Hiya,

It appears i've driven through some red gloss type paint and it has splashed up the side of my blue 03 sti. Does anyone have any advice as to the best way to remove it?

I've tried to chip it off but doesnt really work, i've also tried a little paint remover at the base of the wheel arch but am scared it will eat the car.

Thanks in advance!

Andy

 

A little petrol on a rag should take it off ok, just be sure to wax the paint after you've finished to reseal it again

 

Don't use paint stripper, it will take the original paint off as well.

WD40 (my prefered option) or White Spirit may help, and they won't harm the paint.

If the car IS ORIGINAL PAINT FROM SUBARU, NOT RESPRAYED, then cellulose thinners would probably do it, and will not harm the original paint.

BUT you must be absolutely certain the car has never had paint!!

My friends a car dealer and I have watched him pour cellulose on the bonnet of a Nissan Almera and wipe off some badly applied touch up that had been on the car for years.
It was my brother in laws old car, so I knew that it had not been resprayed.

It would be prudent to test a small unobtrusive area first, carefully.

I wouldn't try T cut or the like if you can help it, as the original paint is very soft.

Cheers
MTR

 

You could try a Meguiars Clay Bar. They`re ideal surface prep for pre polishing/waxing and get rid of imperfections, overspray etc and are safe to use.

 

Meguiers clay bar will do the trick. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES RISK USING ANY SOLVENT. If Maguires doesn't work use Autoglym tar remover

 

bluto22b,
Autoglym tar remover is a solvent.
Theoretically car safe, but a solvent non the less.

If you can confirm the specific solvent you are intending using will not attack the surface you are trying to clean, then its perfectly safe.
I accept that the confirming its safe bit is sometines difficult.

Petrol, WD40, white spirit etc will not cause a problem,
The thinners trick frightened the life out of me when my friend did it, but he's been in the motor trade 30 years and was quite happy to show me.
And he owned the car at that point.

Cheers
MTR

 

Was just gonna suggest the tar remover myself

Had this happen to me once also. Used the Autoglym tar remover in conjunction with the Autoglym cutting polish and all was removed safely after about 5-10 minutes of patience and some buffing.

 

Thanks for all the advice. I did try white spirit and it seemed to work a little, though i reckon i'll be cleaning for a week if it's the only thing that works! So i'll also try wd40, tar remover and petrol today...

Andy

 

A decent compound will take it off..

As above thinners will work but only if the pannel hasnt been painted recently.. Paint takes bloody AGESSS to go off completely.

 

Nick your missis nail varnish remover it should work

 

if its factory paint cheep celly thinners will not harm it (its 60% water anyway)from your local autoparts if its been painted in 2k for at leest a couple months again celly thinners is ok only time you will have a problem is if its had blow ins or chips away type work as the fade in will not be keyed enough (and chips away ect use airdry laquer which will wash straight off)

 

If my car turned out to have had celulose paint Id be round the at the bodyshop at 8am Monday morning ffs! This is 2006 and not 1986 isnt it? Am I having a 'Life on Mars' moment here?