Using a leaf blower

VVA330 · 10-18-2007, 11:47 AM

I have been using a 200mph leaf blow to dry my car after each wash. It works really well for me. the leaf blower just blows any water spot or streak in it's path and leaves no water marks and no swirl marks. I was just wondering if any one is doing the same?

HyperM3 · 10-18-2007, 12:32 PM

Ive heard its not a good idea. Seems that anything can be sucked into the blower and shot out at your car over 100+mph. I just looked up on several forums and theres been a lot of reports of people having small pebbles or even leaves falling from trees being sent through the blower and creating chips or scratches.

VVA330 · 10-18-2007, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperM3

Ive heard its not a good idea. Seems that anything can be sucked into the blower and shot out at your car over 100+mph. I just looked up on several forums and theres been a lot of reports of people having small pebbles or even leaves falling from trees being sent through the blower and creating chips or scratches.

I never had that problem but anything is possible though.

HyperM3 · 10-18-2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVA330

I never had that problem but anything is possible though.

Right, it could be a slim to none chance. Most of the reports happened when people got closer to the ground to get the lower/under portions of their car. Honestly, I would probably take my chances with a leaf blower as well.

VVA330 · 10-18-2007, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperM3

Right, it could be a slim to none chance. Most of the reports happened when people got closer to the ground to get the lower/under portions of their car. Honestly, I would probably take my chances with a leaf blower as well.

for over a year I have been washing my car and drying it with a leaf blower and I averaged about 1 wash each month. The leaf blow is awesome. It is quick painless and most of important of all no swirl marks.

phantom330 · 10-18-2007, 03:35 PM

I do it, but I do it in the garage so no chance of anything getting shot at the car. Just make sure you're not using a gas blower! Works great to get the water out of the mirrors and cracks, etc. My wife and neighbors think I'm nuts leaf blowing my car though!

lkn · 10-18-2007, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phantom330

I do it, but I do it in the garage so no chance of anything getting shot at the car. Just make sure you're not using a gas blower! Works great to get the water out of the mirrors and cracks, etc. My wife and neighbors think I'm nuts leaf blowing my car though!

What's the difference with using a gas blower as to an electric blower?

Last E92 M3 · 10-18-2007, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperM3

Ive heard its not a good idea. Seems that anything can be sucked into the blower and shot out at your car over 100+mph. I just looked up on several forums and theres been a lot of reports of people having small pebbles or even leaves falling from trees being sent through the blower and creating chips or scratches.

definately. it's not worth taking a risk imo.

FirstClass · 10-18-2007, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkn

What's the difference with using a gas blower as to an electric blower?

+1
There isn't any difference I can think of.

FrankoQ · 10-18-2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phantom330

My wife and neighbors think I'm nuts leaf blowing my car though!

+1

Leaf blower is the only way I dry my car.

ejazbmw · 10-18-2007, 10:45 PM

Waffle Weave Towel FTW!!! take a look at my review

http://http://www.e90post.com/forums...ad.php?t=88931

rideelement247 · 10-18-2007, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkn

What's the difference with using a gas blower as to an electric blower?

He means don't use it in the garage

Bad for you, and maybe the family pet that is watching you while slowly slowly being poisoned to sleep.

Most of all, the smell of the gasoline being burned would be...uck.

phantom330 · 10-19-2007, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkn

What's the difference with using a gas blower as to an electric blower?

I just wouldn't want to risk anything spewing out on my car, plus there are fumes and smoke and gas is just basically messy. I don't think it would be an issue, but obviously electric is going to be cleaner.

Sea2Ski · 10-19-2007, 07:57 PM

I use it all the time. I never use the handheld for shredding anything, so it is only used as a blower for tight areas around the house. (Then I pull out the little wonder 8hp leaf blower to do the rest of the property....)

Anyway, yes, the handheld on the car works GREAT!

Sniz · 10-21-2007, 02:18 PM

+1 on the leaf blower, just use common sense and be careful. I use an electric one, then use the waffle weave. Makes for quick and easy drying.

And my neighbors think im nuts anyway so it dont matter!

sapperelite · 10-21-2007, 03:32 PM

As far as things getting thrown at the car, 1. Isn't there a filter on the intake and 2. if there isn't wouldn't it be pretty easy to instal one on it? I don't have one yet, will buy it when I return to the US. I would think the only way you would get something flying at your car is if it got between the output and the car. If that is the case, you have to wonder what these people were doing that they were able to blow rocks at their car... Just my 2 Cents

BMdblU · 10-21-2007, 09:39 PM

I just picked one up and have used it twice. It does a pretty good job , just gotta be careful like others said. I go over it with a micro afterwards..

jetblk328i · 10-21-2007, 10:11 PM

ive been using an electric leaf blower, works really good, and i havent had any problems...

wrickem · 10-21-2007, 10:35 PM

I used to use one too, it worked really good. Just make sure you use a dedicated "car" leaf blower so no leaf residue blows on your freshly washed car. I missed the old fashioned quiet so I went back to gentle towel drying, it is a lot more thereputic. I use an air compressor to blow out the water around the tail lights, license plates and every other place BMW's tend to hold water.

darkcloud · 10-21-2007, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkn

What's the difference with using a gas blower as to an electric blower?

You smell like gas and if you're smart enough to use it inside you garage with the door closed well you'll......

fast_lap28 · 10-22-2007, 05:28 PM

I use my gas LB after every wash. its the best thing for me, easy and water spot FREE! As for the LB sucking up any debris and spitting out at over 100mph, I say sure it could happen but seriously doubt it if you are careful. I have a backpack one so its on my back at all times with minimal chances of picking up small pebbles and such.

stejus · 10-22-2007, 08:29 PM

I use an electric Black&Decker leave blower after every wash. Any littlle area that doesn't get dried off gets a 100% cotton towel "gentle" wipe. I read somewhere the gas blowers can spit out gas/oil mixture and that's all it took to switch to electric.

When the water doesn't bead up, it's time for more Zaino Z2!

10-18-2007, 11:47 AM	#1
VVA330 Captain 39 Rep 970 Posts Drives: e90 335xi Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (2)	Using a leaf blower I have been using a 200mph leaf blow to dry my car after each wash. It works really well for me. the leaf blower just blows any water spot or streak in it's path and leaves no water marks and no swirl marks. I was just wondering if any one is doing the same?
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10-18-2007, 12:32 PM	#2
HyperM3 Too many Alex's, from now on, call me Beaufort 376 Rep 6,188 Posts Drives: See Sig Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lawrenceville, NJ iTrader: (8)	Ive heard its not a good idea. Seems that anything can be sucked into the blower and shot out at your car over 100+mph. I just looked up on several forums and theres been a lot of reports of people having small pebbles or even leaves falling from trees being sent through the blower and creating chips or scratches. __________________ 13 HD FatBob 17 A4 Glacier/Black 1st Edition/Pre+/Sport/EurocodeTMD/Racechip 16 S6 (gone),14 S6 (gone),14 S6 (gone),13 S6 (gone),10 S4 (gone) 07 335i(gone) Last edited by HyperM3; 10-18-2007 at 12:37 PM.. Reason: Looked it up
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10-18-2007, 03:35 PM	#6
phantom330 Captain 20 Rep 892 Posts Drives: e93 335i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: OH iTrader: (0)	I do it, but I do it in the garage so no chance of anything getting shot at the car. Just make sure you're not using a gas blower! Works great to get the water out of the mirrors and cracks, etc. My wife and neighbors think I'm nuts leaf blowing my car though!
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10-18-2007, 10:45 PM	#11
ejazbmw blahhh 321 Rep 6,355 Posts Drives: 2014 M235I Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NJ/NY iTrader: (7)	Waffle Weave Towel FTW!!! take a look at my review http://http://www.e90post.com/forums...ad.php?t=88931
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10-19-2007, 07:57 PM	#14
Sea2Ski Lieutenant 31 Rep 574 Posts Drives: 335 i SG, 6MT, CWP, BT, NAVI Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Downingtown, PA iTrader: (1)	I use it all the time. I never use the handheld for shredding anything, so it is only used as a blower for tight areas around the house. (Then I pull out the little wonder 8hp leaf blower to do the rest of the property....) Anyway, yes, the handheld on the car works GREAT!
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10-21-2007, 02:18 PM	#15
Sniz Lieutenant General 713 Rep 10,584 Posts Drives: e92 335 - gone // e36 M3 turbo Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ellicott City, MD iTrader: (1)	+1 on the leaf blower, just use common sense and be careful. I use an electric one, then use the waffle weave. Makes for quick and easy drying. And my neighbors think im nuts anyway so it dont matter! __________________
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10-21-2007, 03:32 PM	#16
sapperelite Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 219 Posts Drives: 07 335XI, 03 Wrangler Sport Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Springfield, VA iTrader: (0)	As far as things getting thrown at the car, 1. Isn't there a filter on the intake and 2. if there isn't wouldn't it be pretty easy to instal one on it? I don't have one yet, will buy it when I return to the US. I would think the only way you would get something flying at your car is if it got between the output and the car. If that is the case, you have to wonder what these people were doing that they were able to blow rocks at their car... Just my 2 Cents
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10-21-2007, 09:39 PM	#17
BMdblU Brigadier General 160 Rep 3,983 Posts Drives: F80 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2)	I just picked one up and have used it twice. It does a pretty good job , just gotta be careful like others said. I go over it with a micro afterwards..
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10-21-2007, 10:11 PM	#18
jetblk328i Colonel 335 Rep 2,458 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central PA iTrader: (1)	ive been using an electric leaf blower, works really good, and i havent had any problems...
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10-21-2007, 10:35 PM	#19
wrickem Should be working 2248 Rep 3,831 Posts Drives: What he wants to Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: lambertville nj iTrader: (0)	I used to use one too, it worked really good. Just make sure you use a dedicated "car" leaf blower so no leaf residue blows on your freshly washed car. I missed the old fashioned quiet so I went back to gentle towel drying, it is a lot more thereputic. I use an air compressor to blow out the water around the tail lights, license plates and every other place BMW's tend to hold water. __________________ ______________________________________________ Currently hoarding cars - '24 840, '19 911, 07 M6 , ‘23 Bronco OBXluxsquatch, ‘24 Bronco Heritage
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10-22-2007, 05:28 PM	#21
fast_lap28 Lieutenant 40 Rep 494 Posts Drives: '07 335i Montego Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0)	I use my gas LB after every wash. its the best thing for me, easy and water spot FREE! As for the LB sucking up any debris and spitting out at over 100mph, I say sure it could happen but seriously doubt it if you are careful. I have a backpack one so its on my back at all times with minimal chances of picking up small pebbles and such.
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10-22-2007, 08:29 PM	#22
stejus Private 58 Rep 68 Posts Drives: 2025 BMW Z4 M40i (being built) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	I use an electric Black&Decker leave blower after every wash. Any littlle area that doesn't get dried off gets a 100% cotton towel "gentle" wipe. I read somewhere the gas blowers can spit out gas/oil mixture and that's all it took to switch to electric. When the water doesn't bead up, it's time for more Zaino Z2!
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