Any ideas on how to get a cigarette burn out of your paint? *tear

[neria]

Hello all,

Last night my wife and I went out to eat and when we came back out to our brand new 2010 alpine white M3 I found that some a**hole put their cigarette out on my hood.

I went and washed it and then came home and tried waxing the spot but you can still see a very faint yellow dot from where the ash was still burning.

Thanks in advance.

[consolidated]

That's terrible. What is wrong with some people? I would be furious.

[neria]

I was for sure but karma will catch up to them.

[Eliminator XP]

I would suggest you try a OTC product such as Meguair's Scratch X. Apply to damaged area by hand using an applicator pad. This would be the least aggressive way using a light cleaner/polish. If this does not work, I would suggest Meguiar's M205, applied the same way....This should remove the defect. Do not forget to follow up with a wax or sealant to protect the area.

If this does not work, I would suggest consulting a pro, unless you have experience with a polisher.....We have all kinds of tricks in our bags...Not to worry, it should come out.

Dave

[neria]

Thanks for the info Dave!

[JC919]

What's with all this vandalism lately, it's scaring the piss out of me

[Eliminator XP]

Originally Posted by neria

Thanks for the info Dave!

You are very welcome!

[major_kusanagi]

if polishing alone doesn't get it off, you can always use a 2000 grit sanding block very gently (wet sanding), polish the area, and apply either wax or sealant on it. It will come off.

[neria]

I'll let you guys know how it goes.

[PIMP "E"]

at least give up smoking in the ride.

[Nawaaz]

Originally Posted by PIMP "E"

at least give up smoking in the ride.

eh?

I don't think the OP mentioned anything about himself smoking in the car, yet he said that a random dude placed a lit cigarette on his M3.

[Griz]

Originally Posted by major_kusanagi

if polishing alone doesn't get it off, you can always use a 2000 grit sanding block very gently (wet sanding), polish the area, and apply either wax or sealant on it. It will come off.

Wet sanding is not something to just up and try on $60k+ car. This takes a lot of experience and proper tools, and should be used as a last resort.

Alpine white won't be forgiving with the discoloration, but there's a good chance that it will come out with a couple passes with polish. If polishing it yourself won't get it out (take your time), take the car to a professional detailer.

[M3twins]

Originally Posted by Griz

Wet sanding is not something to just up and try on $60k+ car. This takes a lot of experience and proper tools, and should be used as a last resort.

Alpine white won't be forgiving with the discoloration, but there's a good chance that it will come out with a couple passes with polish. If polishing it yourself won't get it out (take your time), take the car to a professional detailer.

+1. Shouldn't need wet sanding!! LOL! One or two passes with polish should suffice.

[M3 vert]

HAppenedto my car as well, 2 years ago when I had just bought the car.

Some kid put there cigarrete bud through the plastic grill on my hood, burning that and the area around it too.

I have AW, and the burned mark showed. However I touched it up and its fine now!

[quality_sound]

Originally Posted by Griz

Wet sanding is not something to just up and try on $60k+ car. This takes a lot of experience and proper tools, and should be used as a last resort.

Alpine white won't be forgiving with the discoloration, but there's a good chance that it will come out with a couple passes with polish. If polishing it yourself won't get it out (take your time), take the car to a professional detailer.

1) Wetsanding is NOT hard to do correctly. There's all kinds of good tutorials online.

2) White is BY FAR the most forgiving for shade variations. If he has to resoort to a touch up, I don't believe he does, he's going to have a much better go of it than if his car was say, red.

[Kyoshi71]

Originally Posted by quality_sound

1) Wetsanding is NOT hard to do correctly. There's all kinds of good tutorials online.

2) White is BY FAR the most forgiving for shade variations. If he has to resoort to a touch up, I don't believe he does, he's going to have a much better go of it than if his car was say, red.

+1

[Griz]

Originally Posted by quality_sound

1) Wetsanding is NOT hard to do correctly. There's all kinds of good tutorials online.

2) White is BY FAR the most forgiving for shade variations.

1) Most people can't even polish a car properly, and that is far simpler than wet sanding. Online tutorials? Sure, but you need to practice. You can't just watch an online video all of a sudden get it.

2) Not in theory or in practice.

[quality_sound]

1) Why not? That's exactly what I did.

2) Yes, in practice. I've owned white cars that I've done touch ups on. I've done it for other people as well and if you STILL want to argue about it, talk to the guys at Autopia about THEIR experiences.

In short, you're wrong.

[Griz]

Originally Posted by quality_sound

1) Why not? That's exactly what I did.

2) Yes, in practice. I've owned white cars that I've done touch ups on. I've done it for other people as well and if you STILL want to argue about it, talk to the guys at Autopia about THEIR experiences.

In short, you're wrong.

For what it's worth, I've been a member at Autopia for 6 years now, and for years before that, I was following Scottwax's advice over at HondaSociety.

Anyway, my response was more abrasive (no pun intended) than it could have been.

I truly believe that you've had success with wet sanding...but my concern for the OP is in warning that it's not such a simple task to simply suggest that anyone can just go and do wet sand their car. Just as you wouldn't simply let anyone pick up a rotary and go at a car, wet sanding requires a great deal of attention.

As for the other issue... white paint is very forgiving when it comes to scratches, scuffs, water etching, etc. But the OP is talking about cigarette burns. The burnt CC will stand out more on top of a white paint.

[Hawk Lax]

I also agree that wet sand is overkill. No need to reduce the thickness of the clear coat if less aggressive methods will work. I would try clay, then polish if that doesn't work I agree with going to a highly recommended pro detailer. If you accidentally wet sand through the clear coat you will not be happy.

[quality_sound]

Originally Posted by Griz

For what it's worth, I've been a member at Autopia for 6 years now, and for years before that, I was following Scottwax's advice over at HondaSociety.

Anyway, my response was more abrasive (no pun intended) than it could have been.

I truly believe that you've had success with wet sanding...but my concern for the OP is in warning that it's not such a simple task to simply suggest that anyone can just go and do wet sand their car. Just as you wouldn't simply let anyone pick up a rotary and go at a car, wet sanding requires a great deal of attention.

As for the other issue... white paint is very forgiving when it comes to scratches, scuffs, water etching, etc. But the OP is talking about cigarette burns. The burnt CC will stand out more on top of a white paint.

Agreed, a rotary + novice = burned paint. I still believe he's capable of a wetsand of a small area if he's careful. Definitely a last resort though.

Ahhhhh, I thought you were talking about the touch-up. Yes, burned CC will definitely stand out on AW. Nothing like a nice yellowy-brown spot to ruin a nice white.