[SalsaPura]

So I went to a wedding in San Diego and stayed at this hotel where I got sprayed by their sprinkler system overnight. Since I went to sleep late on the wedding night I didn't see the sprinkler water spots on my car until noon later that day. By then the hard water had dried under the hot So. Cal sun, leaving spots all over my hood and roof.:mad:

I've since washed my car twice, wiped down the hood and roof with distilled vinegar on the water spots to remove as much organic contaminants as possible, hand polished, and hand waxed my car. Car looks great 99% of the time, but if you look closely when a light source (like a light bulb in a garage) reflects off the surface, you can still see the rings that are left from hard water spots. I'm afraid it's already etched into the clear coat.

Any recommendations on a cheap alternative to get rid of the water marks. I know that taking it to a professional detailer to buff out the marks will work but I don't want to spend $200+ on it. Does anybody have any experience removing hard water spots with clay or anything else???

[picus]

Clay will remove them if they are calsium deposits; however since you already used vinegar and hand polished, it is likely they are etched and need to be polished more aggressively. You can try clay, or a chemical cleaner (Klasse AIO), however as mentioned it is almost certain they will need to be compounded.

[Kyoshi71]

Imperial Hand Glaze by 3M. I guarantee it will work.

[Schweitzer]

I don't know about the Imperial Hand Glaze listed above, but I had the exact same problem while visiting someone in San Diego. I tried so many different things, as did my professional detailer. I thought I'd have to repaint. But the detailer just got a bit more aggressive and compounded it, and it is GONE, invisible in all light. Just be careful and let a pro do the work. Good luck.

[SalsaPura]

Originally Posted by Schweitzer

I don't know about the Imperial Hand Glaze listed above, but I had the exact same problem while visiting someone in San Diego. I tried so many different things, as did my professional detailer. I thought I'd have to repaint. But the detailer just got a bit more aggressive and compounded it, and it is GONE, invisible in all light. Just be careful and let a pro do the work. Good luck.

I'm a bit ignorant with compounding. What kind of process is that? How much does it cost?

[Schweitzer]

I'm a bit ignorant with compounding. What kind of process is that? How much does it cost?

I think I paid under $50 for it. I'm a regular, and I was probably having my car washed or waxed. He charges $100 for a full detial....so I don't remember the exact $$ for compounding, but it should be in that area.

As far as the compounding process, I'm not the person to tell you what it all entails, but I believe they use an abbrasive "compound" of some type and take an oscillating buffer to it and VERY carefully buff it down, being careful not to burn or over do it. But I'm sure someone else will either correct or embellish my limited knowledge on it.

[picus]

http://www.detailedimage.com/store/howtos.php?p=cutting

That's a how compounding works link.

As mentioned an abrasive compound is broken down via the heat and pressure of a machine to sluff off a thin layer of clear coat, thus leveling the paint and removing imperfections.

As for cost - my polishing packages start at $200 and can go as high as $1,000. For the work you require I would charge $200. Dealerships may do it for less, just beware of the quality of work being done.

[Gripster]

Yikes - is our water that bad??

[Schweitzer]

Yikes - is our water that bad??

My mom lived in Encinitas, and the water was always horrible. And her glasses were never nice and clear. She definitely had very hard water. But I think that what happened in this situation was the hard water spotting left under direct hot sunlight that did it.

[bmwexecutive]

Water spots.... my second worst enemey. Next to dust.

[SalsaPura]

Mine are rocks, bird shit, and water spots.