tiny yellow dots in paint
 

As I washed today I noticed there's a lot of yellow dots in random places on the paint and with a lot of pressure it would wipe off with soap/water but there's entirely too many spots to clean off completely. It's only noticeable if you're staring and look closely at individual areas. Is this some sort of rust? It's above the paint... not under ding spots.

Sounds like it is environmental. Overspray, industrial pollution, or something like that.

Maybe consider washing it thoroughly, then use a random orbital polisher with a cleaning compound. Just a thought.

Could you have driven over recently-painted road stripes? I almost did today.

I'll have to check my other vehicle for it... it isn't anything I drove over, as it is also on the rear hatch as high up as the roundel too. Tires were clean. We recently had the snow storm... maybe salt or whatever else they use?

Try the clay first. I had once removed it with clay.

You've been sprayed dude. I cannot say as to the: who,where, when, what, nor why. But again, I guarantee you been sprayed. With some concentration and a bit of detective work.......bet you can find out most of the five "W's". Good luck. Thank God you take care of your car ....only reason they aren't a bigger problem than you describe.

Disney :iagree:

^ sprayed with what? Much too small to be spray paint.

And will repeated use of liquid clay bar damage the surface / paint over time? I ask because I use it all the time on the rear aero directly under the exhaust pipes.

Nope. All detailers use it and I have used several times. It cleans the surface of paint. Use good quality clay meant for paint. I have used clay from Zaino, Adams polishes and Griots Garage.

Is it the color of rust or actually yellow? If it's the former, it's most likely rail dust. Almost inevitable if the vehicle is shipped by rail.

As LeMans stated, try a detailing clay bar.

Clay bar is a must-have. Try it and you'll swear by it. It leaves the surface so slick you want to lick it. I use it to remove road tar and dirt regularly. Don't forget to seal and wax it afterward.

:iagree: Check the detailing forum for more on that.

high up on the rear hatch isn't safe from things you drive over incidentally, in fact I find it's the first place that gets dirty water marks after I've cleaned the car and drive it on wet roads

Definately clay it. But just a tip - if you drop the bar on the ground or floor of your garage no matter how clean - THROW IT AWAY! If will pick up some nasty grit and you scratch the hell out of you car.

My 2008 X5 has the same yellowish bronze spots. Originally I took it to the dealer saying the running boards seem to be rusting as there were a bunch of small rust looking dots. After further inspection we noticed their were small dots all over the sides of the car. We came to the conclusion that it was being sprayed on the car by the breaks? Metal on metal and when wet sprays on the car. Needless to say that's why I joined this forum looking for answers. Anyone else with this issue? I've called BMW customer care and put in a complaint. Dealer told me clay bar as well but if I have to do this every time I wash my car I'm gonna go nuts!

O and this is my first post! HAHAHAHAHA

-Marlon

I have 2007 white X5 4.8. Same problem. Tiny yellow dots all over the car. Went to the dealer and he couldn't explain why. If you are not too close to the car, you will not notice it. I have had 2004 X5 4.4 in black colour and never noticed it, so I guess this is light colours thing.

You might be right...i have a light grey 2008 x5 3.0. It just really bothers me when I see the dots. Any of you out there with a darker color...look really close at the paint and let us know if you see any.

Could it be some sort of fungus like Artillery Fungus or sometimes called Shotgun fungus? Parking next to fresh mulch that's infested with this stuff can get your car sprayed. It usually leaves black dots, but sometimes when you try to wash them off they leave a rusty colored spot. Very tiny dots. Shotgun fungus will also spray onto light colored houses if mulch is infested and placed close to the house. It can reach up to the second story. Seems a little early in the year for this though. Just a thought....

Is this usually showing up on brand new vehicles? if it is then it could be some over spray of the rust proofing wax that they spray in to the body panels and the pre-delivery cleaning hasn't removed it. Have a look on the underside of your door weep holes you may see some small part leaking out is it the same as this stuff.

Just a thought?

Bozz.

ya , i have same yellow dots ,all over . clay takes it off . but took me a long time !!!! my x5 is white ..... have no idea what it's from . first i thought it was sap from trees . but i get it in the winter too !!!!!?????

I really think it's something with the brakes when wet splashing onto the car. They are really small dots all over. Seems like only light color cars are noticing it. I only noticed it because it was on my running boards. Then when we started looking harder it was on the car as well.

^ It's really hard to imagine though that something like that goes from the brakes to the back, up to as high as near the roundel on the trunk.

Yea I don't know...maybe from hitting a puddle of water that splashes up??? It's just really annoying. Like I said I put in a complaint with BMW customer care...not that it will do anything. But I'll let you know what they say in 5 days...

Not only BMW have that problem , but the new Audi my sister have , have same problem so she called the dealer and they said that stuff is from the brakes rotors and pads

Yea this is what they told me as well.

Take it back to the dealer they will wash ,wax and puff it right out. And i think it will be no charge for it.

Update from BMW Customer Care: The engineers know of the issue and have stated it's not a mechanical issue...there is nothing that will be done on BMW's behalf. Pretty much stuck with the issue. I pretty much knew they wouldn't do anything....so for thouse out there chose color wisely. May be a better choice to get a darker color.

So if this is coming off the brake rotors, everyone on the road along with you is affected right? Is this slated as another negative of the good performing brakes they provide (like the brake dust)?

Anyway, the only time it bothers me is when I'm looking at every inch of the paint. You really can't see it when walking by and doing your normal thing around the car. I wonder though, if this is specific to the E70 only... in which case we don't know the long-term effects on the paint job overall. I tried clay-barring some of it and even that didn't work in some spots. Would've been way too much to do anyway, not to mention it would be ongoing.

Yea it's not terrible...just when I look at the paint really close. It's just annoying to know we pay so much for such a nice car and have to deal with that. And yes I would assume it affects everyone around us as well.....

I have seen some yellow spots on my cars, not just the X5, I suspect it is just tree sap or something. it comes of easily with soap, so I don't mind, and tree sap is like wax so shouldn't damage the clear coat.