[WallyF]

I just noticed that bird crap was on the hood of my dark blue X3. I cleaned off the crap and noticed that the clear coat has been damaged. I tried Mother's car wax and scratch removerl to no avail.

Does anyone have any other possible solutions.

HELP

Wally

[See63ess]

Originally Posted by WallyF

I just noticed that bird crap was on the hood of my dark blue X3. I cleaned off the crap and noticed that the clear coat has been damaged. I tried Mother's car wax and scratch removerl to no avail.

Does anyone have any other possible solutions.

HELP

Wally

Polish clear coat down with microfiber cutting pad on a Rupes

[foglem]

Or just hand buff it down in the same way. I doubt you need a machine polisher for a bird poop etching. But it depends on the depth and your dexterity. Pics?

[claykin]

Just leave the car out in the sun for a couple of days. The clear will self heal. Don't mechanically try to smooth it out. You'll do more damage than good.

[Commerce]

Polish it by machine, compound if needed.

[PX3]

Meguiars Ultimate Compound worked for me on my F25.

[205Point74]

I cant find the original link to the Autoglym blog where it shows that the 'etching' is due to the paint cooling at different rates.

"Motor researchers have revealed that when the sun warms up the cars paint, it causes the lacquer to soften and expands, at the same time the bird droppings dry and harden on the surface. As soon as the paint lacquer cools down again it contracts and hardens itself around the texture of the bird dropping. Thus, causing a dulled or etched patch on the paintwork."

Anyhow, heat is the answer (like above re the sun). There are loads of threads about it, for example https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/for...d.php?t=380428

[Dandle]

I had the same thing on my carbon black. Bird crap wasn't even on the car 24 hrs but burnt into the clear coat quite badly. Initially I used Farecla G10 to try and polish it out but it was already too bad for that so in the end had to use G3 and finish with G10.

The clear coat won't self heal it needs polishing to get rid of the damage. The clear coat on these is much softer that it was on my carbon black F11. Mine is going in for ceramic coating early Aug so hopefully that will give some added protection.

[BTS22]

Use a hairdryer. Always works for me and stops removing any clear!

[_ink]

hairdryer option is very new to me, thanks for sharing it! Will definitely give it a go in future.

[MADBMWX5MC]

Originally Posted by BTS22

Use a hairdryer. Always works for me and stops removing any clear!

Holy cow, never heard of that...I always try to wet sand and polish, but this sounds like a better solution.

[BTS22]

Originally Posted by MADBMWX3

Holy cow, never heard of that...I always try to wet sand and polish, but this sounds like a better solution.

I didn't believe it myself until I tried it!

Here is a good example:

https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/for...d.php?t=380428

[MADBMWX5MC]

The things you learn by reading this forum...amazing.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by claykin

Just leave the car out in the sun for a couple of days. The clear will self heal. Don't mechanically try to smooth it out. You'll do more damage than good.

I recall my E91 having a very bad etching mark on the bonnet (hood) from bird poo. I never had time to do more than soak it off, with the intention to come back when I had time to sort it out.

Couple of days later (hot sunny days) I had time to polish it out, couldn't even find it. Totally vanished. Since that time leave the sun to do the job.

Was away last weekend and found bird poo on the roof of my F11, on Monday morning. Soaked it off, but it had left the etching mark. We haven't had that much direct sun in the last couple of days, but just popped out to see if it is vanishing, almost gone.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I recall my E91 having a very bad etching mark on the bonnet (hood) from bird poo. I never had time to do more than soak it off, with the intention to come back when I had time to sort it out.

Couple of days later (hot sunny days) I had time to polish it out, couldn't even find it. Totally vanished. Since that time leave the sun to do the job.

Was away last weekend and found bird poo on the roof of my F11, on Monday morning. Soaked it off, but it had left the etching mark. We haven't had that much direct sun in the last couple of days, but just popped out to see if it is vanishing, almost gone.

Exactly. Thanks for your response.