Is it important to wash your car?

[8Tech]

I just thought you might all like to see the effect of NOT washing off bird poo quickly. This is AFTER the car has been washed off!

Yes, that has burnt right through the clearcoat and in one position, through the paint also down to the primer.

Now how much was that car cover?

Tragically, this is the CSi that last year I told you was the best condition CSi we had ever seen here at PhoenixMotorsport.

8Tech.

[xrrr]

Blimey that is some acidic st. How long did you leave it before washing?

[toasty]

BMW paint seems to be the worst affected by bird poo. I never had any problems like this with VWs or Peugeots but always have to be vigilant with Beemers.

[HellDiver]

Bird crap ate it's way through the clear coat, and the base coat, right down to the zinc on the roof of my Mk5 Astra. The annoying thing was it did that in just over 2 hours. Washed the car about 3pm, went in, showered, changed, had dinner, went out to the car to go at about 5pm and there the st was. ashed it off and the paint came off with it. Not happy.

It's not just BMW that has crap paint.

[belleair302]

This is a perfect example as to why using the correct products will protect your cars clearcoat and paintwork. A couple of layers of wax and a decent sealant would have made washing this so much more simple and would have saved the car from now needing a serious machine polish.

[E30M3SE]

belleair302 said:

This is a perfect example as to why using the correct products will protect your cars clearcoat and paintwork. A couple of layers of wax and a decent sealant would have made washing this so much more simple and would have saved the car from now needing a serious machine polish.

Errr.

Do you not mean respray?

Shocking........

[xrrr]

I wonder if the new self cleaning nano paint coatings would protect against bird do do....?

What ever happened to the concept of the dirt repellent car paint?

[58warren]

I have a silver E39 and have returned from holiday before to find bird droppings thoroughly baked on to the paint. These needed soaking for ages to be able to remove them, yet there was no damage to the clear coat at all. Could the clear lacquer BMW use have been changed to a different product?

I suppose it also depends upon what the offending birds have eaten - some fruits/berries would be more acidic than others.

Edited by 58warren on Friday 30th July 12:53

[8Tech]

belleair302 said:

This is a perfect example as to why using the correct products will protect your cars clearcoat and paintwork. A couple of layers of wax and a decent sealant would have made washing this so much more simple and would have saved the car from now needing a serious machine polish.

That needs a respray, its right through the lacquer and through the basecoat too in places.

[Brickborg]

58warren said:

I have a silver E39 and have returned from holiday before to find bird droppings thoroughly baked on to the paint. These needed soaking for ages to be able to remove them, yet there was no damage to the clear coat at all. Could the clear lacquer BMW use have been changed to a different product?

I suppose it also depends upon what the offending birds have eaten - some fruits/berries would be more acidic than others.

Edited by 58warren on Friday 30th July 12:53

Yes actually, the paint systems they use now are more environmentally friendly, but less resilient. Not a month goes by that I don't see a new BMW in the shop that has problems with parts of its paint.

That said, I'm not sure how this could have happened to the above 8 series, unless it had a sub par respray at some point in its life unbeknownst to the current owner.

[Buzzkill]

A sealant or wax will indeed make very little difference. All this thread does is remind me how my rear quarter window seals need replacing...

Edited by Buzzkill on Saturday 31st July 19:00