Tradin' Paint

My '96 coupe is pretty much shakedown-tested, fixed up, and running well -- it sat in my parents' garage for somewhere around 4-5 years, never driven and rarely if ever started during that time, until I put it on the road this past fall.  Had to have a number of things done, in addition to all the scheduled maintenance items recommended at 65,000 miles.  I've been driving it fairly frequently this spring, and the car seems as though it's going to be pretty reliable... as well as just being a rolling Quality of Life upgrade, as I'm sure you all are familiar with.

So the next item is some minor cosmetic stuff.  It was my Mom's car, and she drove it 'til she was 77 or 78 or so (she died in 2008 at 79, after a medical ordeal I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy) -- by which time she was getting rickety, and from time to time she scraped the bumper and/or mirrors against the inside of the garage going in and out, stuff like that.  Nothing serious at all, but there's some paint scraped onto the bumper and mirrors and one or two small spots on the sides of the car, and I want to remove it as neatly as I can.  I got a small tube of rubbing compound, and have been able to get off some of the paint with that, but some of it is pretty stubborn and doesn't seem to want to come off.

Any favorite products for this type of cleaning? The stuff I'm trying to remove is some kind of exterior house paint, I think, and stain (the house had stained siding, which extended to the garage opening, and I can see where the driver's mirror obviously met up with that on one or more occasions).

Thanks,

Urb

Rubbing compound will get some, but not all, as you have found out. You might try some 3M General Adhesive Remover, and see if that doesn't loosen up some of the rest. It will not harm the paint if used properly, but you will need to lay some wax over the spots when yer done.

Further to Joel's comments, a lot of the compounds are made for buffing machines so it can take awhile. You might also try "clay bar" and scratch remover. I've used 1500 or 2000 grit paper and buffed from same as getting rid of orange peel but you need to be careful to stay away from edges. Have you taken it to somebody who buffs professionally. At that mileage, the paint would probably benefit from a proper power buff, get rid of all the swirls. Good luck

Thanks for the suggestions -- I'll try 'em and keep at it 'til I've gotten the paint off!

Urb