colour code
- Thread starter NigeB
- Start date
Probably interior
No it’s the engine bay and under bonnet/boot lid colour.
Thanks for that. That is intersting to know as I also thought it was the primer colour.
The top colour is the body colour. The bottom the engine bay etc.
The engine bay is normally the body colour but in flat paint. Hence why the top will say where applicable metallic but the bottom won’t. But generally the 2 colours themselves match. Engine bays are always, to the best of my knowledge, flat not metallic.
@Sean d might confirm or correct this for us but I think primer is usually white or grey. It’s not top coat tinted. And I doubt even black top coat uses black primer. Well I know it wouldn’t it
And it’s always in German. A source of some confusion sometimes. Hell Rot is Light/Bright Red not Hell Red
If your car was built with individual options most usually a non-standard colour roof it will have a black engine bay with the extra sticker. No idea why. This was extended to most, not sure all, Individual Editions like the Mora.
The engine bay is normally the body colour but in flat paint. Hence why the top will say where applicable metallic but the bottom won’t. But generally the 2 colours themselves match. Engine bays are always, to the best of my knowledge, flat not metallic.
@Sean d might confirm or correct this for us but I think primer is usually white or grey. It’s not top coat tinted. And I doubt even black top coat uses black primer. Well I know it wouldn’t it
And it’s always in German. A source of some confusion sometimes. Hell Rot is Light/Bright Red not Hell Red
If your car was built with individual options most usually a non-standard colour roof it will have a black engine bay with the extra sticker. No idea why. This was extended to most, not sure all, Individual Editions like the Mora.
YesThanks for the info folks, really interesting and another mystery put to bed.
On another point, am I correct that Z3 bonnets are the same pre and post face-lift?
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2016
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Yes it does
Are you sure about that @Nodzed ? The lower colour always correlates to the engine bay colour for sure. I have a Topaz Blue car with Topaz Blue engine bay. And another with black engine bay (individual options). The lower colour follows the engine bay on each car.
Would BMW use 2 different colour primers with the same top coat? Perhaps? In which case we are happily both right.
And one other thought, the engine bays are a satin type finish not a hard matt like primer would normally be?
The answer should be on the inside of the front or rear wings which remain in primer to the best of my knowledge. I'll have a look next time I have a pair off, in particular on my 2 Topaz Blue cars.
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- Apr 1, 2016
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- Maybole , South Ayrshire
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- Z3 Individual Dakar / Orinoco Individual
On both my zeds as they are both non metallic both colour the same engine bay is Dakar same as external just not lacquered in engine bay Lynne's Torqouise green zed is the same on facelift one not .
But metallic finishes are different.
But metallic finishes are different.
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2016
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- Model of Z
- Z3M Imola and Z4 (e89)
OK yes your are correct its actually called underhood paint but the same paint is used around the waterway in the boot opening and the boot inside etc as far as I can ascertain, why would then put two different types of base paint on? BMW Schwarz Matte code F2380 that is made by duPont is used on cars with top coat codes 303 305 668 (Plus some individuals such as Mora which isn't listed)
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And of course is also the best colour for a Zed!The top colour is the body colour. The bottom the engine bay etc.
And it’s always in German. A source of some confusion sometimes. Hell Rot is Light/Bright Red not Hell Red
Ok, folks, I think I can put this one to bed now! I have been doing some work on my front quarter panels and the primer for Mora Red is definitely Schwarz!
clearly visible as I feather the paint back is a grey primer (probably an etch primer put on all panels for all colours) There is then a black primer over the top of this followed by the colour coat and then the clear coat.
The grey primer is the same as the one on the chassis rails beneath the outer sills and I think this is common to all colours.
I would therefore lay money that the colour shown at the bottom of the sticker is in fact the primer colour.....unless of course YOU know different!
clearly visible as I feather the paint back is a grey primer (probably an etch primer put on all panels for all colours) There is then a black primer over the top of this followed by the colour coat and then the clear coat.
The grey primer is the same as the one on the chassis rails beneath the outer sills and I think this is common to all colours.
I would therefore lay money that the colour shown at the bottom of the sticker is in fact the primer colour.....unless of course YOU know different!
Can you recommend where I can get engine bay paint from?
Just phoned half a dozen places around and no one seems to do it....mentioning needs to be specialist heat resistant etc...
I also am looking for Schwarz engine bay paint...
Just phoned half a dozen places around and no one seems to do it....mentioning needs to be specialist heat resistant etc...
I also am looking for Schwarz engine bay paint...
It’s a dark art matching off the shelf paint to engine bay. And it only triggers a load of misinformation debating it on here. You need to take the car to an auto paint factor. They’ll mix you up something to match and add some matting agent to flat it down. That’s what I did.