How can I get rid of those ugly water spots

They seem as f they are burried below the finish. I'm going to try and wax it with some zymol. The movers delivered my stuff this weekend, and I am finished moving in for the most part. Hope it works. My car is black (schwartz) non metalic, so every little imperfection sticks out like a sore thumb! What do you all reccomend to remove all of those ninor hairline scratches? or should I just wax it a few times?

For swirling and fine scratches, use 3M Imperial Hand Glaze and follow with a good wax.

For water spots, do a 50/50 vinegar/water solution, apply to a cotton cloth, rub gently on affected area, rise thoroughly and wax. White vinegar works best.

-Al

Originally posted by alee
For swirling and fine scratches, use 3M Imperial Hand Glaze and follow with a good wax.

For water spots, do a 50/50 vinegar/water solution, apply to a cotton cloth, rub gently on affected area, rise thoroughly and wax. White vinegar works best.

-Al

Thanks, I'm going to try that tomorrow

Originally posted by alee
For swirling and fine scratches, use 3M Imperial Hand Glaze and follow with a good wax.

For water spots, do a 50/50 vinegar/water solution, apply to a cotton cloth, rub gently on affected area, rise thoroughly and wax. White vinegar works best.

-Al

You should write a book

Originally posted by Clem

You should write a book

As long as it doesn't have to do with anything under the hood or under the car, I think I could cover it.

-Al

Perhaps I will ask the great alee this as well...

Back when I had my car and washed it, I had chronic water spot problems on the roof and trunk. These weren't your usual water spots though, NOTHING would take them out. They were almost like hardcore calcium deposits. Tried the 50/50 Vinegar trick with no success, tried straight vinegar. The only thing that marginally improved it was a claybar, and even that was still marginal.

Oh enlighten me alee, I'm out of ideas and when I get it back Im' going to be scratching my head.

Originally posted by bol
Perhaps I will ask the great alee this as well...

Back when I had my car and washed it, I had chronic water spot problems on the roof and trunk. These weren't your usual water spots though, NOTHING would take them out. They were almost like hardcore calcium deposits. Tried the 50/50 Vinegar trick with no success, tried straight vinegar. The only thing that marginally improved it was a claybar, and even that was still marginal.

Oh enlighten me alee, I'm out of ideas and when I get it back Im' going to be scratching my head.

Thats how mine are. They are so bad, makes the car look like it has dull paint. No-one really notices it, but I do! I had the same problem on my e30, but on the windows. Hmm, maybe some CLR will do the trick (not really, I'd be too scared it would ruin the paint) It';s on the roof, trunk some of the hood (upper), and on the c pillars mostly

Up here in the great PNW we get rain and waterspots!

I use Griots machine polish #2 then finish up with Machine polish #3 and wax, of course.

For those tough water stains...

Originally posted by bol

Oh enlighten me alee, I'm out of ideas and when I get it back Im' going to be scratching my head.

Well, if clay isn't doing it, it's time for some fine hand polish (see griotsgarage.com). You gotta take care of the water spots immediately, esp. if you have real hard water problems.

Of course, when you start washing again, wash carefully and dry as you go.

I bet that was no help.

-Al

Originally posted by ff
For those tough water stains...

Look, there's actually water stains on the body panel...

Our water SUCKS! Even when when I wash her in cold weather and in indirect sunlight, I get nasty water spots. I give up!

Short of a home water softer, which I’m researching, I don’t know what else to do.

Originally posted by ARCHER
Our water SUCKS! Even when when I wash her in cold weather and in indirect sunlight, I get nasty water spots. I give up!

Have you tried going panel by panel? That's about the only thing that works for me. I can't do a standard rinse with a hose without create serious problems.

-Al

Originally posted by ARCHER
Our water SUCKS! Even when when I wash her in cold weather and in indirect sunlight, I get nasty water spots. I give up!

Short of a home water softer, which I’m researching, I don’t know what else to do.

Try blow-drying it with a leaf blower.

Originally posted by alee


Have you tried going panel by panel? That's about the only thing that works for me. I can't do a standard rinse with a hose without create serious problems.

-Al

Seems that washing in the sunlight or any amount of winds makes for all the trouble. I think the best cure (minus the angle grinder) is a clean surface, a good layer of wax, and wash in the shade.

Originally posted by ARCHER
Our water SUCKS! Even when when I wash her in cold weather and in indirect sunlight, I get nasty water spots. I give up!

Short of a home water softer, which I’m researching, I don’t know what else to do.

Stop washing your car with cheap whisky ARCHER and the problem should go away

Originally posted by ff


Seems that washing in the sunlight or any amount of winds makes for all the trouble. I think the best cure (minus the angle grinder) is a clean surface, a good layer of wax, and wash in the shade.

and a bucket of distilled water.

You're absolutely right alee, that was of ZERO help.

And I thought you were some sort of god...


just joking!

For water spots after washing and drying, I use a 5- min detail spray. Cleans it right up and enhances the wax already on the car.

Originally posted by Ripsnort
For water spots after washing and drying, I use a 5- min detail spray. Cleans it right up and enhances the wax already on the car.

Hey Rip, how's the P21S holding up v. the Griots?

-Al

Originally posted by alee


Hey Rip, how's the P21S holding up v. the Griots?

-Al

Yeah, and also which one if any was easier to apply??
I am seriously considering the griots carnuba paste. I am wondering though..will it work as good on silver as it does with darker colors?

Originally posted by ism409

Yeah, and also which one if any was easier to apply??

With the techniques Rip uses, no wax is easy to apply. They all take about 5 hrs.

-Al

Hiya Alee,
I have one door panel and 1/2 the trunk with griots, and the rest is P21S. Too early to tell at this time, both have only been on since Dec.26th and the car is garaged most of the time. Water beading is slightly better on the P21S side on the trunk than the Griots Carnauba.

ISM, the P21S is slightly easier to apply, seems the paste is better "mixed" where Griots I had to "churn it up and mash it with a fork" to get is properly mixed, seems maybe I might have got a jar of Griots that sat on a shelf for some time? Anyway, P21S is easier to apply, both come off the same, very easy. I noted that the Griots I had to go over some areas twice with cotton towels due to a 'smearing' oily effect that it left, the P21S just once.

Either wax, make SURE you get the P21S Paint Cleaner ($10)...that stuff will make or break the final wax you put on it!

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Either wax, make SURE you get the P21S Paint Cleaner ($10)...that stuff will make or break the final wax you put on it!

Did you get the P21S car wash stuff or have you been using the giant jugs of car wash from Griots?

-Al

Originally posted by alee


Did you get the P21S car wash stuff or have you been using the giant jugs of car wash from Griots?

-Al

I did the typical:
Wash with Dawn, rinse.

Wash with Griots Car wash, rinse, dry.