Hi all, 

I have just gone to my car and gotten in to move it and noticed my wiper arm was bent, my wiper blade was also bent and this had me instantly concerned. I went round my car checking to make sure it was okay and found a blue paste around my wheel nuts and also an orange paint too.

For extra information, I washed my car on Thursday and haven’t driven it since just (Saturday night). I only moved it round the corner and it hasn’t rained until a small amount today. I was positive this wasn’t water marks on my discs and I am very convinced someone has attempted to steal them. I feel sick that someone has done this and to be honest might have to get rid of them with this happening. 
 

Please let me know your thoughts and whether you also think someone has attempted to take them. Luckily I have a locking wheel nut but with this happening might have to get another one too. 

 

note:

the image of the front disc is the worst one. The others look similar to the first wheel. 

50 minutes ago, Miltzjr said:

let me know your thoughts

My thoughts are: Stop using acid based wheel cleaner,

Orange paint = Rust

Blue paste = chemical reaction with wheel cleaner and tyre.

 

It might be just me but I can't see anything around the wheel nuts themselves, where are you seeing it? The only orange I can see is on the disc, and it appears to look like rust. I have no idea what method a thief would use that would require a paste or paint. You say it's on all wheels, if a thief tried one wheel and didn't get it they are highly unlikely to try the other 3 - they would want 4. 

Thieves do not tend to steal wheels anymore, more likely the whole car would go in my experience. And with no offence intended they arent desirable alloys for pinching. 

The wiper blade and arm look like someone has leant on it and bent it or its just vandalism. I think you are worrying about nothing tbh. 

2 hours ago, unofix said:

My thoughts are: Stop using acid based wheel cleaner,

Orange paint = Rust

Blue paste = chemical reaction with wheel cleaner and tyre.

 

I’ve not changed my cleaning method and have never see anything like this. I also didn’t use wheel cleaner in this scenario, just water and snow foam. I don’t see how this would really affect it since I had driven about an hour and half after cleaning my car. I’m quite confident my discs are not rusting since the orange was clearly overlaying as if some paint had gotten on them, it’s definitely not watermarks. But I will take this into account next time to see if the same reaction happens. 

1 hour ago, Jonro2009 said:

It might be just me but I can't see anything around the wheel nuts themselves, where are you seeing it? The only orange I can see is on the disc, and it appears to look like rust. I have no idea what method a thief would use that would require a paste or paint. You say it's on all wheels, if a thief tried one wheel and didn't get it they are highly unlikely to try the other 3 - they would want 4. 

Thieves do not tend to steal wheels anymore, more likely the whole car would go in my experience. And with no offence intended they arent desirable alloys for pinching. 

The wiper blade and arm look like someone has leant on it and bent it or its just vandalism. I think you are worrying about nothing tbh. 

My pictures weren’t great but on each of the silver nuts, there is what looks like a blue paste on them, on the locking nuts, there’s an orange circle around them (some of them). Like I mentioned in my other reply, I’m 100% sure it’s not rust. 

i am also unsure what method they would have tried to use, but I think they were coming back to try again or marked it for someone else was. But I have heard from someone that, ‘They leave blue marking to remind themselves which ones they've torqued down’. Another thing that helps imply that someone has tried them is that one of the nuts was very loose and most were very tight. 
 

No offence taken. Last time I checked the wheels are worth about £500-700 depending on condition. They’re not the ones I wanted but I do like them.
 

In relation to the wiper blade and arm, I think you are right because that’s the first thing I thought. The place where I was parked is a little hostile to non regulars, although I am a regular I don’t think they want me to be there, I haven’t had a note or anything though. 
 

i Hope they don’t take my car, although it’s not very valuable I do love it and I have put a tonne of effort into it and I would be gutted. 

I’m trying to upload another image from the other side of my car (which it didn’t let me do when I started the thread). But it’s still not letting me do it. I’ll upload the image somewhere and put the link here.

 

6 minutes ago, Miltzjr said:

My pictures weren’t great but on each of the silver nuts, there is what looks like a blue paste on them, on the locking nuts, there’s an orange circle around them (some of them). Like I mentioned in my other reply, I’m 100% sure it’s not rust. 

i am also unsure what method they would have tried to use, but I think they were coming back to try again or marked it for someone else was. But I have heard from someone that, ‘They leave blue marking to remind themselves which ones they've torqued down’. Another thing that helps imply that someone has tried them is that one of the nuts was very loose and most were very tight. 
 

No offence taken. Last time I checked the wheels are worth about £500-700 depending on condition. They’re not the ones I wanted but I do like them.
 

In relation to the wiper blade and arm, I think you are right because that’s the first thing I thought. The place where I was parked is a little hostile to non regulars, although I am a regular I don’t think they want me to be there, I haven’t had a note or anything though. 
 

i Hope they don’t take my car, although it’s not very valuable I do love it and I have put a tonne of effort into it and I would be gutted.

2 minutes ago, Miltzjr said:

I’m trying to upload another image from the other side of my car (which it didn’t let me do when I started the thread). But it’s still not letting me do it. I’ll upload the image somewhere and put the link here.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ABZScciDh522ZgsE7

Brilliant mate , why would you leave the wind screen wiper up - for a sign for the others to get it hahaha. U ever been slapped with a windscreen wiper? My bets the kids.

Ps you need to clean that rust off your disks

4 hours ago, paulee said:

Brilliant mate , why would you leave the wind screen wiper up - for a sign for the others to get it hahaha. U ever been slapped with a windscreen wiper? My bets the kids.

Ps you need to clean that rust off your disks

I'm pretty sure he put the wiper arm up for the photo 🤷‍♂️ very helpful comments 👍

The blue substance around the wheel nuts is odd, I'm still not entirely convinced the orange on the brake discs isn't rust spots. 

Looking at the condition of the alloys I'm inclined to think they wouldn't be of interest to thieves, for two reasons really. Firstly they aren't perfect and second the damage actually makes them more identifiable, you could match them to pictures you already have of the wheels. 

I understand what you're saying about your car being taken, it doesn't matter if it's worth £1000000 or £1 it's your property.

1 hour ago, Jonro2009 said:

The blue substance around the wheel nuts is odd, I'm still not entirely convinced the orange on the brake discs isn't rust spots. 

Looking at the condition of the alloys I'm inclined to think they wouldn't be of interest to thieves, for two reasons really. Firstly they aren't perfect and second the damage actually makes them more identifiable, you could match them to pictures you already have of the wheels. 

I understand what you're saying about your car being taken, it doesn't matter if it's worth £1000000 or £1 it's your property.

I am convinced now that I was just paranoid about nothing. Has rained all night and the marks are all back. I’m presuming the orange spots are just water marks on the discs. Planning on replacing these soon anyway. 
 

Gonna change my cleaning products and see how that affects it. 
 

9 minutes ago, Miltzjr said:

I am convinced now that I was just paranoid about nothing. Has rained all night and the marks are all back. I’m presuming the orange spots are just water marks on the discs. Planning on replacing these soon anyway. 

It's definitely rust on the discs. You'll find it happens every time they get wet until you drive it again. You'll find that aggressive car cleaning products will accelerate this. I'd also be inclined to say the blue you can see on the lug nuts is oxidisation.

What car cleaning products have you been using?

Also be careful leaving your wiper arm in the air with no wiper on the end of it. If it falls down it's goodbye windscreen.

 

Just to clear everything up. I’m convinced nothing had actually happened.. just paranoid I guess.

 

I’ve changed my cleaning products (wheel cleaner) and haven’t seen the same thing happen since. 
 

the wiper arm still doesn’t have an explanation but I’ve replaced it now anyway. (Presumed vandalised)
 

thanks to all who replied, I’m grateful for your input.