Rookie mistake (long)

I

imported_M3Pilot

New member
Well having only had my car back less than a week after the nearly $6k respray it's just had, $100's on new cleaning clothes and new products.

I got home last nite and noticed a bird bomb on the hood.

So trying to do what's best I decided I'd better get it off so as possible. So I went and got the hose out and removed the item with the hose.

I was in a rush as I was going out and left it as it was thinking it would be ok.

Came out to the car about 1 1/2 hrs later and looked at the state of my newly painted hood with some very bad water spots on it.

I didn't have time tackle it at this point as I was on the way out, was already late..



When I got there I got the QD out the boot and an MF cloth and tried to remove the marks, it seemed to do very little.

So now I'm in panic mode thinking I just destroyed my nice new paint job, it's very nearly dark and I can hardly see what I'm doing, so it will have to wait till the morning.



I got up about 2 hrs early to see if I could start to undo what I had done. I used some Autoglym Fast Glass which can be used to clean paintwork and plastic.

It got some of it off but not all that I was hoping, it looked ok, but you could still seen them on the surface in direct sunlight.



I searched on here and read that claying probably wouldn't do it, but a 50/50 mix of water/ white vinegar should work.



I went and got some at lunch time and started to remove the water marks again.

It worked!!!!!!!

I was so realieve as I was really starting to think that it had etched into the clear coat. I did the rest of the hood and got all the marks off. Ran over it again with the QD to remove any of the vinegar solution.



I feel like I've had a lucky escape, but how can you get away from getting water on your car?



Does this mean I can only take it out when it's sunny, that I can't ever use the winscreen washer in fear of more water marks trashing my paint?



This seems like it's going to be a real problem, it's just not practical to dry a dirty car if it's just rained or you get caught out in it whilst driving, and I can't just say to my boss I've got t go and dry my car in the middle of work time.



How do you guys deal with this?



I hope I haven't damaged my car with the vinegar solution, but the paint looks fine, but I guess time will tell.



As they say you learn buy your mistakes and I certainly won't be doing that again!!!!!!!!
 
You need to add a protectant to your brand new finish. Sealant or carnuaba does not matter but something needs to be in place to protect that virgin clearcoat!!!! Find out from your paint shop when, if not now, that you can apply some protection.

Happy motoring. :wavey
 
blkZ28Conv said:
You need to add a protectant to your brand new finish. Sealant or carnuaba does not matter but something needs to be in place to protect that virgin clearcoat!!!! Find out from your paint shop when, if not now, that you can apply some protection.

Happy motoring. :wavey
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The guy who sprayed the car said it's fine to wax it as of now, but I'm in too minds as whether to leave it a while and use IMG for about 30 days then go with the wax or just give it some wax now.

There seems to be so much confusion on actually how long new paint takes to cure.



I'm in the process of trying to import some Zaino.
 
I would put some wax( non-cleaning) on it now and IMG later when necessary. The paint should not need a glaze at this time, just protection. When you decide on what your finally protective agent is ( Zaino/Klasse/BF/Platium or carnuaba) than you can use the IMG or not.

Protect it ASAP!!! :wavey
 
ALAN81 said:
GET SOME WAX ON YOUR CAR AND DONT WAIT!
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I pretty sure that the car has been waxed already.

It beaded like crazy when it rained, the day after I picked it up.

Maybe this is what saved the paint.



But I'll wash the car tomorrow and give it a full going over.



So i take it I will have this on a regular basis as the car sits outside 24/7:(
 
Beading is not a good indicator of the presence of wax. Do a search and you will see. If you don't believe it, use an abrasive such as SMR and polish a section really well, and then wash with Dawn. Spray water all over the car and you will see that the polished area beads like crazy. I did this with a black Prelude recently.
 
2wheelsx2 said:
Beading is not a good indicator of the presence of wax. Do a search and you will see. If you don't believe it, use an abrasive such as SMR and polish a section really well, and then wash with Dawn. Spray water all over the car and you will see that the polished area beads like crazy. I did this with a black Prelude recently.
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Ok. I will give it a full treatment tomorrow. It will give me a chance to learn a little more of what not to do.

I could do with some decent wax, but for the moment I've just got some the the BMW carnauba wax. I thought I'd give it ago as it all about seeing what works.

I also want to get hold of some P21S
 
It's really easy to get the old wax off anyway, so anything is better than nothing for now. Then when you get some P21S(or S100), slap that on, and you're good to go. The advantage of having some wax on it, is that when you are ready to put some new wax on, whatever contaminants on the car will be taken off with the old wax, unless it's fallout or something which penetrates the wax. In the meantime, the wax will be taking the brunt of any swirling/light scratches that your baby incurs, and will be protected from UV.
 
I wouldnt do anything to aggressive for at least 45 days, no matter what the shop says, there in the painting business, not necessarily the protection business. I'd have to agree with 2Wheels, get something on it, maybe just a Carnuaba at this point. It provides adequate protection to get you through until you wanna seal her up tight with a Polymer. I think you really need to go with something light and mild for now ! The vinegar trick is wonderful isnt it ? You might also consider just using BF QD, it (I believe) has a small amount of poly in it. I LOVE it !
 
Patrick said:
The vinegar trick is wonderful isnt it ?
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It does work well, I was a little bit worried on using it on such new paint, but I figured that if it went badly wrong I could take it back and ask them was has gone wrong with the paint :)

But it did work very well. I guess it's just the minerals in the water that's left once it's dried, sitting on top of the clear cost.

You couldn't really feel then, but see the in direct sunlight.



I would have been lost without this forum!!!!!! :xyxthumbs :D
 
Maybe longer. Depending on your climate. I'm in FL and the general rule here is one month. Your paint is still curing. I would be careful even washing it for a while. Just mild car wash liquid. LEAVE it alone!
 
Well I washed the car, but it was a constant battle against the weather. I would get the car dry, put on a took off IMG and then it rained for 2 hrs:(



So I finally got to a point where I could try some of this that I got for the BMW dealer.

I started by just doing the hood. I applied with a foam pad, let ofr a few mins and started to remove it.

This stuff was the hardest product I have ever tried to remove.

I was appling afair amount of pressure with a MF cloth, which got most of it off, but you could still see it on the hood.

I was starting to think the lines where scratches. It the end I used a damp MF cloth then a dry one, this seem to remove it much easier.

well I won't be tring to use that stuff again. Bring on the Blitz!!!
 
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