Tree Sap

Ravina · 06-04-2008, 01:33 PM

I just bought a one year old 335i and noticed the hood and roof are very rought to the touch. Some of you guys mentioned that I should claybar it, I went to this detailer in my area and he said it looks like tree sap.

He then sprayed something on it which strongly smelled like alcohol or some sort of chemical and the surface easily became smooth like glass. He said he will have to polish afterwards since this application takes everything off. He wouldn't tell me what he is using.

This guy is a reputable guy that dealers use in Mississauga and he says he uses this application everyday on cars. What could it be? Could it damage the clearcoat finish at all? He said after polishing it doesn't need to be waxed or sealed. You can wax but it's not needed.

Please add comments of your thoughts. What could the spray be? I know I did a test myself on the car by waxing a small section and noticed it also became smooth. I'm not to knowledgable about detailing, can I buy some sort of application for removing the sap other than using claybar.

SpecC · 06-04-2008, 01:53 PM

the spray was probably a mix of isopropyl alcohol. No it's not harmful to your paint. yes, it removes sealant and wax.

i think with tree sap, it's easiest to get it off asap with some quick detailer. don't rub too hard or you might make marring on your paint. Then try a diluted isopropyl alcohol. If that fails, clay bar should take it off.

normtrum · 06-04-2008, 01:59 PM

Tree sap can be a bitch. Like spec said above^ QD might work....but you would have to get it very early. I carry a little bottle of bug remover that I got from Detailed Image (can't remember the exact name). This works well...but again, it's has to be used quickly.

My wife got about 50 splatters of sap on our 330i last year, then didn't say anything. By the time I got to it I had to use a retty aggressive polish with my random to get it off.

Ravina · 06-04-2008, 02:54 PM

The detailer didn't have to use any pressure, it came off pretty quickly.

Just to recap, if I do it myself this is what I would do.

1) Remove tree sap with isopropyl. What are some auto products that I can buy would do this.

2) Do I need apply polish or not. I would like to seal it from there. Can I do that. I think sealing is better than waxing since I read it lasts a lot longer. Is that right. If yes, which products are recommended.

I'm assuming Canadian tire would have everything I need.

SpecC · 06-04-2008, 02:56 PM

1. it's just an isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) + water mixture that you can buy at any store really. Not really any auto product

2. if it came off, you probably don't need to polish. Whether you polish or not is up to you. Sealant does last longer but you can put wax on top of that for a bit of extra protection. A lot of people on this board including myself use Jetseal 109 found on the www.detailedimage.com site. I don't know about shipping to you though. Some others like the zaino sealant

06-04-2008, 01:33 PM	#1
Ravina Private First Class 43 Rep 196 Posts Drives: 2013 f30 335i, 2007 e90 335i Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oakville iTrader: (0)	Tree Sap - Detailing I just bought a one year old 335i and noticed the hood and roof are very rought to the touch. Some of you guys mentioned that I should claybar it, I went to this detailer in my area and he said it looks like tree sap. He then sprayed something on it which strongly smelled like alcohol or some sort of chemical and the surface easily became smooth like glass. He said he will have to polish afterwards since this application takes everything off. He wouldn't tell me what he is using. This guy is a reputable guy that dealers use in Mississauga and he says he uses this application everyday on cars. What could it be? Could it damage the clearcoat finish at all? He said after polishing it doesn't need to be waxed or sealed. You can wax but it's not needed. Please add comments of your thoughts. What could the spray be? I know I did a test myself on the car by waxing a small section and noticed it also became smooth. I'm not to knowledgable about detailing, can I buy some sort of application for removing the sap other than using claybar.
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06-04-2008, 01:53 PM	#2
SpecC Completely obsessed with detailing 308 Rep 15,441 Posts Drives: E90 SG 330i, white Scion tC Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Francisco and Davis iTrader: (4)	the spray was probably a mix of isopropyl alcohol. No it's not harmful to your paint. yes, it removes sealant and wax. i think with tree sap, it's easiest to get it off asap with some quick detailer. don't rub too hard or you might make marring on your paint. Then try a diluted isopropyl alcohol. If that fails, clay bar should take it off.
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06-04-2008, 01:59 PM	#3
normtrum Colonel 52 Rep 2,225 Posts Drives: e90 335i, e46 330i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: PNW iTrader: (1)	Tree sap can be a bitch. Like spec said above^ QD might work....but you would have to get it very early. I carry a little bottle of bug remover that I got from Detailed Image (can't remember the exact name). This works well...but again, it's has to be used quickly. My wife got about 50 splatters of sap on our 330i last year, then didn't say anything. By the time I got to it I had to use a retty aggressive polish with my random to get it off. __________________ 07 335i sedan \| Steptronic \| Black saphire \| Terra \| ZPP \| ZSP \| Cold Weather \| CA \| PDC \| Nav \| OEM Alarm
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06-04-2008, 02:54 PM	#4
Ravina Private First Class 43 Rep 196 Posts Drives: 2013 f30 335i, 2007 e90 335i Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oakville iTrader: (0)	Process The detailer didn't have to use any pressure, it came off pretty quickly. Just to recap, if I do it myself this is what I would do. 1) Remove tree sap with isopropyl. What are some auto products that I can buy would do this. 2) Do I need apply polish or not. I would like to seal it from there. Can I do that. I think sealing is better than waxing since I read it lasts a lot longer. Is that right. If yes, which products are recommended. I'm assuming Canadian tire would have everything I need.
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06-04-2008, 02:56 PM	#5
SpecC Completely obsessed with detailing 308 Rep 15,441 Posts Drives: E90 SG 330i, white Scion tC Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Francisco and Davis iTrader: (4)	1. it's just an isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) + water mixture that you can buy at any store really. Not really any auto product 2. if it came off, you probably don't need to polish. Whether you polish or not is up to you. Sealant does last longer but you can put wax on top of that for a bit of extra protection. A lot of people on this board including myself use Jetseal 109 found on the www.detailedimage.com site. I don't know about shipping to you though. Some others like the zaino sealant
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