[Andykf31]

Just wondering. mine hasnt been washed since i went to switzerland in feb!

been putting it off because when its clean it looks too good and i often have to park in central london quite late sometimes.
anyway do any of you use normal wash and go type hand places or use detailers and pro cleaners. My last car i had a protective film put on it but then i realised i never keep them long enough for it to make sense(like a lot of other people on here i sense)

anyhow quick wash, pro wash or diy - thats the question

PS

I wish i had better grammar.. you're your in the title etc....

[alex_chung]

DIY with a good shampoo and using wash mitts and the two bucket method (once you see how dirty the water gets in the second bucket you will never use one bucket ever again!)
Alex

[F30AM]

I get mine washed by my BMW Dealership FOC every 4 weeks. They do a great job.

[G82Dude]

On the driveway! Wouldn't let the Muppets at BMW touch it or anyone else for that matter...

Nobody would treat it like it's "theirs".

[F30AM]

Originally Posted by uke92dude

On the driveway! Wouldn't let the Muppets at BMW touch it or anyone else for that matter...

I have never washed a car in my life and don't ever intend to do so. I have also never used an automatic car wash never will.

[Mattjkilo]

Mixture of DIY and a Detailer every 6 months.

I tend to ask BMW not to wash my car when it goes in for service. They do a good job but I always tend to find the odd swirl on my paintwork.

I'm probably a little OCD....

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by F30AM

I have never washed a car in my life and don't ever intend to do so.

That's your choice!

[rjberry]

Originally Posted by F30AM

I have never washed a car in my life and don't ever intend to do so. I have also never used an automatic car wash never will.

I used to be the same but 3 children later that's changed. Now if it takes me 3 hours to wash my car that's 3 hours of peace and quiet

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by rjberry

I used to be the same but 3 children later that's changed. Now if it takes me 3 hours to wash my car that's 3 hours of peace and quiet

Oh so with you there.

I can stretch a car wash out all day Sunday.

No shops, garden centre, just me my car, some music and cleaning stuff

[davethefish]

Originally Posted by F30AM

I have never washed a car in my life and don't ever intend to do so. I have also never used an automatic car wash never will.

if i was a billionaire,
and had an army of minions at my beck and call...
...i'd still wash my fleet of M3's and M4's myself

there's a deep sense of satisfaction looking at your sparkling clean car,
and it gleams because YOU cleaned it.

having people clean a car you own as an object, but not in your heart,
...isn't the same....

right then, i'm off to clean my baby...

[Andykf31]

Originally Posted by davethefish

if i was a billionaire,
and had an army of minions at my beck and call...
...i'd still wash my fleet of M3's and M4's myself

there's a deep sense of satisfaction looking at your sparkling clean car,
and it gleams because YOU cleaned it.

having people clean a car you own as an object, but not in your heart,
...isn't the same....

right then, i'm off to clean my baby...

might try and give this ago myself then.
are there any you tubes etc to know where to start.
I also have never washed a car myself(apart from washing pigeon poo of it in an emergency!)

[Tengocity]

I do my cars myself. The local hand car wash is ok, and use them if I've a company car. Having a sapphire black car showed me quickly how many swirl marks they give you though!

[rich100]

Originally Posted by rjberry

I used to be the same but 3 children later that's changed. Now if it takes me 3 hours to wash my car that's 3 hours of peace and quiet

Heh +1, cleaning the car has provided me with some similar cover as well.

[Alkidrew]

Always washed it myself by hand, once a week but nothing special other than hose it down, then autoglym shampoo conditioner, then hose then chamois leather. Always looks fab.

Just worked out I've probably washed my car(s) over 1000 times in my life!

[UK_]

It's nice to take pride in your car's appearance and I hand wash mine with autoglym products. Aqua Wax is amazing. Sadly will mean didly-squat when it comes to selling it or part ex but nice to have a sense of achievement and get some fresh air.

[DrSteve]

Always clean my own car. Having said that I only started doing it properly over the last couple of years. Great feeling when you're all finished and the EBII is gleaming in the sun.

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by uke92dude

On the driveway! Wouldn't let the Muppets at BMW touch it or anyone else for that matter...

Nobody would treat it like it's "theirs".

Same here.

[davethefish]

Originally Posted by Andykf31

might try and give this ago myself then.
are there any you tubes etc to know where to start.
I also have never washed a car myself(apart from washing pigeon poo of it in an emergency!)

tbh i never used to clean my cars much before i got into beemers,
but they were just tools for work.

you don't need expensive items to get a car washed,
but it's the extra tools that make it easy,
and all the extra lotions and potions after its washed that can start to mount up.

here's a good washing guide to get you started
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...ead.php?t=4637


but for a standard weekly wash i:

rinse off loose dirt with a hose & spray gun,
use a pump sprayer from screwfix to spray on a quick pre-wash,
any car shampoo or pre-wash mix will do
(i use bilt hamber autofoam at between 1:100 and 1:50)
http://www.screwfix.com/p/pressure-sprayer-7ltr/51100


while that's soaking on the car (don't let it dry on)
make up a bucket of car shampoo and use a microfibre wheel mitt to wash the alloys, and then rinse them off with the hose,
(i use a set of ez detail and auto finesse brushes to clean the alloys)

then make up another clean bucket of any decent car shampoo like auto glym ect... (i use G wash)
and a bucket of clean water.

rinse off the pre-wash and then use a clean microfibre or lambs wool mitt
(no sponges, they scratch paint) to wash the upper half of the car.
rinsing the mitt in the clean water before dipping into the shampoo to get rid of any grit. followed by the lower half of the car.

then give it a really good rinse to remove all traces of the shampoo.
(I happen to have a reverse osmosis and de-ioniser water purifier and use this water to rinse as well)
followed by patting dry with a couple of large micro fibre towels.(no paint scratching chamois leathers)

then a quick buff with a micro fibre polishing cloth.

all this is just the tip of the iceberg in car shininess...
a good polish, seal and wax will be needed every now and then to make the car really gleam,
(with a much more thorough washing and decontamination beforehand.)
unless you go for one of the long lasting nano sealants but that's another can of worms

[Torquein]

Always do mine and the wife's myself, 2 bucket etc etc. even then you will get some surface scratches and minor swirls so I invested in a da polisher a few years ago, it gets a polish (lime prime or srp) every 6 months or so by hand with the da for any correction (polish and pad to suit the correction). Looking after the cars is as much an excuse for me time as it is about having a nice looking car

[Thackers]

Pretty much the same for me with a couple of minor changes.
Went one step further this weekend with a spring detail:

1. Pressure wash to release any thick debris
2. VP citrus pre wash bottom half of car doors,bumpers,wheel arches etc.- leave for 5 mins
3. Rinse off with pressure washer
3. Snow foam using vp and leave for 5-10mins
4.rinse
5. Lambs wool MIT 2 bucket method wash with dodo juice ph neutral "born to be mild" shampoo
6. Rinse
7. Detar using Carchem tar and glue remover.
8 .Decontam using both Vp dragon breath or lately Car Chem revolt
9. Clay using bilt hammer regular
10 .shampoo wash once again
12. Rinse
13. Dry with chemical guys ultimate drying towel
14. Hand Polish with Autofinesse Triple
15. LSP - 2 coats of Gtecniq C2V3 followed by a coat of Angelwax TI-22 for extra gloss.
16. Planet polish wheel sealant 2 coats on the Msports
17 Tyres dressed using Angelwax Elexir

Internal

16. Autobrite FAB on interior
17 Doctor leather wipes on the coral red leather including doors.
18. Leather guard Gtecniq L1 using lint free cloth
19 car chem clarity glass cleaner all round inside and out.
20 Angelwax H2Go water repellant 2 coats to windscreen.

[Andykf31]

Just for the record. Cleaned my car! It looked lovely,
It's absolutely amazing how many Nasty jealous peoeple I managed to annoy on the streets of london just by having a clean car. Lots of signs thrown my way.
Have to say it was worse in EBII when I I drove the 330,

Sure I'm not being paranoid.
Everyone smiled and let me in when I drove an old saab 90....

Funny old world...

[Torquein]

Originally Posted by Andykf31

Just for the record. Cleaned my car! It looked lovely,
It's absolutely amazing how many Nasty jealous peoeple I managed to annoy on the streets of london just by having a clean car. Lots of signs thrown my way.
Have to say it was worse in EBII when I I drove the 330,

Sure I'm not being paranoid.
Everyone smiled and let me in when I drove an old saab 90....

Funny old world...

Another one to put into the "glad I don't live in London" pot, to go with the stolen trim caps from a post a few days ago.