Author Topic: Spots on the X5 (Read 9138 times)

tpl · « **Reply #20 on:** February 27, 2018, 06:32:02 pm »

My white GTI suffered from this, but my white Audi doesn't get these spots.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

dougjp · « **Reply #21 on:** February 27, 2018, 06:50:39 pm »

Quote from: PJungnitsch on February 27, 2018, 05:24:01 pm

Is black the nightmare everyone makes it out to be? What is the best color for cars?

I've owned pretty much all colours. Silver is the easiest to look reasonably OK in winter and other times too, but other colours are fine in the context of this problem. Previous car was red and I was pleasantly surprised how it hid "stuff", with salt being a major exception.

sailor723 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 27, 2018, 08:21:04 pm »

So, does this just show up in the winter? I've had the car since last June and have never noticed it until now.

bridgecity · « **Reply #23 on:** February 27, 2018, 09:24:28 pm »

That’s what happened with mine. I’m guessing salt.

tenpenny · « **Reply #24 on:** February 27, 2018, 09:56:06 pm »

Quote from: sailor723 on February 27, 2018, 03:04:31 pm

So I washed the X5 today and it is speckled (behind wheel wells, down the sides and on the tailgate) with small rusty coloured spots ranging from the size of the head of a pin to the size of the head of a common nail. Some are quite a dark rust colour but most are a pale yellowish colour. A friend suggested it was rust off the brakes carried by slush and snow flung off the wheels. I've never seen this before but this is my first white car. It wouldn't come off with the wand wash but would start to fade if i rubbed hard with my finger.

Anybody have any suggestions how to get rid of this? Any way to prevent it?

I’d say Shane is the solution to that, LOL.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

EV-Light · « **Reply #25 on:** February 27, 2018, 10:35:34 pm »

I’m wondering if a ceramic coating will eliminate or reduce the issue...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Weels · « **Reply #26 on:** February 28, 2018, 08:58:41 am »

Quote from: sailor723 on February 27, 2018, 08:21:04 pm

So, does this just show up in the winter? I've had the car since last June and have never noticed it until now.

Sounds like rail dust.
The winter salt & crap likely brings the spots out which is why you see it in spring.

I tried the clay bar route with minor success. I was using a yellow clay which probably wasn't aggressive enough.
What worked best was applying this product with a foam applicator or a microfiber towel. This stuff works great to remove any stains from your paint & leaves a decent shine. Easy to apply & remove too.

https://www.eshine.ca/products/klasse-all-in-one-10oz

I then followed that up with a sealant.

Here is my go-to stuff. Typical of e-shine though is that they always are out of stock... the ONR has shown Out of Stock for at least two years....

Optimum No Rinse. Awesome for quick detailer, clay lube and bucket washes. Cleans great and leaves no streaks. Wipe on & wipe off with microfibers
https://www.eshine.ca/products/optimum-no-rinse-wash-shine-32oz

Menzerna Power Lock. Love this sealant. Easy to apply and even easier to remove. Expensive, but totally worth it.
https://www.eshine.ca/products/menzerna-jescar-power-lock-polymer-paint-sealant-16oz

That's what I used when I did a detail last summer.
Bucket wash with the ONR, then a quick clay bar, then the Power Lock.

CanuckS2K · « **Reply #27 on:** February 28, 2018, 08:42:23 pm »

Yep, definitely rail dust as others have said. Happens to all colour vehicles, you just notice it on white more is all. You'll typically find it on the bottom half of your panels all the way around. Clay bar is pretty easy to use, albeit a little time consuming. You just nee some MF towels, claybar, and a QD product. Iron X works great as well, and a little easier, you just need to make sure you don't spray it on any chrome pieces. In any case Greame, drop it off to me this spring if you want and I'll take care of it.

sailor723 · « **Reply #28 on:** March 02, 2018, 08:40:50 pm »

Quote from: CanuckS2K on February 28, 2018, 08:42:23 pm

Yep, definitely rail dust as others have said. Happens to all colour vehicles, you just notice it on white more is all. You'll typically find it on the bottom half of your panels all the way around. Clay bar is pretty easy to use, albeit a little time consuming. You just nee some MF towels, claybar, and a QD product. Iron X works great as well, and a little easier, you just need to make sure you don't spray it on any chrome pieces. In any case Greame, drop it off to me this spring if you want and I'll take care of it.

Just saw this.....thanks Shane!

KD · « **Reply #29 on:** March 04, 2018, 10:44:32 am »

So i washed the GS350 yesterday and it was immediately full of freckles.

It really does stand out on a white car. Also, i think the washing makes them pop out. Kinda like how the brake rotors oxidize immediately after washing. I gave it a good once over before washing and didn't notice any red spots.

Seafoam · « **Reply #30 on:** March 11, 2018, 06:58:18 pm »

I find that the rail dust or what ever it is called occurs in the fall and winter months usually. Once spring comes I'll remove it with the claybar then give it a good wax. White is great apart from the bug guts.It also hides small dents and imperfections. Something a black car can not.

Jaeger · « **Reply #31 on:** March 11, 2018, 08:45:09 pm »

Quote from: KD on March 04, 2018, 10:44:32 am

So i washed the GS350 yesterday and it was immediately full of freckles. It really does stand out on a white car. Also, i think the washing makes them pop out. Kinda like how the brake rotors oxidize immediately after washing. I gave it a good once over before washing and didn't notice any red spots.

Same here. My detail guy warned me this would happen.

EV-Light · « **Reply #32 on:** March 11, 2018, 09:37:49 pm »

Sounds like a PITA to maintain..

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

aquadorhj · « **Reply #33 on:** March 11, 2018, 10:25:45 pm »

U r telling me this NOW after i buy a white lexus? Its dirty as hell now, so i will have to wait till i wash to see. But i never noticed these "rail dust" before so ita probably more humid region thing.

bridgecity · « **Reply #34 on:** March 11, 2018, 11:49:18 pm »

Humid region, like here in SK?

Ex-airbalancer · « **Reply #35 on:** March 12, 2018, 07:02:49 am »

Quote from: aquadorhj on March 11, 2018, 10:25:45 pm

U r telling me this NOW after i buy a white lexus? Its dirty as hell now, so i will have to wait till i wash to see. But i never noticed these "rail dust" before so ita probably more humid region thing.

Never noticed it on the polar white Prius

Seafoam · « **Reply #36 on:** March 12, 2018, 09:35:15 am »

Quote from: Tauri13 on March 11, 2018, 09:37:49 pm

Sounds like a PITA to maintain..

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You clean them off in the spring .done. Much easier than trying to keep a black vehicle looking good.
I know you are about convenience though.

OliverD · « **Reply #37 on:** March 12, 2018, 12:31:49 pm »

Quote from: aquadorhj on March 11, 2018, 10:25:45 pm

U r telling me this NOW after i buy a white lexus? Its dirty as hell now, so i will have to wait till i wash to see. But i never noticed these "rail dust" before so ita probably more humid region thing.

This thread predates your Lexus purchase.

rrocket · « **Reply #38 on:** March 12, 2018, 12:34:55 pm »

Quote from: Careener on March 12, 2018, 10:57:10 am

My Civic has it too. I can't imagine how much true rail dust could have been around it since it was assembled less than 50km from where I bought it.

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

People call it rail dust.

But it's industrial fallout/contamination/"acid rain".

CanuckS2K · « **Reply #39 on:** March 12, 2018, 03:49:27 pm »

Quote from: rrocket on March 12, 2018, 12:34:55 pm

Quote from: Careener on March 12, 2018, 10:57:10 am
My Civic has it too. I can't imagine how much true rail dust could have been around it since it was assembled less than 50km from where I bought it.

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk
People call it rail dust.

But it's industrial fallout/contamination/"acid rain".

The vast majority is in fact rail dust. It's why you virtually only see it on the bottom half of your car. If it was acid rain you'd see it all over your vehicle. But that's typically not the case.