Broken side mirror ruined my paint?

[bjolson33]

Last week I my side view mirror on my 03 truck was hit and broke the glass. It occured at night so I was surprised to find that the fluid in the heating element sprayed down the side of my truck as I drove away. The white paint is stained from the driver's door all the way to the back of the truck. The body shop says it has to be repainted. The GM regional rep will not help even though its under warrenty. What can I do without having to spend big $$$ on a repaint job? Are there any aggressive polishes on the market that anyone recommends that could take this stain (or at least most of it off)? Any other recommendations? Thanks.

[burgundyz71]

You need to post this question at autopia.org if you don't get any answers here. I don't know if claying would remove it or not.

[budone]

Sounds like a comp claim on the ins.

 

At least with my company as long as you dont abuse it, rates do not go up for comp claims. And mine hasn't. In fact they called me to lower my ins for my daugher and myself.

 

And we live in MI where $141 per vehicle yearly goes towards a medical fund

[99silveradoz71]

It's bad enough to be hit-skipped...we get those calls everyday, but to have the paint damage beyond the area of contact would definitely have me livid. Godd luck.

[blue2kzr2]

First, I agree that this should be claimed on insurance. Second, why on earth would someone think damage like this is covered by the vehicle warranty? It was accident damage which is certainly not covered by warranty.

 

Now, if the glass had broken on its own, you may have a warranty case...

[AG Bill 05 Z71]

Why don't you try a Clorox Bleach Pen that applies bleach as a gel. Apply to a small spot and see what happens...what do you have to loose if it only can be fixed by re-painting?

[sxmax]

Try a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. I have simply been amazed by what those things will remove...

[nc_04z71]

Was your mirror the auto-dimming type that turns green when someone gets behind you with bright lights? If so, that's probably the fluid you're talking about. I had a jackass smack mirrors with me about 2 months ago and shattered mine. It got the dimming fluid all down the side of the truck which was all but impossible to get off. Only thing I could find to get it off was Castrol Super Clean. I had to spray it down and scrub like he!! to get it off but I eventually got it all. Once I got it cleaned up I gave it a super wax job and she's good as new.

[bjolson33]

Thanks NC_04Z71 for sharing the solution that worked for you in removing the auto-dimming fluid from the paint. I knew that I couldn't of been the first one with this problem. Hopefully that will save me the headache of dealing with the insurance company. Thanks again.

 

Blue2kzr2 - To answer you question about why a warrenty claim was pursued? The local body shop pursued that when I took the truck to them b/c they had never seen that before and had no idea how to get it off. They knew the regional rep and thought it was worth a shot.