bug gunks - dont ignore them!!!

[YE100]

I am a new Audi owner and a new fan to this forum. I have been coming here daily after I decided to own an A4. I have learned a lot from here and also want to contribute. Even tho I am not knowledgeable enough to benefit most of the ppl here. I have encountered this issue but don’t know how to fix it yet, but want to share so you can be aware.

I have been driving across the Dumbarton Bridge in San Francisco Bay area these couple weeks and bugs are like crazy in the morning. Finally after ignoring them for 2 weeks I decided to clean them up. There were some pinkish bug gunks that left really bad marks on the clear coat. After very close inspection I concluded that they have EATTEN IN the clear coat rather than just on the surface you can wash them off...

I owned cars before and know that bugs and bird drops are bad for the paint. BUT I did not expect some (like the pinkish gunks) are so strong that can eat in the paint in just 2 weeks....

So, guys be careful out there. If you see some sort of pink bug gunks, please clean them ASAP, or else you might end up with what you see in the pics. One thing I have to point out tho is that I do feel the erosive gunks are from the same type of bug... since they all have distinguish pink color.

[a4b7]

thanks..was it purplish at all? I seen a purplish gunks on the white car at my house.

[akasch]

I always see yellow spots from birdshit. but they go away magically after a couple of washes lol

[YE100]

I will try to take some pictures tomorrow when I get some new ones (I m sure I will) before I wash them off, so you will be able to know what they look like...

[4ringdynasty]

I have the same thing on my roof! Just a few spots, but a total shame.

[AudiWxGuy]

you try to clay that out?

[Obvis07]

there is like a spray that can go on. go on detail domain thread. and ask. i forgot the name of the product. haha sorry not much help

[YE100]

I have not clayed it. But I figured out the clay will not fix them. The gunk has been removed, what the pictures show is the clean surface... the clear coat got eroded. I even tried using 3M compound very gently just to see how deep they go into the clearcoat, but i could not even make them look better so I stopped. I don't want to apply too much compound on a new car.

I will try some other methods and get you guys posted.

[cstarky15]

hmmm try bug and tar remover. it is worth a shot!

[B7A4Sport]

Heh, go check out the recent thread called "Mega paint detail on my B7 LOTS of pix!!! " and tell me you can't get that tiny little mark out with some effort, lol. It can be done, don't give up!

[Bmeister]

After I've been out flying (literally) with friends, I see FAR more bug guts on the wings and fuselage than you could ever imagine on a car. We use Honda Spray Cleaner for quick detailing after parking the plane in the hanger. Every aviator I know uses the same stuff. If you can't do a full wash, this will at least keep your finish from getting etched. Works well on glass for removing those pesky water spots. If it's good enough for $250,000-$1,000,000+ aircraft, well.......

Here's a link for more info: http://www.bernardiparts.com/Honda-S...XTGENCASE.aspx

[Dcting]

Have had the same issue except with the factory tire shine sling on my fenders... Brought it back to the dealer and they wetsanded and polished it off... If you say it has embedded the clearcoat, claying wont help. I think the wetsanding and polishing will be the most efficient method. Good luck.

-Another ibis white owner...

[YE100]

Thanks guys. I took a different route this morning so not that much bugs on the way. Sorry did not get the chance to take pictures.

Yeah Dcting, I believe wet sandpaper will fix it, however that is the same as using compound. I dont want to do anything like that to thinner the coat just 3 weeks after I bought this car. I would rather keep them on and just polish to make them less obvious.

Before polishing it, I will try couple other mild methods and let you guys know. Thanks for all the good suggestions!

[Zonacat]

Just pick up a tube of Meguiars Scratch X and go to work on that area with your finger (real hard).

I had bird crap that embedded into the clear coat causing it to actually raise the clear coat. Scratch X solved it, without damaging the clear.

You can get that out easy. You can probably get it out with just some regular Meguiars polish. Don't wet sand it.

On a side note, I don't know why people think clay bars are good for this type of thing. All clay bars do is grab surface contaminants off the paint. There are no compounds or petroleum distillates in a clay bar.

Good luck.

[YE100]

Without doing anything, I checked the other day. I cant find any marks any more. maybe because the light was too strong that day so tomorrow I will go to where I took those pictures and look for them really hard and update you guys. As Zonacat said, the gunk "raised" the clear coat, that was what I felt when I originally found them. Thanks for all the good suggestions!