MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring

greg67 · #1 11-13-2005, 04:16 PM

Unfortunately, I hit a few cones today at an autocross and I was left with a 6-inch mark or smudge on each door panel. The marks don't appear to be scratches. I washed the car afterwards and the marks didn't come off. So I got out the Klasse AIO, and I was surprised that this didn't work either. I'd rather not use rubbing compound, but I've got WD-40, isopropyl alcohol, goo gone and bug/tar remover. What should I try next? I could also borrow a PC 7424 if that is recommended.

Crashton · #2 11-13-2005, 04:32 PM

I would recommend WD40, since you all ready have it or kerosene. I used kerosene to remove rubber marks from my race car. Follow up with your favorite wax.

On second thought I bet that bug tar remover would work too.

Chuck

Santa · #3 11-13-2005, 04:34 PM

I routinely hit a cone or two which leave a smudge. So far car wash soap, water, and a little extra elbow grease have worked to remove them. Sometimes I have had to go back over the affected area several times.

I have also learned to put several coats of wax over the areas normally affected to make removing the smudges easier.

jwardell · #4 11-14-2005, 12:00 PM

Chances are it is tar or rubber from someone's tire that has rubbed onto the cone, then onto your car.
It's best to work your way up to the harsher chemicals. First try simplegreen or dish soap. If you do try WD-40, be sure to immediately clean it afterwards with simplegreen or dish soap to remove the WD-40 before it hurts your paint. Any of these will have removed any wax from the area so you will want to rewax afterwards.
Sometimes I also try the fingernail method when nothing else works. :D

DrkSilver163 · #5 11-14-2005, 12:04 PM

you should be so lucky as to still be in autocross season, lol. I wish it were not 40 degrees outside right now. My last event was in early october.

But i had the same problem, i managed to get some residue onto the wheels of my MINI. took a little elbow grease to get off but it happened.

jwardell · #6 11-14-2005, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrkSilver163

you should be so lucky as to still be in autocross season, lol.

Our last was at the end of October, but we had a separate event yesterday with a small autocross and I got the second best time...and I was on my snow tires!

greg67 · #7 11-14-2005, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrkSilver163

you should be so lucky as to still be in autocross season, lol. I wish it were not 40 degrees outside right now. My last event was in early october.

Yeah, I guess I'm lucky, but the summers here in Florida are brutally long. I hate the humidity. It's been drier the last three weeks, finally. At Sunday's event it was sunny and got up to 83 degrees, not too bad.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I can still detect a very faint mark and wonder if the clearcoat might actually be scratched a bit. I'll have to do a little more work on it, but it might have to wait 'til the weekend.