Our site is largely dedicated to automotive paints. This is why we have created a category grouping the paints made according to German car colour codes, and in particular BMW car colour codes. These codes are both useful and necessary to retrieve the original paint formula used on vehicles as t...
Our site is largely dedicated to automotive paints. This is why we have created a category grouping the paints made according to German car colour codes, and in particular BMW car colour codes. These codes are both useful and necessary to retrieve the original paint formula used on vehicles as they leave the factory. With this code, a paint manufacturer can recreate the colour, whether for a partial touch-up or a complete respray during a restoration.
BMW paints have been classified under this system for almost 60 years, dating back to the 1960s when the first BMW colour codes appeared.
BMW - A Premium German Car Manufacturer. In this article, we focus mainly on the automotive division, though the BMW brand also manufactures motorcycles. The three letters on the name stands for Bayerische Motoren Werke, which means "Bavarian Motor Works".
The iconic luxury and sports car brand is part of a group that also owns Mini and Rolls-Royce. The history of the BMW dates back to around 1917. The company's logo features inverted colours of the Bavarian regional flag.
In 2020, BMW sold over 2 million vehicles - double the amount sold just 15 years earlier.
True to German design, BMW colour ranges reflect a bold and efficient character. Today, 100% of colours developed by design departments are selected based on trends and customer preferences. The most common shades are metallic black and white, followed by metallic reds, blues and browns - which together represent less than 30% of colours sold by dealerships.
BMW paintwork is organised under a long list of colour shades that have accumulated since around 1960. In the factory, paint is now applied in an automated process using a standard 1K basecoat system - a method in use since the 2000s.
This is the same refinishing system used by body shops, involving application of a base, followed by a topcoat. Prior to the 2000s, most vehicles were painted using single-stage finishes - namely 2K paints.
Since 2007, the company has made a major shift by requiring the use of fully water-based paint systems for basecoats.
Previously, 100% of BMW paint codes were formulated using solvent-based paints, which are more polluting.
Today, although basecoats are waterborne, the Topcoats applied over them remain solvent-based, as science has not yet produced durable waterborne clearcoats.
History of the BMW Manufacturer
Founded in 1917, BMW originally produced engines and aircraft — an activity that was banned after Germany’s defeat in World War I.
The 1920s saw a surge in popularity for motorcycles, and BMW excelled in this area, producing racing machines capable of reaching 216 km/h.
BMW has always been first and foremost an engine manufacturer, known for its advanced expertise across all types of engines.
In 1920, one of its aircraft clandestinely reached an altitude record of nearly 10,000 metres.
World War II did not bring an end to the company. On the contrary, BMW expanded significantly during this period, fulfilling a large number of orders, taking advantage of nearly 50,000 forced men and women labourers.
However, at the end of the war, many of BMW’s factories were destroyed, and the company struggled to compete with rivals like Mercedes, who dominated the German market.
In post-war Germany of the 1950s and 1960s, BMW underwent a transformation and broke away from its past.
For BMW vehicles, the plate (vinplate) showing the paint code can be found in three possible locations :
- Inside the engine compartment.
- On the left wheel arch (driver's side)
- Inside the doors
You can refer to the images provided below, which show the exact locations.
The BMW colour code always consists of three characters (letters or numbers).
Like all major car manufacturers, BMW assigns both a numeric colour code and a colour name (most ofter in German).
Here are a few examples with well-known BMW colours :
087 GRAPHITGRAU
or alternatively :
10080 TITANGRAU MATT
Your BMW paint is prepared the same day and delivered the next day with StardustColors. Order your BMW paint now by entering your colour code in the comment field or by sending it via email.
Did you know it's much more cost-effective and efficient to paint with a spray gun ? A 300ml spray can actually contains 100ml of paint. Discover our GUNS category.
Mercedes car colour code
Opel car colour code
Audi car colour code
Volkswagen car colour code
Porsche car colour code
Smart car colour code
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