I have just got to my car after leaving it the airport for the day, (the cleanest AM V in Cape town) I see some big bird has used it to dump on my car is dark grey silver Im concerned that the clear coat could become compromised?

Can I get detailing suggestions from other Vantage parents please before i try to remove it? i will hose it down before i try to do anything but cant do it for a day or two due to work commitments, and going back to the frigin airport

 

Water, lots of water, and the sooner the better. There's grit in that crap and any kind of wiping will do more damage.

 

Soak them with water or detailing spray, then us a microfiber cloth to pick it up, like you would with dog poop on the carpet (do not rub it). Then wash normally

 

will do thanks guys hope it has not eaten into the clear

 

Should be fine, I wouldn't be worried about the clear coat being compromised after one day.

 

I agree with these suggestions. I usually apply a generous amount of detailing spray, let it soak, and very carefully wipe away. Repeat as needed. Best advice: don't park at the airport.

 

worst case scenerio.......polishing compound

 

Bird crap has enzymes in it that will attack the clear coat. So naturally you want to remove it ASAP. If you get some visible damage - as I have - here's what I do:

* Clay bar first. Still there?
* Them polishing compound. If still evident
* Rubbing compound. This always works but is the most harsh, take it down only as far as need be and by hand.

 

I have a horror story which lends credence to those saying to get it off as early and gently as you can. Not long after I bought my Vette, I went to lunch, noticed the birds did their business. Now, I parked the car under a tree so it wouldn't sit under the sun during our wonderful Texas summer, which seems logical. However, this was at a Hooters, and if you know what that is, you don't want birds going through their dumpster before unleashing on your paint. I washed it with lots of water 5 hours later and it was already too late. I used a nice gentle rain nozzle and let it run over the spots while I used a nice microfiber towel to dab it up. Then out came the clay bar, to no avail.

As an aside: I have a friend who is was a Customer Service rep at the executive level help me out and Chevy still wouldn't cover it under warranty since they call it 'environmental damage'. In the end, the guys at the big dealership in this area took pity on me and wet sanded the whole hood and put down some fresh clear.

Good Luck, I hope you don't have to go through any of that last bit!

 

Crazy! I've never seen it do visible damage

 

i. Using mister setting on hose nozzle, mist affected areas and lay paper towels directly over areas of concentration to trap moisture against the car surface and loosen adherents. Let soak for 10-15 minutes ensuring that paper towel remains wet. "Lift" paper towel off DO NOT WIPE. Hose down and fresh bugs/bird droppings should wash rightoff.

ii. If really bad, wet palm of hand and sprinkle with bakingsoda rubbing fingers together to form wet paste. Using fingers, apply mixture directly to areas ofconcentration, rubbing back and forth briefly and gently in the same direction that the wind would travel over that panel of your vehicle. Let mixture soak in for a minuteor so and hose down. Bugs/bird droppings should wash right off.

 

.......contains lots of acids in the poop.......that combined with water based "soft" clearcoat equals bad news........the key is how old is your paintjob? If older and cured you SHOULD be ok unless your bird was eating tacos for a week.......or Hooters hot wings......