Drying Car

cfabluenose · 11-08-2009, 08:07 PM

This is probably a really basic question. I bought a couple of waffle weave micro fibre drying cloths. Through some experimentation it seems as if they work best by spreading out the towel over the wet car and blotting up the water rather than wiping. Is that indeed the best way of using the towels to dry the car? Thanks.

jopa489 · 11-08-2009, 09:06 PM

Blotting is good. The less you drag the towel over the paint, the better.

Nice looking car too!

cfabluenose · 11-08-2009, 10:27 PM

Thanks. Blotting seemed to pick up more water and more quickly too.

lopealle · 11-08-2009, 10:38 PM

those are some nice wheels

BillLee · 11-08-2009, 10:43 PM

interesting, i'm going to try that next time.

PINeely · 11-09-2009, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jopa489

Blotting is good. The less you drag the towel over the paint, the better.

Nice looking car too!

I like your wheels!

aesfah · 11-09-2009, 04:01 PM

i was clearing some leaves in the yard with a gas leaf blower. afterwards i gave the car a quick wash, and instead of drying with my microfibers, i just aimed the leaf blower at the car and had a completely dry car in no time. no chance at swirling!

Craig@SupremePower · 11-09-2009, 06:04 PM

nice ride..

cfabluenose · 11-09-2009, 09:19 PM

The wheels are Borbet black anthracite wheels from Tirerack. They will be my winter wheels and are supposed to be very durable. Should be easier to keep clean despite the slush, mud and salt.

Zero.7 · 11-12-2009, 12:34 AM

Good tip on the blotting technique.

BTW: Do you guys prefer the microfiber towels over the chamois-type absorbers?

veightkiller · 11-12-2009, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cni2i

Good tip on the blotting technique.

BTW: Do you guys prefer the microfiber towels over the chamois-type absorbers?

i like using microfiber towels on mine.

PINeely · 11-12-2009, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cni2i

Good tip on the blotting technique.

BTW: Do you guys prefer the microfiber towels over the chamois-type absorbers?

The short answer is yes. I use waffle weaves, but for a while I swore by PVA dry cloths (synthetic chamois, basically). All it took was one go with the waffle weave to sell me though.

I'd be fine with either one but I prefer waffle weaves.

Zero.7 · 11-12-2009, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PINeely

The short answer is yes. I use waffle weaves, but for a while I swore by PVA dry cloths (synthetic chamois, basically). All it took was one go with the waffle weave to sell me though.

I'd be fine with either one but I prefer waffle weaves.

Thank you. Can you purchase these waffle weaves OTC, or do you have to order them online?

328i · 11-12-2009, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cni2i

Thank you. Can you purchase these waffle weaves OTC, or do you have to order them online?

The ones online are of a much better quality, and usually cheaper for the size you get.

Detailed Image Waffle Weave towels are my favorite ones.

PINeely · 11-12-2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cni2i

Thank you. Can you purchase these waffle weaves OTC, or do you have to order them online?

You can get some OTC at Autozone, etc. Good ones come from the 'net though. Lots of OTC microfiber is low quality and might not be classified as true "microfiber" at all.

Cobra's "The Guzzler" is an awesome waffle weave which I use reguarly, though most any that you buy from a detailing site online will be great.

teej361 · 11-12-2009, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aesfah

i was clearing some leaves in the yard with a gas leaf blower. afterwards i gave the car a quick wash, and instead of drying with my microfibers, i just aimed the leaf blower at the car and had a completely dry car in no time. no chance at swirling!

I use a leaf blower as well, but I don't recommend using a gas leaf blower. My neighbors think I'm crazy.

Zero.7 · 11-13-2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 328i

The ones online are of a much better quality, and usually cheaper for the size you get.

Detailed Image Waffle Weave towels are my favorite ones.

Thanks.

Zero.7 · 11-13-2009, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teej361

I use a leaf blower as well, but I don't recommend using a gas leaf blower. My neighbors think I'm crazy.

I hear you guys on the leaf blower thing. The less you touch a black-colored car, the better IMO.

This is not a copout on my part...but I find myself washing/waxing my car less frequently now that I own a SBM car (my first black-colored car BTW). I know many here would disagree, but I just feel like each time I wash/wax my car, I will induce more swirl marks. Sometimes, I think that I would prefer my car looking a little dirty, rather than risking inducing swirls. Now, don't get me wrong...I am not talking about a grungy looking car with tree sap/bird droppings/water spots all over the car. I guess I can live with the car not looking perfectly detailed all the time versus those annoying swirls.

Thoughts?

328i · 11-13-2009, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cni2i

I hear you guys on the leaf blower thing. The less you touch a black-colored car, the better IMO.

This is not a copout on my part...but I find myself washing/waxing my car less frequently now that I own a SBM car (my first black-colored car BTW). I know many here would disagree, but I just feel like each time I wash/wax my car, I will induce more swirl marks. Sometimes, I think that I would prefer my car looking a little dirty, rather than risking inducing swirls. Now, don't get me wrong...I am not talking about a grungy looking car with tree sap/bird droppings/water spots all over the car. I guess I can live with the car not looking perfectly detailed all the time versus those annoying swirls.

Thoughts?

As long as youre using proper wash techniques I wouldn't worry about it too much. One thing to keep in mind is to let the wash and drying media glide on the paint and not to use pressure. BMW SBM isn't soft like Jet Black, so it's much easier to maintain a swirl free finish, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

jopa489 · 11-13-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 328i

As long as youre using proper wash techniques I wouldn't worry about it too much. One thing to keep in mind is to let the wash and drying media glide on the paint and not to use pressure. BMW SBM isn't soft like Jet Black, so it's much easier to maintain a swirl free finish, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Great advice.

Jet Black seemingly swirls if you give it a dirty look..

SBM doesn't, as is actually quite hard. Compared to all the people who take their car to a tunnel wash twice a week, you're really taking care of it by hand washing. As said above, don't worry about it. Use a high quality clean MF waffle weave to dry, and no pressure. You'll be fine.

sonic · 11-13-2009, 06:12 PM

yeah thats right the good technics for a jet black!!!

well finally my xdrive got detailed today ill post the pics later!!!!

christin.shelly · 11-14-2009, 04:27 AM

An important step in car detailing is to thoroughly dry the parts of the vehicle. Dry the car in the shade when possible. If you must dry the car in the sun, dry the side that is in direct sunlight first. Dry the remainder of the car quickly to avoid sunspots. Change towels as you dry your car. The longer the towel is used, the more dirt deposits are left that can scratch the paint. Use a special towel intended to dry wheels, and don't use the wheel towel on painted areas of your car.

11-08-2009, 08:07 PM	#1
cfabluenose Lieutenant 39 Rep 430 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 328i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wolfville iTrader: (0)	Drying Car This is probably a really basic question. I bought a couple of waffle weave micro fibre drying cloths. Through some experimentation it seems as if they work best by spreading out the towel over the wet car and blotting up the water rather than wiping. Is that indeed the best way of using the towels to dry the car? Thanks. Attached Images
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11-08-2009, 09:06 PM	#2
jopa489 Major General 127 Rep 6,594 Posts Drives: Anything with Wheels Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	Blotting is good. The less you drag the towel over the paint, the better. Nice looking car too! __________________ X7 LCI // Incoming C7 ZR1 ZTK // Sebring + TRX // Hydro + Raptor Gen1 Roush // Tuxedo
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11-08-2009, 10:27 PM	#3
cfabluenose Lieutenant 39 Rep 430 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 328i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wolfville iTrader: (0)	Thanks. Blotting seemed to pick up more water and more quickly too.
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11-08-2009, 10:38 PM	#4
lopealle Resident Black Guy 280 Rep 2,302 Posts Drives: Lion Join Date: May 2009 Location: Federal Way, WA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 M5 [10.00]	those are some nice wheels
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11-08-2009, 10:43 PM	#5
BillLee Major General 721 Rep 5,382 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: HTX iTrader: (21) Garage List 09 E92 M3 [9.00]	interesting, i'm going to try that next time. __________________ Follow me on instagram: billy.by
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11-09-2009, 04:01 PM	#7
aesfah Max Powers 32 Rep 271 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MoCo, MD iTrader: (0)	i was clearing some leaves in the yard with a gas leaf blower. afterwards i gave the car a quick wash, and instead of drying with my microfibers, i just aimed the leaf blower at the car and had a completely dry car in no time. no chance at swirling!
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11-09-2009, 06:04 PM	#8
Craig@SupremePower G.O.A.T.! 1027 Rep 74,992 Posts Drives: '18 GMC Yukon XL Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (14)	nice ride..
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11-09-2009, 09:19 PM	#9
cfabluenose Lieutenant 39 Rep 430 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 328i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wolfville iTrader: (0)	The wheels are Borbet black anthracite wheels from Tirerack. They will be my winter wheels and are supposed to be very durable. Should be easier to keep clean despite the slush, mud and salt. __________________ 2009 328i
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11-12-2009, 12:34 AM	#10
Zero.7 Colonel 105 Rep 2,415 Posts Drives: F30 340i AW M-Sport Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: SOCAL iTrader: (6)	Good tip on the blotting technique. BTW: Do you guys prefer the microfiber towels over the chamois-type absorbers? __________________ '16 f30 AW 340i M-sport 8-speed Auto BMW ///M Performance Power and Sound Kit with Carbon Tips / Gloss Black Performance grilles
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11-13-2009, 06:12 PM	#21
sonic Private 0 Rep 75 Posts Drives: e90 2009 328 xdrive,gti 2003 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: montréal iTrader: (0)	yeah thats right the good technics for a jet black!!! well finally my xdrive got detailed today ill post the pics later!!!!
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11-14-2009, 04:27 AM	#22
christin.shelly New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: Excellent car Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mumbai iTrader: (0)	An important step in car detailing is to thoroughly dry the parts of the vehicle. Dry the car in the shade when possible. If you must dry the car in the sun, dry the side that is in direct sunlight first. Dry the remainder of the car quickly to avoid sunspots. Change towels as you dry your car. The longer the towel is used, the more dirt deposits are left that can scratch the paint. Use a special towel intended to dry wheels, and don't use the wheel towel on painted areas of your car. __________________ CEAT - one of the India’s leading manufacturers, exporters and wholesale supplier of automobile tires.
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