How long do you keep salt on your 335?

AltecBX · 12-22-2007, 01:42 AM

How long do you keep the salt from the street when it snows on your car for? It has snowed here and I drive everywhere and some of the salt gets on the car from the road. I haven't cleaned my car for weeks now. I know is not good to keep salt on car, but how long can I go without a car wash, but if I wash it, I'll just get salt on it again.

samwoo2go · 12-22-2007, 01:57 AM

and I was like WTF...

I thought you were trying to eat your ride yo

Stinger44 · 12-22-2007, 02:33 AM

In all seriousness, if it's below freezing out, you can leave it on there for a while but as soon as the temp goes up, I advise you get it cleaned off ASAP. That stuff's nasty and it gets into places underneath the car, etc., that are not galvanized.

AltecBX · 12-22-2007, 03:26 AM

Well is in 60F garage. It will be there for another 2 weeks, and wonder if that amount of time will hurt the paint on the car?

ibimmer954 · 12-22-2007, 03:32 AM

Car? Salt? Boy am I glad I don't have to worry about that junk anymore.

jgalaxy · 12-22-2007, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stinger44

In all seriousness, if it's below freezing out, you can leave it on there for a while but as soon as the temp goes up, I advise you get it cleaned off ASAP. That stuff's nasty and it gets into places underneath the car, etc., that are not galvanized.

???

The whole car is either galvanized, anodized, aluminum, electroplated or plastic. You can leave salt on the car all winter. If you think the North East is bad for salt you haven't seen Germany where this thing is made.

AltecBX · 12-22-2007, 04:18 AM

So you're saying I should have nothing to worry about?

LEDZEP · 12-22-2007, 05:23 AM

I was going to answer and offer some advice, but I see you are only interested in the 335. I have a 328, so I guess their must be some difference in the way my car reacts to salt or its cleaning and detailing needs.

Stinger44 · 12-22-2007, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgalaxy

???

The whole car is either galvanized, anodized, aluminum, electroplated or plastic. You can leave salt on the car all winter. If you think the North East is bad for salt you haven't seen Germany where this thing is made.

I'm not talking just the body my man, I'm talking all exposed metal parts such as bearings, brakes, tie rods, suspension parts, etc., etc., It will eat your car. Take it from a guy that lives in a New England state that heavily salts their roads and highways.

If the car is in the garage and it's above freezing, it's a bad scene man.

Neema · 12-22-2007, 05:41 AM

thank God for southern california

TurboFan · 12-22-2007, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stinger44

In all seriousness, if it's below freezing out, you can leave it on there for a while but as soon as the temp goes up, I advise you get it cleaned off ASAP. That stuff's nasty and it gets into places underneath the car, etc., that are not galvanized.

All exterior metal on a car is made of some form of galvanized steel - most mfg have a "proprietary" product. Even the big 3 do it. The cars are also dipped in a corrosion inhibitor before the are painted. Issue is more about the paint these days.

Always use a good winter wax. It's not as pretty and shiny as a good detail in the summer, but it will help prevent damage to the clear coat.

Now, if you have a dent that chiped the paint, that's another issue.

TurboFan · 12-22-2007, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stinger44

I'm not talking just the body my man, I'm talking all exposed metal parts such as bearings, brakes, tie rods, suspension parts, etc., etc., It will eat your car. Take it from a guy that lives in a New England state that heavily salts their roads and highways.

If the car is in the garage and it's above freezing, it's a bad scene man.

Most of that is aluminum. Bearings are packed in grease, and generally sealed. Yes, there are a few parts in the suspension that are steel, but they are well protected from salt.

John 070 · 12-22-2007, 08:30 AM

Again, these issues are lease v. buy. With the corrosion warranty one could say there's no need whatsoever to ever wash the vehicle. But from a common sense perspective, it would be nice to remove the salt as soon as possible. My car has never seen salt, and has only seen rain 3X in a year (it sits in the garage about 25 days per month). However, it looks like due to my situation (wedding) the BMW will be a daily driver next year. I do plan on washing at the self-serve car wash in the winter.

I got careless with the Nissan a couple of years, and if you look under the bumper covers, it's all totally rusted out. The radiator support might be getting near a $600 replacement job. Maybe washing the salt off would have made no difference, maybe it would. Goes back to common sense saying salt isn't good for the car and its components. I'd wash it off as soon as reasonably possible if it were me.

GregL · 12-22-2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

I was going to answer and offer some advice, but I see you are only interested in the 335. I have a 328, so I guess their must be some difference in the way my car reacts to salt or its cleaning and detailing needs.

I was about to say the same thing... but either way, I'll leave on there for up to a month if I have to.

AltecBX · 12-22-2007, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

I was going to answer and offer some advice, but I see you are only interested in the 335. I have a 328, so I guess their must be some difference in the way my car reacts to salt or its cleaning and detailing needs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregL

I was about to say the same thing... but either way, I'll leave on there for up to a month if I have to.

You guys are to funny. I will readdress it then, the 328xi and i as well, and maybe the old 325 and 330.

bobr2001 · 12-22-2007, 11:24 AM

i get an underbody wash at least twice during the winter and that should be enough i think

Daya · 12-23-2007, 06:24 PM

I feel your pain, there is so much salt on the roads here but I guess that is the price you pay for having safer roads.

luckily I have a $10 hand wash 5 minutes from my house, I usually bring it there at least twice a month during the winter. If the salt is really bad and my car is caked in it I will bring it there once a week.

I put a lot of wax and sealant on the car during the fall so I am hoping I have a solid layer of protection there.

I don't trust the automatic car washes here for undercarriage wash so I guess I am SOL.

You don't want to leave salt on the paint for too long.

KEVIN88GT · 12-25-2007, 09:59 PM

AltecBX I hear your pain... sometimes I dont have time to wash the car... and since I only wash it in the hand car wash (30 bucks with tip) I dont watch it as often as I did in the brush wash...

In fact I've never washed this car in a brush car wash... the other day I finally got a car wash and then sprayed it with some quickwax.... ahh all salt and dirt gone and the paint has that wet look again

12-22-2007, 01:42 AM	#1
AltecBX Colonel 324 Rep 2,663 Posts Drives: BMW 335xi Sedan; BMW M3 ZCP Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW M3 ZCP [0.00] 2007 BMW 335Xi [0.00]	How long do you keep salt on your 335? How long do you keep the salt from the street when it snows on your car for? It has snowed here and I drive everywhere and some of the salt gets on the car from the road. I haven't cleaned my car for weeks now. I know is not good to keep salt on car, but how long can I go without a car wash, but if I wash it, I'll just get salt on it again.
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12-22-2007, 01:57 AM	#2
samwoo2go Banned 442 Rep 779 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SoCal iTrader: (12)	and I was like WTF... I thought you were trying to eat your ride yo
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12-22-2007, 02:33 AM	#3
Stinger44 Lieutenant 8 Rep 531 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Coupe Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New England iTrader: (0)	Salt In all seriousness, if it's below freezing out, you can leave it on there for a while but as soon as the temp goes up, I advise you get it cleaned off ASAP. That stuff's nasty and it gets into places underneath the car, etc., that are not galvanized. __________________ 2008 Black 335i 6MT Coupe 2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R
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12-22-2007, 03:26 AM	#4
AltecBX Colonel 324 Rep 2,663 Posts Drives: BMW 335xi Sedan; BMW M3 ZCP Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW M3 ZCP [0.00] 2007 BMW 335Xi [0.00]	Well is in 60F garage. It will be there for another 2 weeks, and wonder if that amount of time will hurt the paint on the car?
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12-22-2007, 03:32 AM	#5
ibimmer954 Major 138 Rep 1,424 Posts Drives: '23 i4 M50, '15 M3, '18 911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, California, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M3 [9.75] 2023 BMW i4 M50 [0.00] 2018 Porsche 911 C4S [0.00] 2019 BMW X4 M40i [0.00]	Car? Salt? Boy am I glad I don't have to worry about that junk anymore.
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12-22-2007, 04:18 AM	#7
AltecBX Colonel 324 Rep 2,663 Posts Drives: BMW 335xi Sedan; BMW M3 ZCP Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW M3 ZCP [0.00] 2007 BMW 335Xi [0.00]	So you're saying I should have nothing to worry about?
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12-22-2007, 05:23 AM	#8
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 417 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	I was going to answer and offer some advice, but I see you are only interested in the 335. I have a 328, so I guess their must be some difference in the way my car reacts to salt or its cleaning and detailing needs. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
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12-22-2007, 05:41 AM	#10
Neema Major General 788 Rep 7,246 Posts Drives: a few BMWs Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SoCal iTrader: (12)	thank God for southern california __________________ LTMW Widebody+1M front bumper+Slek CF Lip\|M3 Hood\|StopTech BBK\|M-Sport Rear Bumper+DD CF Diffuser\|Custom Recaro Seats\|KW V2\|BavX LS3\|M3 Side Skirts+Custom CF Lip\|BBS CHR 19x10.5+BBS Lugs\|LCI Taillights\|RD Sport Anti-Sway Bars\|GIAC S2\|ER Intercooler+CF Shroud+Charge Pipe\|Tial BOV\|Injen Intake\|MS downpipes\|Custom Exhaust\|BMS Oil Catch Can\|M3 DCT wheel+TiD CF Paddles\|BMW CF Trunk Spoiler\|Aluminum Pedals
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12-22-2007, 08:30 AM	#13
John 070 Lieutenant General 1705 Rep 14,829 Posts Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW iTrader: (0)	Again, these issues are lease v. buy. With the corrosion warranty one could say there's no need whatsoever to ever wash the vehicle. But from a common sense perspective, it would be nice to remove the salt as soon as possible. My car has never seen salt, and has only seen rain 3X in a year (it sits in the garage about 25 days per month). However, it looks like due to my situation (wedding) the BMW will be a daily driver next year. I do plan on washing at the self-serve car wash in the winter. I got careless with the Nissan a couple of years, and if you look under the bumper covers, it's all totally rusted out. The radiator support might be getting near a $600 replacement job. Maybe washing the salt off would have made no difference, maybe it would. Goes back to common sense saying salt isn't good for the car and its components. I'd wash it off as soon as reasonably possible if it were me.
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12-22-2007, 11:24 AM	#16
bobr2001 First Lieutenant 4 Rep 317 Posts Drives: F11 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	i get an underbody wash at least twice during the winter and that should be enough i think
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12-23-2007, 06:24 PM	#17
Daya Lieutenant Colonel 200 Rep 1,741 Posts Drives: e92 335 space gray/coral red Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chicago iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 E92 335 [9.66]	I feel your pain, there is so much salt on the roads here but I guess that is the price you pay for having safer roads. luckily I have a $10 hand wash 5 minutes from my house, I usually bring it there at least twice a month during the winter. If the salt is really bad and my car is caked in it I will bring it there once a week. I put a lot of wax and sealant on the car during the fall so I am hoping I have a solid layer of protection there. I don't trust the automatic car washes here for undercarriage wash so I guess I am SOL. You don't want to leave salt on the paint for too long. __________________ GIAC S2 \| Brembo GT BBK 355/345 \| BBS CH-R \| Michelin Pilot Super Sports \| AR Design: DP, S1 Oil Cooler, OCC \| AMS FMIC \| Bastuck Quad Exhaust \| Borla MP \| KW V1 \| Stett: CAI, CP \| Forge DV \| P3 Boost Gauge \| Arkym: Front Lip, Rear Quad Diffuser \| Vorsteiner CSL Trunk \| LUX H8 \| ModMyNav \| MFD M3 Sideskirts \| BMW M-Tech Front/Rear Bumpers, Edition Grills
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12-25-2007, 09:59 PM	#18
KEVIN88GT Captain 83 Rep 793 Posts Drives: 06 Audi A4 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	AltecBX I hear your pain... sometimes I dont have time to wash the car... and since I only wash it in the hand car wash (30 bucks with tip) I dont watch it as often as I did in the brush wash... In fact I've never washed this car in a brush car wash... the other day I finally got a car wash and then sprayed it with some quickwax.... ahh all salt and dirt gone and the paint has that wet look again __________________ Now: '11 BMW X5 xDrive35i Then: '07 X3 3.0si '07 335xi '06 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro
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