[Pharaoh2716]

What is the best strategy to use when washing a black saphire metallic 335? I used chemical guys citrus wash, with a sheepskin wash mitt, and dried the car with waffle towels. I can see the swirl marks starting to appear, and I certainly do not want that to happen, as the car is only about two weeks old. Is there a wash strategy out there that can help? I just use the traditional two bucket method. Thanks

[TheRox]

swirl marks are inevitable any time you touch the car to wash it...you're just trying to reduce the frequency

good technique - two bucket method, or rinse your mitt well in between each wash
--good drying method
good wash mitt

[ChuckBMW3]

You may have these all ready, but if not, you can purchase "grit guards" to place at the bottom of the buckets which prevents the dirt from upwelling into the clean water. Also, you could invest in a foam gun and utilize it in the pre-soak stage. Check out autogeek.net or detailedimage.com

[BayMoWe335]

Detailing forum is really good here. Try going over there since I think not all those guys read here.

That said, I'll help with what little I've learned about washing my Jet Black 335i. Really, you want good quality microfiber towels for drying and buffing.

That is the key. Crap towels = swirls.

Additionally, use 2 buckets when washing and constantly rinse your mitt.

Lastly, be gentle. When drying the car, don't use a lot of pressure. The water will absorb into good microfiber. I like to just lightly drag the microfiber over the paint or even use a leaf blower for crevices.

Just take your time, use high quality products, and be gentle. Here are some products I recommend:

1) Blackfire Wet Diamond Sealant
2) Zaino tire shine
3) Meguiars gold class car wash or Zaino car wash.
4) Zaino clay
5) Zaino blonde buffing towels
6) Meguiars NXT wax

[infinitekidM2C]

Wash in certain patterns..not circular of course

Hood...back and forth towards front window..

Sides..up and down (or so im told)...

[Vasil]

+1 on the detailing forum. Great advice there.
speaking which, my black sapphire needs a wax too....

[jopa489]

All good advice here. But black will start to show swirls over time, it's inevitable and why you do a polish 1-2 times per year. Considering your car is so new, the swirls you might be noticing may have been there from the dealer or factory. Dealers commonly use filling glaze to make the paint look pristine when you take delivery, but after a few washes it wears off and the true condition of the paint is revealed.

Don't think for a second the paint on a new car is perfect. That's far from the truth.

[bimmertt]

Originally Posted by jopa489

All good advice here. But black will start to show swirls over time, it's inevitable and why you do a polish 1-2 times per year. Considering your car is so new, the swirls you might be noticing may have been there from the dealer or factory. Dealers commonly use filling glaze to make the paint look pristine when you take delivery, but after a few washes it wears off and the true condition of the paint is revealed.

Don't think for a second the paint on a new car is perfect. That's far from the truth.

This is what I was thinking. Swirls were probably already there from dealer prep.

Sounds like you used the correct washing method so swirls should not be that apparent.

[J BONE]

All about the technique. I have had black sapphire for 3 years and wash my car, including winter, was once a week. Two buckets with grit guards are a must. Agree with towel post above, you have to have nice MF towels. I think the key is def to go "with the grain" of the car. NEVER wash in circles, it kills! I use ONR most of the time and have had great success with it. I have to say with well over a 100 washes, my car looks pretty good. You will always end up with swirls at some point but can def minimize them with good tech. This forum taught me everything I know about detailing. Great info on here. Spend a little time reviewing some posts on here and you will be good

[Ricer X]

i use a silicone squeegie recommended by my dealer before hitting it with mf towels lightly. Of course I wipe off the squeegie before each pass

[wrickem]

Originally Posted by jopa489

. Considering your car is so new, the swirls you might be noticing may have been there from the dealer or factory. Dealers commonly use filling glaze to make the paint look pristine when you take delivery, but after a few washes it wears off and the true condition of the paint is revealed.

Don't think for a second the paint on a new car is perfect. That's far from the truth.

When I picked up my BSM 3 last week, although it looked really good, one of the things I did was to do a full detail a get a good coat of wax on it. This Saturday when I washed it, it was easy and came out looking better than after I'd just picked it up.

And like all colors, but especially black..the sun and heat are not your friend on washing day.

[pander5]

As others have mentioned, the trick is very clean wash and dry media and reduce the friction passes. For the necessary friction passes keep the pressure real light. After the wash with a foam gun and final rinse I use the drip method and a leaf blower dedicated ONLY to car drying. Whatever water is left gets a very gentle wipe with perfectly clean WW MF towels.

I also have BSM and have all but eliminated introducing swirls or scratches by being extremely careful. It can be done.

I will also agree with those who suggest your fine scratches may have been there at delivery. They can be removed.

[driverman]

Great posts!

I've had my BSM E90 for 2 1/2 years and I've introduced ZERO swirls by using the techniques I learned on this forum.

I agree with most of the posters:
- the swirls might have been there from delivery
- rinse the wash mitt frequently, especially when washing the sides and back
- use MINIMAL PRESSURE while washing and drying
- use top quality cotton or MF drying cloths

I've been pleased to learn that BSM doesn't require perfect technique. The paint seems to be quite hard. So there seems to be a LITTLE room for imperfect technique.

[E92murdered]

whats a good drying material? is the absorber good ?

Originally Posted by driverman

Great posts!

I've had my BSM E90 for 2 1/2 years and I've introduced ZERO swirls by using the techniques I learned on this forum.

I agree with most of the posters:
- the swirls might have been there from delivery
- rinse the wash mitt frequently, especially when washing the sides and back
- use MINIMAL PRESSURE while washing and drying
- use top quality cotton or MF drying cloths

I've been pleased to learn that BSM doesn't require perfect technique. The paint seems to be quite hard. So there seems to be a LITTLE room for imperfect technique.

[driverman]

Originally Posted by E92murdered

whats a good drying material? is the absorber good ?

I use both of these:

- high quality, 100%, made in the USA, cotton towel with the edging removed
- high quality microfiber towel

I haven't tried the absorber.

[fisherbln]

Originally Posted by E92murdered

whats a good drying material? is the absorber good ?

The absorber doesn't have any way to trap dirt particles away from the surface and thus will just drag any dirt directly across the paint. Unless the car and absorber and completely dirt free (extremely unlikely) it will introduce marring.

[driverman]

Originally Posted by AFV335i

i use a silicone squeegie recommended by my dealer before hitting it with mf towels lightly. Of course I wipe off the squeegie before each pass

If there are any particles left on the paint after the wash or the squeegie, the squeegie could scratch the paint.

[dday]

Originally Posted by AFV335i

i use a silicone squeegie recommended by my dealer before hitting it with mf towels lightly. Of course I wipe off the squeegie before each pass

those are the devil, check out this vid

[roundle]

Isn't the Citrus Wash used as a pre-wax wash (to strip wax\sealant)? Perhaps this explains why you are seeing swirls--have you removed your sealant\wax?

Try the P21S Shampoo or the Dino Juice Born to be Mild (the purple one).
To remove light swirls, try some Klasse All In One (AIO) and then finish up with P21S Wax. Both products are VERY easy to use and extremely cost effective.

[infinitekidM2C]

According to the video, tHe squeegie is a "weapon of mass destruction" lol

[Farhan]

Black sapphire is a pain 2 maintain...

[MassBimmer]

I've always been a fan of the squeegie, guess I continue to learn more and more every day...that's getting tossed!