Went to visit my parents and had to take advantage of some of the scenery...just a couple blurry cell phone HDR pics. She's actually filthy but doesn't really show it.

 

Looks good!

 

Nice pics! Yeah. I can't tell your ride is dirty.

 

looking good.

 

Thank you both! I wish I had some photography skills (as well as a nice camera) because there are so many cool areas here to take pics.

 

Nothing wrong with those pictures, Bronco.

 

Your car is so clean...very impressive.

 

Thanks again guys! I'm guessing since I wax her regularly it helps to hide the dirt in pics. That's probably also the reason my wife never thinks my car is dirty

 

For sure, I've found that a well protected black car will hide dirt pretty well since you mainly see the reflection THROUGH the dirt. All bets are off in full sun though.

 

Good point! I never thought of that.

 

Well I just hit the 50k miles mark last week. I can't believe I've put 41k miles on her in @ 2 1/2 years! I guess my 50 mile round trip to and from work adds up.




On another note, I'm getting my house painted and I came home on Saturday to see the paint guy there. I didn't think much of it and opened the garage and backed in as usual. When I got out of my car I noticed some drips on my wife's Pilot. I figured when he sprayed the stucco conditioner on the garage it went through the cracks. I was frustrated but relieved that at least it wasn't on my car.

At that moment I realized it was dripping from the garage door onto both of our cars!! I immediately shut it but not before it had practically covered my hood with drops and gotten many more on hers. I grabbed a bucket of water and dumped it on my hood but it didn't really do anything. I rubbed one of the drops lightly with my finger and it didn't budge...it had already adhered to the paint.

*pics don't really show how bad it looked in person





I was fucking livid at this point and not sure what it would take to remove it. I did what I never do and took a wet towel to my dirty hood but again...nothing. I dried it off and figured maybe some polish would remove it (I know, I don't know shit). Well of course that did nothing.

I managed to calm myself down and forget about it for the rest of the day since it was late and I was exhausted, figuring I'd call detailers the next day to get some advice (hoping some would be open on a Sunday). I woke up that night and could not stop thinking about it. The stress I'd put off for the day was catching up to me.

Fortunately the first guy I called (decided to look into paint correction specialists instead of detailers) answered and talked to me for a solid 15 minutes offering advice. He said to try denatured alcohol and if I didn't have that I could try isopropyl. Fortunately I had the latter and tried it on my wife's Pilot first (haha)...worked like a charm! Don't get me wrong, it still took a lot of elbow grease but it came off! I spent probably 4 hours total in removing it from hers, then washing it afterwards.

Since there was much less on the Pilot than the TL, and the guy offered to help me remove it from mine when he got back in town...I decided to have him help with my car the next day. I was also interested to pick his brain on some paint care techniques.

It took about 3 hours total to remove it and he charged me next to nothing (I even threw him a little extra because I felt bad). I then drove home and washed it and waxed the affected areas (since we'd used alcohol and stripped the wax). It was a great feeling though in the end, knowing no long-term damage was done and my baby was back to normal.

This guy is one of those people that I'll probably always remember...he helped me out of a stressful situation and didn't do it for the money. There's not many people out there like that. The crazy thing is he's well established in the industry as well so 'word of mouth' advertising wasn't his MO either.

He suggested I keep a bottle of denatured alcohol at home to use in the future (also works great in removing tree sap, among other things) as well as a 50/50 mixture of isopropyl and water. He recommended the latter as a step after polishing and before waxing. He also suggested I look into a nanoskin mit as it's much easier and quicker than a clay bar.

Cliff notes:
1. Hit 50k miles mark
2. Stucco conditioner got all over mine and wife's cars
3. Stressed like crazy after attempts to remove failed
4. Got in touch with paint correction specialist who advised me to use denatured or isopropyl alcohol...worked like a charm
5. Crisis averted and whips are back to normal

Thanks for reading

 

Wow dude! Glad it got resolved and fast.

 

That story had my heart pumping...LOL. Glad it all worked out.

 

Good to hear all worked out well,isopropyl is great stuff and it saved your day.

 

Thanks! Me too!

Haha, I know the feeling! Thanks!

Thanks man, I agree. I just bought a bottle of denatured and more isopropyl yesterday to have on hand.

 

Are you out in the wilderness without warranty? If so how does that feel?

 

^^^ Fortunately I'm covered until 62k miles or Nov 2015 since I bought CPO. I'm sure I'll hit the mileage limit first.

I've already started my list of things to get taken care of before then. Nothing on it is major so I figured it can wait.

 

Glad everything is OK, brother.

 

Thanks Steven! I know it's only a car but when there's something wrong it stresses me out...no matter how much I try to put it in perspective.

In the end I learned from the situation, didn't have to come out of pocket much, and met a new car related contact so it ended well.

 

^^^ Yep, I know it's "just a car", but they're our babies. I love both of mine-I know exactly what you mean.

 

Exactly! To people like us (and so many others on the forum) it's more than just a car.

So unfortunately I have yet another chapter in my car drama! I got new tires last week and when I picked up my car I gave it the once over. Unfortunately the wheels were so dirty (both from needing to be washed and from the techs dirty / greasy hands) I couldn't really get a good look.

I got up early Saturday and gave her a good wash only to find small scratches and dents in the lips of all of my wheels (and the face of one of them)! Now, I'm not talking major damage but they are not in the condition that they were when I dropped my car off. I've had my wheels for two years and other than the initial installation no one has laid a hand on them other than me. The only imperfection was a small rock chip on the face of one of them.

I called Firestone that morning and talked to the manager I know. He said to bring it in today while his GM is there and they'll figure out how to move forward. I'm honestly not sure what to do since it's not major damage. Fortunately the lips on XO wheels can be replaced but that requires a trip to Ft. Lauderdale (or shipping them) and it runs $125-150 a piece.

We'll see what they say. At a minimum I want a couple hundred dollars for the drop in value, at a max I want all the lips and one wheel replaced. Since I know the guy there and since they gave me a great deal on the tires I won't pull for the max...but we'll see what happens.

Updates to follow.

 

GAH...that's a horrific story! I pray for a good outcome for you, man! There's a guy at the local acura dealership, he's as anal as I am so he's the only one I trust.

 

Feels like it never ends, does it? I know the feeling. Hope it all works out for you.

 

Thanks fellas!

I just met with the guys at Firestone and they were cool about it. They asked what I wanted...a partial refund, a credit for future services, etc. I told them I just wanted the wheels in the same condition as they were before the new tires.

I let them know that the lips can be replaced on my wheels but that I would look into a rim repair place first. I don't know how they could repair scratches and dents on chrome but I hope it's possible. If not then I have to:

1. Take my wheels / tires off and drive to Firestone (30 mins away from home) to get the tires taken off the wheels.
2. Take wheels down to Ft. Lauderdale to get the lips replaced (fortunately I'm planning a trip down there on May 31st).
3. Take wheels back to Firestone to have the tires re-mounted and balanced...hoping they don't damage them again!

Time will tell how it plays out. I'm not looking forward to it!

 

Any reason you don't want to go to a different shop for the re-install? Fool me twice...

 

I thought about that but I'm not going to pay even more $$$ to have someone else mount and balance them. I plan to stay at the shop and watch while they re-install them and ensure they are extremely careful.

Hopefully, though I'm not holding my breath...they can just be repaired and look like new again. I really don't feel like dealing with all that other BS.

 

Fair enough...well keep us posted bud! I believe I read about something similar happening to Matt's TL, damn shame

 

He was the first person I thought of when I saw the damage because I remember his story well. If I had painted wheels I can't imagine how noticeable it would've been.

UPDATE:

Fortunately the GM at Firestone is proving to be very cooperative and is going to pay for the replacement of all four lips (can't be repaired because they are chrome). I have to drive down to Ft. Lauderdale to the company that makes my wheels but they are going to do all the work (including remounting the tires and balancing). I will be out of pocket for the gas and tolls (as well as most of my Saturday) but I have no issues with that. I'll just be glad when this is over with!

 

A small price to pay, Bronco.

 

Glad to hear they are playing ball on this - I'm sure it will be a big relief to see the new lips on there. Well worth the trip!

Be sure to spend some time people watching down there while you wait....seniors in Ft. Lauderdale are always entertaining

 

I couldn't agree more Steven!

Definitely worth the trip! I actually am in Ft. Lauderdale at least once or twice a year as that is where my wife's family lives (the place I'm going is less than 3 miles from my father-in-law's house). We always take my wife's Pilot though so I'm looking a little more forward to the drive.

The seniors are definitely entertaining! You have to be a very defensive driver though.

 

Well, after getting the wheels taken care of last weekend I splurged on Amazon and am looking forward to giving my baby some TLC this weekend.

Time for a wash, clay (nanoskin), polish, and sealant!

 

PS, most of the seniors are back in Canada now...

 

Back in Canada, eh? Haha!

I didn't even think of that...the extreme heat should've been a sign. I can't believe it's already in the mid-90's!

 

Early Christmas gift to yourself, I see!

 

idk why but these rims on that stock suspension makes the car look sorta aggressive and luxurious at the same time. i love it.

 

Hey bronco, your thread is the reason I'm getting new wheels. I've wanted to do this for a while but was hesitant because this is my DD. Still on stock 18". I lowered a civic back in the day and it was a disaster. I'm older and wiser now I guess.

Your car looks great without lowering which is what I would like to accomplish.
I really want these http://nicheroadwheels.com/lucerne-m142-w-12116.htm

9"wide with +35 offset. Yours fit pretty much flush with outer edge of the fender. Can you please comment on how a 9" wide wheel would fit. I'll be going with 245/35 which is a slight difference from you 255/35.

From your experience with 8.5" wide wheel, would a 9" be a problem with 245/35.

 

Thanks man!

I actually had to roll my rear fenders so I'm not sure if you should expect the same going with a slightly wider wheel but more narrow tire. I think you'll be fine without rolling but not 100% sure.

There are others on here that are better suited to comment on those specs. You also may be able to find someone with a similar setup.

Good luck and thanks for the comment! Those wheels should look dope!

 

Thanks bronco, your setup is pretty close.

I know your tires are slightly beyond the outer edge of the fender as I have seen pics in another thread where you showed a level next to the fender and tire.

how close to the fender is the actual Wheel? and would the extra 0.5" going from an 8.5" to 9" wide wheel put the wheel beyond the fender?

I really want those Niche wheels but the lowest available width is 9".

 

No problem man! I would think that extra 0.5" would put your wheel perfectly flush with the fender...if not then just slightly past it. Should look great!