Washing Underneath My Car???

Raikkonen · 01-23-2008, 11:03 AM

It hasn't been a particularly bad winter here in Detroit, but it's been very messy. My question is how to effectively wash the underside of my car? I've got the sport package, and when I went to a local hot water power wash place, I found that it was practically impossible to angle the nozzle upwards underneath my car, not to mention I was almost lying on the filthy floor. It's really starting to bother me that my mufflers are beginning to look filthy as well. Does anyone have any special technique or process they use (besides jacks/using a lift!!)? Just curious. Thanks.

JOYRIIDE1113 · 01-23-2008, 11:47 AM

Rhino Ramp?!?

I've been to a few touchless washes where when you slowly drive into the wash bay, a jet shoots from the bottle, cleaning your undercarriage. Don't know how effective tho.

BK · 01-23-2008, 12:54 PM

Clean mufflers: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62416

Warning - once you start cleaning your muffler, you'll do it all the time. I do. My muffler is always impeccable after I wash my car.

For the underside, I just spray a bit under there when I wash.

Raikkonen · 01-23-2008, 02:12 PM

Wow!!!!!!!! Polishing!!! That guy's insane!!!!! (no offense) I would maybe consider that level of obsession if I drove a Bugatti, but then again, if I drove a Bugatti, I wouldn't be washing my own car!

Just out of curiosity, how do you reach your mufflers? Will they scratch?

BK · 01-23-2008, 02:48 PM

I spend some time polishing the chrome tips on my car, then lay down on my back and wipe off the rest of the muffler. If you aren't OCD enough to do it, don't start. As I said, once you start doing it, you'll end up doing it every time.

The good news is that like anything else, once it is cleaned once, it is pretty easy to keep it up each week.

E nine T · 01-23-2008, 03:05 PM

Im trying to think of something to solve this problem as well. I was thinking maybe a hose with the end capped off and little holes pointing upwards. This would give you higher pressure from little holes, and the water would go up so you can slip it under the car and move back and forth.

xdrive · 01-23-2008, 04:48 PM

I wonder about the undercarriage wash too, as to how effective they are. Wonder if it's a bad thing to do. More rust?

Namir · 01-24-2008, 01:11 PM

Most cars now days don't rust as bad on the underside. I think the bigger issue is that terribly harsh salt mixture they lay down in the winters. They do it here in Ohio and I'm sure its even worse up in Michigan. I too want to know how to effectively wash the underside, and I'm not looking for "oh just stick a hose under it and rinse." That salt is on there pretty good and is pretty corrosive, so I would like to know if anyone has any creative ways to get it off, short of putting it up on a lift and going to town.

01-23-2008, 11:03 AM	#1
Raikkonen Captain 337 Rep 820 Posts Drives: 2024 X5 M60i Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grosse Pointe Park, MI iTrader: (2)	Washing Underneath My Car??? It hasn't been a particularly bad winter here in Detroit, but it's been very messy. My question is how to effectively wash the underside of my car? I've got the sport package, and when I went to a local hot water power wash place, I found that it was practically impossible to angle the nozzle upwards underneath my car, not to mention I was almost lying on the filthy floor. It's really starting to bother me that my mufflers are beginning to look filthy as well. Does anyone have any special technique or process they use (besides jacks/using a lift!!)? Just curious. Thanks.
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01-23-2008, 11:47 AM	#2
JOYRIIDE1113 Pirate 113 Rep 1,395 Posts Drives: Detailing Shark Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Miami-Kendall iTrader: (1)	Rhino Ramp?!? I've been to a few touchless washes where when you slowly drive into the wash bay, a jet shoots from the bottle, cleaning your undercarriage. Don't know how effective tho.
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01-23-2008, 12:54 PM	#3
BK Smiling politely 165 Rep 7,931 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [9.00]	Clean mufflers: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62416 Warning - once you start cleaning your muffler, you'll do it all the time. I do. My muffler is always impeccable after I wash my car. For the underside, I just spray a bit under there when I wash. __________________ E90 330i Black Sapphire 6MT \| 991.1 C4 Platinum Silver 7MT
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01-23-2008, 02:12 PM	#4
Raikkonen Captain 337 Rep 820 Posts Drives: 2024 X5 M60i Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grosse Pointe Park, MI iTrader: (2)	Wow!!!!!!!! Polishing!!! That guy's insane!!!!! (no offense) I would maybe consider that level of obsession if I drove a Bugatti, but then again, if I drove a Bugatti, I wouldn't be washing my own car! Just out of curiosity, how do you reach your mufflers? Will they scratch?
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01-23-2008, 02:48 PM	#5
BK Smiling politely 165 Rep 7,931 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [9.00]	I spend some time polishing the chrome tips on my car, then lay down on my back and wipe off the rest of the muffler. If you aren't OCD enough to do it, don't start. As I said, once you start doing it, you'll end up doing it every time. The good news is that like anything else, once it is cleaned once, it is pretty easy to keep it up each week. __________________ E90 330i Black Sapphire 6MT \| 991.1 C4 Platinum Silver 7MT
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01-23-2008, 03:05 PM	#6
E nine T Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 231 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Im trying to think of something to solve this problem as well. I was thinking maybe a hose with the end capped off and little holes pointing upwards. This would give you higher pressure from little holes, and the water would go up so you can slip it under the car and move back and forth.
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01-23-2008, 04:48 PM	#7
xdrive Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 250 Posts Drives: 330xi Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	I wonder about the undercarriage wash too, as to how effective they are. Wonder if it's a bad thing to do. More rust?
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01-24-2008, 01:11 PM	#8
Namir Private 0 Rep 96 Posts Drives: on the road. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	Most cars now days don't rust as bad on the underside. I think the bigger issue is that terribly harsh salt mixture they lay down in the winters. They do it here in Ohio and I'm sure its even worse up in Michigan. I too want to know how to effectively wash the underside, and I'm not looking for "oh just stick a hose under it and rinse." That salt is on there pretty good and is pretty corrosive, so I would like to know if anyone has any creative ways to get it off, short of putting it up on a lift and going to town.
	Appreciate 0 Quote