Every time I park my 05 XJ8L out in the sun for a while, tiny brown dots would start sprouting up all over the body. Are they rust? I thought aluminum doesn't rust, hmm...? This happened with my old steel-body XK8 also. Anyone know a cure?

Wolfy

 

Do you live/park near a railroad track? Could be "track dust," powdered steel from the train's wheels and tracks. Also could be brake dust particles.
Vector

 

From your LA location, I am guessing something chemically reacting. Just kidding.
Wash it off quick and wax it.
Should be ok.
From your post, not aluminum related as your steel car exhibited same thing.
Good luck.

 

Do they glow in the dark?

 

You don't happen to have a sycamore tree nearby?
We have one that overhangs our driveway and it causes little brown spots during the spring and summer. You don't even have to be directly under it.
They are a pain to remove.

 

No I'm not near any of the above things mentioned. These brown spots occur only on the part of the car body that gets heated in sunlight and can be easily wiped clean with a detailing spray. I think maybe regular waxing might help...

Wolfy

 

You might be right.

Why not give the car a 'mega' wash to get rid of all the old polish residues, then Claybar, yada yada.

For tips, have a look at a few of Innovative Detailing's how to videos down in the Detailing section.

My car regularly gets covered in Saharan sand, go figure.

 

Just a guess, translator.

 

Has the $ht hit the fan in the general vicinity of your car?

 

Alu. corrosion is dark grey. I had such contaminate on my cars paint when I lived in San Francisco - pain to remove - did not seemed like waxing really helped - I removed it with a rubbing comp - but it came back over and over. I was told it was iron particles in the air that was the reason - close to a high way with a lot of truck traffic?