Hey everyone,

I recently purchased a cabin out of town (~45miles out of city limits) and have been having a blast driving back-and-forth to town. Unfortunately, I manage to pick-up a slough of bugs after every commute (to the point it looks like my MCS has grown a beard). I have a similar problem with my other vehicles -- of which one has a very soft paint (Lotus Exige S). I tried doing a search on "bug removal/cleaner" products, however, there was a very limited amount of information available.

I currently have been attempting to remove the bugs with Prima Mystique and a lambswool mitt(purchased from OG -- so I know it is a good quality mitt and it has proven to be with previous washes) after every drive.

Unfortunately, the water I have available to me is VERY hard water and I end up washing the whole vehicle (which is not do-able for me on a daily basis). Through this method I end up introducing a ton of swirls into the paint on the bonnet due the numerous amount of bugs, even with "good technique". In addition to this, using a quick detailer did not seem feasible with the amount of bugs present. (I should mention that the car has been previously waxed with BG (bi-monthly) and coats of Hydro (weekly).)

As time has gone on, I have left the vehicles sitting for two to three days without washing the paint and I have noticed the bugs are starting to etch into the paint (especially with the Lotus, for some reason, and it's my newest edition to the garage..). (Edit (something else to mention): I have tried claying the vehicles and it only has a minimal effect for removing bugs after the wash).

Any advice on products or what I should do would be highly appreciated!

 

I use Ziano car care products on my MINI.

Then use a 50/50 blend of alcohol and water in a spray bottle and 100% cotton cloth from Griots Garage to remove the bugs.

The spray takes all the bugs off with ease, and has no ill effect on the Ziano paint finish Z6 as the water blend cannot penetrate it.

 

I have the 3M clear bra on my MCS. I really like its many benefits. The only downside I can see is the $400 it cost installed. I did not buy if for bugs but rock chips, which the MINI is pretty good at collecting. I also found the bra is really good for bug control. Bugs come off easier for some reason (hardness?). Of course I never let bugs set on the surface and dry for days if I can avoid it. Also, I care for the clear bra just the same as paint using nanowax and a light buffer.

 

Thanks for supporting my company!

Can you clarify your "good technique" for washing the bugs?

Bug carcasses need to be softened up before they fall off. You don't want to be rubbing them into the paint. Although I love BG and use it on my MINI as well, Epic is a far more durable wax, and may work better to protect your paint from these critters.

What I do is blast the front end with water which takes off the loose bodies, and gets the remaining ones wet. Next for really stubborn bugs, just soak a towel in water, and let it sit on the bugs. Within 10 or 15 minutes, all of these bugs will simply fall off. You might want to re hit it with the hose, but that "soaking" period is key. I would minimize the use of alcohol and water on any sealent as a cleaner. The wet towel method works every time.

Richard

Regar

 

How about you Florida MINI owners..How do you get the bugs off?

 

Thanks for the responses Richard, GrayRaven, and MCSfanboy! My so-called proper technique was not so good after all. I would start by spraying it down and then use a spray bottle with mystique, diluted appropriately, and let it soak for a little bit (~4minutes which is when it start to dry off or drip off) and then re-spray after a few minutes with mystique (followed by hosing it down). After that I resorted to wiping them off, which is where the problems started. Aside from that I use the two bucket method with grit guards etc..

I will give the towel method a go and see how that works out.

Thanks again for the advice, Ill give it a go tomorrow and let everyone know how it works out.

 

Mystique is an excellent polymer soap that adds shine to your paint, however it doesn't have a lot of detergents either so wouldn't be my first choice to loosen bugs! I think you were on the right track to soak the bugs, but the problem is that when you spray them, the liquid evaporates or drips off. You need to apply a constant wet source to soften them.

 

Thanks for the explanation Richard!

Ill give it a go tomorrow with a wet towel and update the thread with my results. I will also be ordering some epic and swirl soon to add to the collection. Hopefully I can take some of the etched bugs off with swirl.

 

Dryer sheets.

That's what I use during love bug season.

I keep a pack by the garden hose rack. When I get home from work I rinse the grill and the windshield so that they'll soften some. I wet a dryer sheet and scrub. They fall right off. Rinse, dry, go have a beer.

The dryer sheet lasts for 2 or 3 uses depending on your grill and windshield size.

 

I use windex right out of the bottle.

I use Zaino products to wash / wax the car and the windex doesn't seem to bother the finish.

 

I also use Zaino and agree with everyone that soaking them with hot wet towel to soften them up makes getting them off very easy.

Quick tip: Keep a roll of saran wrap in the boot. If you find your self driving in a bug infested area .... stop and wrap some on the lower flat front grill to lessen the cleanup! That's a trick I have used in the past when going with my show cars to and from a car show.

Bob

 

Dryer sheets work EXTREMELY well!

 

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

I gave the wet towel method a go with luke warm water and that worked excellent!

I first hosed off the car to loosen the bugs. Then, I started with some spare waffle weave towels and saturated them with luke-warm water. After doing this I "mummified" the bonnet and the side mirrors. Left the towels on for ~13 minutes. Then hosed off again and most of the bugs were off at this time!

I'll give the dryer-sheet suggestion a go as well, do you guys have a specific brand of dryer sheets that you use?

Thanks again!

Now it's time to remove the previously etched bugs, they are driving me insane..

 

Great job! For the insect impacts...some light polishing with the PC should do the trick.

 

I just got my MINI a month ago, and I had my first bug "etching." There was a large bug on my front bonnet, right next to the MINI logo. I tried everything this thread recommended: Windex, dryer sheets, etc. I ended up, after lots of elbow grease, with a smudge and what looked like swirls in the paint. A friend of mine recommended Meguiar's Clear X. I put some on a towel, rubbed it in for 30 seconds or so, and buffed it off. It's a miracle! The entire smudge and whirls were GONE! It's the most amazing thing! I worked for an hour on this last weekend, and this product solved it in about a minute! Please, please try Clear X. You won't be disappointed!

 

I've never heard of it. Did you mean to type Scratch X?

 

Good ol WD-40 will do it without damaging the paint, give it a try!

 

Oops yes, Scratch X! Thanks!

 

I live in South Florida, and the bugs can be really bad. I use Zaino for washing and waxing, and Meguiars "Quik Detailer" spray (in the dark red bottle) works really well for cleaning off bugs as soon as I get home from work during the week. But nothing compares to investing the money into the 3M clear bra. I have it on the hood, headlamps, lower grill, and even the rear bumper. The bugs come off of the clear bra pretty easy!