So my F55S is a couple of months old. Noticed lots of brownish/orange tiny spots on the white roof and mirror caps.
After a bit of googling I think I've come up with a diagnosis of 'Industrial Fallout' though it could be something else.



I live over a flight path near BWI airport so perhaps that's to blame? Never even heard of this sort of thing before I googled it. The spots mostly scratch off with your fingernail, but regular washing with a sponge has no effect. Heard that something called a 'clay bar' might remove them but I'm a bit tentative to use something like that.

Just wondering if anyone has experienced anything like this and if they've had any luck removing/preventing the orange spots.

I park my car outside so I'm seriously considering a cover...

 

That's what it looks like. New car dealers call it RAIL DUST. This being the little bits of iron that come of rail road tracks and spray over open rack transport.

I would 100% clay bar that. You would be amazed and there is absolutely zero chance of doing any harm. You just have to wax afterwards and never ever used a dropped clay bar.

There are tons of videos on how to do it. Don't sweat it.

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Try Iron X first then clay it.

 

I would take it back to the dealership. They're well aware of rail rust but most dealerships will do nothing about it unless the customer complains. They have a mild acid wash that is not harmful to the finish of the car that will take care of it. It isn't just on the white roof of your car. It's on all of your car but only more noticeable on the white finish.

 

Clay bar is your friend.

 

Is it a condition that can take 2 months to develop? (that's how long the OP has had the car). If it only came from the car being parked outside, I'd be just as worried about health risks living at that location.

 

It depends a lot on the climate. Here in Arizona where it's especially dry it would probably take longer. When the car is 'riding on the rails' it is getting a fine coating of dust which is not noticeable. Only time and weather will turn those fine particles of dust to rust which becomes easily noticed.

 

Could be tree sap too. I'd clay bar it.

 

My thought too.

After you get it off - use a good wax or paint sealant

 

Cheers guys. Clay bar it is. My dealership does free car washes so I might swing by there, get a free wash and ask them about it tomorrow. Will report back.

 

So I used this on the car. Didn't work. It removed maybe 5% of the spots with a massive amount of elbow grease. I ended up doing the whole car and it worked great on the green paint and white hood stripes, but it's no good for industrial fallout. I guess an acid wash is next. Will consult the dealer.

Weirdly though, the clay did work on the white mirror caps but not the white roof...

 

I'll admit, this is very surprising. Did you use plenty of lube (detailer or similar?). Cleaner wax is another option.

 

IRON X. Im a professional auto detailer. Trust me, I've done lots of cars with this stuff. It works like a charm. It dissolves the imbedded metals in the clear.

Check the link to see:

 

Used the lube that came with the kit. Didn't work at all. I'll swing by the dealer then failing that try Iron X.

 

Didn't know about iron x but glad you noted it -- I might be getting a pepper white JCW and I suspect I will have this issue.