Hello guys I hope you didnt mind me troubling you with another couple of questions.

I have noticed recently that im getting a white residue on the bodykit on my 100HP. Even if the car is cleaned its still white and wont wipe off. As mentioned in a previous post I have had my car polished recently. The guy who did it said he would also cover the unpainted kit and that it would be fine. I trust him as he is a family friend and I know he does the same on Fiats he owns. He used Diamondbrite and its a clear polish not a white substance like most of the others. So is that what the problem is, if so is it permantley damaged or is there a way to fix it? I am not jumping to that conclusion yet as areas that I know were not polished (like the wiper arm plastic panel) also have the white residue on them. Its a relatively easy fix to remove I just use Armourall wipes and boy do they work. It brings all the plastics back to life and they look better than new. However its fairly labour intensive and only lasts a couple of weeks. Can anybody recommend a better product that will last longer before retreatment? I am sure most 100HP owners use some form of plastic polish on the body kit.

Now onto my second question. After having the car washed I noticed that the door indicator on the dash was lit and it said hatch open. So I pulled over and opened the hatch and shut it again and made sure it was shut properly. Despite this after setting off the door light was still lit and it was still telling me it was open. I decided to just drive home as it was clearly shut tight. I noticed though that the door light and the message started flickering on and off before finally going off altogether. Could this just be caused by water getting on the lock mechanism or is this a common fault? I havent driven the car since so cant report if its doing it again.

Bodykit - try smooth peanut butter or I like Autoglym's back-to-black green slime [I'm unsure of the correct name!].

Rear hatch - it may be related to a faulty boot handle. Try a quick search as they are know to cause problems [although I'm not sure if the symptoms are the same as you are describing?].

Another good one to try if you can get some is Chemical Guys New Look Trim Gel.

Used it the other week and it is unbeliveable stuff, great coverage and doesn't take a lot of effort to apply.

Thanks to you both for the quick replies. I have been looking online at the Auto Express products reviews and found this.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/product_awards/248008/bumper_shine.html

I think I will give the Mer stuff a try because it seems to be highly rated. I do like Autoglym stuff Ian but im not sure what product you mean. I have looked online and can only find a spray and a gel product.

Regarding the hatch it makes more sense with it being the handle. Loads of water gets trapped in the handle during washing and so it must get flooded. I will know soon enough if its still faulty.

I think that it's this one:
http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/autoglym/bumper-care.aspx

I'm sorry to be a little vague but I use whatever my Dad has bought in! [he's a classic and sportscar independant specialist]

Autoglym bumper care worked in with a toothbrush does a very good job of removing polish residue - wipe it off with a cloth afterwards and repeat until the residue has gone. I don't like it as a trim dressing though. Whatever you use as a dressing rub it in very well, leave it for a bit and then buff it off properly or it will run the first time it rains.

After years grumbling about wax leaving a white residue on the black trim on Fiats, I started using Turtle Ice polish on the 100HP and it seems to be satisfactory. Clear liquid applied with a sponge on (Electroclash) paintwork and trim - wipes off both leaving no residue. I'm not totally convinced that the finish on the paint lasts as long as a traditional wax but polishing is so much less hassle that I'm inclined to do it more often.

The hatch release on Mrs babbo umbro's MJ played up for a day or so after a tropical storm in Italy - wouldn't release with central locking, had to use the key - but it cleared and hasn't recurred.

AG Bumper Care is an excellent back-to-black product, but it'll only mask white stains.

The white stains are a result of polish getting onto the trim, I'm not aware of any polishes which don't leave a white residue. I have to ask though; why would you cover the trim if the polish doesn't leave residue?

Rather than using peanut butter (which can get messy) you can just rub ground nut oil into the trim (you'll find it near olive oil in the supermarket) and wash off after.

Or, you could spray the trim with Auto Glym Fast Glass and work in with a toothbroosh.

Or, you can rub the trim down with a normal pencil eraser and wash off the rubber that's left behind (you'll get through about 4 rubbers on your 100hp).

All of these methods will permanently remove the residue and you'll probably want to back-to-black the trim afterwards to make it look tip-top, Chemical Guys is my favorite!