Colour codes
Where to find your BMW paint colour code
BMW prints its paint code on a small sticker in the door jamb or under the bonnet, next to the colour name in English and German. Here's where to look and how to search for it.
FT Paints
· 3 min read
Where to look on your BMW
BMW has moved the paint sticker over the years, so where it is depends on the age of your car:
- Door jamb (newer models). Open the driver's door and check the B-pillar, the upright between the front and rear doors. The paint code is printed on the black vehicle ID plate.
- Under the bonnet (older models). Check the top of the suspension strut tower, the inner wing or the slam panel for a small paint sticker showing the code and colour name.
- Boot or spare wheel well. Less common, but worth a look if it's not in either place above.
How to read the plate
On newer BMWs the paint code isn't labelled. Look at the left-hand column of the ID plate: it lists where the car was made, then the model (for example 420i xDrive), and the three characters directly underneath are the paint code. The weights and VIN on the right-hand side can be ignored.
The code is either letters and numbers, like A96 (Mineral White) or B39 (Mineral Grey), or three numbers on older colours, like 475 (Black Sapphire). On older cars with a separate paint sticker under the bonnet, the code is printed next to the colour name, often in both English and German.
Popular BMW colours
A few of the codes we mix most often for BMWs. Tap one to see the finish and order it mixed to code.
BMW
BMW
BMW
BMW
BMW
BMW
BMW
BMW
Can't find the sticker?
If the sticker's missing, faded or painted over after a respray, you've still got options:
- Ask a dealer. Call your local BMW dealership, ask for the Parts department, and give them your registration or VIN. They can look up the factory colour code.
- Search by name. If you know the colour name from the logbook or original sale, search it on our BMW colour codes page.
Still stuck, or not sure the code matches a resprayed panel? Bring the fuel flap or a small part into a branch and we'll match it on the counter.
What you’ll need
Once you have the code, the finish tells you what to order. BMW colours fall into these groups:
Single-stage
Solid colours
One paint. It dries to a gloss finish, so no lacquer is needed.
117 BMW colours
Two-stage
Metallic, pearl and most modern colours
Basecoat, then clear lacquer over the top. Matt colours need a matt lacquer instead.
783 BMW colours
Three-stage
Pearl tri-coat colours
Basecoat, a pearl mid-coat, then clear lacquer. Order both paints together so they match.
5 BMW colours
Which size?
Touch-up 50ml
Chips & scratches
Aerosol 400ml
Bumper or panel touch-in
500ml
1–2 panels
1L
2–3 panels
2.5L
Most full resprays
Each colour’s page shows its finish and the sizes it comes in. For two- and three-stage colours, finish with our clear lacquer or the clear lacquer aerosol.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is the paint code on a BMW?
- On newer BMWs it's on the vehicle ID plate on the driver's door jamb (B-pillar), just under the model name. On older models it's on a sticker under the bonnet, usually on the strut tower or the slam panel.
- What does a BMW paint code look like?
- Three characters, either letters and numbers like B39 (Mineral Grey) or three numbers like 475 (Black Sapphire). On the ID plate it's unlabelled, directly under the model name.
- Can I find my BMW paint code from the registration number?
- Yes. A BMW dealer's Parts department can look up the factory paint code from your registration or VIN.
