my idiot neighbor #%@$ed my cx-7

[tree20s25]

I was washing off my CX-7 yesterday, and I saw on my windows what looked like dust, but it did not come off. well so happens that my white trash neighbor was spray painting his trailer for his boat, and got the overspray all over my CX-7. Now I don't know how to get it off, any suggestions how to get it off? I think I'm going to snap, just got it a couple of weeks ago, and the idiot messed it up!!!!!!!

[benben84]

Well first go and talk to that neighbor "kindly". haha Then take it to a good detailing or body shop and have them buff the car. Usually spray paint will come off very easily and not hurt anything. I'd be pissed too!

My friend and his wife had both there cars graffitied and he just had them buffed, took it right off.

[evilmonkeyMSP]

have it detailed and make sure he pays for it.

[SaaBaaDoo]

wax and grease remover should work. Or you can clay bar it, I've used one to remove some light overspray from my car.

[mhrebin]

you could try to use the scratch -x stuff. might be abrasive enough to get the overspray off.

how much overspray is on it? light mist or a good amount?

[Foolish]

Ask him to pay for a detailer. If he refuses, small claims court. If you'd like to maintain peace in your side yard, just hire a detailer yourself.

A clay bar may take it off, depending on how bad it is, but the CX-7 has a lot of surface area, you'll break both of your arms off trying to clay that big beast. Just get a detailer to come do it, clay/polish/buff will probably do the job.

[mikey1981]

if they dont offer a remedy, small claims and get a lawyer

[benben84]

for the windows, i recommend using a razor to scrap them.

[B1GHAM]

similiar incident happened when they resprayed a water tower where I used to work.

I ended up with a $400 detailing bill to actually remove the overspray. (they paid, dont worry)

it will depend on the situation, but best solutions (in order they should probably take place)

1) clay bar
2) steam machine
3) high speed compound buff.

best advice - bring it to a real professional. If you dont know of a detailing service, ask your trusted body shop. They will generally recommend someone.

[SPEED305]

i would somehow get the authorities involved and have this guy re-imburse you for the detail. but nothing big too wory about the paint, mopre than likey it will come off. its just the inconvenience. July 4th coming up, ill make sure to throw rockets his way!

[Foolish]

Well, since everyone seems to be giving you variations on the same advice, I thought I'd offer an alternate approach, just in case you didn't think of it:

1. Buy Marshmallows
2. Hook up his boat trailer to your CX-7.
3. Set the entire arrangement (CX, boat, trailer) on fire.
4. Crash it into his house.
5. Roast Marshmallows.

I'd just hate for you to miss an opportunity to roast marshmallows!

[IrishMidak]

wax and grease remover should work. Or you can clay bar it, I've used one to remove some light overspray from my car.

My fathers autobody shop does just that for overspray when it gets on windows.

[1Sleepy93]

What a pain in the arse! Talk to your neighbor and see if he'll cover his mistake.

[SPEED305]

Well, since everyone seems to be giving you variations on the same advice, I thought I'd offer an alternate approach, just in case you didn't think of it:

1. Buy Marshmallows
2. Hook up his boat trailer to your CX-7.
3. Set the entire arrangement (CX, boat, trailer) on fire.
4. Crash it into his house.
5. Roast Marshmallows.

I'd just hate for you to miss an opportunity to roast marshmallows!
(iagree)

[SaaBaaDoo]

if your car was recently waxed it should come off relatively easy.

[tree20s25]

Well, since everyone seems to be giving you variations on the same advice, I thought I'd offer an alternate approach, just in case you didn't think of it:

1. Buy Marshmallows
2. Hook up his boat trailer to your CX-7.
3. Set the entire arrangement (CX, boat, trailer) on fire.
4. Crash it into his house.
5. Roast Marshmallows.

I'd just hate for you to miss an opportunity to roast marshmallows!


Foolish, that sound like a great plan

[tree20s25]

yeah, gonna have to talk to him nicely at first, but will snap if he tries to say it wasen't him, the jerk off also got it one my fathers tuck as well.
Thanks for the advice guys, will keep you posted on the results

[koala]

Try clay bar first... make sure you use a lubricant as well (detail spray, or car wash soap/water).

I'd be pissed if this happened to me, so I feel your pain.

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

Try clay bar first... make sure you use a lubricant as well (detail spray, or car wash soap/water).

I'd be pissed if this happened to me, so I feel your pain.

I agree. This would be the least abrasive way possible. As noted from a professional detailer, you can only buff a clear coated car once, MAYBE twice before you take off too much of the clear.

[erhayes]

If my new car I would have a professional body shop do it. If you mess it up you have yourself to blame. Are you a pro at this or will this be your learning experience?

[koala]

If my new car I would have a professional body shop do it. If you mess it up you have yourself to blame. Are you a pro at this or will this be your learning experience?

Clay bar is so much easier and less hassle...

I've taken off paint over spray with clay bar many times and it works great.

A body shop is going to take a buffer to the paint and as mazdaspeedgirl mentioned, you have to be very careful with the clear coat, as it can be worn through pretty quickly.

Not worth it for something that is on the *surface* of the clear coat (you typically only power polish a clear coat when there are deep scratches... so the idea is to even out the surface and reduce/eliminate the scratches [or use a filler like zaino Z5 which will actually fill up the scratches over time]).

[crashkelly]

threadjack...where can i get JUST clay bars?? I have used tons of them before when working at dealerships but never had to personally buy any...now im looking for them and i can only find "kits" at pep boys or auto-zone that include spray wax and other shit and they cost like 17-20 bucks...all i want is the bars! I cant find them!

[Foolish]

I found big ones (bath sized bar of soap-size, instead of hotel soap-sized) at an autobody supply shop here in Athens. It cost me about the same as one of the kits, but it included about 5 times as much claybar, and I just used water and car wash soap to lubricate.

[koala]

I've never been able to find clay bar locally that didn't come packaged with the detail spray... so I'd only buy it when I was in a pinch. Normally I would just order the zaino clay bay when I order other zaino detailing supplies.

[crashkelly]

I've never been able to find clay bar locally that didn't come packaged with the detail spray... so I'd only buy it when I was in a pinch. Normally I would just order the zaino clay bay when I order other zaino detailing supplies.

yeah thats the prob im having...im finding these expensive detailing kits but i just want to spend like 5 bucks to get a bar. I'll prolly just break down and buy the kit...i guess i could always use a little extra spray wax.

[Foolish]

Auto body supply shop. Look in the phone book.

[tree20s25]

well here is the news, I washed my car the other day, and most of it came off. I talked to the guy about it and he apoligized, and then he gave me stuff for delta sonic, car washes, and free detailing, insude and out. but the good thing was he wasen't an @$#hole about it. So right now I'm happy that most of it came off, and I'll have the detail shop take off the rest. So I guess I won't have to sink his boat. thanks for the help guys.

[Foolish]

Sweet, glad to hear it worked out about as well as possible. Good to know your neighbor wasn't an ass about it, too! :D

Good for you.

[benben84]

Congrats! Don't you love it when you have this whole "my neighbor is an ass" judgement and then when you actually meet them and talk to them you realize they aren't all that bad.

[IrishMidak]

Congrats! Don't you love it when you have this whole "my neighbor is an ass" judgement and then when you actually meet them and talk to them you realize they aren't all that bad.

It's nice that it worked out for the best without any bad feelings and all but the guy was still an ass for spray painting outside near someone elses car. Still, it is nice to see someone take responsibility for their fuck ups and compensate the OP.

[Mazdaspeedgirl]

Congrats! Don't you love it when you have this whole "my neighbor is an ass" judgement and then when you actually meet them and talk to them you realize they aren't all that bad. yup. it used to happen to me alot when I was younger. I was Queen Foot-In-Mouth! :D

I am glad you were able to wash most of it off. :)

On another note, my husband was about to paint the valve cover for the new miata motor last night and I caught him before he was about to paint it right in the apartment parking lot which is always full of cars! I told him to take it to the courtyard. it was especially windy yesterday too...*whew*

[wongster]

if its just on the window.. just use a good strong paint thinner.. thats what did when i got some on my window of my old car.. rubbed off right away..

[controlo]

glad it worked out man. usually overspray isn't a big deal. clay bar works really well for it. i personally won't take my car to a detailer unless i've seen his work. i'd much rather do it myself. most detailers are morons... i see driving swirl marks every day. its embarrassing. looks like they used an SOS pad to dry the cars.