Etching due to Bird Poop

[JoeyO]

I have a brand new X3 G45 in Arctic Race Blue. I’m really surprised how easily it is for bird poop to damage the clear coat. Damn birds. I have a couple tiny spots, about the size of a pencil eraser head, where I think the poop etched the clearcoat slightly.

Any advice on how to get rid of, without polishing? If I do have to polish, I prefer the lightest polish possible. Like I said, my vehicle is only 3 months old, and 99% of the clearcoat is in “mint” condition. So I don’t want to do anything drastic.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by JoeyO

I have a brand new X3 G45 in Arctic Race Blue. I’m really surprised how easily it is for bird poop to damage the clear coat. Damn birds. I have a couple tiny spots, about the size of a pencil eraser head, where I think the poop etched the clearcoat slightly.
Any advice on how to get rid of, without polishing?

Please post a pic of the damaged areas so we can see what's going on.
Otherwise, I have to go by your words that the clear-coat is indeed damaged. In that case, your nail would catch on the rough spots as you go over the area.

If this is the case, the best you can do is polish / abrade the damaged layers away to even it out the clearcoast. Hopefully, the damage is within the top few microns and that can it be cleared away with minimal removal of clearcoat. If you let particularly caustic bird poop to sit on the paint long enough, it can eat its way all the way through the clearcoat and into the main paint layer. So prompt removal of poop is key.

Originally Posted by JoeyO

If I do have to polish, I prefer the lightest polish possible. Like I said, my vehicle is only 3 months old, and 99% of the clearcoat is in “mint” condition. So I don’t want to do anything drastic.

If the clearcoat is damaged, you can't "restore" it. The best you can do is remove damaged layer and get to pristine paint level.
Then apply some sacrificial protection in the form of wax or ceramic coating.
For reference, clear coat is usually 1-2 mils thick, the base coat is another 0.5 to 1.5 mils, and primer another 2-3 mils thick. 4-6 mils overall.

Ceramic coating will add another 1-2 microns (0.04-0.1 mil) on top. It's not much, but it might be enough if you remove bird poop fast enough.

Either wax or ceramic layer will be the first to take a hit from bird poop in the future, and buy you a little more time to remove the poop before it damages clearcoat.

Good luck,
a

[spazzz]

That sucks, what a bummer.
I noticed a scratch on my passenger rear window today.

The only way I know is polishing the paint with a machine for poops and water spots.

Do you have a sealant or coating on the car? That helps minimize the impact of the damage but then you have to spot repair that.
I carry a bottle of Ech20 spray in the car to get the spots as soon as I see them.

As far as polish I don't really have a suggestion for light polish since I don't feel it will take it down. Or it will but take forever. I would do something like Sonax EX 04-06 and a DA with a white polishing pad( Lake Country pads).

I went lighter than that and bought Sonax Profiline Nano Polish 03-06. It made quick work of the water spots that collected on my rear bumper ledge. I had tried CarPro Essence first and it didn't remove them. Sonax was one pass.

[JoeyO]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Please post a pic of the damaged areas so we can see what's going on.
Otherwise, I have to go by your words that the clear-coat is indeed damaged. In that case, your nail would catch on the rough spots as you go over the area

Hmm, I have a feeling I won’t be able to capture these spots in photos. They are not very noticeable. But I notice them when my head is at a certain angle and the sheen of an opposing light hits them at a certain angle. So that bothers me. I don’t truly know if the spots are “etched”. I just naturally assumed that, because I tried all types of soaps and cleaners. They’re definitely caused by bird poop, because that is exactly what I removed. Maybe a more appropriate word is “stain”. But like I said, they’re only apparent when my head and opposing light source is at a certain angle. They’re definitely not deep in the clearcoat, because I doubt my finger nail can even feel them.

I was thinking about trying a water spot remover, such as from Gyeon. I figure that’s completely harmless, and it doesn’t involve polishing. Or maybe, perhaps try a clay bar.

Yes, live and learn. After I remedy these several spots, I will definitely ceramic coat the entire vehicle. I realize that would reduce the damage done by bird poop, in the future.

[Gnome440]

New owner, ARB G22 that went to the detailer a week after delivery for ceramicoat. He showed me a pic of a very light discoloration that looked like a bird poo that hit and slid down. Sorry no pics.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by JoeyO

Hmm, I have a feeling I won’t be able to capture these spots in photos. They are not very noticeable. But I notice them when my head is at a certain angle and the sheen of an opposing light hits them at a certain angle. So that bothers me. I don’t truly know if the spots are “etched”. I just naturally assumed that, because I tried all types of soaps and cleaners. They’re definitely caused by bird poop, because that is exactly what I removed. Maybe a more appropriate word is “stain”. But like I said, they’re only apparent when my head and opposing light source is at a certain angle. They’re definitely not deep in the clearcoat, because I doubt my finger nail can even feel them.

I was thinking about trying a water spot remover, such as from Gyeon. I figure that’s completely harmless, and it doesn’t involve polishing. Or maybe, perhaps try a clay bar.

Yes, live and learn. After I remedy these several spots, I will definitely ceramic coat the entire vehicle. I realize that would reduce the damage done by bird poop, in the future.

Water spot remover is unlikely to help with clear coat poop etching. If it’s etched the actual clear coat surface has been damaged, rather than minerals deposited on the surface that can often be removed if addressed in a timely manner.

You could try this product that is designed to make the clear coat “reflow” when it has been etched due to bird poop reaction.

https://autoglymcentral.co.uk/autogl...sional-reflow/

[JoeyO]

Originally Posted by avi66

You could try this product that is designed to make the clear coat “reflow” when it has been etched due to bird poop reaction.

https://autoglymcentral.co.uk/autogl...sional-reflow/

Wow, that is amazing. I watched the video. It’s almost too good to be true. The only thing that scares me is throws off heat. It’d like to read some reviews before trying it. Plus, maybe I would experiment it on my old crappy Ford Escape, first.

[Belair62]

Originally Posted by avi66

Water spot remover is unlikely to help with clear coat poop etching. If it’s etched the actual clear coat surface has been damaged, rather than minerals deposited on the surface that can often be removed if addressed in a timely manner.

You could try this product that is designed to make the clear coat “reflow” when it has been etched due to bird poop reaction.

https://autoglymcentral.co.uk/autogl...sional-reflow/

That is a pretty slick product!

[avi66]

Originally Posted by JoeyO

Wow, that is amazing. I watched the video. It’s almost too good to be true. The only thing that scares me is throws off heat. It’d like to read some reviews before trying it. Plus, maybe I would experiment it on my old crappy Ford Escape, first.

Yup, I’d aways test first on something I was less precious about.

That said, Autoglym is an established and well respected UK manufacturer, and one of the few that actually does its own product R&D.

[egparson202]

Originally Posted by avi66

Water spot remover is unlikely to help with clear coat poop etching. If it’s etched the actual clear coat surface has been damaged, rather than minerals deposited on the surface that can often be removed if addressed in a timely manner.

You could try this product that is designed to make the clear coat “reflow” when it has been etched due to bird poop reaction.

https://autoglymcentral.co.uk/autogl...sional-reflow/

Is it available in the US?

[JerseyM3]

Why wouldn't normal operation and heat from the engine do the same thing?

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by JerseyM3

Why wouldn't normal operation and heat from the engine do the same thing?

I have no idea if the product actually works, but they do say:

"...designed to heat to a specific temperature which they retain for a specific length of time to create the optimum conditions for the paint to soften, reflow and fill the etchings caused by the bird droppings."

The engine definitely wouldn't heat it to a specific temperature for a specific amount of time, at least not one that you would have much (if any) control over.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by JerseyM3

Why wouldn't normal operation and heat from the engine do the same thing?

My guess is not hot enough for long enough and not specific enough.

It’s possible to “reflow” clear coat using a heat gun, but there a real danger of bubbling the paint if you don’t have experience.

I’ve seen the Autoglym Reflow solution work on some etch marks with great results, but not so great on others. Horizontal or vertical orientation may make difference, as does the age of the paint etc.

[JoeyO]

Originally Posted by avi66

I’ve seen the Autoglym Reflow solution work on some etch marks with great results, but not so great on others. Horizontal or vertical orientation may make difference, as does the age of the paint etc.

When you say “not so great on others.” Do you mean it made it worse or it had no effect and remained the same?

[avi66]

Originally Posted by egparson202

Is it available in the US?

Google is your friend.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by JoeyO

When you say “not so great on others.” Do you mean it made it worse or it had no effect and remained the same?

Didn’t remove completely, or looked the same, but no worse from what I saw, but YMMV.

Here’s a balanced review from a trusted source imo -