Dust on rear bumpers
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Super Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 803
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From: Bay Area, CA
2011 C300 Sport, P1, MM, Wood, Heated FS, DIY rearview camera.
Dust on rear bumpers
I found the rear bumper gets static dust more easily than the front.
Is ther a way to prevent static dust being built up on the rear bumper? Could it be something to be applied on the bumper to stop atracting dust?
Is ther a way to prevent static dust being built up on the rear bumper? Could it be something to be applied on the bumper to stop atracting dust?
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From: Atlanta, GA
2008 C300 Sport 6 Speed Manual, 1953 Chevy Bel-Air, 2015 Audi allroad, 1963 Chevy Apache
It's really just a consequence of the vacuum created by the car moving through the air. Leaves a perfect bubble for things to settle and stick on the rear.
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Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Bay Area, CA
2011 C300 Sport, P1, MM, Wood, Heated FS, DIY rearview camera.
Yes. However, I think the electric static is also a factor. I just tried cleaning the back side of the car, and drove about 10+ miles, most on highway between 80 to almost 100 mpg. Stopped the car and wipe with my palm. At the joint line, from plastic bumper side I got noticeable amount of dust; above the line is the body metal, I got nothing. I know eventually dust will be everywhere at the back.
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From: Denver
2014 CLS550 4Matic; 2010 E550, 2007 SL550
I have the top of the back bumper covered with clear-bra material.
The purpose was to protect against the dings from luggage going in and out, but it also does something that knocks down the static cling.
The purpose was to protect against the dings from luggage going in and out, but it also does something that knocks down the static cling.
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From: Northern California
09' E350 AMG Sport, 09' C300, 03' Honda S2K
I remember someone telling me that the reason why most if the dust goes toward the rear bumper was the aerodynamic design of the car, I also notice it alot of my s2k also, I could be wrong.
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From: Denver
2014 CLS550 4Matic; 2010 E550, 2007 SL550
Absolutely right, but there does seem to be a static component to plastic. As another poster said, it seems there's more on the plastic than on the adjacent metal.
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Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 803
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From: Bay Area, CA
2011 C300 Sport, P1, MM, Wood, Heated FS, DIY rearview camera.
The other day I tried sticking a foot long four inch wide aluminum foil to the rear bumper in the middle, to see if Al foil collects the dust. Early in the morning there were very few cars who might see me and think what is it?
I didn't drive long enough before I felt weird myself so I quit. Didn't get any dust... I probably just forget it, and wash the car normally whenever I like to, like every other weekend.
I didn't drive long enough before I felt weird myself so I quit. Didn't get any dust... I probably just forget it, and wash the car normally whenever I like to, like every other weekend.
Last edited by C300CA; Feb 26, 2012 at 02:41 PM. Reason: adding more
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From: Germantown, MD/Rehoboth Beach, DE
2024 GLS450
My smart is all plastic, and it has static issues like this over the whole body. It's got a very large aerodynamic bubble behind it and the back gets it particularly bad. It's all good until it rains a bit and then it looks like hell being white.
I've found that keeping a good coat of wax on it really seems to help though - almost like the dust can't adhere to the paint.
I've found that keeping a good coat of wax on it really seems to help though - almost like the dust can't adhere to the paint.
