Help: Magnet marks due to Hood Cover

S

swilsco

Member
 Surrey
Hi All,

As i do not have a garage, just my own flat parking space, i have a hood cover to protect the Zed's hood from the elements - and protect the all important roof motor from water ingress.

One of these:

http://www.ukcustomcovers.com/custom-half-covers/bmw/bmw-z4-tailored-half-cover

The cover attaches to the bodywork via magnets stitched into the perimeter of the hood cover.

Problem for me however, I am noticing small 'fingerprint' like marks left on my bodywork where the cover magnet has stuck. Can anyone help me try and remove these / prevent future marks? (is it potentially a water spot??)

So far i have tried detailing spray, pre-wax cleanser, wax ... and the fingerprint marks still remain. :headbang:

[I would provide a photo if i could - i cannot get my phone camera to pick it up, the photo has to many relections of the paint of nearby objects that i cannot get a detailed photo of the fingerprint mark i am suggesting]
 
Hi, I would clean the area well & then use a good polish to remove the marks-wax & detailing spray will not cut into the clear coat :thumbsup:
Rob
 
Probably caused by a combination of dirt, and the magnets moving when it's windy. A DA (dual action) polisher will probably remove them without trace, I'd be getting some clear 3M type stonechip protecting vinyl and putting that in the areas where the magnets sit. And make sure both paintwork and magnet are clean before use.

Mike
 
Unfortunately this is a common problem with this type of cover.
A mate of mine had exactly the same with his Z3. The magnets move in the wind and remove the wax and polish from the paintwork.
You will not remove the marks with polish alone.
You are going to have to use an abrasive compound to remove the damaged surface and then re wax and polish.
Something like G6 or T-cut which are scratch and swirl removers are what you need.
Try putting some sort of padding between the magnets and your body work to avoid the problem.
 
Yep. I get the same when i've used my bike rack. Possibly localised compression of the wax around the rubber mounting points.
U need to cut into it, polish then rewax. Easily sorted.
 
I have had that exact same cover for about a year and a half. After a few weeks it had scratched the hell out of a couple of spots where the magnets touched. So I took all the magnets out. Have used it like this for a year without probs, stays on well especially if you tuck it under wipers and in the gap between boot and rear screen area.
 
Cheers all for the suggestions.

Weirdly it has only happened on one side ... maybe this side has moved around in the wind more than the other side.

I will give the car a good clean this weekend and look to T-Cut'ing the area where the marks are. Unfortunately i can only do this by hand as i don't own a DA polisher (on the wanted list).

Good shout on some car paint protection vinyl! I will look into that. Might not look great just a small strip under the windows but if it saves the paint from damage then maybe worth it.
 
Deddi said:
I have had that exact same cover for about a year and a half. After a few weeks it had scratched the hell out of a couple of spots where the magnets touched. So I took all the magnets out. Have used it like this for a year without probs, stays on well especially if you tuck it under wipers and in the gap between boot and rear screen area.
Click to expand...

Yeah to be honest, i am quite tempted to do this. I have actually already removed one magnet.

Did you find it still keep your hood dry in winter/extreme wind/wet conditions? I have read about so many failed roof motors i basically live in perpetual fear of my motor packing in from water ingress :rofl:
 
In very windy conditions it has occasionally come off on one corner, but very rarely. As long as its tucked under wipers and in boot gap, it works very well. I also got the roof motor relocated so even better-recommended!
 
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