[nuclear1986]

Is the Cardinal Red Metallic offered for the 2010 Equinox the same paint as Merlot Jewel Metallic offered for the 2010 Terrain?

Here’s my confusion: I went to my dealer to get a bottle of touch-up paint for my Cardinal Red Equinox. I brought the paint code with me which is, according to the Service Parts ID sticker, WA-431P. My Parts Manager told me they order paint based on the VIN rather than on the paint code. So I gave him the VIN and he looked it up. Based on my VIN, the color came back as Merlot Jewel Metallic, which I recognized as the Terrain color. I asked him if GM shares paint between divisions and if it’s called something different in each division. He said that sometimes they do, and even within a division, the same paint color can come back the next year with a different name. But in the case of the Equinox/Terrain, he couldn’t say. So I pushed him again about the paint code. The code for the Merlot Jewel Metallic touch-up color is WA-573Q, which is different than what my Parts ID sticker says.

So, before I order the paint, is Cardinal Red Metallic the exact same red as Merlot Jewel Metallic?

 

[bballr4567]

Look at your RPO sticker, its in your glovebox. There will be a 4 digit code that follows a U near the bottom of the list. That is your paint code.

And yes, GM uses the exact same paint in different divisions but call it something different. As far as I know, Cardinal Red is the exact same as Merlot Jewel.

 

[nuclear1986]

Yes, I did look at that sticker. That's how I got the paint code WA-431P (it's after the BC/CC (Body Color/Clear Coat) designator). I would think the paint code is the same regardless of the name of the color, but it seems it's not. Merlot Jewel has a code of WA-573Q. If they are the same color, why the different code?

 

[bballr4567]

If it has a different code, then they are different. Its weird it comes up as MJM in your VIN# though.

Also, it usually is a 4 digit number following a U. If nobody else checks before my wife gets home with our MJM Terrain then I will post up the paint code.

 

[nuclear1986]

Ok, thanks for checking.

But as I understand GM paint codes, things get wierd. Sometimes there is a U (or an L for lower body color in two-tone cars) or a WA preceding the paint code. And, sometimes the code is 4 digitis, and sometime only 2 digits.

 

[bballr4567]

The RPO code is two digits. U means upper and L means lower. In that case you will have TWO different paint codes.

My '00 Firebird Formula was black. Now, the RPO code was 41U. The paint code was U8555. If you look at a '10 Onyx Black 'Nox/Terrain and they will have the same paint code (U8555) BUT the RPO might be a tad different.

 

[bballr4567]

My BC/CC is WA431P. I just checked it 10 minutes ago.

So apparently, they ARE the same colors.

 

[nuclear1986]

OK, that's interesting. Thanks for checking. Here's another interesting thing. If you look for the paint at an aftermarket site, like PaintScratch.com, and key in a 2010 Equinox or Terrain, guess what color you get for red for both models: MJM!

So they probably are the same. By the way, if you ever have the need for it, the P/N for the touch-up bottle is 88860797.

 

[rcturner]

The colors are the same. I just got touchup paint for mine and found the same thing.

 

[blocker44]

GM will charge extra for a tinted clearcoat. Is it possible that it is the same paint code with the Terrain getting the tinted clearcoat.

 

[bballr4567]

Its not a tintcoat though or it would have it in the name like Crystal Red Tintcoat.

 

[tms917]

Hello all, happy new Equinox owner here!

Can you confirm the touch-up paint looked good on the car? My story is the same exact as yours (but 2011 Equinox, though I bet it's safe to assume colors are consistent to 2010), but I'm still nervous about the code differences. I'd hate to have a dark red streak along my door... So again, any comments on how the touch-up job went?

 

[nuclear1986]

Hello all, happy new Equinox owner here!

Can you confirm the touch-up paint looked good on the car? My story is the same exact as yours (but 2011 Equinox, though I bet it's safe to assume colors are consistent to 2010), but I'm still nervous about the code differences. I'd hate to have a dark red streak along my door... So again, any comments on how the touch-up job went?

Welcome!

Yes, I confirmed that the colors are the same, at least for the 2010 Equinox/Terrain (no reason why they shouldn't be the same for the 2011s). I had a chip on the A-pillar due to a stone that was kicked-up from a car. The touch-up bottle was an excellent match -- you can't tell unless you look very closely. Check the Service Parts ID sitcker in your glovebox. You should see a BC/CC code of WA431P (which means Cardinal Red) and RPO code of GIS (which means Merlot Jewel Metallic). I still can't explain why the name difference.

Good luck! The first ding is always the most painful.

 

[43sbest]

All colors of the Terrain & Nox are exactly the same even though a couple have different names. This even goes over to the Buick line with some colors.

 

[bigmaestro]

I hear what you guys are saying but I really don't believe that CARDINAL RED METALLIC and MERLOT JEWEL METALLIC are the same at all. I say that as having seen a CARDINAL RED EQUINOX and a MERLOT JEWEL TERRAIN (mine - ;D) side by side in the same light. I wish I'd taken a picture, but the MERLOT JEWEL, ironically is a brighter red in the sunshine and the CARDINAL RED looks more akin to the red used on this site (in the same light). I think they switched the names because to me CARDINAL invokes the red on the Terrain while MERLOT is more like the red on the Equinox.

And I do find it strange that some colors like QUICKSILVER and MOCHA STEEL are the same between vehicles, but others aren't. And the newer blue color that's available for both cars isn't the same either (and don't have the same name if I remember correctly).

 

[Terrain]

I hear what you guys are saying but I really don't believe that CARDINAL RED METALLIC and MERLOT JEWEL METALLIC are the same at all. I say that as having seen a CARDINAL RED EQUINOX and a MERLOT JEWEL TERRAIN (mine - ;D) side by side in the same light.

Probably something to do with how the light hits the different surfaces. Surely both the Terrain and Equinox roll into the same paint bath...

 

[bballr4567]

Its the exact same color.

 

[bigmaestro]

Just telling you what I've seen with my own two eyes. It's the main reason why the Merlot Jewel was my #1 color pick for the Terrain, but the Mocha Steel was my #1 pick for the Equinox (did not like the Cardinal Red Equinox and wondered why they didn't make one in Merlot Jewel).

 

[RIT333]

Just telling you what I've seen with my own two eyes. It's the main reason why the Merlot Jewel was my #1 color pick for the Terrain, but the Mocha Steel was my #1 pick for the Equinox (did not like the Cardinal Red Equinox and wondered why they didn't make one in Merlot Jewel).

Their paint codes are the same. Might have been a different type of day (sunny vs cloudy) of just the body accents playing tricks on your eyes. My cardinal red equinox does look very different depending on the day, and how much I've had to drink - LOL.

 

[rcturner]

I have a CARDINAL RED METALLIC Equinox and my touchup paint is MERLOT JEWEL METALLIC directly from GM. They are the same.