Hot coffee treatment for my X5...

StanF18 · #1 05-10-2010, 11:36 AM

So I pull into the local Dunkin Donuts to get my morning iced coffee.
This DD parking lot during rush hour does become quite a cluster-f*&k from time to time, so it's always a bit risky if you're as car-obsessed as we are on this Forum. I try to do my best to position the X as harmlessly as possible...and as far away as possible from all the soccer moms who are "parking-challenged". And I try and steer clear of the bearded guys with extremely large F-150s which have a door-opening radius of friggin' 20 yards (or so it seems). I always back the X into one of the spots, rather than park "face in". This way I can pull out of these tight quarters with as little drama as possible.

So I did not think anything of it when a dinky little Lexus RX 300 pulled up nose first on my driver side, while I was inside getting my iced coffee. After I get back into my car, I see the young skinny dude who was driving the RX300 coming back with 2 coffees in his hand. With plenty of space between our 2 vehicles, this Shlemazl NEVERTHELESS manages to crash his left elbow into my driver-side mirror, which results in one of his HOT coffees splashing down on the ground. But before it hits the ground part of the cup also spills over the side of my door.

.

At this point I am incredulous: the guy is obviously upset at spilling one of his coffees, but apparently not upset enough to go back inside and get a replacement one. What's even more unreal: The chick sitting in the driver side sees my steely glare, and apparently whispers to the guy to get the hell out of there. So he does not even so much as LOOK in my direction. No apology, no "sorry" gesture, nothing...(At this point I am not aware of how much hot coffee has come into contact with my door, thinking most of it was spilled on the ground). After he pulls away, I get out to see lots and lots of coffee splotches on the driver-side door.

I realize that accidents happen. I also realize that most of humanity is scum, so I also don't expect people to own up to their actions or apologize. But what makes me feel truly helpless is I really don't know how I could have handled anything differently. As you can see, I basically just let it go. What else was there? Short of assaulting the guy before he got into his car, re-arranging his dental work, and getting arrested for it. Obviously it does not qualify as an "auto accident". So it does not warrant my filing a police report. And yet it's obviously more than enough to get an X5 fanatic's blood boiling (and hopefully JUST the blood and not the paint finish).

Speaking of which, I tried to wipe the coffee stains off with a soft cloth. Could not get everything off, though I'm sure I will get it cleaned off at the car wash. Can hot liquid damage the clear coat?? There was some milk in it thankfully, so I don't think it was scalding. I don't see any "bubbling", but the finish does look a bit dull where I took the cloth to it. I guess I won't know for sure until the next car wash.

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sethro · #2 05-10-2010, 12:06 PM

I feel for you Stan, the thing is that people just don't care about other peoples property. As for the hot coffee my suggestion would be to wash the affected area and apply a two heavy coats of wax. Honestly you handled that pretty well I would have flipped out on the guy.

StanF18 · #3 05-10-2010, 12:18 PM

Trust me, I would have LOVED to flip out on the guy and send him at LEAST to the dentist (if not to the hospital). Not for the coffee spill (which did look like an accident), but the obvious lack of remorse or responsibility.

But after you have a child of your own who needs you to be there every day for them, you start thinking that getting arrested, or possibly even convicted is not the best way to go. So what can you do? Just take it and move on I guess...

Good thing that we have this Forum to vent to other X-obsessed folks who can feel your pain.

primetime · #4 05-10-2010, 12:20 PM

The car will be fine..a carwash will do just fine...A prolonged period of sustained heat contact to the paint would be required to damage it.. Think of a buffer, gets alot hotter then a o cofee spill with it spinning on the car..Shitty morning though, but no fear, your X will be fine..

StanF18 · #5 05-10-2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by primetime

Think of a buffer, gets alot hotter then a o cofee spill with it spinning on the car..

I actually did start thinking about that after, to make myself feel better...So you're saying when the guys at the car wash do that spinning brush thing, it generates THAT much heat?? I always wondered how they get away with not damaging the paint (or at least damaging the clear coat) when they do that.

primetime · #6 05-10-2010, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StanF18

I actually did start thinking about that after, to make myself feel better...So you're saying when the guys at the car wash do that spinning brush thing, it generates THAT much heat?? I always wondered how they get away with not damaging the paint (or at least damaging the clear coat) when they do that.

Well...sort of. If a buffer is used, (usually for waxing cars, or trying to buff out light body scratches) the buffer heats up with it spinning, causing the surface to sort of meld or heat up just enough to remove oxidation, and yes it can take out small scratches if you're lucky..But yes the buffer spins and while on your car, it is actually heating that particular area up just enough, as the buffer moves across the area or to a different area the previous area cools down, usually within seconds..Basically, what i'm saying is, that your X can withstand direct contact with heat or hot objects and withstand it..unless of course you take a blow torch to it, or an open flame obviously...

Now of course, if someone buffs your car, you want to make sure the guy knows what he's doing otherwise it can screw up your clearcoat and paint forever..Swirl marks are a common sign of this, and on Black cars, buffing is much harder to do, because the swirl marks show so well in sunlight.. The more you buff, the less actually you have to work with time after time...So buffing isn't something that one should do regularly..its more of a once or twice kind of thing and then you shouldn't do it anymore.. Hope this helps.

X5rolls · #7 05-10-2010, 01:01 PM

If he was as blind as he was clueless and didn't know he spilled it on your X then maybe he gets a pass but he still bumped your mirror and wouldn't even say sorry or anything.

If he did know he spilled it (hard to imagine he didn't) then he is among the lowest of scum and a big chicken on top of it.

Fortunately wax is all you need to fix the spot after it has been washed.

That is the kind of thing that seems to happen to me too, no matter what I do to park away from others or to try to avoid issues, BS happens, nothing else one can do if they drive a nice vehicle to to avoid it.

sethro · #8 05-10-2010, 02:44 PM

Can't say I agree with people saying it is like using a buffer, I use a buffer on my car and it never gets hot. If your using a buffer on your car and the paint is getting hot you are using way to much force. The average temperature of coffee is about 180F

primetime · #9 05-10-2010, 03:00 PM

seth the average temp for coffee is 180 while in the cup or pot..when spilled it cools immediately obivously..And if you read carefully, nobody here says its like using a buffer...And not sure if you're using your buffer properly, use it on a panel, then touch the panel..little warm? yeah... And Trust me, a buffer will F your clearcoat and paint up way worse then a coffee spill if its not used correctly..

motordavid · #10 05-10-2010, 03:33 PM

StanF18,
One could not make that story up in creative writing...WTF?!
You did the right thing not beating him to a pulp; the cops
would have hauled you away, I suspect.

Car wash, or hand wash, a lil' Zaino or your choice and,
good to go, imo.
GL, mD

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