How to remove tree sap from the car

besiktas · 05-30-2011, 09:51 AM

hey, i made a mistake of parking the car under trees and i got tree sap on paint. I want to remove it with alcohol but i am scared it would cause discoloration on paint.
Any suggestions?

Moxie · 05-30-2011, 10:00 AM

On my Black 2008 335i, I got sap off using alcohol & cotton balls. No harm done. Spot test it to be sure. Look the the detail forum. I'm sure there's a thread.

sameh · 05-30-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by besiktas

hey, i made a mistake of parking the car under trees and i got tree sap on paint. I want to remove it with alcohol but i am scared it would cause discoloration on paint.
Any suggestions?

Alcohol swaps if you have them in a 1st aid kit.
OR
Medical alcohol and clean cloth.
OR
Rubbing compound
Best results when you combine #2 and 3

HeartMD · 05-30-2011, 10:34 AM

You can get tree sap/ tar remover for about $8 at any auto supply store. I use it all the time on my current Jet black 335. Just remember not to apply it in direct sun light.
Joe

bobbyd1961 · 05-30-2011, 11:18 AM

i use the mequires detailer just sprayed it on and came right off

phrogbubbaE92 · 05-30-2011, 11:23 AM

Goo gone, or a mix of denatured alcohol and water.. I have used both and the clearcoat/paint was not damaged. I made sure to wash the area after with soap and water though. Good luck!

M_Time · 05-30-2011, 12:19 PM

Go to your local BMW Dealership and buy:

>>> BMW tree sap remover

I have used it endless of times works great and does not affect your clear coat, it costs like $8 bucks you cannot go wrong.

OM3N · 05-30-2011, 12:34 PM

try QD first, then some aggressive clay, or even Iron X if its still there.

lay some wax or sealant over the spot once its gone if you had to clay or Iron x

phrogbubbaE92 · 05-30-2011, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M_Time

Go to your local BMW Dealership and buy:

>>> BMW tree sap remover

I have used it endless of times works great and does not affect your clear coat, it costs like $8 bucks you cannot go wrong.

I didnt know BMW had this.. IMHO, I would go with this first since its made by BMW and seems like the remedy for your exact situation.... Good luck!

IFX · 05-30-2011, 12:40 PM

what i'd do, first pour some warm water over it (loosen it up a little)

then, clay bar the area.

quadpipes · 05-30-2011, 01:11 PM

Google "Removing Tree Sap From Car" and you will get lots of ideas - some relatively benign and some that you might want to avoid. I have used a dab of my wife's nail polish remover on a (real not paper) towel. Worked great. Apply wax on the spot after. Good luck.

m3cragg · 05-30-2011, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbyd1961

i use the mequires detailer just sprayed it on and came right off

+1
works good on bugs too

-=Hot|Ice=- · 05-30-2011, 01:34 PM

Goo Gone works like a charm. Just need some elbow grease.

Chowster · 05-30-2011, 03:02 PM

Great info people. Thanks. I just moved my car because I noted a fairly large sappy tree after I got out of the driver's seat. LOL.

besiktas · 05-30-2011, 03:35 PM

Thanks alot guys. i went to the garage of the building to clean it up with alcohol and i saw a safelight glass repair guy who told me to dip some cotton on almost boiling hot water and gently remove the saps. It worked great and caused no discoloration.

bsiciliano · 06-02-2011, 12:03 AM

I just tried the almost boiling water trick. Worked great. My advice is to put a clean towel over the sap and then pour the water on the towel so that the it soaks in and heats the sap. If you pour the water directly on the sap, it will just roll down the hood.

Once warm, run gently. Sap comes right off. Wax as needed.

05-30-2011, 09:51 AM	#1
besiktas Ultimate Driver for the Ultimate Driving Machine 146 Rep 1,146 Posts Drives: BMW M3 E92 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	How to remove tree sap from the car hey, i made a mistake of parking the car under trees and i got tree sap on paint. I want to remove it with alcohol but i am scared it would cause discoloration on paint. Any suggestions? __________________ BMW M3 E92 - Silverstone II BPM Sport Stage II Tune + Test Pipes, GTS DCT Tune
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05-30-2011, 10:34 AM	#4
HeartMD Captain 47 Rep 656 Posts Drives: 2011.75 MW,ZCP E92 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	You can get tree sap/ tar remover for about $8 at any auto supply store. I use it all the time on my current Jet black 335. Just remember not to apply it in direct sun light. Joe __________________ 2011.75 E92 MW/BB extended,ZCP,ZP2,ZCV, IPOD,BMW APPS, Heatedseats,6MT, Edition Black Chrome Grills & Side Gills, CF splitters, CF performance spoiler, CF mirror caps, Turner black anodized pedals, Akropovic Evolution exhaust w/CF tips, Still Undecided on tune, AFE Pro5r, AFE intake scoops, LUX H8 2009 E92 JB/Black 335 xdrive (retired)
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05-30-2011, 11:18 AM	#5
bobbyd1961 Banned 43 Rep 2,406 Posts Drives: 2009 M3 sedan LeMans Blue Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: new jersey iTrader: (0)	i use the mequires detailer just sprayed it on and came right off
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05-30-2011, 11:23 AM	#6
phrogbubbaE92 Heavy Footed.. 18 Rep 206 Posts Drives: '08 DCT E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0)	Goo gone, or a mix of denatured alcohol and water.. I have used both and the clearcoat/paint was not damaged. I made sure to wash the area after with soap and water though. Good luck! __________________ IB E92 - DCT - MS Stage 2 Intake - RPI exhaust - AiB - Matte black badges - Matte black grills - Reflector delete - Hardwired V1 - Loaded Previous: '05 STi @408 awhp ~ Gone but definitely not forgotten...
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05-30-2011, 12:19 PM	#7
M_Time Private First Class 16 Rep 197 Posts Drives: 2016 Porsche Cayenne GTS Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Miami iTrader: (0)	Go to your local BMW Dealership and buy: >>> BMW tree sap remover I have used it endless of times works great and does not affect your clear coat, it costs like $8 bucks you cannot go wrong. __________________ 2008 - E92 AW DCT, AA Filter Retired: 135i, 330i, LR3 HSE, Cooper S.
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05-30-2011, 10:00 AM	#2
Moxie Lieutenant Colonel 67 Rep 1,895 Posts Drives: AW 328d Touring/SG 335d Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (12)	On my Black 2008 335i, I got sap off using alcohol & cotton balls. No harm done. Spot test it to be sure. Look the the detail forum. I'm sure there's a thread.
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05-30-2011, 12:34 PM	#8
OM3N Private First Class 38 Rep 111 Posts Drives: AW '09 E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Trondheim, Norway iTrader: (0)	try QD first, then some aggressive clay, or even Iron X if its still there. lay some wax or sealant over the spot once its gone if you had to clay or Iron x __________________ Prev:'02 E46 M3 SMG - '08 E92 6sp M3 - '09 E92 DCT M3 - '12 991 C2S- '16 F80 M3 - '19 M140X - Current: '20 X5 45e
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05-30-2011, 12:40 PM	#10
IFX Banned 67 Rep 2,536 Posts Drives: AW e46M/N54 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Fla. iTrader: (1)	what i'd do, first pour some warm water over it (loosen it up a little) then, clay bar the area.
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05-30-2011, 01:11 PM	#11
quadpipes First Lieutenant 17 Rep 318 Posts Drives: '11 E92 M3 IB,'16 F22 M235i EB Join Date: May 2009 Location: Missippi USofA iTrader: (0)	Google "Removing Tree Sap From Car" and you will get lots of ideas - some relatively benign and some that you might want to avoid. I have used a dab of my wife's nail polish remover on a (real not paper) towel. Worked great. Apply wax on the spot after. Good luck.
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05-30-2011, 03:02 PM	#14
Chowster E60_to_E90 36 Rep 1,201 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Surrey, BC, Canada iTrader: (2)	Great info people. Thanks. I just moved my car because I noted a fairly large sappy tree after I got out of the driver's seat. LOL. __________________ 2011.5 E90 Dinan M3, SS II, M-DCT, EDC, M Drive. 20" MORR VS8.2 wheels Performance Mods: Dinan St.1 suspension, exhaust, intake; TTPs; BPM St.II, DCT, servo tunes Cosmetic Mods: OEM CF splitters, mirrors, center console, spoiler; Arkym CF diffuser; LUX; tint
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05-30-2011, 03:35 PM	#15
besiktas Ultimate Driver for the Ultimate Driving Machine 146 Rep 1,146 Posts Drives: BMW M3 E92 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	Thanks alot guys. i went to the garage of the building to clean it up with alcohol and i saw a safelight glass repair guy who told me to dip some cotton on almost boiling hot water and gently remove the saps. It worked great and caused no discoloration. __________________ BMW M3 E92 - Silverstone II BPM Sport Stage II Tune + Test Pipes, GTS DCT Tune
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06-02-2011, 12:03 AM	#16
bsiciliano Captain 51 Rep 698 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 Convertible Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (4)	I just tried the almost boiling water trick. Worked great. My advice is to put a clean towel over the sap and then pour the water on the towel so that the it soaks in and heats the sap. If you pour the water directly on the sap, it will just roll down the hood. Once warm, run gently. Sap comes right off. Wax as needed. __________________ 2011 E93 - Space Gray - 6MT/Silver Novillo/ OE Tuning/Gruppe M Intake/ACS Springs/Vorsteiner CF Type I Rear Diffuser/Textured Matte Black Custom Powdercoated OEM 359s/Painted Reflectors/Matte Grille, Hood Vents and Side Markers/Arqray Race Exhaust/MS Pulley
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