Damn water spot on B Pillar! HELP...
 

Seems like those water spots etch into paint already... Already tried almost everything (including vinegar). According to autopia, my only solution might be "fine cut polishing compound". Anyone has experience with it? Or maybe someone has better way? I can't find any Shinka B pillar anywhere so replace it would be difficult...

Before you try a full polishing compound try a little scratch and swirl removal stuff. In my limited experience the turtle wax scratch and swirl removal stuff will get very light stuff out with a little elbow grease. I'd say try that seeing as how you can't harm the paint with it.

I would expect that Mother's plastic polish would do a good job also. It hardens on top of the cover and then is buffed off to fill the small scratches.

I'll give it a try tonight when I get home on my JDM rotary pillars. :)

If you decide that they are a loss, Jason at Mazdaparts can get a set for you. ;)

you can get shinka b-pillars from rosenthal

Sweet, let me know if Mother's plastic polish will at least cover up those water spots.

Damn my garage smells like giant pickel jar.....

Did you use distilled Vingar with ratio of a couple cap fulls per bucket?

Must be distilled vinegar.

If it's the plastic pillar, then Maguiar's mirror glaze has been used for 30yrs on pplastic windshields for motorcycles.

Works great! I would stick with this as motorcyle riders need to see out of helmets and windshields. You can try the other stuff, but I know Meguiar's won't scratch.

Swirl remover is much rougher. Good for deep cuts.

First thing I do when I wash is dry the B pillars and mirrors.

Let us know what you used.

Yep, white distilled vinegar.

Washed B pillar with regular car wash. Wipe clean, then clean again with clay bar.

Tried cotton ball soaked w/vinegar, can't scrub the water spots out.

Then I use tissues soaked in vinegar, placing on each B pillar for about 5 mins & scrub again. Nothing...

Those water spots are there since I got the car (thought it's something I can simply wipe off when I get home). Tired to clean those for past few months without any success.... And for some reason it really bugs me now.

Thought I would revive this old thread. Looking for the best way to remove those water spots on a shinka B pillar before buying something.

I have the same issue as you on my shinka

Haven't tried Meguiar's Mirror glaze yet, but I did try Ducky with no luck. That stuff is made for removing waterspots off water craft.

I ended up buying an overlay for my b pillars. Piano black, bought them off ebay 2 years ago and they're still looking as nice as the day I bought them.

I see the shinka ones on ebay all the time :dunno:

I had some "orange peel" on the roof when the car was new (sat on the lot for 9 months) and a fine polish took it right out. If you've already tried white vinegar you have to go a bit deeper into the clear coat with the polish. Again, start with a very mild polish and only go to more aggressive if it doesn't come clean.

this might sound crazy, but try soft water. it's the only thing that i know of guaranteed to remove hard water spots.

alternatively, you can mix your water with cascade, but let your mixture sit over night and only use the water on the top.

or if you have a fish tank, use that water.

maybe rain water would work too.

the best water for this would come from some sort of ion exchange process whereby you exchange hardness for sodium.

i think water softeners with salt ion exchange are illegal in cali though.

maybe get a low concentration saline solution from the hospital or medical supply store. you'll want a solution equivalent to or slightly milder than what you'd clean contact lenses with. but obviously you'll need a bit more than what comes in those little things. maybe not though if the spot is small.

good luck.

nevermind about the cascade -- cali cascade has no softening chemical phosphates.

I haven't given the vingar a shot yet, thats next on the list. Interesting idea about the ion exhcange. Salt water softeners are legal out here in california as far as i know.

i put on the shinka b pillar

whats the deal with the vinegar...?

^ White vinegar is a mild acid and will help to break down the mineral deposits in a water spot. It's a chemistry thing. ;)

btw: that's why many of us rinse with de-ionized water (e.g. the Mr. Clean filter) as the final wash step, to preclude these spots.

Wonder if this stuff would work? I fixed a toilet with it once, I kid you not.

http://www.citylivingstores.com/mas_...oom/111372.jpg

Potentially too aggressive for your paint finish (it would work on the water spots, but......).

Stick with white vinegar and mild polish.

I have water spots on my 1993 camry due to parking next to a sprinkler. I went to my local auto paint store and bought some acetic acid. I mix this 1:1 with distill water and put it in a spray bottle. I then spray the entire area where the hard water stain is located. Let it sit for about 30 seconds to one minute (don't let it dry) and wipe it off. Do this a shady area so the it has more time to soak on the hard water stain. Remember the hard water stain is basic and the acetic acid is acidic. I have never tried this on plastic parts so use caution.
hope this helps.

I found "back to black" worked great on my B Pillars. yipee back to 28