Literal worst water/mineral spots

[Adam K]

I’ve had my ‘22 Model 3 LR for over a year and most of that time I was a dumb dumb and washed with super hard water at my house (well water) without properly drying. I’ve since purchased a hose faucet filter.

Recently I got an exterior detail and ceramic coating for $700 and unfortunately even with the strongest chemicals the man couldn’t remove the water spots completely from my partial PPF sections and the glass! I just tried some ONR in warm water tonight and that didn’t do anything. Maybe I’ll try nearly boiling water next. I tried invisible glass on the windows/roof and that did nothing. Also tried distilled vinegar. I think I’m *sugar* out of luck.

 

[fholbert]

Try this. Put a paper towel soaked with vinegar on the car and let it sit for an hour or more. Keep it wet with a spray bottle.

Please Google making sure vinegar doesn’t damage a car.

 

[Kairide]

Interesting that you took it to a detailer and they couldn’t get the water spots off?
If chemicals don’t work, you could always go for the orbital buffer and compound to try and remove the water spots.
But, you’d think the detailer you took your car to would have buffed them off if the chemicals didn’t work.

 

[ucmndd]

Maybe I’ll try nearly boiling water next.

I mean, that might actually work because then you’ll probably have to replace the glass.

 

[Adam K]

Interesting that you took it to a detailer and they couldn’t get the water spots off?
If chemicals don’t work, you could always go for the orbital buffer and compound to try and remove the water spots.
But, you’d think the detailer you took your car to would have buffed them off if the chemicals didn’t work. To be clear, he did remove the spots from the rest of the car, just not the partial PPF parts and the roof/rear glass.

Yeah, took it to a local guy who polished my car + added ceramic coating afterwards. He said he went to a local detail shop and asked for the strongest chemical they had to remove water spots and even that didn't work. To be clear, he did remove the spots from the rest of the car just not the partial PPF parts and the roof/rear glass.

 

[Adam K]

I mean, that might actually work because then you’ll probably have to replace the glass.

Haha, I should've specified I meant only on the front hood part.

 

[Adam K]

Vinegar soaked towel for 30 min or so did not do anything on the PPF. Spots all still there.

 

[Kairide]

If it’s on the PPF looks like your only choice is to replace the PPF since you can’t buff PPF.
I know your detailer tried chemicals, so I’m assuming this wouldn’t work? Worked pretty well to get water spots off my Model 3.

Chemical Guys SPI10816 Heavy Duty Water Spot Remover, Safe for Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, RVs & More, 16 fl oz

 

[Dysan911]

Give this stuff a try. It's no joke.

https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys-SPI10816-Heavy-Remover/dp/B01N2G2NEJ/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3HUS8PF412Y2D&keywords=chemical+guys+water+spot+remover&qid=1697811770&sprefix=checmical+guys+water+s%2Caps%2C911&sr=8-2

 

[Birdsfan]

I’ve had my ‘22 Model 3 LR for over a year and most of that time I was a dumb dumb and washed with super hard water at my house (well water) without properly drying. I’ve since purchased a hose faucet filter.

Recently I got an exterior detail and ceramic coating for $700 and unfortunately even with the strongest chemicals the man couldn’t remove the water spots completely from my partial PPF sections and the glass! I just tried some ONR in warm water tonight and that didn’t do anything. Maybe I’ll try nearly boiling water next. I tried invisible glass on the windows/roof and that did nothing. Also tried distilled vinegar. I think I’m *sugar* out of luck.

Two suggestions to try, first there is a product called Bio Clean Hard Water Stain Remover (Amazon) or here, CRL Bio-Clean Water Stain Remover | CRL. I have used this on my glass shower for years, it works great at breaking down the mineral deposits. Second is glass top stove cleaner, I like Bio Clean better but stove top cleaner is cheaper. The other thing to consider is after time, the minerals will etch into the glass and there is no removing those.