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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
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Car Washing Procedures
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02-07-2006, 06:20 PM | #1 |
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Car Washing Procedures
Just bought a new E90 AW. Just curious as to what everyones procedures are. Do you guys apply polish every time???
What is your normal routine, how often do you do what?? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks! |
02-07-2006, 06:45 PM | #3 |
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Ok, I just spray the car down with some water from the hose, making sure to get off any brake dust from the brakes and wheels. Next i rinse out the bucket to make sure theres no dirt from the last wash and then put in some car wash liquid and fill the bucket up. Then i wash the car moving from top to bottom and then, with a worn out rag or sponge, get the wheels. Give the car a nice rinse and use two microfiber towels to dry off. then lift the hood to whipe down under that. I then use a reg. towel to dry the wheels. I then use a spray wax (turtle wax) on the car, and whipe off with another microfiber towel. I only use actual wax like Zaino maybe once to twice a month, maybe less. Just try to keep ur car clean with reg. washes.
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02-07-2006, 06:49 PM | #4 |
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Sounds like a good procedure to me!
So regular washes (I've done them in 2 week intervals, seeing as I'm in dry AZ no rain/slow to worry about). Do some spray wax everytime. Then maybe once a month apply some Zaino? Any other suggestions/revisions?? Thanks for your help! |
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02-07-2006, 07:01 PM | #5 |
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Try and make sure that whatever type of mit u use to wash ur car is changed as it gets dirty from previous washes. i just got a microfiber mitt, it works pretty well.
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02-07-2006, 08:31 PM | #6 |
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O.K. Here is my routine. I take great pride in washing cars. I live with my parents (I'm 18, and at college). They have nice cars (just leave it at that). We tried the laserwash, but it left stripes on the cars. plus one of the cars has no b-pillar, so the water sealants aren't that good. Then I tried the mr. clean Autodry. That was O.K. but I still needed hire preasure to get more serious dirt off. So, then we upgraded to a 2400psi preasure washer. The thing is fantastic. I start by just rinsing the car on low preasure to get it wet. Then I do a high preasure rinse. I then hook up the the car wash (meguires) and drench the car in suds. I take a sponge and go over the whole car and rinse quickly (while continuously rinsing the sponge). I then take a microfiber covered sponge and rewash to make sure its really clean. Then I take a squeggie (not sure how to spell it) a dry it off (clean it after every swipe, otherwise you will scratch the paint with trapped dirt). Then take a chamois to get off the remaining water to prevent waterspots. That the end off washing.
However, once a month I wax the cars to keep them shiny. DONT DRIVE THE CAR FROM THE TIME YOU WASH IT TO THE TIME YOU WAX IT. |
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02-08-2006, 12:12 AM | #8 |
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Thanks for your guys' help.
My question is, I have a touch free car wash right next to my house, that goes off pressurized water. It First goes with a ton of pressurized water, then applies soap everywhere, then rinses for a couple minutes. Then there's the blower to dry it, and then I used microfiber towels to get the remaining water off. Does this sound ok? Then once a month, wax it right there without taking it home first. I've never actually waxed a car (only 18, dad's always done our other cars), how long does it take? Any precautions? I appreciate all your help!!! |
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02-08-2006, 08:58 AM | #9 |
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I personally would only use the laserwash for a quick fix. I have found that it doesn't get the car clean enough to wax. You may notice dirt still on the car. Dont wax on a laserwashed car as it is more likely to scratch the paint work with the dirt that isn't that noticable.
Waxing. It takes a while if you do it right. Dont wax your car in the sunlight (also dont wash car in sunlight). Follow the instuctions on the bottle. It takes about 2-4 hours to wax a car. It depends on how many steps you do ( wax, pollish). the most time I have spent on a car is about 7 hours You also have to give the same treatment to the rims. wash properly with sponge, suds and preasure washer and dry. Then depending on the rim type (painted or not) pollish them. Then to the tires, dont use a spray on tire shine because that stuff goes everywhere but on the tire! Use a old sponge or cloth and spray the tire shine onto the cloth/sponge, and apply to tire. |
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02-08-2006, 09:43 AM | #10 | |
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Best way to wash car is use a medium size pressure washer get all dirt off car working from top to bottom. Inspect car make sure all heavy dirt has come off. Then prepare two buckets, one with warm water on its own and one normal cold tap water with car shampoo and wax (all in 1) of choice (bmw's aint bad). Using a Sheep skin Mit wash top half of car or the least dirty area first with the car shampoo and wax. Keep cleaning your sheep skin mit in the warm water as your washing your car. Then do the bottom half/ more dirty area of the car. Again still cleaning the sheep skin mit in the warm water! dont rinse of the shampoo and wax as your doing your car because you want the wax to work into the paint but instead rinse the car with the pressure washer as soon as you have washed the whole car with the sheep skin mit. Rinse for godd amount of time. To dry car use a leaf blower or take car for spin need to hit around 80mph . Do this every 1-2 weeks and dont let the car build up with dirt. Only wax your car every 5-6 months. Wash wheels before washing car separetly using seperate water/mit etc.. Last edited by NPinUK; 02-08-2006 at 11:26 AM.. |
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02-08-2006, 10:07 AM | #11 |
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Sponges, pressure washing, only waxing every 5-6 months (I'm assuming carnuba wax, not Zaino), using the same bucket and sponge for wheels and paint... sorry people, bad advice, lol. If you want your car to look trashy in 6 months proceed with all of the above. If you want your car to look brand new, read the following thread. (Are stickies that hard to see???... seems like nobody wants to read)
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9145 |
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02-08-2006, 11:23 AM | #12 | |
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Drying the car with towels = scrtaches especially if your washing your car outside because small dust particles will deposit on your car threw the air natuarally after you washed it. There only may be 1 particle but this will get stuck in the towel and cause scratches. |
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02-08-2006, 11:43 AM | #13 | |
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5. Start by washing the highest part of your car and working your way down. You should mist the roof and front and rear windows with water. Dip your sponge for your top part of the car into its bucket. |
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02-08-2006, 11:54 AM | #15 | |
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As for how often to wash between details, it all depends on how dirty the car is as well as how much time a person has. For me, I try to wash my car every 2-3 weeks. I usually don't need to do it once a week as my car is still relatively clean. Hope this helps. |
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02-08-2006, 12:08 PM | #16 |
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it depends how you use the preasure washer, if you use it a couple of inches away, of course this will happen
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02-08-2006, 02:27 PM | #17 |
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These days I am forced to have someone else wash the car, but this was my previous routine (but I will still wax it myself).
-Spray the car down with a hose to loosen the dirt on the surface (be sure to spray the wheels, tires, and fenderwells).From start of wash to finish of waxing takes at most about 90 minutes (twice per year). The regular wash would take about 10 minutes every other week or so.
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02-08-2006, 02:51 PM | #18 | |
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02-08-2006, 02:55 PM | #19 | |
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02-08-2006, 05:20 PM | #20 |
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Thanks for all the advice, getting a better understanding of what to do and what not to
David, I did read the sticky, but I wanted to get more than one person's advice. Feel free to ask me on advice about politeness and manners though, anytime you're up for it. |
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02-08-2006, 07:19 PM | #21 | |
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No hard feelings. Take it easy. |
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