Paint codes

[NutmegCT]

I know *zilch* about car paint.

My Nissan Altima exterior is "Winter Frost Pearl" per the window sticker and owner's manual. There are a couple of stone chips and parking lot rash to take care of.

The paint code on the car ID plate shows QX3. Doesn't say "Winter Frost Pearl".

Is QX3 the same as "Winter Frost Pearl"?

Or is QX3 a "kind" or "method" of paint?

I've looked high and low (!) for a supplier of Winter Frost Pearl. No one carries it. So maybe I'm using the wrong term? Should I just ask for QX3? In other words, is QX3 a specific color and finish, with several different names?

Using Google for QX3, I find many paints with similar names to Winter Frost Pearl. Example:

https://gtcarlot.com/paint-codes/Nissan/QX3/

So, what do I ask for when searching for a spray or paint stick of "Winter Frost Pearl"?

Thanks.
Tom M.

 

[TR3driver]

QX3 should be the paint code, meaning it uniquely identifies the color in Nissan's system. The problem is that Nissan used several different names for the exact same color. So for example at https://paintref.com/cgi-bin/colorcodedisplay.cgi?code=QX3&manuf=Nissan&rows=50 you can see how no matter what Nissan called it, the paint codes from PPG, Ditzler, etc are the same.

So as along as you get "Nissan QX3" touch-up paint, it should be a good match to the original paint color. Which may not be quite as good a match to what is on the car, as the colors can change somewhat over time. Probably not much of an issue with off-white; but the difference can be substantial with medium colors like blue and green.

 

[NutmegCT]

Thank you Randall!

I wondered about those "similar paint names" in the Nissan brochures. I'll just find a qx3 touch up kit.

Thanks,
TM