Because of time constraints, I did not install a clear bra and went with the Porsche full bra instead. As it turns out, the only section that fits is the hood section. Installed that for my trip. Got rained on and did not take it off when wet. Problem...the black felt on the underside of the bra bled and stained my paint and no amount of effort will get it out. I tried Griot's #2 polish, 3-M hand glaze and Griot's Best of Show wax. Still there. Any suggestions? It really looks like hell. TIA.

 

Go to your Local body shop and If you are handy with it ( do not do this if you have no experience with it ) borrow thier high speed polishing wheel with a foam pad. They will most likely have 3m industrial compound follow it with the 3m swirl remover, Some machine glaze and then use another 3m product called "finese it - or perfect it "hand glaze - that will def. do the trick

I am sure there are 15 other ways to do this but that is what I would do Bob

 

If you bought the bra from a dealer - drive back and *****. Insist that Porsche - being responsible for the product that damaged your car, is responsible to fix it.
Worth a shot.

 

I dont know about Porsche bras, but if they are like other manufacs bras they have a warning label or warnings in the instructions to not use the bra during rain. They also usually warn that if they get wet, to remove ASAP.
These warning labels will most likely prevent Porsche from doing any type of warranty or repair.
I know this will not make you feel any better, but just wanted you to be aware what your dealer is most likely to say if go to them with the complaint.

 

No such warning attached to the bra or as a separate sheet in the box. I've called my dealer and sent him the pictures. Hopefully, they will come up with some sort of solution.

 

Try a clay bar, they work wonders. I don't know if it'll help in your case but they work great for things like overspray.


But, I don't own a porsche so I should pipe it

 

First off, what you have is a known issue and is not the black felt bleeding on your paint. What you have (I know this from experience) is when the hood piece gets wet and you leave it on the car, the wet bra causes the paint to absorb moisture.

I got exactly the same thing on my Millennium Coupe a couple of years back, when it rained overnight at a DE, I left the bra all day Sunday, drove home and removed it and saw you you see on your car.

Do not let anyone talk you into any serious fixes here, because this will disappear. What you need to do is let your car get as much sunlight as possible. There's something about UV rays and the heat that helps work the moisture out of the paint. It may take awhile, weeks even. You did not help yourself by trying to rub it out. That may actually retard the "drying out" process.

When it happened to my car, I was convinced it would never disappear and was thinking horrible thoughts of how I wrecked the Violette-Chromaflair paint on my Millennium. About the time when I had resigned myself to a repaint of the hood, it all disappeared. Start to finish it took several day long sessions out in the sun over about a month. During that time I did nothing out of the ordinary except regular washings of the car.

Resist the tempation to wax the hood even if it needs it, until the moisture disappears.

Now here is how to avoid a repeat occurrence--when your bra gets wet, you have to remove the hood piece--I'm not talking stopping on the side of the road and immediately ripping it off. But as soon as you get to your first stop, take it off and don't put it back on until it's dry.

Example, I got caught in the rain going home--2/ 1/2 hour trip. The car was fine, I just removed the hood piece when I got home.

Definitely don't leave it on wet over night, or you can get this problem.

 

 

Let the paint return to normal w/o compounding if possible. Then get the clearbra installed. Lastly, sell the bra on ebay.

My $.02

 

yea, I just read your post and it makes total sense. I remember seeing a thread about the same issue on corvette forum. I'm gonna search for a link.


I'm also suprised the bottom piece didn't fit. Have you talked to porsche about this? Was it made for the turbo or just the 996?

 

btw, anyone know of a good place for clear bra install in southern cali?

 

any chance you think him using the compound would seal in the moisture?

 

I have another idea based on Paul's recommendation: if you have a friend or body shop you know well, maybe you can put the car in their paint both and bake it for a while to help the water escape...

 

I think it does slow the "drying" process down but it should still be reversible.

My 996 C4 had a case about as bad, maybe worse than NCBob's and I did the exact same thing he did which was to try to polish it off.

I think that's why it took weeks to disappear, as opposed to one or two good days in the sun. And per normal, when I had my bout with this problem the weather did not cooperate and we had several overcast days.

The key is to get the car out in the sun and let it do it's magic.

 

Hmmmm, interesting thought but I believe the UV rays in the sunlight and not just the heat is what coaxes the moisture up out of the paint. Also, unless someone has successfully tried the paint booth technique, I'd be worried about making a bad situation worse. Might the paint booth have the opposite effect of setting the moisture in the paint?

As with many things related to paint issues, the least aggressive approach is usually the best route. I'd just let the "sunshine in" and be patient. I know that works.