OK, the 1991 560SEL has been sitting for awhile awaiting a brake job. During that time, the car's finish is sooty from the exhaust from parking the 300DT next to it.

In addition, somehow some black grease or oil (can't tell which) ended up on parts of the hood. I'm thinking of trying Mother's polishing compound or the purple degreaser from Sam's club. This car has a very nice finish and is garage kept. I don't want to screw up the paint.......

Turtle Wax makes a bug/tar remover that works very well for greasy/sticky things and won't harm the paint or wax job.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Thank you diesel300 for the advice; I'll pick some up and give it a go this weekend......

You could also try dawn dish soap mixed with 90% isopropyl alcohol. Make a soapy solution by mixing the dawn with the whole bottle of alcohol. Clean the area off then rinse immediately. Keep applying, scrubbing, and rinsing until the spots are gone. The Dawn will break down the grease, the alcohol will cause the oil to become suspended in the water and will cause it to rinse off without “sticking” to other areas of the car. That mix shouldn’t hurt the paint job, but I would wash, rinse, repeat until the spot is gone. Emphasis on the rinse. Then, wash it with car wash soap followed by an application of a good protectant wax.


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Plain old "Goop" or "GOJO" works good also. Non abrasive type. Not super effective on tar but does a good job on the soot and grease.

http://www.gojo.com/en/Product/1115-06

http://goophandcleaner.com/original-goop/

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“Whatever story you're telling, it will be more interesting if, at the end you add, "and then everything burst into flames.”
― Brian P. Cleary, You Oughta Know By Now

There are loads of bio degreasers for mountain bikers that could also be put to good use:- Water based solutions rather than solvent so less of a chance of damage to hood pads etc

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Ammonia and Ivory liquid will handle it the cheapest. I wouldn't use solvents on the paint.

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84 300SD
85 380SE
83 528e
95 318ic