To brush off snow or not to brush off snow?

timmerweb · 02-15-2006, 01:16 PM

I hate people that don't brush off their car after a snow storm, creating a mini-blizzard around them on the highway. Its annoying and even dangerous.

But lately I've been guilty of it too. At home I park in the garage so its not a problem, however my daytime parking at work is outdoors. I'm worried about what your typical snow brush will do to the paint on my car. So what I've generally been doing it cleaning all windows properly, but then just wiping off large amounts of remaining snow by hand, which obviously leaves much of the snow on the car still. What are other people doing?

-Tim

Explorer3253 · 02-15-2006, 01:18 PM

I kind of was thinking the same thing. Especially on a jet black car. How much damage are we doing..I'm assuming hairline scratches galore!

vladinecko · 02-15-2006, 01:23 PM

once, i did it with a 99c snow brush from walmart and it didn't hit me until after i got all the snow off of my car that i might be putting some fine but visible scratches on my car :mad: ever since then, i only clear up the windows and just become one of those guys that let the snow from the car fall on other people's windshields while driving

oh well...

Ghunger · 02-15-2006, 01:27 PM

Probably depends on how aggressive you are and what you use to brush the snow off with. You might think about a car cover though, if you can't park anywhere under cover. Then you can just broom off the cover before you take it off and you good to go.

vladinecko · 02-15-2006, 01:35 PM

some assholes beat the shit out of a car just because it has a cover on. just like that dumb fraternity game where you put some idiot in a bag and the rest of the "brothers" kick the shit of him. until you open the bag, you really don't know if the guy is dead or just waiting for more kicks.

maybe i'm just being too skeptical though...

bimmernotbeamer · 02-15-2006, 04:52 PM

I cover my snow brush with an old tube sock.

This keeps the rough bristles away from the paint. Also, try not to wipe away right down to the paint. Try leaving a a thin film of snow on top. This way you know you are not pressing to hard. But in general, snow brush bristles can/will swirl paint if not used with care.

MonacoBlueNJ · 02-15-2006, 06:42 PM

Putting a car cover on a car parked outside is looking for trouble. People love to vandalize stuff that they cannot have and know you care about.

scottz5 · 02-15-2006, 06:45 PM

wtf just brush the snow off

Kamando · 02-15-2006, 11:40 PM

The Polizei dont give you that option over here, it is the law to brush your car off. Cant say that I mind that law

Ghunger · 02-16-2006, 12:24 AM

I don't mean you have to put it on all the time but if the forcast is for snow put it on when you get home so you can clear your car easily in the morning.

Raindog · 02-16-2006, 09:31 AM

does anyone know if the snow brush in the BMW catalog is any more gentle on cars (avoiding scratching them) than a decent standard snow brush that can be bought just about anywhere?

02-15-2006, 01:16 PM	#1
timmerweb Private 4 Rep 74 Posts Drives: Red 325i prem/sport/nav/leathr Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	To brush off snow or not to brush off snow? I hate people that don't brush off their car after a snow storm, creating a mini-blizzard around them on the highway. Its annoying and even dangerous. But lately I've been guilty of it too. At home I park in the garage so its not a problem, however my daytime parking at work is outdoors. I'm worried about what your typical snow brush will do to the paint on my car. So what I've generally been doing it cleaning all windows properly, but then just wiping off large amounts of remaining snow by hand, which obviously leaves much of the snow on the car still. What are other people doing? -Tim
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02-15-2006, 01:18 PM	#2
Explorer3253 Lieutenant 61 Rep 557 Posts Drives: 2014 f32 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Westchester County, NY iTrader: (4)	I kind of was thinking the same thing. Especially on a jet black car. How much damage are we doing..I'm assuming hairline scratches galore! __________________ '06 325Xi - Jet Black - SOLD, '08 328Xi - Jet Black, Coral, 6spd - SOLD, '07 328Xi - Jet Black, SOLD, '11 328Xi, Deep Sea Blue, Oyster/Black - SOLD '14 428XI, Alpine White, Coral, MSport, Auto, Premium, Tech, Heated Seats/Steering, Drivers Ass, Drivers+ - On Order for ED
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02-15-2006, 01:23 PM	#3
vladinecko Brigadier General 277 Rep 3,924 Posts Drives: '11 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [9.00] 2008 BMW 335i [0.00] 2006 BMW 330i [0.00] 1994 BMW 325i [0.00]	once, i did it with a 99c snow brush from walmart and it didn't hit me until after i got all the snow off of my car that i might be putting some fine but visible scratches on my car :mad: ever since then, i only clear up the windows and just become one of those guys that let the snow from the car fall on other people's windshields while driving oh well... __________________ 2011 E92 M3 - IB/Beige/Sycamore Wood/6MT/EDC/ZPP2/Nav/PDC/Heated Seats/iPod-USB/Enh. Audio 2008 E92 335i - Montego Blue/Black/Gray Poplar/6MT/ZPP/ZSP/Nav/PDC/Heated Seats/HDRadio/iPod-USB - *Sold* 2006 E90 330i - Mystic Blue/Black/Aluminum/6MT/ZPP/iDrive/PDC/Heated Seats/Sat. Prep - *Sold* 1994 E36 325i - Boston Green/Beige/Automatic/ZPP/Heated Seats/Premium Sound - *Sold*
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02-15-2006, 01:27 PM	#4
Ghunger Major 52 Rep 1,024 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	Probably depends on how aggressive you are and what you use to brush the snow off with. You might think about a car cover though, if you can't park anywhere under cover. Then you can just broom off the cover before you take it off and you good to go. __________________ 330i Monaco Blue, Terra /w aluminum trim, SP, PP, CA, PDC, Nav, Folding Seats, Sat Prep European Delivery Blog Picture Gallery
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02-15-2006, 01:35 PM	#5
vladinecko Brigadier General 277 Rep 3,924 Posts Drives: '11 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [9.00] 2008 BMW 335i [0.00] 2006 BMW 330i [0.00] 1994 BMW 325i [0.00]	some assholes beat the shit out of a car just because it has a cover on. just like that dumb fraternity game where you put some idiot in a bag and the rest of the "brothers" kick the shit of him. until you open the bag, you really don't know if the guy is dead or just waiting for more kicks. maybe i'm just being too skeptical though... __________________ 2011 E92 M3 - IB/Beige/Sycamore Wood/6MT/EDC/ZPP2/Nav/PDC/Heated Seats/iPod-USB/Enh. Audio 2008 E92 335i - Montego Blue/Black/Gray Poplar/6MT/ZPP/ZSP/Nav/PDC/Heated Seats/HDRadio/iPod-USB - *Sold* 2006 E90 330i - Mystic Blue/Black/Aluminum/6MT/ZPP/iDrive/PDC/Heated Seats/Sat. Prep - *Sold* 1994 E36 325i - Boston Green/Beige/Automatic/ZPP/Heated Seats/Premium Sound - *Sold*
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02-15-2006, 04:52 PM	#6
bimmernotbeamer Lieutenant 28 Rep 581 Posts Drives: N/A Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: N/A iTrader: (0)	I cover my snow brush with an old tube sock. This keeps the rough bristles away from the paint. Also, try not to wipe away right down to the paint. Try leaving a a thin film of snow on top. This way you know you are not pressing to hard. But in general, snow brush bristles can/will swirl paint if not used with care.
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02-15-2006, 06:42 PM	#7
MonacoBlueNJ Private First Class 2 Rep 145 Posts Drives: Monaco Blue 330i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Central NJ iTrader: (0)	Putting a car cover on a car parked outside is looking for trouble. People love to vandalize stuff that they cannot have and know you care about.
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02-15-2006, 06:45 PM	#8
scottz5 Lieutenant Colonel 92 Rep 1,730 Posts Drives: 13 F10 535xi & 11.75 E93 M3 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	wtf just brush the snow off __________________ 13 F10 535xi JB/B working on it 11.75 E93 M3 MR/Black Stock (wifey) 11 F10 535i AW/CB Mods Gone
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02-15-2006, 11:40 PM	#9
Kamando Captain 56 Rep 617 Posts Drives: - Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: - iTrader: (3)	The Polizei dont give you that option over here, it is the law to brush your car off. Cant say that I mind that law
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02-16-2006, 12:24 AM	#10
Ghunger Major 52 Rep 1,024 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (0)	I don't mean you have to put it on all the time but if the forcast is for snow put it on when you get home so you can clear your car easily in the morning. __________________ 330i Monaco Blue, Terra /w aluminum trim, SP, PP, CA, PDC, Nav, Folding Seats, Sat Prep European Delivery Blog Picture Gallery
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02-16-2006, 09:31 AM	#11
Raindog New Member 2 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 330XI Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	does anyone know if the snow brush in the BMW catalog is any more gentle on cars (avoiding scratching them) than a decent standard snow brush that can be bought just about anywhere?
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