Water spot removal tips

[Nate1616]

Anyone know the best ways to remove water spots behind on hood. they are etched into the paint.

What is the best way without swirls or marring?

Nate

[ExhaustNote]

Did you try a clay bar yet?

[Leavinu]

Clay bar generally won't touch water spots in my experience. I rented a car in CA once and while it was parked outside the hotel it got crazy etched from the sprinklers. I feel for ya especially on the black.

My Vette sat outside a GA dealership for awhile and the dealer rinsed the cars each morning only to let the water bake in the afternoon sun (DA's). I had to go the Flex polisher route with some Adam's swirl and haze remover; worked like a champ.

[Jimmy ny]

Any light compound on a polishing wheel. Detailed should be able to take care of it.


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[ExhaustNote]

Clay bar generally won't touch water spots in my experience. I rented a car in CA once and while it was parked outside the hotel it got crazy etched from the sprinklers. I feel for ya especially on the black.

My Vette sat outside a GA dealership for awhile and the dealer rinsed the cars each morning only to let the water bake in the afternoon sun (DA's). I had to go the Flex polisher route with some Adam's swirl and haze remover; worked like a champ.

Depends on how well you upkeep your car. If you constantly maintain the paint with regular details and waxing, water spots should come off easily with a clay bar.

[JamesRS5]

Depends on how well you upkeep your car. If you constantly maintain the paint with regular details and waxing, water spots should come off easily with a clay bar.

Agree.

Are they on the surface or etched into the clear coat? You could apply a little science to them before breaking out the buffing machine, try mixing up a white vinegar and water solution, soak a towel in the solution then let the towel sit on the spots for 15 minutes, that should dissolve the calcium deposits that are left behind. Once softened by the vinegar solution try the clay bar.

If it's etched into the paint then there's nothing you can do but polish them out with a DA machine.

As said above, a good quality wax or sealant will prevent this.

[PEM]

^ what james said with the vinegar/water solution then invest in a good detail to help prevent future issues!

[Atmmac]

Any light compound on a polishing wheel. Detailed should be able to take care of it.


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Definitely use the compound to remove. It will come out rather easily.

[ICU2]

Anyone know the best ways to remove water spots behind on hood. they are etched into the paint:(.

What is the best way without swirls or marring?

Nate
I agree w/ James. Try his idea 1st. Also take & post some pic's.then check w/ Phil on Detailers Domain (on the AZ Forum page) w/ suggestions, he is an absolute expert regarding detailing issues & won't steer you wrong. It may turn out to be a "DA" only solution but he's one who would know. If you lived closer & needed a DA polisher, I'd let you borrow mine but you are just a little too far. Lastly, try looking on You Tube for some issues similar to yours & it will likely give you an idea of what you may be facing. Adam's/Chemical Guys/Sonax are can't miss products. Be careful, once the detailing bug bites you, you may find an entirely new obsession to spend even more & on.

[PlainOleS5]

I think everyone has covered most of the ways. I will echo about the detailing bug though! I started with my first Adam's purchase a few months ago...and just ordered a Rupes DA polisher!! No more swirls on my black paint!!

[Mops@Nemesis]

Been using this for 12+ years for this. Works great!

[Leavinu]

Most important point to remember in detailing is to always start with the least invasive practice first. Give these other ideas a try first and go more aggressive as needed if needed.

[Wagonholic]

^this

start with a clay bar first, it's easy and fairly cheap. but wax/sealants do wonders. Considering my car gets parked outside from time to time, and driven hard and A LOT, it gets dirty really easily.

Anyone know the best ways to remove water spots behind on hood. they are etched into the paint.

What is the best way without swirls or marring?

Nate

Once a year I spend the time to do a full detail (myself, save a lot of money going that route), including paint correction and waxing/sealing. The paint is so well protected that I can go hoon in the mud, dirt, or snow, (all of which I do a lot) and then just use one of those pressure washers at the car wash stall afterwards that everything just slides right off. Looks like a fresh detail every time afterwards.

tldr: invest in a good detail. will make life easier in the long run.

EDIT: well shit, didn't realize this was the B8 forum lol. Doesn't matter, same rules apply. Theres a reason why my 15-year-old paint still looks relatively new (car isn't babied in any way, shape, or form haha)

[namvar]

My 20 year paint on my 300 ZX looks as good as new. But it does take a lot of effort. Washed regularly and waxed at least once a month.

Leavenu has the best suggestion. Start with clay, then a wax, then maybe Adam's hand polish?

[Wagonholic]

My 20 year paint on my 300 ZX looks as good as new. But it does take a lot of effort. Washed regularly and waxed at least once a month.

Leavenu has the best suggestion. Start with clay, then a wax, then maybe Adam's hand polish?

My car doesn't take that much effort to make it look good at all. But from what I've been told, that may have to do with the fact that Euro cars have a harder stage clear coat than JDM cars, which usually have a softer clear coat.

Considering the OP has a newer european car, it probably has a harder stage clear coat and a hand polish might be a lot of effort and may not work as effectively. Perhaps a machine buffer or something? But considering it's just water spots, a clay bar should just do the job fine.