Help: gray spots on white paint

Z chick

I've owned my PW Z for almost 2 months now, and since the time of purchase, I've washed it twice, so my car has never been incredibly dirty. The fender areas are usually the dirtiest places on the entire vehicle from dirt splash. My wash removed the dirt, but there are still gray spots that don't come off! The paint is still smooth over these gray spots, and there are no raised edges. I also don't have any swirl marks yet.

How do I remove these ugly gray spots?? I tried Meguiar's polish and it doesn't work.

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New Z owner, lifetime car enthusiast

Waiz

Did you try Claybar?

Pics would be helpful..

Z chick

No, I didn't try clay bar. From my research, I read that claybar was only for stubborn grit on the paint that you can feel with your fingernails. The gray spots I have aren't raised. They look like they've been incorporated into the paint! Right, I will post some photos.

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New Z owner, lifetime car enthusiast

Waiz

If it doesn't help with claybar first you might need to get it polished out by a professional with a Rotary.

The stains may have sunk through the clearcoat which nothing could really help with

anthonyy

Hopefully not, but I would clay and polish follow with wax

Z chick

Thanks guys!!

Any recommendations on clay bars?

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New Z owner, lifetime car enthusiast

Waiz

I'm that afraid given the location of the damage it might be due to road debris hitting your car.

If that's the case there will be nothing you can do

Try the Claybar and if doesn't work have a professional take a look at it

harry370z

meguairs have a "gold class" bug/tar remover - that should make it come off.

Make sure you wax the spots afterwords though as that product also strips wax

w0rM

Clay bar is not likely to have an impact on it if you can't feel it at all. I think the bug and tar remover is a good idea. You could also try a mild compound on it. A good compound can do wonders with marks on your paint.

Like Harry370z said, always follow up what you do with a new coat of wax on the area.

For the record, clay bar will ONLY remove surface contamination. It's not going to pull anything out of your clear coat.

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HArturo319

Get a doctor, it's the measles.

Oh no wait, it's road debris damage.

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Me And Zoloft Get Along Just Fine

w0rM

If it was road debris damage, you'd feel it when you ran your fingers across it.

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| SOLD September 14th, 2013 | My Build Journal

HArturo319

Dang... maybe manufactures defect then?

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Me And Zoloft Get Along Just Fine

kenchan

if it catches your nails it can be road grime (clay bar will help) or paint chipped (only touchup will help).

i use RC car motor spray to remove tar and oil based grime, but cleaner wax such as the one from Mother's can take away tar and mildly polish the area too. GL.

marcussoori

I have the same problem. OP, did you figure out how to remove the spots?

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speedfreek

It is most likely dirt being trapped in the nicks in the clear/paint caused by road debris (gravel). On lighter color cars such as white it will first appear as a grey spots getting more and more black over time. Treating the spots with a cleaner will remove the discoloration for a short period of time. The only other option is to add touch up paint or possibly reclearing the whole panel.

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