jeje 
How am I going to clean this horrible mess?
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Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 132
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From: San Francisco
2008 C300
How am I going to clean this horrible mess?
Apparently I have the worst luck ever... Some van ran over a bottle of spray paint, exploding the paint all over my front bumper, hood, windshield, fender, doors, etc. Question is how am I going to remove the paint in the areas that have small gaps/hard to reach places.
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Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 92
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From: Southern California
991 C2S, AP2 S2000, E400 Coupe
Clay bars are your friend here. They work great for overspray, but make sure you get around to it quickly. It'll easily be an entire afternoon of work, but there won't be any permanent damage.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
Apparently I have the worst luck ever... Some van ran over a bottle of spray paint, exploding the paint all over my front bumper, hood, windshield, fender, doors, etc. Question is how am I going to remove the paint in the areas that have small gaps/hard to reach places.
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[/IMG]Not sure how much, but you are going to have paint in your radiator, air filters/intake lines, etc...it may be worth looking into???
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Glendale, AZ
07 E63. 07 STi limited #606/800
hey, this has been happening a lot in my town, people hitting paint cans left in the ground.
I think people are doing this on purpose. Anyone else think this?
I wish you luck with that, but i would honestly call insurance.
I think people are doing this on purpose. Anyone else think this?
I wish you luck with that, but i would honestly call insurance.
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Miami, FL
C300 Luxury
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Fort Myers, FL
'09 C300 4Matic Sport
Ouch man...that sucks! I drove over some freshly painted lines on the highway a few weeks ago...got home an found white paint that splashed up all over my side skirts and the bottom of my rear bumper. Took FOREVER to get it all off. I used some VERY fine grit polishing compound and it got everything off w/o ruining the paint...but it took a lot of elbow grease and a lot of time.
I didn't mind using the polishing compound on mine b/c it was only the side skirts and lower bumper...but I don't think I'd use it on your car seeing as how its all over your front bumper and hood. Give the clay bar a try...but honestly I'd take it to a body shop or a professional detailer and have them do it b/c getting all that off is going to literally take half a day.
Good luck man
I didn't mind using the polishing compound on mine b/c it was only the side skirts and lower bumper...but I don't think I'd use it on your car seeing as how its all over your front bumper and hood. Give the clay bar a try...but honestly I'd take it to a body shop or a professional detailer and have them do it b/c getting all that off is going to literally take half a day.
Good luck man
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From: Chicago
2018 E300 4MATIC Sedan
I hit a puddle of what I think was wet cement in my Boxster a couple of years ago and it ended up all over both sides of the car. I did have good results removing it with a clay bar, but it took a lot of work, and it was impossible to get into some of the hard to reach places. I would give it a shot, but I agree insurance may be the way to go with this one ( call the dealer and see if they can recommend a professional detailer in your area )
Nick
Nick
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 132
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From: San Francisco
2008 C300
Thanks clay bar is working great but I'm unable to clean off the sides around the license plate. Also the mesh is all white now.... and I don't think claybar would do at this point. You think I should spray paint it black myself?
I agree insurance would be nice, but I just got my car back from vandalism....literally.. I think my insurance would go up if I keep claiming insurance. For some parts, I'm willing to go to a body shop to paint the grill on my own expense. Hopefully it won't cost too much.
I agree insurance would be nice, but I just got my car back from vandalism....literally.. I think my insurance would go up if I keep claiming insurance. For some parts, I'm willing to go to a body shop to paint the grill on my own expense. Hopefully it won't cost too much.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Huntington Beach, California
2002 C230 Coupe
The sooner you get it off the better.
Sometimes an "aggressive" body-shop type clay works a little better, but you run the risk of having to polish afterwards, so do as much as you can with the clay you're using.
On cured automotive paints and some plastics where you can't clay, mineral spirits or paint thinner should work fine with a good cotton terry cloth towel. Get it lightly saturated so it hopefully works under the edge of the overspray and breaks loose.
Test any procedure in an inconspicuous area first.
Wax afterwards.
Sometimes an "aggressive" body-shop type clay works a little better, but you run the risk of having to polish afterwards, so do as much as you can with the clay you're using.
On cured automotive paints and some plastics where you can't clay, mineral spirits or paint thinner should work fine with a good cotton terry cloth towel. Get it lightly saturated so it hopefully works under the edge of the overspray and breaks loose.
Test any procedure in an inconspicuous area first.
Wax afterwards.
Last edited by rtking; Aug 17, 2010 at 11:59 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 667
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From: Boston 'burbs
2018 E300 Lux, 2006 Corvette Z51, 2015 Mercedes ML350 (wife's)
Try a local high end detailer. Could run you several hundred dollars but it will be done right and will be cheaper than your insurance going up.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Miami, FL
C63 AMG(sold), 2009 CL550, 2010 S550 Majestic Black, 2010 ML550, 2006 C230, 2009 Venza
Thanks clay bar is working great but I'm unable to clean off the sides around the license plate. Also the mesh is all white now.... and I don't think claybar would do at this point. You think I should spray paint it black myself?
I agree insurance would be nice, but I just got my car back from vandalism....literally.. I think my insurance would go up if I keep claiming insurance. For some parts, I'm willing to go to a body shop to paint the grill on my own expense. Hopefully it won't cost too much.
I agree insurance would be nice, but I just got my car back from vandalism....literally.. I think my insurance would go up if I keep claiming insurance. For some parts, I'm willing to go to a body shop to paint the grill on my own expense. Hopefully it won't cost too much.
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Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Homeless
'20 Targa 4 DD, ' 18 Volvo S60 T6
That's Crazy. Please send me a hi res photo - want to see how it looks - maybe I'll blow it up for Art. PM'd you my email.
Lacquer thinner on everything except plastic lights. Do a small test patch on the painted grill section first - should be ok. OK to use on rubber moldings.
Will work great - no risk of damage to paint, you'll need lots of rags and work in a fresh air space. Wear chemical resistant gloves as well.
Use plastic polish on the lights.
Lacquer thinner on everything except plastic lights. Do a small test patch on the painted grill section first - should be ok. OK to use on rubber moldings.
Will work great - no risk of damage to paint, you'll need lots of rags and work in a fresh air space. Wear chemical resistant gloves as well.
Use plastic polish on the lights.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 964
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\
That's Crazy. Please send me a hi res photo - want to see how it looks - maybe I'll blow it up for Art. PM'd you my email.
Lacquer thinner on everything except plastic lights. Do a small test patch on the painted grill section first - should be ok. OK to use on rubber moldings.
Will work great - no risk of damage to paint, you'll need lots of rags and work in a fresh air space. Wear chemical resistant gloves as well.
Use plastic polish on the lights.
Lacquer thinner on everything except plastic lights. Do a small test patch on the painted grill section first - should be ok. OK to use on rubber moldings.
Will work great - no risk of damage to paint, you'll need lots of rags and work in a fresh air space. Wear chemical resistant gloves as well.
Use plastic polish on the lights.
Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 157
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From: Romania
Audi A4 1.9 TDI 2002, MB C200 CDI 2004, MB C220 CDI 2009
I went through this with my Audi few years ago and cleaned the car using silicone remover solution from car paint seller.
I used one empty household window cleaner to spray the solution on the car and wiping with paper towel.
I used one empty household window cleaner to spray the solution on the car and wiping with paper towel.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 24
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2008 C300 Sport Black on Black
Thanks clay bar is working great but I'm unable to clean off the sides around the license plate. Also the mesh is all white now.... and I don't think claybar would do at this point. You think I should spray paint it black myself?
I agree insurance would be nice, but I just got my car back from vandalism....literally.. I think my insurance would go up if I keep claiming insurance. For some parts, I'm willing to go to a body shop to paint the grill on my own expense. Hopefully it won't cost too much.
I agree insurance would be nice, but I just got my car back from vandalism....literally.. I think my insurance would go up if I keep claiming insurance. For some parts, I'm willing to go to a body shop to paint the grill on my own expense. Hopefully it won't cost too much.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 132
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From: San Francisco
2008 C300
Thanks guy, I used the lacquer thinner that you guys suggest and it worked great. The car is around 95% clean.
Also thanks soldier2304, you were right - taking off the grill and painting it was easier than I expected.
Also my pillars was splash with paint as well, so I order carbon fiber one. Quick question, is it easy to change?
My deductible is $100 which is pretty cheap, but I don't want to deal with the insurance company anymore. Farmers suck :P
Also thanks soldier2304, you were right - taking off the grill and painting it was easier than I expected.
Also my pillars was splash with paint as well, so I order carbon fiber one. Quick question, is it easy to change?
My deductible is $100 which is pretty cheap, but I don't want to deal with the insurance company anymore. Farmers suck :P
Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 81
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From: Toronto
2010 C300 4Matic
Benz shop cleaned mine last month after I brought it for bumper repair. When they returned my car its got paint spray everywhere mostly on the passenger side. Apparently they parked it beside the other car they were painting too. I watch them clean it and talked the guys there and they showed me the paint thinner they use to clean it. After when they re all done I cant even tell that it got sprayed. You just need to washed it again after using it. Im surprised that it didnt even leave any mark on the clear coat.
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Joined: May 2010
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S65
Wow, that sucks, man. Seriously.
But maybe it will teach you to not follow so closely to the vehicle in front of you? Either that was a ginormous can of paint (aka 5 gallon bucket) and you were far away, or it was a regular can of paint and you were relatively close.
Either way, lacquer thinner works relatively well. I've never tried it to remove paint, but try to Tarminator as well. Just test well in a hidden area first.
But maybe it will teach you to not follow so closely to the vehicle in front of you? Either that was a ginormous can of paint (aka 5 gallon bucket) and you were far away, or it was a regular can of paint and you were relatively close.
Either way, lacquer thinner works relatively well. I've never tried it to remove paint, but try to Tarminator as well. Just test well in a hidden area first.
