I've had a hell of a time trying to find SOMEONE with the OEM Chili Red touch-up paint for the 04 Cooper S. I've checked everywhere and been told the same thing (backordered-zero idea on the ETA to get the paint in). I know there are other solutions but I would really like to try and get the OEM paint. If you or anyone you know stock the paint or have a hidden stash...let me know. Thanks!

 

did you search the exterior forum?

www.paintscratch.com
www.paintworldinc.com

 

Yeah...saw both of those but I was hoping for an OEM solution

 

Why? Often the specialty touch-up suppliers actually do a better job than OEM - better color match in some cases, better paint in many cases, and almost always "fresher" - often when you can find OEM touchup paint, it's been sitting on a shelf for months or YEARS, separating and going through thermal cycles and who knows what...

 

yah, it's not like MINI makes the paint in their factory in a special
cooking pot or something. they buy from suppliers too.

 

I guess I could try a paint pen or something of the like. I was just operating under the general principle that MINI knows the paint they make (or, better said, their supplier knows the paint that they make) so the OEM touch up paint has a better likelihood of being a perfect match for the paint that originally went on the car.

 

I got OEM touch-up paint from Moss Mini...you might try them if you haven't already.

 

MisterCooper, if you want to come by my house in Pelham, I have some that you can borrow for a quick touchup Also I looked online & I dunno if they have it in stock but MossMini has some CR for sale

 

Nice theory but what makes you think the paint in the t/up bottle actually came from the same supplier that sends paint to the factory.

In doing repairs to a vehicle I went code in hand to an auto paint supplier, where we determined that for that code for that year and model there were 6 different formulas....suggesting that the suppliers changed and of course you have no idea who the supplier was. What we could find was a paint chip book for the supplier I was using for the repair and e had 5 people voting in the parking lot as to which mix was the bext match. Sometimes the formulas are referenced by VIN range, sometimes by build dates.... On a MINI, wanting to match the white roof for a particular model year, the computer produced two different formulas.....for the same color name.

But bottom line as another has said. MINI nor BMW makes paint. Did they buy from Dupont, PPG, Sher'Williams ..... another????? Who knows .. what you need is a quality color match AND good application. The latter is very difficult to achieve with the OEM t/u bottles IHMO ..... thick sticky paint.....yuk.

 

Anyone know a place that has Lightning Blue touch-up? I found a place that will make the paint from a sample you supply. But, what am I supposed to do? Send them a body panel?

 

Really you *should* be able to get it from the dealer. Since the 2007s are so new, my guess is no one else has it yet.

 

If U wish to motor up from Alabama to Colorado, I'll let ya borrow some of my OEM CR.

 

The dealer does NOT have touch up paints for the 2007 yet! Another example of MINI pushing the limits of totally crap customer service.

 

Thanks for the offer Teresa. However, I have so many paint chips now that I would feel bad using up all of your paint to cover them up. I'm currently considering using an orbital buffer to take all of the deep chips out and then using the touch up paint to fix them all, so I'd probably use up every bit of it. I just ordered the paint from Moss and I'm keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that they have some in stock.

The suggestion to come up to Colorado was tempting however. I bet it's nice up there this time of year. Not to mention that Webb Motorsports is in the state, making it all the more enticing to make a drive up.


Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

MisterCooper, you might wanna get a Langka Paint Repair kit. I have never tried it but read good things about them & I am thinking of getting one for when I break down & do a really good touch up session myself

 

kinda sucks to hear. might want to invest in a clear bra while your bumper
is still relatively chip-free.

 

How can the dealer not have touch up paint? What does their body shop use to repair damaged cars? Can't they make small touch up bottles from that?

 

This place has paint for MINI colors:

http://www.paintscratch.com/cgi-bin/...cgi?AFFIL=1223

 

both times Ive gone to my dealer to get my touch-up paints (CR and JB, for my roof, yes I get paint chips just above the windshield) they've been back-ordered. With the CR it only took a week, but for the discontinued JB it took nearly 6 weeks to get it.

One thing tho: I wish U could just get the paint, and NOT the bottle of clear-coat as well. That stuff's just too hard and difficult to apply over the TUP for a coordination-challenged simian such as myself.

 

The dealer doesn't have a body shop. They farm it out.

 

They don't have my color.

 

you are screwed.




just give it a few months.

 

Sorry! Didn't notice you had an R56. I'm sure they will have it with time. I was pretty impressed that they actually list the MINI colors by their real name on that site.

 

Can someone tell me which #'s in the vin is the color code or maybe where else on the car that it is indicated? Obviously, I most be too stupid to find it myself.

 

There is a tag on the passenger side fender (under the bonnet). It says the color and has the code. But, if your expeience is like mine, it won't do you any good, as I have been told my code is for a mitsubishi silver.