Water Spots on a 2 month old X5 - can't remove

[rh71]

^ I got just the liquid clay shown here as an individual item. It is actually liquid clay. It came with a sponge that you apply it with... no bar. While being applied, you can feel a lot of friction while it works, and there is no scratching. Easily gets out my exhaust stains where soap/water can't.

Turtle Wax - ICE Clay Kit

[Kloogy]

Sprinkler water is the WORST thing that can go on your vehicle. Specially if it's from a Reclaimed source. The water composition in Southern California is very hard. It will stain the paint on your vehicle in an ungodly manner. I visited a friend and he told me his sprinklers were off. They weren't and my hood got a shower of his sprinkler juice. The following day I had a dandy of a time getting the stains off.

[midwest x6]

Originally Posted by Jen

I have used zaino on small cars, but too much work and too many steps for the x5 for me! I clay, then use swissvax paint prep and cover with swissvax wax. I have to detail more often, but I like the depth of the shine with carnuba vs zaino. I also use spray on wax when drying the vehicle to keep it fresh!

Ditto...

I can't imagine trying to Zaino an X5...Little Z coupe? Yah...Maybe when I was younger and more patient!

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by midwest x6

Ditto...

I can't imagine trying to Zaino an X5...Little Z coupe? Yah...Maybe when I was younger and more patient!

If you do the "Full Showcar Treatment" I would agree.

But I just:

(1) Wash with Dawn.

(2) Put on a coat of AIO

(3) Put on a coat of Z-2

Then, if I am really ambitious, I put on another coat of Z-2. the second coat is extremely easy on the slick surface.

Doesn't take much longer than most other stuff if you do it that way.

You could even stop with just one coat of the AIO, but once it is clean and AIO'ed, the Z-2 is really easy to apply and remove.

One mistake I did make with Zaino early-on was to not use the AIO first and not clean the surface well. The Z-2 has virtually zero cleaning effect as it seems to not have any abrasive or chemical cleaners in it. I had some water spots under the Z-2 that the Z-2 really protected well!

The Zaino stuff seems to last a long time, so I figure the effort evens-out over time, as I don't have to "wax" the X5 as often.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by Kloogy

Sprinkler water is the WORST thing that can go on your vehicle. Specially if it's from a Reclaimed source..

My Mother's house in Leisure World in Mesa, AZ uses reclaimed water for lawn sprinkling. The sprinklers have overspray onto the driveway, and if I forget to move my vehicle off the driveway when the sprinklers run, it leaves really bad water spots that are tough to remove.

Beware of reclaimed lawn sprinklers!

[smuggymba]

Zaino Clay did NOT work.....the spots are still there. It a 1 month old car and I'm pissed off.

Now going to try vinegar + water...and see what happens.

Anyone else facing the same issue and was able to fix?

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by smuggymba

Zaino Clay did NOT work.....the spots are still there. It a 2 month old car and I'm pissed off.

Now going to try vinegar + water...and see what happens.

Anyone else facing the same issue and was able to fix?

My experience is that if you have applied wax over the water spots, you have to remove the protective wax first, e.g., wash with some Dawn dishwashing soap before the removal attempts.

[smuggymba]

Originally Posted by Penguin

My experience is that if you have applied wax over the water spots, you have to remove the protective wax first, e.g., wash with some Dawn dishwashing soap before the removal attempts.

I washed the car with Zaino car wash and clayed it...won't that remove the wax?

Vinegar didn't work either.

[ard]

Originally Posted by smuggymba

I washed the car with Zaino car wash and clayed it...won't that remove the wax?

Vinegar didn't work either.

No, zaino car wash is designed to NOT strip the zaino sealant.

[ard]

Originally Posted by rh71

^ I got just the liquid clay shown here as an individual item. It is actually liquid clay. It came with a sponge that you apply it with... no bar. While being applied, you can feel a lot of friction while it works, and there is no scratching. Easily gets out my exhaust stains where soap/water can't.

Turtle Wax - ICE Clay Kit

That is just an abrasive compound.

Clay works because it is thixotropic- it is a solid that will conform to the surface as you slide it around. With lube it is not abrasive- HOWEVER, when a small speck or surface irregularity 'presents itself' into the body of the clay as it slides by, the clay become very rigid as the spec hits the clay, and is then sheared off of the surface. This is why clay is used for particulate contaminants. If you want to abrade the entire surface, paint and dirt alike, use compound.