I have an 81 300SD; dark blue. Whenever it rains, I get terrible white water spots all over the hood, top, and trunk. I keep it waxed with special orbiter wax but this has been a continual problem. These white spots are very difficult to polish out. Does anyone know of a product I can use with the orbital waxer to defeat this recurring problem?

Thanks

PS - original paint in very good shape

I also deal with those white ring water spots, except the cause in my case is washing my car in direct sunlight, and when the water dries before I can wipe it down I got the spots.

Are you using the orbital buffer just to get rid of the spots then applying and removing the wax by hand?


Do you think it is possible that if your applying and removing wax with the orbital buffer you are actually buffing away any wax protectant you may think your applying?

What products are you using? paste or liquid wax and how many coats.
Are you using a polish?

Using Simonize orbital buffer wax and a liquid scratch remover as per the spec on the buffer. The spots are so hard to get out that I have to do it by hand.

you can always try different cleaning products, tho my guess is that your Simonize products are fine

I would try applying and buffing off the wax by hand, and applying two coats of wax.

Like you, I need to buff out my water spots by hand - and they difficult to remove.

tyl604, your water-spotting situation is the proverbial Catch 22. A good coat of wax causes rain water to bead-up on the horizontal surfaces resulting in water spots when it eventually dries. If your car wasn't waxed the water would sheet off with no/fewer water spots. Dark paint is particularly susceptible to water-spotting, or at least making it more visible. Go to the Meguiar's website and review their recommendations for the best performing products on dark paint.

__________________
Fred Hoelzle

I just bought my first Benz and noticed this. I've never seen anything else like the white water spots that I get on my trunk and roof of my new car. It's very annoying. I found that if I go back over the car after washing and applying the wax with a fine wash cloth they come right off and leave no streaks if done carefully.

Here are before and after pictures. Used an orbital buffer and found that it was absolutely necessary to compound out the hood to make the water spots about 2/3 less visible. Spots are there but just not as noticeable. There has to be a better way.

See pics.

http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/nn151/adraintaylor/Water%20spots/

Guys - this seems like an extremely awkward way to send pictures. My camera is 7.1 megapixel so it takes big pics. Send them to Photobucket to be resized but cannot find a better way to make Photobucket attach them to my memos.

Help? There must be a better way.

http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/nn151/adraintaylor/Water%20spots/

I'd wash the car with Dawn dishwashing detergent ( this one time ) and get some different car care products. I've never seen anything like that.

Plus they do make water filters that pull the contaminates out of hard water.

Ethan - Dawn to remove the new wax. Then what? I am not sure how far I want to go with compound again and I do not believe that a liquid cleaner (or wax) would touch the spots. How can it be that compound would not remove these spots; I really am concerned about compounding with a heavy hand.

Stumped.

Try these home remedies. They have both worked for me:

1) White vinegar
2) 10:1 mix of water and baking soda

If your paint is smooth to the touch I wouldn't compound.

Are there coal fired power plants or the like which brings fallout that is etching the paint? Was the car repainted?

You may need to try different products to see which ones work for the desired effect.

What kind of car wash soap do you use? I'm curious
Are you doing all your detailing in the shade?

Forget compound. I would try some cleaners or polish just on the water spots applied with a 100% cotton towel, let the mechanical actions of the cleaner/polish do the work. Don't press down with force.

I like Griot's garage `FINE HAND POLISH` for marks,

and also use either Zaino Z2 or Z5 by themsleves no additives along with Z6 & Z8, but it takes a long time to dry, but I feel it works out the mild water marks that I get. Not recommending this product, but just want to show the variety of different products I use to get the results I want.

Yesterday I tried some Meguiars NXT liquid wax on individual trouble spots, and it seemed to clean well. I had a sample pouch of the product, contact Meguiars to see if you can get some samples.

It's sall about finding products that giive you the results you want.

Actually Vinegar might have some positive effects.
I personally wouldn't use dissolved baking soda on a dark paint,


Do research at this site.
http://www.autopia.org/forum/

Ethan - thanks; out for a few days but will start working on it again next week.

How about removing water spots and oxidation from the chrome around the windows on a 1991 126 body (350 SD). We just got the car with 80K on it...prestine, but parked out doors and got weathered. The chrome has horrible water spots....What can I use to clean uo the chrome.

try the least aggressive products first.

1) car wash soap

2) car paint polish ( chrome polish usuallly are abbrasive, I see that Griots garage sells a chrome polish with no abbrasives - but I never used it )

3) car wax ( I used to read that it is best to keep wax off of chrome - but no longer is that an issue as far as I know )

you can even try vinegar but I'd stay away from all the chrome or metal polishes sold in box or chain automotive stores. At least I wouldn't use those products often if you find they're the only product that works.

I would also use a 100% cotton towel if a foam applicator won't work.