CountLaszlo

When we do long haul trips (1000 plus one way trips) I spray the entire front end and mirrors with Dr. Beasley. It’s unsightly (milky film) but it will wash off all the bugs and protect the paint. It’s a Godsend.

Also, if you don’t use anything, you need to remove bug residue off the paint ASAP. Don’t let it sit especially in the sun. The acid from the bugs will ruin your paint. You cannot correct it and it can be worse than bird pooh.

PS, any car will get bug splatter as you’ve described, the Q7 isn’t any different.

mattwhit

Agreed! I too have the entire front clip (and mirrors) covered with Xpel Ultimate Plus, entire car Ceramic Pro... nothing sticks, but I too wash it weekly... (some bugs will even etch PPF, best to get em off ASAP)

stanfna

I always put a fresh coat of wax on the front end prior to a long trip during bug season. The bugs wipe right off! The only annoying part is the grill. For that I just use water, simple green, and elbow grease.

mhoran89

Ceramic coatings are awesome. I swear by Opti-Coat Pro + but there are plenty of good ones on the market. Another pro trick is get the wheels coated, makes cleaning them exponentially easier!

dohturdima

I use Griot's Bug Barricade prior to a long trip - much easier to get the bug splatter off. Works so well I bought a gallon!

JT4

Besides the usual bug cleaners try a clay bar..

In the shade and on a COOL surface I wash the car and leave it wet.. Then I empty the dirty wash water and refill the wash bucket with with a mix of clean warm water and car wash soap, IME a car wash soap mixed in warm water works best when using clay bar to remove bugs or other type of surface dirt that won't come off with a regular wash.

I soap up the panel thoroughly because at this step the soap is being used more to lube the paint surface then to clean it so it's important that there is plenty of soap on the surface. Then dip the clay bar into the wash bucket and apply the clay to the already soaped up panel. If necessary apply more soap to the surface as you're claying because you never want the surface to begin drying, basically you want the clay to glide over the paint.

Rinse the panel, then keed the clay bar and repeat as necessary. I have been doing it like this for years when I clay the entire vehicle with good results..

Dasaint

The issue I have is when the bugs get stuck in between the seams. I super annoyinging where the bug bodies get stuck between

Force-1

Old toothbrush.

mhoran89

same thing you would use to clean your watch band, or anything else that requires some up close and personal bristle action...