tchalikias
Paid Member
My previous car was a silver/gray Megane II. During my 7 years of ownership, the car had been washed 4 times. Yes, just 4.
Before I sold it, I took it in for a proper wash - the color was still brilliant and there were no dull spots or marks from the various bird droppings that had been left to dry for months on the bodywork. Nothing. Even the car wash employees couldn't believe how good the condition of the paintwork was.
Yesterday I was unfortunately parked under a tree with my black 200 so my bonnet became a nice target for a couple of pigeons.
Having read how bird poo is incredibly corrosive, I decided to try and remove the bird droppings with water and a small towel right then and there.
Big mistake
They were harder than diamonds, incredibly tough to remove. To my horror, after I removed them and gave the bonnet a proper wash, I found out 3 spots, 5 cm in diameter, that have lost their 'shininess' but not because of corrosion: because whilst trying to remove the damn poo, I had managed to scratch the hell out of my shiny bonnet
Some of the scratches are so deep they are visible even without sunlight, and running your nail gently over them you can feel they are deep.
I'm gutted, I'm sure if I'd let the droppings get washed off during the next rain my bonnet would be in better shape than it is now..
So a big warning to everyone: better leave the droppings be than remove them hastily fearing corrosion damage. As I said, my previous Renault has had bird poo all over its paintwork for years to no adverse effect..
Before I sold it, I took it in for a proper wash - the color was still brilliant and there were no dull spots or marks from the various bird droppings that had been left to dry for months on the bodywork. Nothing. Even the car wash employees couldn't believe how good the condition of the paintwork was.
Yesterday I was unfortunately parked under a tree with my black 200 so my bonnet became a nice target for a couple of pigeons.
Having read how bird poo is incredibly corrosive, I decided to try and remove the bird droppings with water and a small towel right then and there.
Big mistake
They were harder than diamonds, incredibly tough to remove. To my horror, after I removed them and gave the bonnet a proper wash, I found out 3 spots, 5 cm in diameter, that have lost their 'shininess' but not because of corrosion: because whilst trying to remove the damn poo, I had managed to scratch the hell out of my shiny bonnet
Some of the scratches are so deep they are visible even without sunlight, and running your nail gently over them you can feel they are deep.
I'm gutted, I'm sure if I'd let the droppings get washed off during the next rain my bonnet would be in better shape than it is now..
So a big warning to everyone: better leave the droppings be than remove them hastily fearing corrosion damage. As I said, my previous Renault has had bird poo all over its paintwork for years to no adverse effect..