Ash damage to the paint!

[Tom999]

So, had my pride and joy for three days when a fool a few houses along decided to have a fire in his garden, burning dubious stuff by the smell of it.

Wind blew embers over my drive which settled all over the car, I managed to wipe it all off fortunately and threw a sheet over the car.

Rain started so off came the cotton sheet. Following morning I found the front section of the bonnet peppered with white specs, three different polishes (incl G3) won't shift it.

Ive read that ash reacts when it gets wet and etches into the lacquer. 

Anyone had experience getting this damage off? A local paint shop will try and flat the lacquer with wet n dry, if not it's @ £720 for a spray job.

[Malc1]

Maybe claim on one’s House Insurance ……… his or yours maybe !

just a thought 

Malc 

[Paul29bit]

I am angry for you Tom, very sorry to hear that. I actually caused this to my own car one time. I lit a fire burning bushes but the wind changed after I left it and the ash landed all over my brand new Alfa Romao Brera. Next day I noticed and in the end, after much cleaning and polishing I bought a professional polisher and taught myself how to cut back and polish paintwork. 

 

Before going that far, try using a claybar then an intermediate cleanser cream to properly clean the paintwork. 

[eightk]

Ouch. Ash from wood plus water equals sodium hydroxide, which isn’t very kind to paint. I reckon a clay bar as above might do it, and I know exactly where I’d be shoving my litre bottle of cream cleanser if you know which neighbour caused this. Three days 😐

[Paul29bit]

The stuff you may need is Sonus Paintwork Cleanser and a decent claybar like medium meguires.

 

[Tom999]

Ohh I know which neighbour Andy 😉....

Claybar is a common theme, I'll give it a try.

[Tom999]

BIG thank you to all that made suggestions. Bought a lump of blue clay bar, not sure but guessing it was medium strength. Anyway, gave it a go and the car looks great again 🎊🍻 

[Paul29bit]

Glad to hear it.  I still have not found a car for sale yet.  There appears to be only 4 in the UK around the 50k mark.

 

[eightk]

14 hours ago, Paul29bit said:

Glad to hear it.  I still have not found a car for sale yet.  There appears to be only 4 in the UK around the 50k mark.

 

I might have already said this but do check Lexus’s own used car website as well as autotrader as some dealers don’t seem to use autotrader immediately. eBay has a few too. It’ll be worth it!

[eightk]

14 hours ago, Tom999 said:

BIG thank you to all that made suggestions. Bought a lump of blue clay bar, not sure but guessing it was medium strength. Anyway, gave it a go and the car looks great again 🎊🍻 

Good news. How’s the neighbour? Able to sit down yet?

[Tom999]

Andy...🤫 letting the 'dust/ash' settle 😉...

[TomLC500h]

Sorry to hear about this 🫤