[jpm3seriesdallas]

I got my '08 e90 washed and waxed at a reputable car wash in my office building's parking garage. When I went to pick it up, they said that there were "heat spots" on the hood caused by water+a hot hood for too long without waxing. It has been at least 4 months since my car was properly waxed. When I looked at the hood, I did see weird spots all over it that did not come out when rubbed with my finger or a cloth. I didn't see these spots elsewhere on the car. The car wash says they can get them out by buffing and rewaxing the hood (for some more dough, of course), and to prevent them, I need to rewax the car more frequently (once a month).

Is this a ripoff or are "heat spots" real? I can imagine water sitting on a hot hood could evaporate or otherwise burn off the wax somehow, but I want to be sure this is a real problem.

[possible335i2008]

i am not the most versed car detailer but they screwed up your hood...alot of people NEVER wax their car so to say it was caused by not waxing you car sounds like bs..imho they used a buffer and sat a little to long on some of the spots...also your car is relatively new the paint can withstand quite a bit..they are trying to cover up their mistake..imho

[PINeely]

Water evaporating off of your paint in the sun leaves behind mineral deposits which will etch your paint over time. So yes, if these have been there for a while they could likely have damaged your paint to where it needs correction or begin to oxidize it. I have mostly heard these called water spots though, not "heat spots." Wax helps to prevent this by giving the paint an extra layer of protection and helping water run off of it so that it doesn't sit stagnant on the paint.

[jpm3seriesdallas]

They are very small, but there are dozens of them. It doesn't look like it could have been caused by a buffer. Also, I don't think they buffed it all the first time. It did look like water spots, but they didn't easily come off. I bought it used, so maybe from sitting in the lot?

[Ph0zenstone]

i think they are water spots. that happens when you leave water on the car too long and just let it sit dry in the sun. bad for the car over time

[pander5]

Any chance of putting up a picture? I've tackled some wicked water spots but I've never heard them described as "heat" spots.

[jopa489]

Definitely sounds like water spots. They may be BSing with the term "heat spots" though, I've never heard it said that way. Water spots would fit what you're describing.

[PINeely]

If you let the car wash take them out, ask them to clay the paint first to remove the mineral deposits or you'll have some swirls to deal with too.

[lopealle]

wat they said. "heat spots" sounds like some kind of rash

[jpm3seriesdallas]

They buffed the hood, rewaxed and it looks solid, so no rip off, (except for the price, but you pay for convenience, they do it in my office parking garage [in a dedicated bay] while you're at work!).

[JayKay335i]

It would cost a pretty penny no matter where you go. Glad you are happy with the results.


PICS OR BAN!

[lopealle]

so can we see this work that they did? pretty please with sugar on top?!!

[UncleWede]

FYI, if you get more "heat spots" in the future, try wiping them off GENTLY with a mix of water/vinegar. If it's really water spots, that will dissolve the minerals left behind.