Hello MINI Lovers

I have a question regarding tree sap. I always park my MINI outside and it is always exposes to the elements. I live on the street where TREES are everywhere and I can't avoid getting tree sap. I roll down my window every morning and notice tree sap is stuck between the LOWER part of the window where the window disappears into the door panel.

When I roll my window up, it leaves a LINE of tree sap on my window.

Any tips or advice on on to clean it? What kinda cleaner? Quick detailer?

 

I sure do miss the all the trees on the east coast...except for this.

1. Don't park under trees (if possible).
2. Buy a car cover, and use it.

Used to have a Dodge Ram truck that I had to park outside, under trees. Two years later, running your hand across the hood, it felt like sandpaper from all the sap. Spent a lot of time trying to get it all off, with only partial success...

IF the sap is fresh, I've had good luck with Bug & Tar remover...

 

Bug and Tar remover works well, follow that up with rubbing alcohol on that strip and it will be clean as a whistle. I know the steel wool might work, but I would personally never use it on my glass, and I can't imagine it would fair well on that felt strip you are talking about getting so gummed up. You could also try goo gone, but again, you would have to follow it up with rubbing alcohol on a swab or q-tip. I would also second the motion to get a car cover, seems like a no brainer to keep your MINI out of the elements where you live. Then again, it would probably be a pain to take it on and off every day twice a day, it is a toss up!

 

WD-40

Dave

 

+1

 

The best thing that I have found for sap in general on paint or windows is "sapzapper" cuts heavy sap real good. just make sure to wax the paint areas it was used on afterward.

 

Like others have said, the best advice is avoidance...but when you can't do that, Prima CosmoNot is a great bug and tar remover. We have this in stock at www.showcarsupplies.com

91% Alcohol might help

WD-40 as others have suggested can also work well.

The problem with tree sap is that it etches paint, so if its on your glass, it's on your paint too and that's a severe problem. I hope you have a good wax that you are replenishing atleast every 4 months.

Richard

 

WD-40? really? I can see why it wouldn't hurt because of the oils and good lubrication but arent there other chemicals in it that could penetrate the clear coat? I know we are talking about a window but theres always run or overspray. Im interested to try this now on my scrap car that I teach my guys how to buff on... now to find some sap.

 

Alcohol and then followup with a Autoscrub on my DA, but this is definitely not something you want to do daily. The alcohol will remove the stubborn stuff.

I recommend a nice thorough weekend detail session with a sealant for the body because as OctaneGuy said tree sap is serious stuff and it's not just on the glass.