Paint marks - possibly sunscreen

MattBW · Nov 29, 2015

There is a rather tiny but noticeable lighter mark on the passenger door.

A little research online seems to suggest it's sunscreen or moisturiser. I suspect the gf has got in with it on her hand. Apparently a common weakness of water based paints in the eu. Vw didn't warn me and I'm pretty annoyed that my van is marked with less than 6000 miles on it.

Anyone know of a product or method to get rid? Research suggests VW don't consider it a warranty issue. There isn't really any non paint surface either so I don't see how it can be avoided without banning women and insisting on gloves ;-)

Martin · Nov 29, 2015

Hi Matt

One of our hire vans came back with quite a bit of suncream fingerprints on the sliding door this year, we did manage to remove it with Auto Glym paint renovator http://www.autoglym.com/products/products/paint-renovator Not ideal but did the trick for us.

MattBW · Nov 29, 2015

Thanks I'll give that a go

Borris · Nov 29, 2015

MattBW said:
There is a rather tiny but noticeable lighter mark on the passenger door.

A little research online seems to suggest it's sunscreen or moisturiser. I suspect the gf has got in with it on her hand. Apparently a common weakness of water based paints in the eu. Vw didn't warn me and I'm pretty annoyed that my van is marked with less than 6000 miles on it.

Anyone know of a product or method to get rid? Research suggests VW don't consider it a warranty issue. There isn't really any non paint surface either so I don't see how it can be avoided without banning women and insisting on gloves ;-)

Crikey, I didn't realise that we have to look out for that as well. My wife is always sloshing moisturiser on her hands in our vehicles. I will have to have a quiet word with her but I will locate my tin hat first. Still there's no danger of having to worry about sun cream for a while!
On a similar vein, some time ago a bird dropped an egg on my wifes car whilst we were away. The weather at the time was very hot and by the time we had returned the roof paintwork was wrecked. I had to have the whole roof resprayed. Beware of egg on car paintwork. It needs to be removed immediately otherwise the protiens in the egg will eat straight through the laquer and paint layers PDQ.
Apart from bird lime is there anything else that the unsuspecting Cali owner should look out for?

splitmike · Nov 29, 2015

It will come out using a machine polisher it needs the heat to remove it but it will come out.
No need to worry too much.

comfortz · Nov 30, 2015

I've had this a couple of times -
Farecla G10 or their finishing compound will do the trick, its what body shops use to re-finish after a spray job. Just make sure your cloth is soaking when when using it :thumb

Freeley · Nov 30, 2015

comfortz said:
I've had this a couple of times -
Farecla G10 or their finishing compound will do the trick, its what body shops use to re-finish after a spray job. Just make sure your cloth is soaking when when using it

Just ordered some of this to try and get rid of the marks left behind by the signwriting on my work van. Will save a trip to the body shop if it works!

Sent from my Galaxy S6

comfortz · Dec 1, 2015

Sorry Just seen the typo in my last post - I meant soaking wet! - you need your cloth very wet - you don't want it to dry out and burn through the paint :thumb

I just use a watering can or a slow running hose whilst I'm doing it - it works a treat!

Freeley · Dec 1, 2015

Noted. Just bought a machine polisher will try the rear window panels first as they'll be getting cut out anyway so won't matter if I mess it up!

Sent from my Galaxy S6

Yelekreb · Dec 1, 2015

Some gentle T cutting helps

comfortz · Dec 8, 2015

How are you guys getting on with removing the sun screen? No chance of getting any more on the paintwork for a good while

MattBW · Dec 9, 2015

The weather has been pretty horrendous so I haven't had a go at it with any new products yet. I have cleaned it numerous times previously but need to spend a few hours at the weekend I suspect.

tetch · May 7, 2016

I have had an increasing number of fade / matting paint marks appear - almost definitely from sunscreen.

After a lot of research I used AUTOGLM PAINT RENOVATOR and then AUTOGLYM SUPER RESIN POLISH together with AUTOGLYM PERFECT POLISHING CLOTHS. The results were amazing using the Paint Renovator but you must protect the areas you've worked afterwards with a strong resin polish (as the renovator removes a very small amount of paint lacquer) to make sure your paint work lasts.

I am really pleased with the recovery - there were quiet a few marks and some of them very obvious (see pics).

Victor · May 7, 2016

Paint renovator has already been mentioned in this thread, worked a treat for our sun cream finger marks, clever stuff and no where near as aggressive as t cut or other scratch removers.