whats wrong with the car wash?

[MrElussive]

Well said, coopernicus. I definitely agree with you on the under-carriage wash, that is something I really appreciate as well. Even during the warm months, after like 3 or 4 weeks of hand-washing, I take it to my local auto wash just to get the under-carriage washed. As for the acid they spray on the alloy wheels, that stuff only hurts your rims if they are not rinsed properly. Fortunately, auto washes are designed to rins the wheels extremely well, so it generally should not be an issue, but like you, I am scared as well.
But when it comes to waxing and polishing and generally detailing my car, I only trust myself.

 

[wookie]

I used to live in Ann Arbor, Michigan. During the winter, I'd washed my car inside my garage. Had the garage door closed save for maybe two to three inches at the bottom so the water will flow out. Then run water hoses from the bath room with lukewarm water and wash my car.

 

[MrElussive]

Good idea...but aren't you afraid of spraying some stuff in your garage that should not/cannot get wet???

 

[the dude]

Re: ok I am a believer

Sounds like I am going to have to start washing the car myself

so what do you guys use

I have a metallic steel blue paint job and black leatherette interior

what do you use on the paint and what would you use
for the leatherette and dashboard

I got some armorall wheel cleaner that seems to take the asbestos dust off pretty well

after I get it cleaned up, I finally be ablt to post some pics of my new beaut.


thanx

JUSTDRIVE

BMW recommends thats you DON'T put armorall or anything like that on the dashboard. Leather seats sure, interior, go for it, but not on the dash. Just a word of advice

 

[bcoleman]

I'm not alone!

Sometimes its good to find out you are not alone in the world. I am going to show this post to my wife so will understand that I am not the only guy out on a 20 degree morning hand washing his car. I am a perfectionist and I don't trust anyone else to wash my car - they just don't do that job that I do. I think BMW invented brake dust so that we would get our lazy asses out there and wash the car every week.

Just remember, when you are out there sweating like a fast food chef or freezing like a naked Eskimo, there are a whole bunch of other BMW adicts out there with you.

 

[bcoleman]

I'm not alone!

Sometimes its good to find out you are not alone in the world. I am going to show this post to my wife so will understand that I am not the only guy out on a 20 degree morning hand washing his car. I am a perfectionist and I don't trust anyone else to wash my car - they just don't do that job that I do. I think BMW invented brake dust so that we would get our lazy asses out there and wash the car every week.

Just remember, when you are out there sweating like a fast food chef or freezing like a naked Eskimo, there are a whole bunch of other BMW adicts out there with you.

 

[wookie]

Good idea...but aren't you afraid of spraying some stuff in your garage that should not/cannot get wet???

nah. did not use nozzle, just running water out of the hose, very minimal spray. Besides, my garage was just that, a garage, with nothing but car in it. I used the basement to store stuff.

 

[wookie]

Re: Re: ok I am a believer

BMW recommends thats you DON'T put armorall or anything like that on the dashboard. Leather seats sure, interior, go for it, but not on the dash. Just a word of advice

BMW has its own dash-board/plastic cleaner/conditioner. I have a bottle. I think I got it for either $14 or $30. It was a long time ago that I bought it.

 

[Tim328]

I agree with your concerns being a Lover of Cars as most owners of BMW's are. I've been a fanatic about washing and detailing my cars since my first one (well not so much the first one as it was no prize) but through the years I had and still have some beauties. But I must say I did find a great "touchless" care wash at the MOBIL station near my house. There are no tire rails and no brushes. Its all done by soap and water and the pressure isn't too high either. The car comes out great. I prefere hand washing but I have well water and it lleaves behind a film. The wash does a great job as long as the car is cleaned regularly.

I'd like to know what wax's people use out there ?

 

[xi guy]

WHere do I find Vlad's maintenance procedures?????

 

[bcoleman]

I'd like to know what wax's people use out there ? [/B][/QUOTE]

I have used cheap waxes on my cars in my younger days and it pretty much destroyed them. I have had good luck with the BMW wax which you purchase at the BMW parts department for about 12 bucks. It goes on easily and comes off easily. When I am done, the thing feels like silk. I do it every 6 months (if my busy life permits).

 

[membim]

Yeah, the first time I took my car through my local pull-through auto wash, I was really really scared. Before I even went in, I asked the guy if it would harm my rims because my rims stick out a little bit (meaning if I hit something on the side, my rims would hit first, not the tires). The guy was really nice and understanding and he said, "No way, don't worry about it." and he told me how they use plastic siding that wouldn't hurt anything. So I took him up on his word and I have had no problem. I do prefer hand-washing, but like I said, sometimes I either get lazy or I just cannot deal with washing in the cold winter, so I take my car there. Then I get home and in my garage, I do a wipe-down with a microfiber towel, which gets rid of the swirl marks.

How does a wipe down with a microfiber remove swirl marks after a pull-through auto wash?

I need one of those towels!!!!!!!!

 

[MrElussive]

Lol, it doesn't remove those deeper swirl marks. What I do is, as soon as I get the car wash at the auto wash place, I drive straight home....I guess the car is still damp??? So I am able to take a few microfiber towels and wipe down the car one final time before it is completely dry...this gets rid of all the temporary swirl marks that guys create when drying my car. The deeper ones can be "removed" by waxing your car, or (if they're even deeper swirl marks) by buffing them out (but that requires a professional).
Buuut, I recently came across this stuff called Crystal Gard...you rinse the car and spray on the solution while wiping with a cloth, or at least that's pretty much the process. Supposedly, professional detailers say it provides the deepest shine they've ever seen and really gets rid of those pesky swirl marks. But for about $55 for a bottle of 6-10 applications, I'm not so sure I want to invest in it...I'll stick to my $5 bottle of Eagle One WET Polish & Wax, lol.