Bought a used CT, BEST PURCHASE OF MY LIFE, but how to remove these spots from the door?

[jbtfd]

Bought a used CT for a great deal, it's hands down the best consumer product I've ever bought -- I love that they've allowed us all to live in the future today, while everyone else is stuck in the past!

I noticed one of the passenger door panels had two streaks that are offcolor, somewhat shinier? Did the previous owner buff out something, what do you guys thihnk?

Is there anything I can do fix it? Or is that permanent?

Thanks!

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[BlueLightning]

Zebra stripes there are some posts on here that talk specifically about those.

Congrats on your purchase. I’m glad it was a good deal for you.

One day.

But still waiting on my price. Lol Take care.

 

[Indexck]

Try Barkeepers Friend soft with a microfiber cloth then rinse with water or windex. This works for just about any discoloration on the stainless exterior . Although these don’t appear to be stains, treating the entire panel with BKF could even it out

 

[BlueLightning]

Don’t know what you paid, but prices are dropping and great deals are starting to be out there.

This Foundation dropped $1000 overnight and it’s already wrapped.
Getting closer

 

[carsonag01]

Try Barkeepers Friend soft with a microfiber cloth then rinse with water or windex. This works for just about any discoloration on the stainless exterior . Although these don’t appear to be stains, treating the entire panel with BKF could even it out

This!

 

[RoboTaxi]

Like the above said BKF and windex(with ammonia, don’t use on glass tint).

I’d highly suggest ceramic coating or wrapping the truck in clear ppf or a color to tackle finger prints and protect the steel ESPECIALLY if you live somewhere with snowy winter roads.

 

[HaulingAss]

Bought a used CT for a great deal, it's hands down the best consumer product I've ever bought -- I love that they've allowed us all to live in the future today, while everyone else is stuck in the past!

I noticed one of the passenger door panels had two streaks that are offcolor, somewhat shinier? Did the previous owner buff out something, what do you guys thihnk?

Is there anything I can do fix it? Or is that permanent?

Thanks!

It's definitely not permanent, the Cybertruck is uncoated metal, there is not even a clearcoat, which means just about anything can be polished out, including deep scratches.

The factory finish is composed of a bunch of 5mm diameter random orbit circles. From what I can see your photos, it looks like the previous owner used abrasives to polish those out (but the photos are not detailed enough to be certain).

If a closer inspection reveals the factory sanding pattern has been polished out, then the professional fix is to re-sand every panel section on the same plane. Tesla has published instructions for this if you want to use a random orbit sander and the appropriate pads and abrasive discs yourself, or the Service Center can do it. I wouldn't go that route unless your service center has someone with enough experience re-finishing Cybertruck panels. They may or may not do a good job. I do my own and it's fun and rewarding because I can get different effects depending upon the selected abrasives.

As to the Barkeeper's Friend advice, it's important to realize that Barkeeper's Friend is not a specific product, it is a line of products with very different properties. The most common one is a cream in a shaker bottle. It has very fine abrasives in it that will polish the metal smoother that the factory finish. Overly enthusiastic use of this product could be exactly what caused the shiny spots to begin with.

I don't recommend that product (BKF with fine abrasives). It works if not used with too much mechanical action but it will eventually create an un-even appearance (shiny spots just like you have) if used for spot fixes. Instead, I prefer the foamy BKF in a spray bottle (but I'm not convinced this will address the problem you presented). Inspect up close to see if your problem is that those areas are shiny because the factory sanding pattern has been polished away.

When using BKF of any formula, I recommend avoiding following up with ammonia. All that is required is a thorough rinsing with clear water or a soap and water wash and rinse. Citra Surf 77 is also good to use after BKF to condition the metal.

 

[HaulingAss]

I should add, I'm getting very good long-term results following up my abrasive polishing with Citra Surf 77 (and am experimenting with other formulations). It makes the metal more impervious to spotting and staining from road contamination and leaves a beautiful and even sheen that lasts.

This is my first unpainted vehicle ever, it's just bare metal, and by far the easiest to keep looking good. It's also the most damage resistant bodywork ever.

 

[Kryptek]

Denatured alcohol after bk, that removes the black gum best

 

[HaulingAss]

Denatured alcohol after bk, that removes the black gum best

The great thing about a truck finished in bare metal is you can use a lot of chemicals on it that would damage a painted finish or a wrap. You can even use acetone for stubborn contaminants stuck to the metal.

 

[BornToFly]

I had patina all over the truck after salty winter. The bar keepers friend, not the foam one, applied with orbital buffer was fast and made the truck better than new. I only rinsed with water from the hose. No need to use windex or ammonia.

 

[HaulingAss]

I had patina all over the truck after salty winter. The bar keepers friend, not the foam one, applied with orbital buffer was fast and made the truck better than new. I only rinsed with water from the hose. No need to use windex or ammonia.

That looks great!

It's OK to use the abrasive BKF if you're going to do the entire truck and want a smoother, more satin finish. The reason I recommend the non-abrasive version is because it's easier to use for removing of localized stains without changing the texture of the metal in the treated spots. If you use the abrasive product, you should either minimize the amount of rubbing you do, or plan on doing all surfaces.

 

[roadrunner32]

Bought a used CT for a great deal, it's hands down the best consumer product I've ever bought -- I love that they've allowed us all to live in the future today, while everyone else is stuck in the past!

I noticed one of the passenger door panels had two streaks that are offcolor, somewhat shinier? Did the previous owner buff out something, what do you guys thihnk?

Is there anything I can do fix it? Or is that permanent?

Thanks!

Congratulations. I hope you got a good deal, we all might be buying used or foundation series models if the tax incentive goes away before year's end.

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