Not to put too fine a point on it, but our 2002 BMW M3 picked up what looked like a nasal secretion while visiting California Speedway yesterday.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be an ancient piece of chewing gum. Our crack forensics team says the M3's projecting and sticky front tires picked it up off the parking lot somewhere and spit it back onto the rear quarter-panel.
Chances of something like this happening were improved by the Stoptech brake upgrade we installed a while back, a move that required 10 mm worth of front wheel spacers to gain the required caliper clearance.
Perhaps it's time for a pair of Yosemite Sam "Back Off" mud flaps. The paint looks OK so far, but...
Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing at 62,345 miles (I think)
gjupp says:
12:15 PM, 12/ 3/08
Yea, that happens. I've notice gum stuck on my tires, front fenders, and wheel wells. Pretty gross when you think about it, and annoying to clean off, especially fenders. I just soak a wet rag in cold water and let it sit on the gum. After a while it'll wipe off.
Oh, and worse than gum, I've seen the occasional cigarette butt stuck in corners of the wheel wells and other odd pockets in the underbody..disgusting habit
m_thrizzle says:
12:30 PM, 12/ 3/08
I'll give someone $5 if they chew it after it's scraped off :)
pat1usmc says:
12:52 PM, 12/ 3/08
I'd chew that gum for free if I could interview for a job there.
dmirochnick says:
03:52 PM, 12/ 3/08
Try spraying some WD-40 on the gum & surrounding paint, then wipe off after a minute or so. Should lift right off.
dragonflight says:
05:51 PM, 12/ 3/08
goo gone also works incredibly well for these kinds of situations, but I'm not familiar with its paint-friendliness.
vacagrande says:
06:46 AM, 12/ 4/08
mmmm.... free goo
brian60 says:
08:24 PM, 12/ 4/08
"Chances of something like this happening were improved by the Stoptech brake upgrade we installed a while back, a move that required 10 mm worth of front wheel spacers to gain the required caliper clearance ... The paint looks OK so far, but..."
I wouldn't worry about it too much - just keep up on the washing and waxing. I put 15mm spacers up front and 10mm in back to get the wheels more flush with the wheelwells (stupid EU fender clearance regulations), and I haven't noticed an increase of rock chips or stains. Then again, silver does hide a lot of defects.
The spacers definitely give the car a more aggressive stance and manage to make it look lower somehow - just goes to show how 1/2" +- can make all the difference.