Water-spotting and Fresh Paint

[Slick]

Seeking opinions... Just bought a '13 Ford Edge in Ruby Red metallic. When they brought it around from the wash bay, we noted that the paint was water-spotted (as was the glass). The dealership offered to do an "acid wash"... which made me nervous. Thought I'd like to take a crack at it first before I resort to that. The VIN tag indicates an August build date, so the paint is maybe 2-3 months old. I'm assuming it's still pretty soft, which might explain why it water-spotted so easily (tho it WAS near the airport- BUMMER). After I got it home, I clayed the hood, which reduced the spotting maybe 30-40%. Tried a 50/50 vinegar/water mix with a sponge (on the windshield)- to no avail. Claying didn't do much to the glass either. Tried Ultimate Compound on terry cloth (again, on the windshield), & it worked somewhat, but will probably end up polishing it with the DA as well.

My plan of attack is to first try polishing the hood with the DA & Speed Glaze (#80). If that doesn't work, I'll try #83. If that fails, I'll go to M205 and/or Ultimate Compound... with M105 as a last resort.

Any thoughts about trying CLR on the glass???

Luckily, nearly the entire roof is glass, so am not too worried about polishing that out. But paint this fresh makes me nervous... especially on a brand new $42k vehicle. Would welcome any suggestions/tips...


Thanks-

[davey g-force]

Re: Water-spotting and Fresh Paint

Sounds like a good plan of attack.

If anything, you could eliminate the M80 & M83, and just start your test spot with M205.

I wouldn't be too worried about the paint, since you're starting off very mild.

[Murr1525]

Re: Water-spotting and Fresh Paint

Unless you have them in stock, #205 then UC would be the things to try, not buying every single thing.

And I have had good luck with clay/UC/glass cleaner/RainX (in that order) remove a lot from glass. Esp the next time the glass cleaner and RainX is used....

Are you able to tell if the paint/glass is just build up, or anything etched in?

[Slick]

Re: Water-spotting and Fresh Paint

Unless you have them in stock, #205 then UC would be the things to try, not buying every single thing.

And I have had good luck with clay/UC/glass cleaner/RainX (in that order) remove a lot from glass. Esp the next time the glass cleaner and RainX is used....

Are you able to tell if the paint/glass is just build up, or anything etched in?

I already have all of the products (detail junky)... Will start with 205 & the DA w/ an 8006 yellow foam pad. The glass seems to be cleaning up, tho it will take some elbow grease. Interesting... was taking a decal off the glass roof. After I removed the decal (razor blade), I removed the adhesive residue with a little WD40. Figured it'd be a little less aggressive than Goof Off. It seemed to really clean the glass up. Tried a bit on a portion of the windshield & same thing. So... may try a nylon scrubber sponge & WD40 on the glass... followed by Invisible Glass. As for the paint, luckily, there's not too much horizontal surface (just hood & rear spoiler). The sides/back seem to have less severe spotting. Since claying DID remove/reduce a fair amount of the spotting on the hood, am hopeful that 205 with the DA will be all that's necessary for the paint. Will know more when I get started in the morning. Had quite a bit of contamination tho. Just wiping it down with quick detailer, could feel how rough the surface was & my microfiber linted all over the place... which is unusual for any of my other vehicles- so it's rough. The clay picked up quite a bit of contamination on the hood & windshield, so may have to pick up more clay in the morning. The great work begins! I've thought of taking the dealer up on his offer to acid wash the vehicle, but would have to talk to their detailer before I agreed to it... and he'd have some SERIOUS convincing to do. Based on the dealer prep (or lack thereof), it would be a tough sell... and a last resort.

[Stephan]

Re: Water-spotting and Fresh Paint

Maybe the more aggressive clays may prove their reason for existence in your case. You'll likely have to mail order.

http://www.meguiars.com/en/professional/products/c2100-detailing-clay-(aggressive)/

[h_bomm]

Re: Water-spotting and Fresh Paint

Meguiars came out with a product called Water Spot Remover last year. I've seen it around town here in Minnesota at a couple of places. I've never used it though so I can't comment on its effectiveness but it may be worth a shot too

[davey g-force]

Re: Water-spotting and Fresh Paint

I've thought of taking the dealer up on his offer to acid wash the vehicle,

PLEASE don't do this!

[Slick]

Re: Water-spotting and Fresh Paint

PLEASE don't do this!

I know... I'm not completely comfortable with the idea either. I haven't had much experience with this dealership, and don't know how capable their detailing department is. But... the spotting is on every panel and all the glass... that's a LOT of polishing... and I'm getting lazy in my old age. I did a light polish on the hood... first with 205 on a polishing pad, then with 105 on a polishing pad. It's better, but the spotting is still there. I guess I SHOULD say "ETCHING", at least on the hood. The sides aren't as bad. I tried a bit of the #47 Water-Spot Remover, tho it didn't make a noticeable improvement. I hesitate to use a cutting pad and M105, but may have to go there, if I do it myself. The paint seems quite hard, as a pass with M105 did nothing to remove some light surface scratches on the hood. I just wish I knew how thick the clear coat was... and find myself doubting my abilities to get a full correction b/c I'm nervous about working the paint too much. But if THEY screw it up, THEY will have to take care of it...

[jankerson]

Re: Water-spotting and Fresh Paint

I know... I'm not completely comfortable with the idea either. I haven't had much experience with this dealership, and don't know how capable their detailing department is. But... the spotting is on every panel and all the glass... that's a LOT of polishing... and I'm getting lazy in my old age. I did a light polish on the hood... first with 205 on a polishing pad, then with 105 on a polishing pad. It's better, but the spotting is still there. I guess I SHOULD say "ETCHING", at least on the hood. The sides aren't as bad. I tried a bit of the #47 Water-Spot Remover, tho it didn't make a noticeable improvement. I hesitate to use a cutting pad and M105, but may have to go there, if I do it myself. The paint seems quite hard, as a pass with M105 did nothing to remove some light surface scratches on the hood. I just wish I knew how thick the clear coat was... and find myself doubting my abilities to get a full correction b/c I'm nervous about working the paint too much. But if THEY screw it up, THEY will have to take care of it...

M105 isn't going to burn through the hood using a DA.

You could make a slight movement up from the Megs Yellow Pad to something like the LC Orange pad and see how that works..

Or go with M205 on a MF Cutting pad.

[Detailing by M]

Re: Water-spotting and Fresh Paint

get Meg's water spot remover. it will work better then 105

[Slick]

Re: Water-spotting and Fresh Paint

get Meg's water spot remover. it will work better then 105

I tried a bit of the #47 Water-Spot Remover, tho it didn't make a noticeable improvement.

[Detailing by M]

Re: Water-spotting and Fresh Paint

Here's my write up of Meguiar's New Water Spot Remover Polish
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...blem&highlight=

[Slick]

Re: Water-spotting and Fresh Paint

Update: tried the Meg's Water Spot Removal Polish using a DA with the 8006 polishing pad... worked fine on the sides where the spotting wasn't as bad, but didn't touch the hood. Against my better judgement, I let the dealer take a crack at it... they called me 4 hours later & said it was ready. With that time frame, I knew they didn't do a damned thing. After their "acid wash", the glass is a little better, as is the tailgate, but the hood was still terrible. It was obvious that the paint on the hood was ETCHED... deeply. The dealer said he thought it looked pretty good but to bring it back if I wanted them to work on it some more. HA! As if! How many times do I have to take it back before they get it right??? or ruin it??? No way... they had their chance... So... it was back on me. Finally got around to dealing with it over the weekend. Used M105 & Meg's Cut & Shine wool pad. After 4 or 5 passes, I achieved about 90% correction/removal. I stopped there, as I don't have a paint thickness gauge. But GEEZ, is that paint hard... the upside is that it finished very nicely with the M105, & there was no need for swirl removal with M205. I had some slight hazing in a few areas with the M105, but that was quickly removed by hand with a foam applicator & some M105 (working gently). ...and yea, I was a bit freaked at first when the pad turned pink (tinted clearcoat). But, finished off with a coat of NXT 2.0, & my baby's ready for the road. I may try for full correction, once I get someone to check the paint thickness. Can't argue with the effectiveness of a wool pad/rotary combo, tho I hate using it. I don't use it enough to feel totally comfortable with it (especially on a $42k vehicle)... and of course, I always end up slinging product EVERYWHERE! Luckily, I broke out the arsenal of sheets, blankets, & towels to cover as much as I could, so cleanup on the vehicle wasn't too bad... as for the rest of the garage... that's another story. At least I was smart enough to put the cover on the Cobra... and then cover that with a blanket! But here's one thing I find fascinating... the painted PLASTIC parts didn't spot hardly at all... but the painted METAL parts etched deeply. What up wit dat??? Is there a flex agent in the plastic parts that improves resistance to spotting??? ... or do the plastic parts dissipate heat better & reduce the tendency to spot? Is that why my Saturn still looked like brand new after 10 years in the California sun?

[Daniel Kinder]

Re: Water-spotting and Fresh Paint

I always end up slinging product EVERYWHERE! Luckily, I broke out the arsenal of sheets, blankets, & towels to cover as much as I could, so cleanup on the vehicle wasn't too bad... as for the rest of the garage... that's another story. At least I was smart enough to put the cover on the Cobra... and then cover that with a blanket!

Hey slick I was the same way about slinging product every where and got to where I too didn't want to use my rotary but know it was something I was doing wrong and seen this years ago and it help greatly, give it a try. Hope this helps!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C28N_a2ti24

[davey g-force]

Re: Water-spotting and Fresh Paint

Thanks for the update Slick. Glad it's working out for you...