My neglected car...

[Dammmittt]

So I finally got to pamper my car a little today. (sorry no pics) First I brought it to a drive through car wash...I would have preferred to wash it by hand, but there is absolutely no where to do that around here...and not having a driveway kinda sux. Moving on...

So after it was washed it started to rain a little, so I held off on hand drying it till I got back to the garage.

Once in the garage my wife and I got to work. Hand dryed it and cleaned the interior a bit while it got compeletely dry. The we hit it with some paint cleaner from head to toe. (I still have yet to go the way of the clay...)

We finished it up with a nice coat of wax and buffed to a nice shine.

Yeah yeah, who cares I cleaned my car...Except this is only the second time since I moved to Boston that it's been washed and the first wax since the summer.

So I finally gave my neglected car some well deserved attention...and it look stunning!!! I really felt bad having not cleaned well in so long...

So the exterior is hopefully ready to survive the winter (minus the tires...) and hopefully I'll get to vacuum it out this weekend and it will be clean inside and out for the first time in months...

[F87LUV]

shut your pie hole......



damn M owners

[speedygirl]

Hey, I just cleaned my baby today too.

Hand washed and dried it, and then treated the leather. Going to do the rest of the interior tomorrow.

I'm thinking about using some paint sealant for the winter, but no experience with this yet.

Any thoughts?

[Dammmittt]

I dunno about sealants...I use and recommend Meguiars NXT Generation Tech wax tho.

[Dammmittt]

Originally Posted by ZGirl4U

shut your pie hole......



damn M owners

I'm sorry about your car...But I really honestly felt bad that I've neglected my car so much lately. I used to wash it weekly...not every other month...

I guess I'll have to hit up Newbury when the sun comes out again

Actually maybe I shouldn't...I'll end up next to a ferrari, then I'll feel sad

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by Dammmittt

So I finally got to pamper my car a little today. (sorry no pics) First I brought it to a drive through car wash...I would have preferred to wash it by hand, but there is absolutely no where to do that around here...and not having a driveway kinda sux. Moving on...

Before I send over People for the Ethical Treatment of M-cars - you went through a no-touch wash, right, not one with those spinning brushes that leave micro-scratches all over your paint?

Second, there are no spray bays near you? I don't have a driveway either, but I can hand-wash and dry a Z4 in under 10 minutes, 15 if I do the wheels. Practice, practice! Driving a black Z4 isn't a right, it's a privilege.

[Dammmittt]

Originally Posted by epbrown

Before I send over People for the Ethical Treatment of M-cars - you went through a no-touch wash, right, not one with those spinning brushes that leave micro-scratches all over your paint?

Second, there are no spray bays near you? I don't have a driveway either, but I can hand-wash and dry a Z4 in under 10 minutes, 15 if I do the wheels. Practice, practice! Driving a black Z4 isn't a right, it's a privilege.

Yes and no. Yes it was a touchless wash...no there are no spray bays near me...that I know of anyway. If anyone in the boston area can enlighten me, please do...I'd love to get by bucket and wash mit out...

[valdeztke]

Originally Posted by Dammmittt

Yes and no. Yes it was a touchless wash...no there are no spray bays near me...that I know of anyway. If anyone in the boston area can enlighten me, please do...I'd love to get by bucket and wash mit out...

I had this problem for the longest time living in DC. I just found a friend that lived at a place where I could wash the car. Heck, even one friend had an indoor car wash bay at his location.

[pbdm4k]

Originally Posted by Dammmittt

I dunno about sealants...I use and recommend Meguiars NXT Generation Tech wax tho.

Not a big fan of the Meguiars, I find this wax comes off pretty fast after a few weeks. Loses its luster and shine.

Zaino, baby... Zaino... Best 200 bux I ever spent on car care products.

Deep shiny gloss, and it seems to last a long time too.

Prior to discovering the wow factor of zaino, I used to use the Mother's California gold all the time.

Zymol is another good one that i've been dying to try. It's like 30-60% carnuba depending on the grade you buy, but its also like 500-1500 for a small jar of the stuff...
Maybe when I win the lottery and finally get a Bugatti to use this stuff on.

[valdeztke]

Adams and Pinnacle make nice products as well.

A few things you MUST have for your car (especially if you are going to run it through car washes) This is how I roll


Detail spray and clay bar

This is a great package of the products below.
http://www.superiorcarcare.net/porter-cable-kit.html
- A Porter Cable Orbital (NOT Rotary!) (7424 i think). Any enthusiast should have one of these on hand for their car care.
- GOOD QUALITY PADS!!!! (they aren't cheap) orange, blue, and white pads.






http://www.superiorcarcare.net/pixmtliswreb.html

- A medium to fine polish/swirl remover kit (Prefer XMT by Pinnacle)



http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...roduct_Count=6
- then throw 5-7 layers of zaino after the paint is clean and error free.

[Dammmittt]

Originally Posted by pbdm4k

Not a big fan of the Meguiars, I find this wax comes off pretty fast after a few weeks. Loses its luster and shine.

Zaino, baby... Zaino... Best 200 bux I ever spent on car care products.

Deep shiny gloss, and it seems to last a long time too.

Prior to discovering the wow factor of zaino, I used to use the Mother's California gold all the time.

Zymol is another good one that i've been dying to try. It's like 30-60% carnuba depending on the grade you buy, but its also like 500-1500 for a small jar of the stuff...
Maybe when I win the lottery and finally get a Bugatti to use this stuff on.

Wierd...NXT has worked well for me so far...

[Dammmittt]

Originally Posted by valdeztke

Adams and Pinnacle make nice products as well.

A few things you MUST have for your car (especially if you are going to run it through car washes) This is how I roll


Detail spray and clay bar

This is a great package of the products below.
http://www.superiorcarcare.net/porter-cable-kit.html
- A Porter Cable Orbital (NOT Rotary!) (7424 i think). Any enthusiast should have one of these on hand for their car care.
- GOOD QUALITY PADS!!!! (they aren't cheap) orange, blue, and white pads.






http://www.superiorcarcare.net/pixmtliswreb.html

- A medium to fine polish/swirl remover kit (Prefer XMT by Pinnacle)



http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...roduct_Count=6
- then throw 5-7 layers of zaino after the paint is clean and error free.

Nice website

[RussRamz]

+1 on the Zaino--it's great stuff!

[speedygirl]

Thanks for the tips!

I must admit I am a bit afraid to use an orbital on the exterior. I understand they are pretty safe though. I do want to get some extra protection on the exterior because I am going to drive the car through the winter . Toronto roads are pretty good, but need some protection against road salt.

I also have been looking on autogeek.net - there is lots of info there too.

I do have one or two tiny chips on the hood (about 2 mm each) that need to get fixed as well - anyone know how much BMW charges for this or has anyone done this themselves.

Thanks!

[valdeztke]

Do not fear an orbital. With the correct compound, quality pad, and a true orbital - you can't screw up your paint

Just make sure you know the difference between rotary and orbital. you'd be surprised the people that f'k up their paint with a rotary and a wool cloth (myself included!)

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by Dammmittt

Wierd...NXT has worked well for me so far...

I use NXT as my "quickie wax," when I don't have the time for a full-on Zymol treatment. It's got good shine and applies quickly, and while it last longer than Zymol it doesn't last or protect as well as Meguiars #16 (which I use on the 325i to get me through the winter). Meguiars' products are perfect for the person that cares about their car, but hasn't gone the full on random orbital route that's a step below OCD.

[paulGT3]

anybody use Rejex ?????I have and it works good on great finishes.
Its NOT a cleaner though just a wax type portectant.
I use Groits on the interior leather.

[valdeztke]

Originally Posted by paulGT3

anybody use Rejex ?????I have and it works good on great finishes.
Its NOT a cleaner though just a wax type portectant.
I use Groits on the interior leather.

Rejex is a great protectant. Much more a protectant than a polish. PERFECT for wheels and front end for bugs...

[RussRamz]

Originally Posted by speedygirl

I do have one or two tiny chips on the hood (about 2 mm each) that need to get fixed as well

BMW makes a wet-sand kit that you use with color-coded touch up paint. You can purchase both at a BMW dealer. I have used the kit to touch up several rock-chips and the kit works great. First, you fill the chip with the touch-up paint, let it dry, lacquer, and let it dry. The wet sand kit will remove the blob that forms. Polish, seal and your done. Looks as good as new. It's time consuming, but you will save a lot of money.

[valdeztke]

Originally Posted by RussRamz

BMW makes a wet-sand kit that you use with color-coded touch up paint. You can purchase both at a BMW dealer. I have used the kit to touch up several rock-chips and the kit works great. First, you fill the chip with the touch-up paint, let it dry, lacquer, and let it dry. The wet sand kit will remove the blob that forms. Polish, seal and your done. Looks as good as new. It's time consuming, but you will save a lot of money.

Best thing is clear bra after purchase

[RussRamz]

Originally Posted by valdeztke

Best thing is clear bra after purchase

They don't exist here in Germany. Every time I inquired to someone about them, they look at me confused. I've tried.

[Dammmittt]

Originally Posted by RussRamz

BMW makes a wet-sand kit that you use with color-coded touch up paint. You can purchase both at a BMW dealer. I have used the kit to touch up several rock-chips and the kit works great. First, you fill the chip with the touch-up paint, let it dry, lacquer, and let it dry. The wet sand kit will remove the blob that forms. Polish, seal and your done. Looks as good as new. It's time consuming, but you will save a lot of money.

I'll have to look into that...I have plenty of road damage eating my front end...