After lovingly washing and polishing my S2000 on Saturday, I parked outside a client's house in London on Sunday and when I got home I found I had a rough surface to the paint, obvioulsy due to the tree I was parked under.

I washed it off on Monday night and got the paintwork ( I thought )back to smooth glossy loveliness. However, touching it today, it's sandpapery to the touch again (not sticky, just rough). Any suggestions for removal and return to prisitine condition?

 

Mine got covered in tree sap over in France Pete. I used a clay bar but you can shift it by letting it soak in car wash suds for a while and then using a Halfords bug sponge.

 

A claybar is probably your best bet Pete - Zaino and Meguires both make them (but involve shipping from the US) - I am not sure if there are any other makes available in the UK.

You will also need a lubricant for the bar (which is very similar in appearance to plasticene) - Zaino recommend some diluted car shampoo in a spray bottle.

 

Well in the absence of a clay bar and lubricant (I must try that one day) I'll go with a good Autoglym Car Shampoo soaking and a new Halfords sponge.

I'll go up there after work.

Thanks guys

 

The problem will vary with what sort of tree is the culprit! I have a huge lime tree right outside my back door where it's convenient to park the car. At this time of year when the sap is running and the sun is shining, you can watch the crap settling on the car. Annoying as it is, it's never a problem and I find it comes off easily enough.... BUT the one exception was a few years ago where I left the crap on the car unattended to due to work commitments for a couple of weeks during a heatwave. I ended up working my goolies off and having to T Cut the whole car to get rid of the stuff which had etched into the paint.

Deal with it as soon as you can if it's at all stubborn!!!!

 

I use a towel lightly moistened with mineral spirits, followed by a wash and wax or polish.

 

Search me. It was a big brown thing covered in with leaves

Signed..... Alan Titchmarsh

Thanks for the warning Cedric; I'll do it on Saturday (the first opportunity I'll have)

 

I use the halfords bug sponge. It's like a like a normal sponge but in a fishnet stocking....(hmmmmmmm....fishnets... ) and it really does work....

works really well on the windscreens as well.

Does exactly what it says on the packet!

M.

 

Bought one tonight. Will try it on Saturday.