Well when I got home from work the neighbors MINI was shiny and clean as ever, so he must have figured it out before i could offer him the many ideas presented in this thread. Well now I know what to do if mine gets hit next.

 

That was fast. Thanks for reporting a satisfactory conclusion. This may not be socially acceptable in Seattle but could you leave a note on that MINI to ask how it was cleaned--from one MINI owner to another (after a preamble expressing regret about the vandalism). Might be a handy thing to know. I can imagine this sort of thing being reported on NAM again--not even due to vandalism but (like ShortBus's desk) maybe as a result of carelessness. Guess people are once again able to sleep okay in Seattle.

PS: I saw a car similar to the one on the right in your signature. I walked past it and did not even know it was a MINI. When I saw the rear I recognized it. At first I thought it was a Japanese car that is not officially sold in the USA. Also it had small dents and scratches so I thought it was an older car. I wish the owner had been around so I could have learned what internal mods were performed. Maybe next time.

 

Off Topic
People that vandalize cars should be shot. Not in the head or cheast but in the leg or arm. Just so it hurts for a good long time. Or maybe flogged, like that one kid in thailand I think it was. That is just my opinion.

 

It was in Singapore. The kid was caned. There was a protest here in the USA. But in Singapore exceptions to the rules cannot be tolerated.

 

I knew I was off. Thanks for the help. Some times stupidity should hurt.

 

Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner! Buzzy is spot on! (pardon the pun)

The magic marker can EASILY be removed with the use of a dry erase marker. For some reason the want to erase the evil permanent effect of the dreaded permanent marker! Just go over every spot of permanent marker and then wash it up and it'll be like it never was there at all. We use this method all the time at work.

 

did the new S arrive yet from NY?

do post pics when you get it

 

Poor guy... That was really depressing. Makes every other Mini owner want to jump right out of their skin with outrage. Just glad to know everything has turned out all right in the end.

 

No, it seems that I picked the worst trucking company in the US, Nationwide Auto Transport, and though they assured me that it would be picked up on the 5th, it is still in New York. They are very frustrating. They never call back. I think it is actually on its way soon now though. So I hope.

 

Rubbing alcohol really isn't much worse than water on most surfaces. It probably won't fully remove the marker, though. Not without enough scrubbing to mar the surface. I think nail polish remover would probably lift the ink more easily, but I'm not sure how it might affect the clearcoat. The way I would do it is to test it somewhere in the engine compartment or under the car, and assuming it works alright, give the whole car a rubdown with a soft cotton rag or pad dampened with solvent.

 

Reading about others destroying someone elses property really pi$$es me off too. Glad to hear your neighbor got the marking off. I would be real interested in knowing how he did it.

 

I will ask him how he did it next time I see him. Or I guess I could ask him by writing the message with marker on his MINI. Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

Thank you for that. About a year ago I was in phoenix with my bimmer and supposivley "took" this persons parking place. I pulled in, me and my friend got out of the car and this couple probably mid 30's gives us the finger. We just brushed it off and went inside the store, bout 30 min we come back out to my car keyed down the whole passenger side. I am 19 btw.