allowing each to tack up properly. If you're working with the Dark Gray Metallic (matt), remember that your technique is the only thing controlling the texture; don't try to "flood" the area to get coverage. A few patient passes will keep the repair flexible and flush with the factory finish.