do You hand wash ?

blackpepper · 04-05-2009, 04:59 PM

So my Bimmer is 3 weeks old and got dirty. I checked with my dealer if he thought the "brushless express wash" was safe, and got reassured it was, i went ahead and used it, and got some minor scratches ( not really swirls) on the doors and the "wings".
I decided to try some 100% non swirl-cotton towels for future hand wash
( Zymol) yet still noticed that the finish is slightly being scratched. BTW, I used the same on my Walnut Burl trim -same micro scratches (

)

What do you guys do to keep your car's exterior scratches free ? Is there any way i can get rid of these gentle minor scratches on my finish ?
Thanks
BP

DenverJayhawk · 04-05-2009, 05:03 PM

I've taken my car through a brushless wash and it turned out fine. No issues. There's a variety of polishes you can pick up at any automotive store to buff out small surface scratches.

Also, check this forums section on Wash, Wax and Detailing.

clickclickboom · 04-05-2009, 05:05 PM

Everytime you wash the vehicle you will get small scratches. These will have to be recon'd to remove. Dealers will limit the number of washes a car gets on the lot. If they wash it too many times, they will have to pay for more reconing. That will cost them profit.

As for touchless automatics, they are fine for winter to remove road salt. They don't really clean though.

MCMLXXXIX · 04-05-2009, 05:10 PM

there are lots of things you can do to have a nice clean finish. check out the Wash, Wax, and Detailing forum on this site. Tons of helpful stuff

vioaltec · 04-05-2009, 06:18 PM

I hand wash my baby, cant and dont trust no one else. This may sound high maintenance but after i used a towel once, i throw it away. They sell some pretty cheap facial towels at walmart............

J BONE · 04-05-2009, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vioaltec

I hand wash my baby, cant and dont trust no one else. This may sound high maintenance but after i used a towel once, i throw it away. They sell some pretty cheap facial towels at walmart............

Seriously?

bsamoul · 04-05-2009, 06:24 PM

I hand wash both e90's we have. Once it went through the was at the dealer and it got all scratched up, they were forcedto fix it. Now no dealer will wash the car, only me.

vioaltec · 04-05-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J BONE

Seriously?

lol yea....

J BONE · 04-05-2009, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vioaltec

lol yea....

Good one!

gtmotor · 04-05-2009, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vioaltec

I hand wash my baby, cant and dont trust no one else. This may sound high maintenance but after i used a towel once, i throw it away. They sell some pretty cheap facial towels at walmart............

WTF? Cheap towels are WAY more likely to scratch then using a proper microfiber towel.

I have close to 100 microfiber towels in all different sizes/thread counts... I keep them in special bins in the garage and only use them once before washing with a special solution. You should never mix microfiber with other fabric in the washing machine BTW.

Works pretty well for me

NinetyEight740 · 04-05-2009, 06:47 PM

no matter how you wash it over times scratches will happen... get to know a good detailer or pick up a PC 7424 for your future paint correcting

vioaltec · 04-05-2009, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtmotor

WTF? Cheap towels are WAY more likely to scratch then using a proper microfiber towel.

I have close to 100 microfiber towels in all different sizes/thread counts... I keep them in special bins in the garage and only use them once before washing with a special solution. You should never mix microfiber with other fabric in the washing machine BTW.

Works pretty well for me

Lol well it works fine for me. No swirl marks yet.

srcstc · 04-05-2009, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtmotor

WTF? Cheap towels are WAY more likely to scratch then using a proper microfiber towel.

I have close to 100 microfiber towels in all different sizes/thread counts... I keep them in special bins in the garage and only use them once before washing with a special solution. You should never mix microfiber with other fabric in the washing machine BTW.

Works pretty well for me

What's the special solution?

08e90 · 04-05-2009, 07:19 PM

Hand washing yourself is always the best... I wouldn't trust the hands of somebody else..

SteveMD · 04-05-2009, 07:28 PM

Handwash only with good quality towels. I cut the edges off.

Microfiber is good as well but again, I cut the edegs off.

The only commercial car washes I use are the completely non-contact 'laser wash' spray things which are good for a light cleaning - they don't get much dirt off though.

blackpepper · 04-05-2009, 08:11 PM

Hi Guys
Like always, you have been very helpful. i will check the "laundry" section on this forum and try to follow... The Towels I was using were purchased from an online company "AutoAnything" they sold me a pair of kitchen towels and a sample size "Zymol "shampoo for $80 !!! I thought i was about to pamper my bimmer with some microfiber soft towels and an elite league shampoo....

well, live and learn..
BP

92tripleblack · 04-05-2009, 08:12 PM

Only hand wash or dealer wash.

SteveMD · 04-05-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 92tripleblack

Only hand wash or dealer wash.

Dealer wash? Only with a light colored car. I wouldn't risk it with a black or other dark color.

zaxjax · 04-05-2009, 08:22 PM

Here's a good read for you on how to wash and dry your car to minimize any swirls.

http://www.autopia.org/publish/artic...Pro/Page1.html

fwmcb · 04-05-2009, 09:42 PM

I hand wash mine daily, just use lots of water and lots of soap. Change your soap a couple times if the car is really dirty!

doc1911 · 04-05-2009, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fwmcb

I hand wash mine daily, just use lots of water and lots of soap. Change your soap a couple times if the car is really dirty!

Holy Crap! You wash your car EVERY DAY! I hand wash mine too but I'm lucky if I get to it every 2-3 weeks. I use Zaino and it takes my a while but it is worth it.

Debaser · 04-05-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fwmcb

I hand wash mine daily, just use lots of water and lots of soap. Change your soap a couple times if the car is really dirty!

Frankly, that's absurd.

04-05-2009, 04:59 PM	#1
blackpepper Private 8 Rep 75 Posts Drives: bmw 335xi coup Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: mid west iTrader: (1)	do You hand wash ? So my Bimmer is 3 weeks old and got dirty. I checked with my dealer if he thought the "brushless express wash" was safe, and got reassured it was, i went ahead and used it, and got some minor scratches ( not really swirls) on the doors and the "wings". I decided to try some 100% non swirl-cotton towels for future hand wash ( Zymol) yet still noticed that the finish is slightly being scratched. BTW, I used the same on my Walnut Burl trim -same micro scratches () What do you guys do to keep your car's exterior scratches free ? Is there any way i can get rid of these gentle minor scratches on my finish ? Thanks BP
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04-05-2009, 05:03 PM	#2
DenverJayhawk Major 79 Rep 1,217 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 330i Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	I've taken my car through a brushless wash and it turned out fine. No issues. There's a variety of polishes you can pick up at any automotive store to buff out small surface scratches. Also, check this forums section on Wash, Wax and Detailing. __________________ 330i, Black Sapphire, 6MT, Sport, Active Steering, Flux Capacitor
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04-05-2009, 05:05 PM	#3
clickclickboom Private First Class 78 Rep 166 Posts Drives: Rust Bucket Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	Everytime you wash the vehicle you will get small scratches. These will have to be recon'd to remove. Dealers will limit the number of washes a car gets on the lot. If they wash it too many times, they will have to pay for more reconing. That will cost them profit. As for touchless automatics, they are fine for winter to remove road salt. They don't really clean though.
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04-05-2009, 05:10 PM	#4
MCMLXXXIX wat 241 Rep 3,406 Posts Drives: a gr3at whit3 5hark Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oct 2008 iTrader: (0)	there are lots of things you can do to have a nice clean finish. check out the Wash, Wax, and Detailing forum on this site. Tons of helpful stuff __________________ 2012 Toyota Highlander SE - PAST - 2008 e92 335i, 2006 e90 325i
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04-05-2009, 06:18 PM	#5
vioaltec Sasha Fierce 55 Rep 231 Posts Drives: 2009 bmw 3 series coupe Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: East Bay iTrader: (0)	I hand wash my baby, cant and dont trust no one else. This may sound high maintenance but after i used a towel once, i throw it away. They sell some pretty cheap facial towels at walmart............ __________________ Vivre, Aimer et Voler
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04-05-2009, 06:24 PM	#7
bsamoul Major General 172 Rep 7,433 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Walnut Creek, California iTrader: (2)	I hand wash both e90's we have. Once it went through the was at the dealer and it got all scratched up, they were forcedto fix it. Now no dealer will wash the car, only me.
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04-05-2009, 06:47 PM	#11
NinetyEight740 Major General 237 Rep 5,691 Posts Drives: 2 - 2013 535i msport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Orange County California iTrader: (2) Garage List 2010 E91 [0.00]	no matter how you wash it over times scratches will happen... get to know a good detailer or pick up a PC 7424 for your future paint correcting
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04-05-2009, 07:19 PM	#14
08e90 Private 2 Rep 89 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Walnut,Ca iTrader: (1)	Hand washing yourself is always the best... I wouldn't trust the hands of somebody else..
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04-05-2009, 07:28 PM	#15
SteveMD Colonel 202 Rep 2,485 Posts Drives: 2016 F10 535i MSport Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Raventown! iTrader: (3)	Handwash only with good quality towels. I cut the edges off. Microfiber is good as well but again, I cut the edegs off. The only commercial car washes I use are the completely non-contact 'laser wash' spray things which are good for a light cleaning - they don't get much dirt off though. __________________ 2006 E90 330i (retired) 2009 E90 335i (retired) 2012 E70 X5 50i M Sport (retired) 2016 F10 535i M Sport
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04-05-2009, 08:11 PM	#16
blackpepper Private 8 Rep 75 Posts Drives: bmw 335xi coup Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: mid west iTrader: (1)	Hi Guys Like always, you have been very helpful. i will check the "laundry" section on this forum and try to follow... The Towels I was using were purchased from an online company "AutoAnything" they sold me a pair of kitchen towels and a sample size "Zymol "shampoo for $80 !!! I thought i was about to pamper my bimmer with some microfiber soft towels and an elite league shampoo.... well, live and learn.. BP
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04-05-2009, 08:12 PM	#17
92tripleblack Lieutenant 20 Rep 500 Posts Drives: e93 AW Saddle, Spt, Prem Join Date: May 2008 Location: Windermere, FL (Mickey) iTrader: (0)	Only hand wash or dealer wash. __________________ 2008 E93 SC Deliv. 6/08, AW/Saddle, Sport, Prem, 6MT, CA, Ipod, Passthru, JB3 1.22, 19" Linea Corse Lemans, Mich PS2, V1, Laser Interceptor, Garmin 260W. Soon: Aerokit, Tint 08 C300 White/Black, AMG Wheels, Sport, Prem 1, Pan Roof, Ipod, Auto (Hers) 05 Armada LE 4x4
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04-05-2009, 08:22 PM	#19
zaxjax Major 44 Rep 1,210 Posts Drives: 2008 Crimson Red 335i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Annapolis iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 335i [9.00]	Here's a good read for you on how to wash and dry your car to minimize any swirls. http://www.autopia.org/publish/artic...Pro/Page1.html __________________ Detailed Image
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04-05-2009, 09:42 PM	#20
fwmcb Major 31 Rep 1,107 Posts Drives: 2015 F30 328i X-drive Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: NB iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 128i [0.00]	I hand wash mine daily, just use lots of water and lots of soap. Change your soap a couple times if the car is really dirty!
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