[theturtle]

Was washing my car today and this one area on my side skirts would not come off no matter how much i tried to wipe it.



It comes off when I scratch at it so im assuming its super caked on bug remains or tree sap.

What are some safe clearcoat/paint alternatives I could use? Im thinking about soaking it in hot water for a minute or two and wiping but i think even that might be too weak.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Bug&Tar remover. Or Claybar.

[skypx]

Auto Finesse Oblitarate - Tar and Glue Remover



More info here.

[btbossman]

I just use goo be gone...Liberally...Works great!

[Nikos335i]

Polish/compound will remove those type of markings.

[theturtle]

Do I have to follow up with wax though? Looking for a one stop solution with no follow up.

The compound I hear takes off clear coat and leaves swirls so im trying to find the most mild method in removing this gunk.

[BL 5]

Use a clay bar. Otherwise you'll scratch the paint.

[Jamesons Viggen]

Originally Posted by theturtle

Do I have to follow up with wax though? Looking for a one stop solution with no follow up.

The compound I hear takes off clear coat and leaves swirls so im trying to find the most mild method in removing this gunk.

They make clear coat safe compound-just an FYI. But no matter what you use, you will need to follow up with wax as most products you get the spots out of will remove the current wax on the car.

[AMJAM]

^^^^^^^^^^^^ what he said

[Nikos335i]

+2

[rob_h10]

Tarminator!
Spray liberally and rinse off with water... you're welcome.

[GXAlan]

No such thing as a one step. If the wax underneath was perfect, water should have taken it off. The mildest surfactant I know of is http://www.drbronner.com/DBMS/SAL.htm

It tends to help tree sap come off easily (and brake dust for that matter).

[335ItotheSky]

As what the others have said- You're going to have to use a clay bar. This is NOT a situation where polishing compound is called for. Polishing compound is used to polish clear coat. That is not your goal here.

Your goal is to remove a contaminant. Period. Unfortunately, that contaminant has stuck to your wax, and your wax has sealed your paint. A clay bar will remove this sap or "road tar," etc. But, make sure you read how to properly use a clay bar.

There are plenty of videos on youtube.com that show you how to properly use clay.

To prove how badly your car needs to have the entire body "clayed" you can use the following trick:

1) Put your hand inside a ziplock plastic bag.
2) Rub your hand across the finish of your car, while it's in the ziplock bag. This WILL NOT scratch the finish of your car. But, you will feel a surface that is almost akin to fine-grit "sandpaper."
3) What you're feeling is paint contaminants. You'll also likely feel this on your window.
4) There is only 1 way to remove this contamination: "claying" your entire vehicle twice each year.

Once you've clayed your vehicle, you will be able to put your hand inside of a ziplock bag, rub your hand over your finish, and feel a glass-smooth surface without any friction whatsoever.

Thus, unless you've recently clayed your vehicle, within the last 6-months, the odds are it needs to be clayed anyway, all surfaces of your car that is.

Lastly, as others have said, there is no one-step method for removing this type of contamination, period. You must remove the contamination, followed by a high quality wax, followed by a high quality wax sealant or wax gloss.

There are lots of great tips in the detailing forum of this website, but whatever you do, do not remove clear-coat by using polishing compound. Polishing compound is used for one thing and one thing only: to remove swirl marks and very tiny scratches (if you can feel the scratch with your finger nail, it's unlikely you'll be able to remove it by yourself) or with polish compound alone. You'll need an orbital buffer for removing such a deep scratch. Though, DO NOT use your BMW as a surface to test your orbital buffing skills. This is what junkyard body panels are used for....

Good luck!

[StephenE92F30]

Originally Posted by theturtle

It comes off when I scratch at it so im assuming its super caked on bug remains or tree sap.

What are some safe clearcoat/paint alternatives I could use? Im thinking about soaking it in hot water for a minute or two and wiping but i think even that might be too weak.

If it's bug or tar, i use Einszett 913912 Anti-Insekt Bug and Tar Remover. This stuff is cheap and works wonders on tough bugs and tar.

http://www.amazon.com/einszett-91391...tar+remover+1Z