MINI car paint 

Here is an article that deals with a subject well known to bodywork professionals, but completely unknown to the general public, who has never heard of - or never needed to consult - the colour codes of other European cars or, more precisely, the colour codes of MINI cars, until the day when... Bad luck or carelessness causes your brand-new vehicle to be disfigured by a deep  scratch, and the need for a paintwork touch-up becomes unavoidable.
If you are not a connoisseur in the field of automotive paintwork, know that your MINI colour code is unique - well, unique to your car model and brand !

Maybe thousands of other people have the same colour code, and that's a good thing - because they have the same car as you. A single MINI model can offer up to 10 or 15 different MINI colour codes depending on the version and year - for example: a metallic grey, a pearlescent black, or a Malaga red 021...
To distinguish each of these bodywork colours accurately and without confusion, there is a specific reference. Of course if you ask a garage or your insurance company to handle all of this for you, then you won't have to worry about these complications. This article is mainly for people who want to know more about their colour code or paintwork - especially those planning to carry out their own paintwork repair.
Be aware that MINI paint references are shared with those of BMW. Indeed, since the manufacturers have merged, they use many common paint formulas and the same industrial paintwork lines.

The car colour codes of the MINI

In all painting discipline, we can confidently say that the most delicate is automotive paintwork, because it requires great care and a certain amount of dexterity.
When performing a touch-up, there are various steps to follow and respect. The techniques are much more complex and demanding than, say, repainting your bathroom wall. There are the stages of sanding, repairing with putty, then sanding again - followed by the application of a primer, then the paint, and finally the Topcoat. We quickly realise it's a process involving many successive steps, each of which requires great care if one wishes to avoid defects or chemical  reactions in the final result.

The colour codes of MINI Cooper or other models are often associated with modern metallic paints - beautiful paints that require a specific application method. These paints can be solvent-based or water-based. In general, water-based paints are reserved for professionals (strangely). If you order one of the MINI colour codes online, it will most likely be delivered in a solvent-based version, as this is easier to apply and far more stable.

But beware of potential chemical reactions ! For this reason, we recommand that you read the instructions once, twice or even three times - and ensure you fully understand them. Failing to follow a basic rule of paintwork can lead you to have to start all over again. And this can be quite costly, since manufacturer paints - especially MINI colour codes - are relatively expensive.

The history of the MINI manufacturer

Mini is the acronym for "Morris Mini Minor and Austin Seven," as these two cars were launched simultaneously in 1957. They were designed in the United Kingdom by an engineer and  marketed under several brands, the most well-known being Austin and Rover.
It was only in 1969 that MINI truly became a brand in its own right. Then, in 2001, the German car manufacturer BMW acquired the brand. On its cars, from the wheels to the engine, everything is designed in miniature - that was the goal launched by BMC.
However, the small car version was capable of reaching a speed of 145 km/h. For the time, the design was remarkably innovative in terms of engine layout, size and wheel placement. Many versions were released from 1980s onwards, such as the Cooper or the Metro.
In the 2000s, the little MINI fell victim to its own success. Millions of vehicles were sold in  countries all over the world.

Where to find the colour code of your MINI car ?

Your MINI paintwork, delivered to your door in 24 hours. The Mini shades are particularly beautiful and still retain the unique character of the English brand. Austin Mini paintwork : 300 colour codes available.
StardustColors has a dedicated service specialising in the production of automotive tints. Our technician has been trained and knows his tool perfectly.
For MINI brand vehicles, the plate indicating the colour code (VIN plate) can be found in three locations:
- Inside the bonnet, above the front right wheel (passenger side).
- Inside the front right door (passenger side).
- Inside the rear right door (passenger side).
You can refer to the images provided below, which illustrate the exact location.
The colour code always consists of three characters (letters or numbers).

The iconic colours of MINI cars

The brand's iconic colours have evolved across years, eras, and trends, over the decades  between 1956 and 2022. In general, the Mini brand became famous for its typically English colours - especially the elegant British Racing Green - and, in the 2000s, for the models with a roof design featuring the Union Jack.
It's clear that the colours of the 1970s differed from those of the 1990s, and even more so from  the modern colours we see today, which are mainly dominated by pearlescent shades. In the 2000s, fashion trends were primarily focused on metallic colours. It's only in recent years that pearlescent manufacturer colours, with vivid hues and deep, transparent effects, have become  dominant.

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