My Subaru got tagged

Over the weekend while I was away attending a beginner's auto-x class and an auto-x event, my Subaru and Dad's Rendezvous got tagged by silver spraypaint. The Buick has a paint spot on the hatch, while my Scooby got an "Anarchy A" on the hood. Ruined what was otherwise a great weekend for me. It was damp and my father was able to wipe away most of the paint on the hood, but there's still a lot of overspray and he couldn't remove the spot from the Buick. My neighbor's car also got tagged and he got rid of it with gasoline, but my father and I are leery about using that, especially considering the weak paint Subaru uses. Insurance won't help because the respray will be under my deductible limit. Anything else I could do?

Try some sort of rubbing compound very carefully? Isn't regular car wax also mildly abrasive? Clay bar? I dunno how clean your paint job is, if it's not already ratted out, then I would be a little more hesitant. Wax won't hurt for sure, and I used it to get a tag outta my car, but it wasn't spray paint, it was one of those big ass magnum permanent markers.

WD 40 works many times. It just depends upon how long it's been on there and the condition of the underlying paint. It won't hurt and it might help.

Clay bar will take it off like it wasn't ever there. Do it sooner than later; the longer that paint is sitting there the more it will bond to the clear, making removal a bit more difficult, but the claybar will do the job.

PS: this is why I hate people, present company (GRM) excluded.

The cars got tagged between 8pm-midnight Saturday, IIRC, and I didn't find out about it until around 5pm today. My parents didn't want to upset me when I got home; I was "exhausted and happy." Damn right I was upset- the motherberkeleyers better pray the cops catch them before I do.

The weather has been cool and humid, which was why Dad was able to get the "A" off of my car. I'll give your suggestions a shot. I also found this with a Google search:

http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Spray-Paint-off-a-Car

sorry to hear about that... about two years ago someone went around my neighborhood paintballing cars. People are just rediculously sometimes. hope you can get everything removed.

Clay bar and then a decent polishing pad with swirl cutter. Autopia.org can help you out.

If you've kept the cars waxed, WD40 should take it right off. Worked for me when the same thing happened.

might also want to try PBBlaster...

I was able to get this spot off my dad's car with acetone nail polish remover and a clay bar. It came off pretty easy since it was on glass and plastic:

This, however, will not come off. I've tried clay bar, acetone, CRC Power Lube (WD40), and a whole lot of cursing. I think it's too late to get rid of it.

So, any ideas how much this'll cost me if I decide to have it repainted? I'm also going to look around NASIOC and eBay for hoods. I may just buy a used red hood if it's cheaper/about the same as a repaint.

Looks like it's time for a 2.5RS hood.

Wetsand the sucker.

Lacquer thinner should do it. Enamel reducer if it doesn't.
Per

all joking aside, "it'll buff out."

it really will. before you berkeley the paint up any worse, take it to a professional and have em buff it out.

Kind of a related issue, any ideas for getting long-dried house paint off of powder coat? I've been thinking of just trying paint thinner, but I've heard that soaking in paint thinner is a technique used for stripping powder coat...

White paint on black powder coated aluminum BTW.

andrave wrote: all joking aside, "it'll buff out." it really will. before you berkeley the paint up any worse, take it to a professional and have em buff it out.

Dammit! I wanted to be the first person to say "it'll buff out" seriously! So yeah, it will.

Surprised no one has mentioned this:

Get it to a PROFESSIONAL (i.e., not some dude with a tent and a buffer at a gas station) detailer FAST. They'll know what to do.

Yes, it might cost 50 or 75 bucks. It will also, however, be exponentially cheaper than a re-spray.

poopshovel wrote: Surprised no one has mentioned this: Get it to a PROFESSIONAL (i.e., not some dude with a tent and a buffer at a gas station) detailer FAST. They'll know what to do. Yes, it might cost 50 or 75 bucks. It will also, however, be exponentially cheaper than a re-spray.

It may be too late. It's been 4 days since the peckerheads did this. I will see if I can find a prof. detailer tomorrow and ask him if he can do anything. If not, then I'll try some more of your suggestions.

Worst case scenario, I'll start looking for a used red hood. Seems like they range between $75-200. Problem will be finding one in my car's color, since it wasn't very popular round here.

I have got very old over spray of with goof off just be careful!!!. Test a small area will a very small amount. I have had great luck with it especially on the newer epoxy based paints. They seem too be much less easily damaged then the older enamels

OR

The other thing I have done is to use the 3M Micro Glaze with my buffer. It will get it off fore sure but if you have never buffed a car (and I mean really buffed not used one of those mothers wax ball things) let a pro do it as it is easy to burn / melt the finish. Just mention the 3m Micro Glaze to who ever you have do it.. I got 3 year old over spray off a red MR2 a year of so back with no issues.

http://www.discountmarinesupplies.com/Rubbing_Compounds-3M_IMPERIAL_MICROFINISHING_GLAZE.html

I would go see a body shop about getting it buffed and they are much more likely to have the micro glaze on the shelf than a place that only details cars.

I went to a body shop today to see if they could get the graffiti off. All it took was some stuff in a green spray can called "Acri-Clean (?)" and 5 minutes of work to get rid of the majority of the overspray. The guy who did the work told me where to buy it. I plan on getting some tomorrow and cleaing the spots he missed, then waxing (didn't have time today). I'll also get the remanants off my dad's Buick with the stuff. Best part of all, it was pro bono!

I dunno, dude. I'd have just rocked the A.

Nothing says anarchy more than a registered/insured car using federally/state taxed gasoline and complying to various safety guidlines outlined by the government.

All I know is if there ever is anarchy I'll be sure and knock off the people who instigated it first, typical rabble rousers. If they want anarchy, bring it too them.

I'd go back to the shop after you get your car washed and waxed with a box of Dunkin Donuts or the like and a couple 12-packs of soda. Find the manager and thank him personally, and call out the help you got from they guy who helped you.

That sort of decent help just doesn't happen enough any more, and a generous thanks from you will go a long way towards keeping at least one shop doing the right thing.

oldopelguy wrote: I'd go back to the shop after you get your car washed and waxed with a box of Dunkin Donuts or the like and a couple 12-packs of soda. Find the manager and thank him personally, and call out the help you got from they guy who helped you. That sort of decent help just doesn't happen enough any more, and a generous thanks from you will go a long way towards keeping at least one shop doing the right thing.

+1 Keep them happy - you never know when you will need their services again.