Toddler + spray paint + M37 = not good

[mrnix]

yesterday afternoon, my 3 year old was playing outside, and disappeared into the open garage for a few minutes before I realized he was in there. By the time I found him, he had gotten a hold of a can of metallic silver rustoleum spray paint and sprayed it on the hood and front end of my Malbec Black M37. I was basically in shock when I saw this.

First I tried car wash, to see if it would get rid of the paint, no luck. I then tried a clay bar (which I am not very skilled with yet), no luck there either. Next I tried some scratch and swirl remover, which did little if anything. I then got a suggestion to try either paint thinner or non-acetone nail polish remover. As I was getting the paint thinner, and dreading having to try it, my wife suggested Goo Gone. We gave that a shot, and it seemed to work. I put some on a power buffer and went over the hood, followed by a microfiber cloth and after a while, it all came off.

I expect what saved me is that I regularly wax the car, and the Goo Gone probably stripped off the wax along with the spray paint. I then proceeded to wash the car again, then put a layer of Chemical Guys Black Light glaze on, followed by a layer of Jet Seal, and finished up with a round of wax.

4-1/2 hours later, the M37 is back to where it was. In retrospect, I wish I'd had the sense to take a "before" picture, but it looked like 2 paintballs hit the front of the car right by the passenger headlight, since there were a couple big globs of paint, with overspray all over the hood.

[MY2J]

wow! nice save buddy lol

[Debonair]

AHHH! I just lost some years of life and gained some gray hair reading this. Glad to hear the Goo Gone worked. The clay should have worked but most likely would have taken a while. A random orbit polisher with light polish compound would be my go to.

None of that matters though, what matters is you saved it. Nice save indeed!

[mrnix]

AHHH! I just lost some years of life and gained some gray hair reading this. Glad to hear the Goo Gone worked. The clay should have worked but most likely would have taken a while. A random orbit polisher with light polish compound would be my go to.

None of that matters though, what matters is you saved it. Nice save indeed!

Thank you. I literally just did get a DA polisher on Sunday, but did not yet have any pads for it. If I'd not been in shock and had my senses, I might have just run over to the parts store and bought some. I suppose the Goo Gone just dissolved the wax and took the spray paint with it, and hopefully I don't have any long term effects from using it.

[Debonair]

The goo gone should not have any negative effects on the clear coat the way you used it. I' used for clear bra adhesive residue removal all over the front end of my car and there are no issues in these areas. I just would not let it sit for too long.

[mrnix]

The goo gone should not have any negative effects on the clear coat the way you used it. I' used for clear bra adhesive residue removal all over the front end of my car and there are no issues in these areas. I just would not let it sit for too long.

it was immediately washed off with car wash soap, so no worries there. Thanks for putting my mind at ease a little.

[mutant 9]

Damn that's a rough one. Hopefully you moved the spay paint to a high shelf in the garage.

[lovemycarM35]

Yeah good save is right