Car wash or Hand wash? - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

ssangjune · 07-21-2005, 04:43 PM

Are anyone of you going to put your car through a car wash or are you all going to hand wash it? I heard car washes put swirls and little scratch marks on the body.

Any tips for hand washing? Do rims need separate cleaners?

thanks.

nexus66 · 07-21-2005, 04:53 PM

I should report you for using the "car wash" swear words!!

Only ever hand wash - and I'd imagine most folk here feel the same - afterall we are all obsessive...

You don't actually need a separate cleaner for the alloys, although for stubborn brake dust you might need a special cleaner. Just make sure you wash the wheels after you've washed the rest of the car!

LEDZEP · 07-21-2005, 04:54 PM

I highly recommend taking your car through the car wash. Unless of course, you do not want scratches and scrapes all over the car, marred paint where some high school dropout dragged a vacuum hose, bent windshield wiper arms, scratches in your windshield, and harsh chemicals being used on your paint.

If you're not thrilled about those things, then you might want to consider the possiblilty of washing the car yourself.

In the winter when I cannot wash my car, there are a couple of "touchless" washes that I will take the car to, to get the grime and salt off. It uses pressure sprays only and nothing touches the car. I still only do that in the winter - the rest of the year it is a gentle hand wash with Meguire's car wash soap and a sheepskin mit. Dried with cotton terry cloth.

scottz5 · 07-21-2005, 05:39 PM

hand jobs only lol

jbl16 · 07-21-2005, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottz5

hand jobs only lol

lmao

CnoteMD · 07-21-2005, 09:08 PM

Definitely hand wash your car if you can. I don't have the luxury of handwashing my car in my building. Fortunately, there is a hand car wash next door.

This place is almost a cross between a machine wash and a hand wash. As you drive into the garage, 4 guys soap your car down and use cotton wash mitts to clean it off. Then they start spraying your car with a water hose. Then as you drive out, sprayers get the rest of the soap off. Finally, the car is air dryed as you continue to drive forward.

After you get outside, they use compressed air to get the water out of the mirrors and between the body panels. Finally, they vacuum the interior, clean the windows, and dress the tires.

Even though washing it yourself is always best, this is definitely better than the machine washes I had to use when I lived in NYC.

Michael

jetmechG550 · 07-21-2005, 09:55 PM

Definitely hand wash only. Especially if your using something like Zaino, since some soaps used in machine type washes won't be Zaino friendly and take that oh so sought after finish right back to blah.

raleedy · 07-21-2005, 11:12 PM

Been running my E39 through a car wash weekly for 4 years. It looks fine.

MBChariot · 07-22-2005, 01:32 AM

I would never and have never put my cars through a car wash, I take pride in washing my vehicles that is just my thing. Even during winter here in Germany, when it's colder

than I don't know what. That's just my thing

en3rgie · 07-22-2005, 04:11 AM

I think it depends becuase some car washes suck

but some car washes in my nieghborhood do nothing but beemers, Benzs, etc.
So they do pretty clean jobs.

And it seems like all car washes are hand?

Where theyre just put through a bunch of sprays and dried by hand.

I really want to wash my car myself .
I happily spent at least an hour every week with my e46 but its been so damn hot and sunny this summer It seems like theres never shade in my drive way.

Broken1 · 07-22-2005, 04:16 AM

My car gets handwashed. Not by me though. I have an excellent car wash just up the road from me. You drive it in, they rinse with a med-pressure spray then they soap it up rinse it again, dry and vacuum. The only thing I won't let them do is clean/touch my lemon leather seats!

davinet78 · 07-26-2005, 05:05 AM

it is forbidden to use a car wash

David325Australia · 07-26-2005, 06:29 AM

Certainly hand wash. Our local shopping mall has a hand car washing service with different levels of washing/polishing/cleaning/detailing to choose from.

Very professional & conducted for all to see. Reasonable prices too. Looking forward to my memory seats as the driver's seat is always out of alignment for me after the wash & clean.

impulsebrklyn · 07-26-2005, 09:54 AM

HAND WASH We dont say that other word

Also dont use crap towels or a mit. Go buy yourself some high quality cotton bath towels made in the use and cut the trim/decrative trim off of it. That trim will scratch it has nylon in it most likely. Get yourself a nice sheepskin mit too.

Chris

silverado · 07-26-2005, 12:18 PM

I use a hand wash service (can't wash my own car where I live). They have been good, and the head guy is pretty cool and owns a black car himself. However, last time I took it there I think someone used a dirty rag at some point and I saw some fine scratches on the trunk

I will give them an earful the next time I go there, but it's almost my only option. I guess over the life of a car it is impossible to never get these and the only thing you can really hope for is to minimize them.

Of course if this weren't a black car I would not have even noticed this.

bozo5521 · 07-26-2005, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nexus66

I should report you for using the "car wash" swear words!!

NEVER!! Some of them are actually pretty good. But there is NO auto wash on earth that can get every spot on any car..And theres nothing worse then seeing a nice new "clean" car with the bottm sides and bumper still covered in "wet dirt"...

NaTuReB0Y · 07-26-2005, 12:38 PM

I use the high school band, cheerleader, or geek squad fundraiser........whenever possible down the street. $5 donation. Hahahaha!

06alpine325icm · 07-28-2005, 08:55 AM

Hand wash is a must use micro fiber towels to wash the car they are very soft and work welll and make sure you dry ur car with the Absorber,, works wonders

blackE90 · 08-05-2005, 06:59 PM

i feel your pain silverado. i feel like i slave over this car to keep it clean, but to no avail. F'en birds don't help either. I fear this will be third and last black car.
My gf has a silver car and it always looks clean, and i know for a fact she washes it once a month maybe

zero619 · 08-06-2005, 12:21 AM

I'm gonna get my car washed at school by sorority girls

tima · 08-06-2005, 10:46 PM

Quote:

I'm gonna get my car washed at school by sorority girls

Gee, when I think of all the car care products and the vast variety of service providers, and the time spent fretting over maintaining a great looking finish on a $40k automobile, what comes first to mind .... sorority girls ... yeah that's the ticket.

tsoc88 · 08-07-2005, 11:18 AM

Odd about car wash opinions. My dealer (Foreign Motors West in Boston area) gave me a month of free car washes at Scrub a Dub.
They seem to be very careful about how you car is handled in the wash area and are known (I think) for being the best wash in Boston area.

07-21-2005, 04:43 PM	#1
ssangjune Private First Class Drives: 2006 E90 Join Date: May 2005 Location: New Jersey / N.Y.C. Posts: 74 iTrader: (0)	Car wash or Hand wash? Are anyone of you going to put your car through a car wash or are you all going to hand wash it? I heard car washes put swirls and little scratch marks on the body. Any tips for hand washing? Do rims need separate cleaners? thanks. __________________ \| 330i \| Sapphire Black\| Steptronic \| Black Leatherette \| Aluminum Trim\| Sports Package \| 18" Ellipsoid 162 Alloys \| Heated Seats \| Xenons \| Pick up July 26th\|

07-21-2005, 05:39 PM	#4
scottz5 Major Drives: C70 not sure what bmw to get Join Date: May 2005 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 1,159 iTrader: (0) View scottz5's Garage	hand jobs only lol __________________ 06 E90 330i AW/Black/Poplar, 6MT. ZPP, ZSP, and Heated Seats, V1 hardwire, 15% tint. debadged. SOLD

07-21-2005, 09:08 PM	#6
CnoteMD Commander in Chief Drives: 2008 BMW M5 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,033 iTrader: (0) View CnoteMD's Garage	Definitely hand wash your car if you can. I don't have the luxury of handwashing my car in my building. Fortunately, there is a hand car wash next door. This place is almost a cross between a machine wash and a hand wash. As you drive into the garage, 4 guys soap your car down and use cotton wash mitts to clean it off. Then they start spraying your car with a water hose. Then as you drive out, sprayers get the rest of the soap off. Finally, the car is air dryed as you continue to drive forward. After you get outside, they use compressed air to get the water out of the mirrors and between the body panels. Finally, they vacuum the interior, clean the windows, and dress the tires. Even though washing it yourself is always best, this is definitely better than the machine washes I had to use when I lived in NYC. Michael __________________ 2008 BMW M5 Space Gray, Silverstone Merino Leather, Madeira Walnut Wood Trim \| 7speed SMG \| All options Modifications: Corsa Exhaust \| RPI Ram Air Intake Scoops, Block Off Plates, BMC Air Filter, CF removed \| H&R Sport Springs \| Rogue Engineering 12mm spacers \| Valentine 1 Hardwired \| Blinder M25 Laser Jammer

07-22-2005, 01:32 AM	#9
MBChariot HESSEN///M3 Drives: TIag E46 ///M3 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 199 iTrader: (0)	I would never and have never put my cars through a car wash, I take pride in washing my vehicles that is just my thing. Even during winter here in Germany, when it's colder than I don't know what. That's just my thing __________________ MB 330i ZSP Sport PKG TIAG/Imola E46 M3/OEM ZCP wheels "A6 direction Saarbrücken"

07-22-2005, 04:16 AM	#11
Broken1 E90 Addict Drives: E90 325i Sparking Graphite Join Date: May 2005 Location: Johannesburg Posts: 2,065 iTrader: (0) View Broken1's Garage	My car gets handwashed. Not by me though. I have an excellent car wash just up the road from me. You drive it in, they rinse with a med-pressure spray then they soap it up rinse it again, dry and vacuum. The only thing I won't let them do is clean/touch my lemon leather seats! __________________ Broken1.e90post.com / First Meet 11 June Photo's

07-21-2005, 04:53 PM	#2
nexus66 Second Lieutenant Drives: 325iSE Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Scotland Posts: 229 iTrader: (0)	I should report you for using the "car wash" swear words!! Only ever hand wash - and I'd imagine most folk here feel the same - afterall we are all obsessive... You don't actually need a separate cleaner for the alloys, although for stubborn brake dust you might need a special cleaner. Just make sure you wash the wheels after you've washed the rest of the car!

07-21-2005, 04:54 PM	#3
LEDZEP Lieutenant General Drives: E90 & E91 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 Posts: 11,205 iTrader: (0) View LEDZEP's Garage	I highly recommend taking your car through the car wash. Unless of course, you do not want scratches and scrapes all over the car, marred paint where some high school dropout dragged a vacuum hose, bent windshield wiper arms, scratches in your windshield, and harsh chemicals being used on your paint. If you're not thrilled about those things, then you might want to consider the possiblilty of washing the car yourself. In the winter when I cannot wash my car, there are a couple of "touchless" washes that I will take the car to, to get the grime and salt off. It uses pressure sprays only and nothing touches the car. I still only do that in the winter - the rest of the year it is a gentle hand wash with Meguire's car wash soap and a sheepskin mit. Dried with cotton terry cloth.

07-21-2005, 09:55 PM	#7
jetmechG550 Private First Class Drives: 02 325 Grey/Green Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indy Posts: 70 iTrader: (0)	Definitely hand wash only. Especially if your using something like Zaino, since some soaps used in machine type washes won't be Zaino friendly and take that oh so sought after finish right back to blah.

07-21-2005, 11:12 PM	#8
raleedy Lieutenant Drives: E92 328i MY 2008 (ED 11/14/07) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 598 iTrader: (0)	Been running my E39 through a car wash weekly for 4 years. It looks fine.

07-22-2005, 04:11 AM	#10
en3rgie AKA: IndieZHP on every other board Drives: e90 330i 6MT Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Pomona/Northridge, CA Posts: 124 iTrader: (1)	I think it depends becuase some car washes suck but some car washes in my nieghborhood do nothing but beemers, Benzs, etc. So they do pretty clean jobs. And it seems like all car washes are hand? Where theyre just put through a bunch of sprays and dried by hand. I really want to wash my car myself . I happily spent at least an hour every week with my e46 but its been so damn hot and sunny this summer It seems like theres never shade in my drive way.

07-26-2005, 05:05 AM	#12
davinet78 Lieutenant Colonel Drives: bmw e90 320d Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: gibraltar(europe) Posts: 1,839 iTrader: (0) View davinet78's Garage	it is forbidden to use a car wash

07-26-2005, 06:29 AM	#13
David325Australia Lieutenant Colonel Drives: E90 325i 6sp Auto Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 1,833 iTrader: (0)	Certainly hand wash. Our local shopping mall has a hand car washing service with different levels of washing/polishing/cleaning/detailing to choose from. Very professional & conducted for all to see. Reasonable prices too. Looking forward to my memory seats as the driver's seat is always out of alignment for me after the wash & clean. __________________ Jet Black E90 325i Step, heated black leather seats, dark wood trim, sports suspension, 17" 161 style mixed tyres, sun roof, sports steering wheel, logic 7, business nav.

07-26-2005, 09:54 AM	#14
impulsebrklyn Lieutenant Drives: BMW 330i Jet Black Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 379 iTrader: (1)	HAND WASH We dont say that other word Also dont use crap towels or a mit. Go buy yourself some high quality cotton bath towels made in the use and cut the trim/decrative trim off of it. That trim will scratch it has nylon in it most likely. Get yourself a nice sheepskin mit too. Chris

07-26-2005, 12:18 PM	#15
silverado Captain Drives: E90 330i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 589 iTrader: (0)	I use a hand wash service (can't wash my own car where I live). They have been good, and the head guy is pretty cool and owns a black car himself. However, last time I took it there I think someone used a dirty rag at some point and I saw some fine scratches on the trunk I will give them an earful the next time I go there, but it's almost my only option. I guess over the life of a car it is impossible to never get these and the only thing you can really hope for is to minimize them. Of course if this weren't a black car I would not have even noticed this. __________________ E90 330i \| Sapphire Black \| Black Dakota \| Burl Walnut \| 6 speed Manual \| Sports \| Premium \| Cold Weather \| PDC \| iDrive \| Sirius

07-26-2005, 12:38 PM	#17
NaTuReB0Y Powered By 36DD Drives: 2006 E90 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Jungle Posts: 6,535 iTrader: (9)	I use the high school band, cheerleader, or geek squad fundraiser........whenever possible down the street. $5 donation. Hahahaha! __________________ 2006 330i E90: Jet Black Automatic Schestamatic Steptronic Six Speed Transmission

07-28-2005, 08:55 AM	#18
06alpine325icm First Lieutenant Drives: 2006 alpine white Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: nyc Posts: 213 iTrader: (0)	Hand wash is a must use micro fiber towels to wash the car they are very soft and work welll and make sure you dry ur car with the Absorber,, works wonders

08-05-2005, 06:59 PM	#19
blackE90 Private First Class Drives: sp blk 330i Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: east coast Posts: 141 iTrader: (0)	i feel your pain silverado. i feel like i slave over this car to keep it clean, but to no avail. F'en birds don't help either. I fear this will be third and last black car. My gf has a silver car and it always looks clean, and i know for a fact she washes it once a month maybe

08-06-2005, 12:21 AM	#20
zero619 Second Lieutenant Drives: 330i Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 105 iTrader: (0)	I'm gonna get my car washed at school by sorority girls __________________ 2006 SG 330i \| Steptronic \| Premium \| Cold Weather \| 35% Tint

08-07-2005, 11:18 AM	#22
tsoc88 New Member Drives: 2008 328ic, 2004 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 29 iTrader: (0)	Car Wash Odd about car wash opinions. My dealer (Foreign Motors West in Boston area) gave me a month of free car washes at Scrub a Dub. They seem to be very careful about how you car is handled in the wash area and are known (I think) for being the best wash in Boston area.