The car in front of me on the highway kicked up a large chunk of road debris which smacked into my hood(bonnet), followed by windshield and roof. The impact was so great I was sure things got dented. The good news is no dents that I have found yet, and I don't believe the paint was scratched, but some rather impressive looking black streaks now run across the front of the car. From appearance, I would say it was a piece of a retread.

What's the best way to remove the black marks without impacting the paint. Soak with washing solution, scrub with a lambswool, claybar, finger nail...? If the weather cooperates tomorrow, my plan was to do a thorough wash and wax job - will this be enough to eradicate the black skid marks?

Thanks in advance.

 

I would say start with a thorough wash, possibly using dish soap for a little extra power. It might clean the black off, but more importantly, it will get rid of any dust or grit that might be on there so that when you move on to more aggressive options you don't scratch the paint.

Cleaners that come to mind are:
-Cleaner such as Klasse All-in-one
-Very very fine polish such as Prima Amigo
-Claybar

Yesterday on Hwy 66, I ended up with a McDonalds bag stuck in the intercooler scoop, flailing back and forth on the hood for 2 or 3 miles before it blew off. Left some very, very fine scratches in my hood, which Amigo quickly polished out of existence.

Good luck!

 

Yeah, if it's just the rubber marks, a wash and claybar will do the trick.

No reason to resort to the dish soap though. Just use your regular car was soap and then clay it. And don't forget to re-apply the wax when you're done.

 

Thanks guys. A good wash did the trick.

 

Good to hear

Couple of years ago a caravan of us were heading home from the Dragon, maybe 10 MINIs, and all of a sudden, flying/bouncing/laying flat on the road, a wall of rubber, slowing from 60mph, as we came into it at, well doing more than 60, MINIs to the right, MINIs to the left, MINIs scattering about. We all managed to miss a semi-trailer full tire blow-out that happened RIGHT in front of us

I'm sure clay would not have worked on my laundry

Mark

 

Must be something about driving to/from the Dragon.

Last year we were on our way home, northbound on I-81 when a tractor trailer driver decided he HAD to pass another semi while going up a hill. Pulled into the left lane right in front of me and as he did, one of his left rear tires blew. And I mean BLEW. Sounded like a cannon. I still don't know how I managed to avoid all the flying rubber. It went to my right and to my left, over the car but none of it hit us. And some of those pieces were HUGE.

I hate friggin tractor trailers. I understand they're necessary but damn, they act like they own the gd road.