Tree sap

[bmwmike]

Hi all

First time posting in this section

Took my car on a 2 week driving holiday and we got back and it was covered in bugs, bird poo etchings (despite my cleaning them off right away), and tree sap (parked for 3 days under a tree in the heat wave).

I've polished out the bird etchings, but the tree sap has left what looks like etchings in the paint - i can't feel them at all but can see them in the light at certain angles. The paint was near perfect before this.

Is this something that can be removed? I have tried super resin polish (got the bird parks out) but no luck on the tree sap. I also tried AG paint renovator and still no luck.

I'll see if i can attach a photo but its hard to take a picture of it. Entire boot lid, roof, bonnet, and doors are plastered.

Edit to add photo and also its a carbon black bmw 5 series.

Thanks
Mike

Edited by bmwmike on Tuesday 16th August 13:28

[Gio G]

I would be using a clay bar on that first..

G

[bmwmike]

Gio G said:

I would be using a clay bar on that first..

G

Forgot to mention have tried clay bar.. it's totally smooth, almost like staining rather than etched in. I am tempted to try isopropyl alcohol next, or perhaps 7000 grit...

[trickywoo]

If you can’t feel it but it looks like that (bad) it’s likely got under the paint. A bit like moisture getting under when a car cover is used.

[bmwmike]

trickywoo said:

If you can’t feel it but it looks like that (bad) it’s likely got under the paint. A bit like moisture getting under when a car cover is used.

Meaning it can't be fixed ?

[Belle427]

Will probably need a machine polish with something with a bit more cut.

[trickywoo]

bmwmike said:

Meaning it can't be fixed ?

It does look like respray territory.

Worth trying a machine polish but if you can’t feel anything raised it isn’t likely to help.

[bmwmike]

trickywoo said:

bmwmike said:

Meaning it can't be fixed ?

It does look like respray territory.

Worth trying a machine polish but if you can’t feel anything raised it isn’t likely to help.

Agh, thought modern detailing voodoo woiuld have had a fix

Don't suppose fully comp insurance even kicks in here as its natural elements/wear and tear sort of thing.

[Hoofy]

Did you say you put wax on it? If so, it might be under the wax.

My car got splashed when I parked next to a muddy puddle and I didn't have time to wash it off there and then. Took it to Tesco to be washed and they got most of it off but I noticed there was a smear of mud UNDER the wax. Genius.

[bmwmike]

Hoofy said:

Did you say you put wax on it? If so, it might be under the wax.

My car got splashed when I parked next to a muddy puddle and I didn't have time to wash it off there and then. Took it to Tesco to be washed and they got most of it off but I noticed there was a smear of mud UNDER the wax. Genius.

Yeah it was pretty well waxed. Wouldn't that polish out with the paint renovator though?

Its 10 years old so i'm not spending a fortune on a respray. A MOP might be doable, but i prefer to do stuff myself if possible. I've a old rotary orbital sander here, could that be used for polishing with the right pads etc?

[Hoofy]

bmwmike said:

Hoofy said:

Did you say you put wax on it? If so, it might be under the wax.

My car got splashed when I parked next to a muddy puddle and I didn't have time to wash it off there and then. Took it to Tesco to be washed and they got most of it off but I noticed there was a smear of mud UNDER the wax. Genius.

Yeah it was pretty well waxed. Wouldn't that polish out with the paint renovator though?

Its 10 years old so i'm not spending a fortune on a respray. A MOP might be doable, but i prefer to do stuff myself if possible. I've a old rotary orbital sander here, could that be used for polishing with the right pads etc?

The wax will wear out over time (a month or so). Then you can wash it again, assuming I'm right. I wouldn't want to apply any abrasive stuff in order to remove the wax as it could also remove paint, and you might end up with some stting sticky wax-paint residue all over your car.

[budgie smuggler]

bmwmike said:

Its 10 years old so i'm not spending a fortune on a respray. A MOP might be doable, but i prefer to do stuff myself if possible. I've a old rotary orbital sander here, could that be used for polishing with the right pads etc?

If you want to try and polish it yourself, my suggestion to you would be to buy/borrow a cheap dual action polisher (e.g. Gould from argos, £60) and use something like Scholl S20 on an orange or green hex logic pad.

This is a very effective yet forgiving combination, and it does a polish and pretty decent refinement in a single step.

If you've never used a DA polisher, then follow Forensic Detailing's guide on youtube. There is one using a similar set of products:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI_m2rO-OpM

And a quicker guide from him here without the stuff about decontaminating etc, using the combo i suggested above, green hexpad/scholl s20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrkppP6D6KQ

Edited by budgie smuggler on Thursday 18th August 11:14

[Belle427]

I have a DA and some scholl s20 black if you wanted to come and try it but am in South Wales.

[bmwmike]

Belle427 said:

I have a DA and some scholl s20 black if you wanted to come and try it but am in South Wales.

Thanks, very kind of you. I'm in Cardiff as it goes but I've a few things keeping me off my feet at the moment so the car is bottom priority for now. Once I get back on my feet I'll have a crack with 7000 grit wet and dry in a discrete area and see if it changes anything. If it doesn't, I doubt a DA would either...? Thanks

[Belle427]

Your probably right, the renovation polish you tried has some decent cut.