Within a day after purchasing my new 2014 E250, I clayed the car and put five coats of Zaino Bros polish on it. Car looked great. Within two days, I washed the car and couldn't remove a few bugs on the painted front of the car and on one plastic headlight cover. I tried two different brands of bug remover, clay, lots of elbow grease and soap and water, and the bug splats appear to be part of the paint and plastic. I even brought it down to a detailer and they said that this is becoming more common and that some bug splats just won't come out, especially if left on for a few days.

Since Colgan hadn't come out with full bras for the newly designed 2014 models, I resigned myself to a Solar Gard Deluxe Clearshield Pro Protection Package (clear bra and mirrors) at a cost of $600.00. I've been driving the car for a year and really, really hate that plastic crap. Bugs have embedded into it like they had the paint previously and are 100% impossible to get off.

Finally, Colgan came through for me and my Full Classic Bra is arriving tomorrow and I will rip that plastic Solar Gard off the car.

I did the Zaino treatment on my other two vehicles shortly after picking them up at the dealers (a 2000 Corvette and a 2000 Dodge Pickup) and bugs have always come right off their front ends with a sponge and a little soap and water. After 15 years, they still look new and my one-year-old E250 has the front end of a beater.

I'm old and I remember insecticide that actually killed bugs, laundry soap that actually cleaned clothes, and so many other products that actually worked, before the EPA got their mitts on them. So my question is, have paint and/or plastic formulas changed, resulting in softer products? Has anyone else noticed this problem with bugs?

 

Sorry to hear about what happened to your car. In the summer, there are bugs everywhere. In FL, twice a year, LoveBugs swarm around the interstate as they love heat and between the concrete roadway and engine/exhaust, they think they're in heaven. Their bodies are acidic, so when they collide with hood and splatter, if not removed within a few hour to a day, the acid eats the paint, and you're hosed.

To get rid of these and probably other bugs, around here we use dryer sheets and water. Mist the buggy area and mist the unused dryer sheet with water, and place the sheet over the bugs and press into place. Go have a beer.
To remove, mist the back of the dryer sheet, and with light pressure, rub the back of the sheet/bugs and they should come off easily. If not repeat the process.

 

Griot's bug and smudge remover

Also works great for road tar

 

Thanks guys