Be SURE to read this ENTIRE Introductory Section!!

I DO have a LOT of information on older BMW car paints, you can ask about a specific model, year, color.

Each BMW motorcycle (and cars too) is coded with a three-digit paint finish code number.     BMW motorcycles use that code number, usually found on a label under the seat, to refer to an over-all paint job..... this is a FINISH code; that covers the entire paint job.  Europeans refer to that finish code as a Scheme code.  All of which means exactly what I say here.  This is NOT a number that describes 'just' the color of the paint....although that is often also the case.  You can think of this as the number describes an entire paint SCHEME....except for exact paint gun passes, thickness of coatings, exact placement of pinstripes, ...in other words it is not a full engineering description, but it IS a solid description of the products used.  This code does describe, or not fully, pinstriping, even dual-pin-striping.   I can help you with SOME of the information, for USA and for Europe/UK, but please do not ask unless you have serious reasons for doing so, as it takes a LOT of my time to delve through the various literature I have to determine a good answer for you!

Glasurit, and some others, have information....they know what that BMW FINISH code means.    This is particularly troublesome with the pinstriping and the smoked colors, and the orange R90S paint job, ETC.     There may be several color coats used, and a finishing top clear coat, one or more colors or types of pinstriping, etc....it all depends on the model.  

For example, you might have a bike whose under-seat label has 572.   That is a specific BMW color, Magenta Red, and you CAN get paint in that color.   But....for 572 you also need a clear coat, and what about the gold pin-striping used most often with that paint code?    Is it a single pin-stripe or a dual pin-stripe?  Is it installed before the top clear coat, or underneath? How many layers or dusting coatings of a paint to use to get the appropriate depth of color?...too much/many may be darker than originally intended.   

This is just one area where a highly experienced professional painter earns their money.   In some instances there is a BASE color coat, which then has an over-coat to get some desired effect...or more than one....and then perhaps a clear coat.   SOME paints are NOT clear coated.  When investigating a paint code you may need to contact the paint manufacturer, try Glasurit (see note 5 below) for the information, although some of this is found in BMW literature/parts lists. 

Not only are these things somewhat confusing, but you may find in some instances that the colors and coatings, etc., are all the same, but a different code number signifies perhaps a different PATTERN to a pinstripe.   BMW and Butler & Smith, the importers of the early BMW bikes, sometimes had different names for the same color when used on different models!

BMW themselves sometimes had different names for the same paint when used with different colors of pin striping.

BMW used a descriptive 00 for color for right hand drive cars, single 0 for left hand!

Additional information:
     1.  on matching colors and numbers:    http://www.glasurit.com/
          In order to use that URL,  select "BMW".   On the next page enter your color
          sticker number. The following page will have the trim code.
          Use the first color number listed and enter it back into the previous page and it
          will give you the color name. I have NOT compared everything in my chart,
          below, with the Glasurit website above.
     2.  Even more information is in literature such as the SNABB Katalog, BMW's
          microfiche, etc.
     3.  The first number in a BMW code is the paint, the second number is the finish
          code.  You will probably find that information confusing.
     4.  In 1983-1984, the front fender of the R80RT had ONE pinstripe; the R100RT
          had DUAL stripes.
     5.  Many paints previously available from BMW are no longer available;
          Sometimes while NOT available from a California dealership due to
          smog laws; they ARE available from other State's dealerships.   BMW
          dealerships have access to availability. In some instances a paint is
          shown as NLA in fiche and in dealer information...but MAY still be
          available... and you can try ordering it.    SEE #9 BELOW!!!
     6. For R-M paint (BASF's mid line):   http://color-explorer.rmpaint.com/
          If the paint formula is available, a BASF paint store can mix it for you.  Some
          formulas may only be available in certain types of paint (single, two stage, etc.).
     7.  For Glasurit paint (BASF's high end line):  http://color-online.glasurit.com/
     8.  RUST, TANKS, FRAMES, etc:
          For the black frames, there are numerous black paint products that work fine. 
          See two tables further down for recommendations.
          Aluminum door and window frame cleaners and Naval Jelly (any hardware store or
          Lowe's or Home Depot):   When touching up painted steel surfaces, and you have rust
          areas, do fine grit sanding and feathering into the 'OK' paint area, and then treat the area
          to either a metal etching liquid from the local store (it contains PHOSPHORIC ACID, and
          will so state on the container), OR; for surfaces where the liquid would flow off, use a
          similar gel product called Naval Jelly.  Naval Jelly usually works reasonably quickly.  The
          screen door and metal etch stuff will work reasonably quickly, but I usually use it diluted
          1:1 with water, and let it sit overnight.   I do this for FRAMES as well as the INSIDE
          bottoms of fuel tanks, after the tanks are well-hosed-out with warmish water and a bit of
          detergent, then flushed well.  These phosphoric acid products CONVERT the RUST, even
          HIDDEN rust under the edge of paint, to an iron phosphate type stuff that is grayish-blackish
          and is PROTECTIVE.  Do NOT sand that off, only WASH the acid product off.  Let dry,
          repaint your rusted area you just fixed.
     9.  Availability of paints from your BMW dealership varies, a LOT!   Some dealerships will,
          especially on their on-line fiche, show something not available, or not shippable.  It may
          well-be that the item is still available, so contact other dealerships, and try out-of-State
          ones in particular.  This problem has been especially seen in California with its Rules and
          regulations about VOC's in paint.   As one example, the touch-up 'stick' which is really a
          small round container with a brush attached to the cap and a shaker-ball (?) inside, for the
          up-to 1980 black frames, is 51 91 0 302 284, and was still available in January 2013,
          when I typed this, yet many dealerships either had it as "Ended" or NLA, or not shippable.
     10. Paint work can be tricky.  Smoke colors are not what you may think.  Lots of similar
           examples.  78 red smoke uses dark blue for the smoke; silver smoke job uses dark green
           for the smoke.  If you want 100% authenticity, contact someone like Holt's.


   
When painting, whether it is from a rattle-can....or from professional equipment, preparation of the surface is EVERYTHING!!!!   Use of quality paints in a dust-free area is of considerable importance.   Absolutely no contaminants should be left on/in  the surfaces....this is especially important if there are any silicones from such as waxes/polishes having been used.  If the surface is not perfect, the final appearance will be much worse than you expect!
 

This is a rather short list for paint work.   I have not kept this area up.  Inquire on the appropriate Internet Mailing List or Forum.

Paint work:  Holt's, in Ohio.   740-593-6690 (also does fuel tank repairing)

Paint:   Excellent paints; can match any color.  Color-Rite.  Their chief Tech is Doug
            Hodgins, in the business for >40 years.  Small to large containers available; as well
            as aerosol cans; and a 'trick' touch-up pen.   www.color-rite.com 
            In the USA:  in Whittier, CA   (562) 947-9796
            In Canada (418) 876-3867, if you are not French speaking, ask for Reggie.

            RSBIKEPAINT.com   in U.K.     0044 (0) 1707 273219       Sales@rsbikepaint.co.uk 
            Will, I think, ship worldwide.

Powder coating:   (1) Fusion Coatings, Livermore, CA
                             (2) This company does it REALLY right, even cooking the parts first;
                                  then coating, then fusing at temperature. HIGHLY recommended.
                                 Greber Machine Tool and Custom Powder Coating; 313 Clark St.
                                 Elyria, OH   44035   440-323-8588
 

If you supply me with the SCHEME (finish code) number, I may be able to supply you with the
pinstriping number, if it is not in the tables in this article.
Reportedly, BMW pin stripes are 3.8 mm wide on the WIDE types; and, 2 mm wide on the NARROW types.   Spacing is 3 mm.

 Miscellaneous codes, colors, containers, etc:

Below are the actual paint codes for various models and years.  These numbers are ONLY APPROXIMATELY in numerical order...so, scan down fully!

Every model that used a particular Paint Code MIGHT NOT be listed under the Models column.
For a more complete list of Paint Codes, including color scheme codes, see Phil Hawksley's website.  There may well be errors on that website.
                 http://www.bmbikes.co.uk/colourchemes.htm

NOTE:  Avus Black was always 086, but has been used with 519/086/640/590/608, since year 1955.

585

528

It was reported to me that, at least in Germany, the code 528 signified TURQUOISE, and was used on 1992 or 1993, or both, R100RT

see to left

571

Pearl White

Last Edition bikes

Last Edition bikes