I decided to purchase a touchup kit from Dr. Colorchip - after watching some videos and liking the process. I have a white LC (color 083). I also have Lexus touchup paint, which consists of a metallic white base coat, and a second clear top coat. Dr. Colorchip sent me a single bottle of non-metallic white paint, along with a note saying my paint (083) is a 3-stage paint (base, pearl, and top clear), and they formulated their paint as a non-metallic pearl white to best resemble my factory paint. I don't believe this note is accurate... my car does not have any pearl in the paint. We own another Lexus which definitely has a pearlescent stage in the white paint (Starfire Pearl), but the LC paint definitely has no pearl to it. It's pure, bright white, whereas pearl paints more resemble a pearl, which have a hint of gold or off-white to them. I'm inclined to return the kit since it isn't even metallic. Does anyone know if there's any pearl stage to the white LC paint? I certainly don't think so.

 

Your car, Ultra White code 083, is definitely a pearl white.

 

I'm not buying it. We have a Starfire Pearl white RX, a Blizzard Pearl white Prius, and a Blizzard Pearl white Sienna in our family. All 3 come with a top pearl coat, which changes the color from a pure bright white to something more analogous to a true pearl - which is more of a pearlescent off-white. From what I read on the thread below, 083 seems to consist of a base white coat, a second glass/metallic sparkle coat, and a final clear top coat. In the touch-up I bought from Lexus for my 083-white LC, the base coat is pure white and the top coat is clear with the sparkles mixed in it. It's not pearlescent off-white like the other Pearl whites we have. What I read on the following thread jives with what I'm seeing in my OEM touchup paint...

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...ode-083-a.html

 

I've used Dr. Colorchip before on a non lexus car. It was difficult and I ended up smearing a cloudy blob onto my clear coat. I'm sure I didn't do it perfectly right, but I practiced a couple of times and had 3 different spots to get. I would leave paint work of this caliber to the professionals.... but I guess you would have to REALLY trust the professional.

 

That pearl is the hardest color to match, I would take it to a professional.

 

So, after having my engine cover painted, I learned the 083 white isn't pearl or metallic (in that it doesn't have any metal flakes in the paint). It is a 3-stage paint process. (1) Pure white base coat, (2) clear with glass flakes (not metal), and (3) a final clear top coat. Pearl coats have a top coat that isn't purely clear, but rather have a slight off-white iridescence to it, to simulate the look of a pearl. They almost look yellowish in bright light. 083 is a much brighter-whiter white than pearl-coats since the clear coat has no color additives, other than the glass flakes.