F30POST
F30POST
2012-2015 BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > BIMMERPOST Universal Forums > General BMW News and Cars Discussion > Top 10 Car Cleaning Mistakes
GetBMWParts
Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      07-10-2014, 05:02 PM   #1
dogfish246
New Member
22
Rep
10
Posts

Drives: 2000 540i
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: New York

iTrader: (0)

Thumbs up Top 10 Car Cleaning Mistakes

Hey guys,

So with the summer here and car season in full flight, here are my Top 10 Mistakes People Make When Cleaning Their Car.



Let me know what you think!
**Also, if the video was helpful, give it a “thumbs up” on YouTube (it helps me out, thanks)***

Also, I would like to hear any car cleaning mistakes you guys know of!
Appreciate 2
      07-10-2014, 08:56 PM   #2
E39lolz
Private
E39lolz's Avatar
United_States
11
Rep
87
Posts

Drives: '13 x1 xDrive35i, '13 Mustang
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Miami, FL

iTrader: (0)

Brillo pads, because girls are stupid. Great vid!
Appreciate 0
      07-10-2014, 09:49 PM   #3
BEM-S4
Major General
BEM-S4's Avatar
United_States
4515
Rep
8,942
Posts

Drives: Dinan M235, Dinan Sport Wagon
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Philadelphia

iTrader: (5)

My girlfriend scrubbed her entire car with a magic eraser. Discovered it when I waxed it and realized she had rubbed all the clear coat off.
__________________
2022 Macan S
2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon
2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible
Appreciate 0
      07-11-2014, 06:12 PM   #4
mike@x-ph.com
BimmerPost Supporting Vendor
mike@x-ph.com's Avatar
United_States
23784
Rep
190,103
Posts


Drives: 07-335/12-328/18-M4/21-M4CP
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Las Vegas

iTrader: (23)

Thank you for the video... quite informative
Appreciate 0
      07-12-2014, 01:39 PM   #5
mikes603
Registered
mikes603's Avatar
2
Rep
2
Posts

Drives: 1m
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: nh

iTrader: (0)

Good post
Appreciate 0
      07-12-2014, 03:58 PM   #6
bmwsinceday1
Private
1
Rep
89
Posts

Drives: 2009 328i
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: fl

iTrader: (0)

now I know how many screw ups Ive been doing. Good education.
Appreciate 0
      07-12-2014, 10:07 PM   #7
elerner61
Major
elerner61's Avatar
154
Rep
1,106
Posts

Drives: '07 Z4M Roadster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Mount Kisco, NY

iTrader: (0)

One to change/add: when drying after a wash use two waffle or micro-fiber style drying cloths. With the first cloth, fold it in quarter and lay it on the paint finish to dry it. Blot the finish, don't stroke it to dry it. Unfold it to expose a new surface as you move around the car. Once that cloth is too moist, switch to the second continuing to mostly blot the finish dry.
Appreciate 0
      07-12-2014, 11:57 PM   #8
Monkey Punk
Second Lieutenant
Monkey Punk's Avatar
United_States
38
Rep
234
Posts

Drives: 2015 F80 M3
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Georgia

iTrader: (0)

Great reminders!
Appreciate 0
      07-18-2014, 10:36 AM   #9
dogfish246
New Member
22
Rep
10
Posts

Drives: 2000 540i
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: New York

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by E39lolz View Post
Brillo pads, because girls are stupid. Great vid!
OUCH. For real? How bad was the paint after that?

Quote:
Originally Posted by BEM-S4 View Post
My girlfriend scrubbed her entire car with a magic eraser. Discovered it when I waxed it and realized she had rubbed all the clear coat off.
This is another for real. How bad was the paint after that? Did you get it repainted?

Quote:
Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com View Post
Thank you for the video... quite informative
Thanks!

Quote:
Originally Posted by mikes603 View Post
Good post
Thanks!

Quote:
Originally Posted by bmwsinceday1 View Post
now I know how many screw ups Ive been doing. Good education.
Haha, thanks!

Quote:
Originally Posted by elerner61 View Post
One to change/add: when drying after a wash use two waffle or micro-fiber style drying cloths. With the first cloth, fold it in quarter and lay it on the paint finish to dry it. Blot the finish, don't stroke it to dry it. Unfold it to expose a new surface as you move around the car. Once that cloth is too moist, switch to the second continuing to mostly blot the finish dry.
That is a great tip! Thanks!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Monkey says... View Post
Great reminders!
Thank you!
Appreciate 0
      07-18-2014, 12:52 PM   #10
BEM-S4
Major General
BEM-S4's Avatar
United_States
4515
Rep
8,942
Posts

Drives: Dinan M235, Dinan Sport Wagon
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Philadelphia

iTrader: (5)

It actually turned out ok. She had metallic paint and rubbed micro scratches all over everything. I used the armor all back to black 3 step kit after using a cleaner wax and followed it with 2 coats of gloss on top. The metallic paint helped a lot but from a few feet away it looks perfectly fine.
__________________
2022 Macan S
2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon
2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible
Appreciate 0
      07-18-2014, 02:05 PM   #11
P1
Lieutenant General
P1's Avatar
11542
Rep
11,128
Posts

Drives: 2004 3/4 ton Duramax
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: United States

iTrader: (1)

Good video that goes over the basics. Few comments:

1) it's perfectly fine to use a sponge. I use the Uber sponge from Detailers Domain and it's fantastic.

2) be sure to remove the tags form your microfibers. I see that you still have your tags on yours, and those aren't exactly soft

3) in your rinse bucket, you need a grit guard. Without the grid guard, the dirt particles don't sink to the bottom, which means you'll pick them right back up again
Appreciate 0
      07-19-2014, 11:30 AM   #12
raym3cs
First Lieutenant
raym3cs's Avatar
United_States
153
Rep
388
Posts

Drives: San Marino M3CS
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: N-NJ

iTrader: (0)

Great video ...
Appreciate 0
      07-20-2014, 09:03 AM   #13
Feanor
Lieutenant
61
Rep
444
Posts

Drives: BMW F30 320d Luxury 6MT
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: United Kingdom

iTrader: (0)

For me, life's too short to worry about not using a soft-brush carwash but a great vid all the same - I really like the two bucket tip, I never thought of that.

On bird droppings tho apparently it's not the acid that does the damage after all: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...-your-car.html
Appreciate 0
      07-20-2014, 10:35 AM   #14
bozola
Unloved BMW Addict
bozola's Avatar
United_States
86
Rep
1,185
Posts

Drives: Z3 Coupe, 3 318Ti
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: King County WA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
1999 Z3 Coupe  [10.00]
1998 318Ti  [0.00]
1998 318Ti  [10.00]
2008 128i  [9.00]
One way to avoid the two bucket system is to use a handful of washing towel just once. I use 3-4 Microfiber sponges from top to bottom just once.
Appreciate 0
      07-21-2014, 01:31 AM   #15
stevehaz
Registered
0
Rep
2
Posts

Drives: BMW 320D
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Coventry

iTrader: (0)

Good advice on here thank you
Appreciate 0
      07-22-2014, 12:19 PM   #16
Swish
First Lieutenant
United_States
52
Rep
362
Posts

Drives: 2011 335i Sport
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PA

iTrader: (0)

Not sure if this is an obvious one, but I've seen people wax their cards then vigorously wipe the was off. That's a no-no as you want to very lightly buff it with a micro-towel so the wax stays on the paint.
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2014, 05:06 AM   #17
wojcikgu
Private
0
Rep
54
Posts

Drives: bmw
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: x6

iTrader: (0)

Thank you for the video.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2014, 09:25 AM   #18
elerner61
Major
elerner61's Avatar
154
Rep
1,106
Posts

Drives: '07 Z4M Roadster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Mount Kisco, NY

iTrader: (0)

If you want to stay with one bucket for just rinsing and have more fun in the process (and who doesn't...) get a foam gun like this Gilmour Foamaster. The one in that link is the older version and has mostly brass construction, which I prefer to the newer plastic one. That's the cheapest price I can find for one.

For the past 3 years I've been using a Gilmour foam gun, with Optimum Car Wash soap and 2 microfiber wash mitts (one for lower section of car) from Chemical Guys and I'm getting the best results I've ever had. I've used microfiber wash mitts from Griots and others. They all look alike but the one I have from Chemical Guys is much more plush. And dousing your kid (and vice versa) with that foam gun is priceless.
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2014, 09:35 AM   #19
rjd598
Banned
United_States
1770
Rep
6,696
Posts

Drives: F30 340i
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego,CA

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2016 BMW 340i  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by P1et View Post
Good video that goes over the basics. Few comments:

1) it's perfectly fine to use a sponge. I use the Uber sponge from Detailers Domain and it's fantastic.

2) be sure to remove the tags form your microfibers. I see that you still have your tags on yours, and those aren't exactly soft

3) in your rinse bucket, you need a grit guard. Without the grid guard, the dirt particles don't sink to the bottom, which means you'll pick them right back up again
I've been using the uber sponge for years now and love it
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2014, 09:35 AM   #20
954Stealth
Brigadier General
954Stealth's Avatar
United_States
1543
Rep
4,512
Posts

Drives: A Car
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Bacon Raton, FL

iTrader: (1)

Nice video! Thanks for sharing
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by Billup View Post
You know you're getting bacon, when you're cooking bacon.
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2014, 09:38 AM   #21
P1
Lieutenant General
P1's Avatar
11542
Rep
11,128
Posts

Drives: 2004 3/4 ton Duramax
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: United States

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Swish View Post
Not sure if this is an obvious one, but I've seen people wax their cards then vigorously wipe the was off. That's a no-no as you want to very lightly buff it with a micro-towel so the wax stays on the paint.
This is simply not true mate
Appreciate 0
      07-23-2014, 01:29 PM   #22
jskrilla
Second Lieutenant
jskrilla's Avatar
Albania
71
Rep
266
Posts

Drives: M235i Xdrive
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: New York

iTrader: (0)

Awesome Vid
Appreciate 0
Closed Thread

Bookmarks

Tags
cleaning, detailing, scratches, waxing

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:14 AM.




f30post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST