My car has a bronze-ish finish on the charge cooler/intercooler
which sits on top of the engine. It is missing over about 6 square
inches. it appears to have just flaked off. Is this a paint finish that
I can buy, or are they powder-coated from the factory?

I have the bonnet open regularly (car shows, etc) and Improving
the looks of this finish would be worth it to me, if buying a $10
bottle of touch-up paint is all it takes, then I'll be pleased.

Underneath is a silver-ish aluminium fiinish. I don't actually know
which is original, or if any of it is dealer-added.

Any knowledge of this finish?

Ian

 

The finish rubs off with alcohol ... so likely paint.

 

Called up the dealership. They have no access to anything
of this description. They also said that I should ask a bodyshop
to mix up some paint if they could match it.


Ian

 

I have since taken it to O'Reilly's, and had them use
their paint scanner on it, and they couldn't get a good
reading, so they couldn't make a bottle of paint.

Anyone have any details of what color that is? I know
the thread died but I'm still curious.

 

From the finish you describe I would say a previous owner has done it, on a 2003 I would expected to see a matt darkish grey finish from factory. The problem you get is the coolers are aluminium and painted straight on, no etch finish was applied first so over a period time with heat etc the paint peels off.
The only way to make to make it good again is to re do it...... I do a lot of engine bays!