Product / tool for this spotty problem

[Charles Morgan]

Picked up a Citroen XM that has been mechanically overhauled after a few years standing, lovely car and runs very well, cosmetically in need of tlc though. I cleaned it for the first time today and noticed all these dots over the paintwork

I thought at first it was lichen or similar, but they didn't wash off, but using fingernails did shift them slowly. Claying made no difference, nor did light Tcut. As there are thousands everywhere I tried a few things (Brasso did a very good job but very slowly!).

I think they might be fence paint or similar splashes, no doubt accumulated when standing.

Any suggestions for shifting the things - spending an hour rubbing away with my fingers to do one wing badly was not fun and while the surface looks better after a Brasso, I'm not sure this is a particular good solution!

 

[renault12ts]

2000 grit and a power buff?

 

[Sp!ke]

It sounds like you need to attack them with some cutting agent and a machine polisher.

I would steer clear of brasso though.

 

[Lyserman]

I would steer clear of brasso though.

Unless of course you filter it through bread prior to drinking it

 

[Dieselman]

Claybar will probably get them off, but maybe some white spirit first.


Not ANOTHER XM...people will think you've gone mad...!!

 

[Charles Morgan]

Tried claying, it did nothing.

I'm mad enough not to care what others think Will! The early hydractive delivers a ride that is out of this world good, which reminds me I need to go for a drive.

 

[Dieselman]

Later Hydractive, with good spheres is even better. I sometimes drive mine for no reason other than enjoyment. 2.1TD with a manual box are great to drive.


Try hot water on the spots, they may soften.

If they are paint, a light solvent may work, but be careful of damaging the car paint finish.

 

[grober]

Farecla and a power polisher? Otherwise test various solvents to see if they will shift them on an inconspicuous surface. Then test the successful solvent on the paint finish alone to see if it will damage it long term? Car body shop may be offer suggestions as to a suitable solvent. Some people advocate the use of nail varnish remover [ the non acetone type] Nail varnish is usually nitrocellulose based and this can be removed with ethyl acetate /isopropyl alcohol. Ethyl Acetate - Ethyl Ethanoate - Ethyl Ester - Acetic Ester - 5 Litres: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools. You may even be able to use cellulose thinners but its difficult to know what they contain nowadays some contain toluene or acetone. This will depend on whether the finish was "baked" at the factory which will make it more resistant to solvent attack than subsequent bodyshop spray paint. Secret is to experiment on a small area first.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Later Hydractive, with good spheres is even better.

Well, my V6 has brand new IHFS spheres all round and it gets agitated by choppy surfaces, whereas this one just floats on over. Objectively I'd say this older XM is much better on all the surfaces I've encountered to date.

 

[Charles Morgan]

A soaking overnight from gentle autumn mist has really helped get these off. Where dry they stick, but wet and a quick scrub removes them. It is however very difficult to see them if wet!

 

[trapperjohn]

Go on Charles a picture of the rest of the car. You know you temp me.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Not the best John, but just after a proper clean.

 

[baxlin]

With those random spots, are you sure it's not a Picasso?

 

[Charles Morgan]

It's more of a cubist given the recycling bins in the background!

 

[renault12ts]

It's more of a cubist given the recycling bins in the background!

I wasn't going to mention it, but...get it tidied up man.

 

[Sp!ke]

so hold on, let me just recap.

Are you saying that the magic ingredient in shifting this was... water?


So you tried a clay bar, Tcut and Brasso before you tried plain old water? :fail

 

[Charles Morgan]

I'd washed it first! Clearly the constant application of soft autumn rain was the new element. Brasso bits much much shinier though!

Bonnet now looks carp though as I applied what I thought was black T cut polish, only to find it clagging up the paint and the polisher, as it was rubber polish from an almost exactly similar bottle.

 

[nigel cross]

So where's the other bucket, in fact where are the two buckets with grit guards?
Have you tried any snow foam at a high concentration?

 

[Charles Morgan]

That's the mop bucket. The grit guard bucket (being very substantial) has all my low denomination coins in, which I have been meaning to sort and take to the bank for a couple of years so it is now too heavy to lift, and all my other buckets have leeks in them.

I could rustle up some Fairy foam?

 

[renault12ts]

That's the mop bucket. The grit guard bucket (being very substantial) has all my low denomination coins in, which I have been meaning to sort and take to the bank for a couple of years so it is now too heavy to lift, and all my other buckets have leeks in them.

I could rustle up some Fairy foam?

Are you Welsh?