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Parked for 3 weeks... bird poop was the worst problem

megamac

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MG ZS EV
So having returned from our holiday and the car being parked on the street for 3 weeks, here is what happened:

1) The app worked fine for just over one week. I think it was 8 days. I could see the car and locate the car when opening the app, do a check, but after that the app refused to connect. We were in southern Europe. I kept getting the message "failed to connect" but the AirTag in the car did its job and was always updating, probably because people with iPhones kept walking passed the car. I guess the disconnect between the car and the cloud services of MG may have happened automatically to preserve the battery, maybe?

2) Batteries were both fine. The main battery was left at 58% and when we returned, it was still at 58%. The 12V battery was fine, car started as normal, so clearly no worries leaving it for 3 weeks without starting.

3) The bird poop was horrendous... Had to take it for a serious wash. I think next year I may invest in a cover (of course the issue there will be.. how we we hose down the pooped hood cover, but that is a problem for another day) If anyone has any suggestion of where to purchase one, please reply!
 
Had bird poop on the bonnet of my previous car left on over the weekend and when I washed it off it had etched the paint back to the white primer. Being a black car it stood out like a sore thumb, goodness knows what the birds are eating.
 
Good to see leaving for a few weeks no problems I hope this helps those are worried about leaving there car for a few weeks that there is no problems 👍
 
I was worried about parking for a week at the border between France and Switzerland, my dealer told me when I bought the car that there were cases of 12V battery being drained due to DAB being stuck scanning frequencies... well that didn't happen
 
Had bird poop on the bonnet of my previous car left on over the weekend and when I washed it off it had etched the paint back to the white primer. Being a black car it stood out like a sore thumb, goodness knows what the birds are eating.
Seems buying the cheap white colour has its perks :)
 
I was worried about parking for a week at the border between France and Switzerland, my dealer told me when I bought the car that there were cases of 12V battery being drained due to DAB being stuck scanning frequencies... well that didn't happen
Indeed... Just a pity the car disconnected from the app after a week. It would be great to keep an eye out on the car status and location via the app, as opposed to just the location via an AirTag.
 
Covers can scratch a car when the wind blows. What I do is wet some kitchen roll, place it on the poo, make a cup of tea, go out wipe the poo away. Then sit back and admire the car. Because of the nearby trees, this happens a few times each week, costs a fortune in tea 😂😂😂
 
Covers can scratch a car when the wind blows. What I do is wet some kitchen roll, place it on the poo, make a cup of tea, go out wipe the poo away. Then sit back and admire the car. Because of the nearby trees, this happens a few times each week, costs a fortune in tea 😂😂😂
Unfortunately that won’t work for me. I only drink coffee 🤣🤣
 
After 33 months the bodywork on my ZS EV is still like new despite bird poops, pollen and of late battling narrow country lanes with overgrown hedges and oncoming cars. Why? A professional Diamondbrite body protection job. It cost +/-£250, less than ½ of the offer from the MG dealer. I will undoubtedly do the same when I get my new MG4.
 
So having returned from our holiday and the car being parked on the street for 3 weeks, here is what happened:

1) The app worked fine for just over one week. I think it was 8 days. I could see the car and locate the car when opening the app, do a check, but after that the app refused to connect. We were in southern Europe. I kept getting the message "failed to connect" but the AirTag in the car did its job and was always updating, probably because people with iPhones kept walking passed the car. I guess the disconnect between the car and the cloud services of MG may have happened automatically to preserve the battery, maybe?

2) Batteries were both fine. The main battery was left at 58% and when we returned, it was still at 58%. The 12V battery was fine, car started as normal, so clearly no worries leaving it for 3 weeks without starting.

3) The bird poop was horrendous... Had to take it for a serious wash. I think next year I may invest in a cover (of course the issue there will be.. how we we hose down the pooped hood cover, but that is a problem for another day) If anyone has any suggestion of where to purchase one, please reply!
Thanks for sharing your experience 👍 Really helps other owners.
 
Had bird poop on the bonnet of my previous car left on over the weekend and when I washed it off it had etched the paint back to the white primer. Being a black car it stood out like a sore thumb, goodness knows what the birds are eating.
The bird poop contains lime / acid which will leave a burn / trace mark on the finish.
They also eat small pieces of grit, to help with their digesting what they eat.
Never scrub at baked on poop, or you will scratch your paint finish due to the grit !.
As @Vipar suggests, use warm water and some paper kitchen towel, with some car shampoo and leave it soak into the poop to soften the mess, then rise off with a hose pipe.
Never wipe off the poop !.
The burn marks ( seen on dark colours ) can be buffed out using a cutting compound and then finished with a fine finishing polish.
 
The bird poop contains lime / acid which will leave a burn / trace mark on the finish.
They also eat small pieces of grit, to help with their digesting what they eat.
Never scrub at baked on poop, or you will scratch your paint finish due to the grit !.
As @Vipar suggests, use warm water and some paper kitchen towel, with some car shampoo and leave it soak into the poop to soften the mess, then rise off with a hose pipe.
Never wipe off the poop !.
The burn marks ( seen on dark colours ) can be buffed out using a cutting compound and then finished with a fine finishing polish.
It wasn't a burn mark, it etched the paint away right down to the primer, I had to fill it with touch up paint then 1200 grit wet and dry then Tcut then polish with an electric buffing tool before I got it anything like good.
 
It wasn't a burn mark, it etched the paint away right down to the primer, I had to fill it with touch up paint then 1200 grit wet and dry then Tcut then polish with an electric buffing tool before I got it anything like good.
Sounds more like paint stripper than bird poo, are you sure you haven't upset someone ? :unsure:
 
It wasn't a burn mark, it etched the paint away right down to the primer, I had to fill it with touch up paint then 1200 grit wet and dry then Tcut then polish with an electric buffing tool before I got it anything like good.
Wow …… To be honest, I have seen some pretty bad paint etching caused by bird poop over the years, but I have never seen it strip the finish down to the primer !.
Was it solid colour or a two pack paint of base coat and lacquer ?.
If so, the 2k lacquer is extremely hard and durable and removing the top coat and the base coat is very unusual 😥.
I am thinking your black car was a solid single coat solid black then ?.
As you where able to apply touch up coats and then cut it back with compound and a machine polisher 👍.
 
Wow …… To be honest, I have seen some pretty bad paint etching caused by bird poop over the years, but I have never seen it strip the finish down to the primer !.
Was it solid colour or a two pack paint of base coat and lacquer ?.
If so, the 2k lacquer is extremely hard and durable and removing the top coat and the base coat is very unusual 😥.
I am thinking your black car was a solid single coat solid black then ?.
As you where able to apply touch up coats and then cut it back with compound and a machine polisher 👍.
The colour is called Starlight Black, it's a semi metallic with tiny flecks of glitter, that's the best way to describe it. When the sun gets on it it sparkles. The bird poop was a purple colour so it must have been eating so form of berries, probably blackberries.
 
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