Car Wash: Bad Idea?

JackSpadesSI · 09-15-2010, 09:43 AM

I made it a point with my last car never to take it to a drive-through car wash so that it wouldn't get paint swirls. However, I became too lazy to keep up with washing it by hand so it just stayed dirty for long periods of time. Thankfully that was a silver car, so it didn't look that bad when it was dirty.

Now my 335i - my baby - is dirty and I'm facing a dilemma. It is Jet Black (non-metallic) so even a little bit of dust makes it looks like I drove it through a construction site. I need to wash it but I'd love to just take it to the local drive-through car wash. Paint swirls would be REALLY noticeable on Jet Black, though.

What do you guys do?

ss134 · 09-15-2010, 09:49 AM

If you don't care about having swirl marks all over your car then take it through the car wash......if you do then don't - swirl marks are very noiticeable on black cars.

Why did you get a black car if you are too 'lazy' to look after it?

markinva · 09-15-2010, 09:56 AM

Optimum No Rinse... quick wash takes about 25 mins. Then the quick detailer spray in between keeps the car clean if you use it every couple days for mild dirt. Takes 5 mins.

Otherwise I use the no touch spray wash things at gas stations.

SmoothStyle1 · 09-15-2010, 10:01 AM

I've found that the shammy-material car washes work just fine. They do a hell of a lot better job than 'touch-less' car washes and don't leave swirls.

alexckma · 09-15-2010, 10:06 AM

doesnt look like you care too much about your car if you can get it to the point where it looks like it's been through a construction site. And yea, it would look like crap when it comes out.

crzylildude · 09-15-2010, 10:20 AM

I clean my car every weekend... Do it yourself car wash... (not the automated car wash) ...

1 - High presure soap all over the car then half of the remaining minutes switch to triple color conditioner... then finish up the remaining time..
2 - have your own micro fiber towel (buy it from CostCo cheap!)
have a quick rub all over the car... and finish up with your rims
3 - You need to put coins again and start with high presure rinse and then half the remaining time switch to no spot rinse... and you are done...
4 - move it to the drying area and bring out a new micro fiber towel to quickly dry your car... if you have a spray detailer bring it out and use it...
5 - when you get back home ... If you have a claybar do it... and spray wax your car...

Peace

thullz · 09-15-2010, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crzylildude

I clean my car every weekend... Do it yourself car wash... (not the automated car wash) ...

1 - High presure soap all over the car then half of the remaining minutes switch to triple color conditioner... then finish up the remaining time..
2 - have your own micro fiber towel (buy it from CostCo cheap!)
have a quick rub all over the car... and finish up with your rims
3 - You need to put coins again and start with high presure rinse and then half the remaining time switch to no spot rinse... and you are done...
4 - move it to the drying area and bring out a new micro fiber towel to quickly dry your car... if you have a spray detailer bring it out and use it...
5 - when you get back home ... If you have a claybar do it... and spray wax your car...

Peace

You do this every weekend - claybar and all?

Eights-n-Aces · 09-15-2010, 10:28 AM

FYI - Quick detailer takes more than 5 minutes.

crzylildude · 09-15-2010, 10:35 AM

... Yes i don't like dirty car... my GF don't like dirty car... and i live in the city... you don't know how nasty the dust here is... well the clay bar i do it once a month....

Quote:

Originally Posted by thullz

You do this every weekend - claybar and all?

Thud · 09-15-2010, 10:35 AM

It depends on the type of car wash. Never ever ever drive through any sort of gas station car wash, but there are dedicated standalone car washes that work very well.

I never used auto car washes until my SGM 135i, now I drove it through about once a month (that's about how long it takes for SGM to look dirty

) since April 2008, and there are barely any swirls visible, even under flourescent light.

The only exterior maintenance I do is reapply a coat of Zaino CS every few months.

derrick603 · 09-15-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markinva

Optimum No Rinse... quick wash takes about 25 mins. Then the quick detailer spray in between keeps the car clean if you use it every couple days for mild dirt. Takes 5 mins.

Otherwise I use the no touch spray wash things at gas stations.

I also do a 30 minute ONR wash every weekend and follow it up with a coat of Aquawax every few weeks.

crzylildude · 09-15-2010, 10:38 AM

It only cost me $4 max at the carwash in downtown LA ... the rest is my own stuffs like detailer and spray wax...

Ricer X · 09-15-2010, 10:45 AM

1. Touchless auto car washes use an acidic cleanser that is damaging to your clear coats.
2. Any auto car washes runs the risk that whatever rocks/grime from previous cars is still on the towels will scratch your car.
3. Only use hand car washes but only if they change to clean/new towels/wash mits for every car.

These only apply if you care, and if you asked the question, you obviously do.

Chriztofor · 09-15-2010, 12:15 PM

techlogik · 09-15-2010, 12:59 PM

I got a local carwash that hand washes the car, they use descent quality mits and waffle/micro fiber for drying.

But, who knows what soap they use.

It's probably the only place I would take my car..otherwise, they will ruin your paint.

I just wash it myself, that way you know it was done right.

MrClean · 09-15-2010, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techlogik

I just wash it myself, that way you know it was done right.

Provided you "know what you're doing"...

Trojan4evr · 09-15-2010, 02:09 PM

yeah, I got tired of payin $60 for hand carwash and interior detailing and then tippin the dude $10. So I'm gonna start searching on how to do it my self and make a carwash kit so I don't have to spend over $300 a month for all my cars.

EYE4SPEED · 09-15-2010, 05:08 PM

So touchless carwashes use damaging soap?

jopa489 · 09-15-2010, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EYE4SPEED

So touchless carwashes use damaging soap?

Not in my opinion. It is stronger than ONR or other types of traditional hand wash shampoo, but you should have protection on the paint anyway. At worst, your sealant/wax might just not last as long.

ChuckBMW3 · 09-15-2010, 05:23 PM

Jet Black is one of the softest paint choices offered by BMW. My old e46 was JB and I made the huge mistake of taking it through an automatic car wash a couple of times (swirls everywhere). My advice: stay away!

jopa489 · 09-15-2010, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChuckBMW3

Jet Black is one of the softest paint choices offered by BMW. My old e46 was JB and I made the huge mistake of taking it through an automatic car wash a couple of times (swirls everywhere). My advice: stay away!

Correct. A few years ago (2004), a family member had a JB X3 that was tunnel washed weekly/biweekly. By the end of the 3 year lease, the car looked terrible. My car is JB and, while nothing beats it when clean, it's a full time job to keep looking nice and tunnel washes are an absolute no-no.

pwhipple06 · 09-15-2010, 07:59 PM

DO NOT bring your car through a car wash. Mine is jet black and I did once...totally ruined the paint job. I'm kicking my self in the ass ever since. I recently buffed out the entire car and it got rid of the swirls. but for 3 or 4 days I couldn't move my arms. I guess that is what I get for trying to save a few mins by running my car through the local car wash!

09-15-2010, 09:43 AM	#1
JackSpadesSI Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 201 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 335i Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	Car Wash: Bad Idea? I made it a point with my last car never to take it to a drive-through car wash so that it wouldn't get paint swirls. However, I became too lazy to keep up with washing it by hand so it just stayed dirty for long periods of time. Thankfully that was a silver car, so it didn't look that bad when it was dirty. Now my 335i - my baby - is dirty and I'm facing a dilemma. It is Jet Black (non-metallic) so even a little bit of dust makes it looks like I drove it through a construction site. I need to wash it but I'd love to just take it to the local drive-through car wash. Paint swirls would be REALLY noticeable on Jet Black, though. What do you guys do?
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09-15-2010, 09:49 AM	#2
ss134 Brigadier General 230 Rep 3,899 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Germany/UK iTrader: (1)	If you don't care about having swirl marks all over your car then take it through the car wash......if you do then don't - swirl marks are very noiticeable on black cars. Why did you get a black car if you are too 'lazy' to look after it? __________________ 2014 AW F80 M3 DCT 2011 AW E90 M3 DCT - Sold 2010 JZB E90 M3 DCT - Sold 2009 6MT E90 LCI 335i M -Sport - Sold
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09-15-2010, 09:56 AM	#3
markinva Lieutenant 20 Rep 402 Posts Drives: 2021 M4 G82 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NOVA iTrader: (0)	Optimum No Rinse... quick wash takes about 25 mins. Then the quick detailer spray in between keeps the car clean if you use it every couple days for mild dirt. Takes 5 mins. Otherwise I use the no touch spray wash things at gas stations.
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09-15-2010, 10:01 AM	#4
SmoothStyle1 Lieutenant 116 Rep 406 Posts Drives: 340i, 6MT Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NC, USA iTrader: (0)	I've found that the shammy-material car washes work just fine. They do a hell of a lot better job than 'touch-less' car washes and don't leave swirls. __________________ Specs: '16 340i\|6sp MT\|Silver Metallic\|Black Leather with Oyster Highlights\|Aluminum Hexagon Trim. Options: M-Sport\|Cold Weather\|Technology\|Track Handling\|Power Rear Sunshade\|Driving Assistance \|Driving Assistance Plus\|Lighting\|Harman Kardon\|Surround View Pics of my car
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09-15-2010, 10:06 AM	#5
alexckma Lieutenant 30 Rep 518 Posts Drives: P. Panorama 10, L Gallardo 05 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hong Kong, Canada iTrader: (0)	doesnt look like you care too much about your car if you can get it to the point where it looks like it's been through a construction site. And yea, it would look like crap when it comes out.
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09-15-2010, 10:20 AM	#6
crzylildude Colonel 183 Rep 2,063 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Coupe Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (16) Garage List 1991 BMW E30 325i s ... [8.50] 1995 BMW 318Ti [0.00] 2007 BMW 335i Coupe [10.00] 1962 VW KarmanGhia [10.00] 2007 BMW Mini Cooper [9.00]	I clean my car every weekend... Do it yourself car wash... (not the automated car wash) ... 1 - High presure soap all over the car then half of the remaining minutes switch to triple color conditioner... then finish up the remaining time.. 2 - have your own micro fiber towel (buy it from CostCo cheap!) have a quick rub all over the car... and finish up with your rims 3 - You need to put coins again and start with high presure rinse and then half the remaining time switch to no spot rinse... and you are done... 4 - move it to the drying area and bring out a new micro fiber towel to quickly dry your car... if you have a spray detailer bring it out and use it... 5 - when you get back home ... If you have a claybar do it... and spray wax your car... Peace
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09-15-2010, 10:28 AM	#8
Eights-n-Aces []D []-[] []_[] []< []\[] []_[] '][' 27 Rep 418 Posts Drives: 335i Convertible/Le Mans Blue/ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Weston, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 335 Convertible [0.00]	FYI - Quick detailer takes more than 5 minutes. __________________ 2010 E93 335i M LeMans Blue 2001 E 46 330ci Coupe/silver/black/Sunroof 1999 BMW R1200C Cruiser-Ivory & Blue
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09-15-2010, 10:35 AM	#10
Thud Throbbing Member 43 Rep 1,433 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jan 2008 iTrader: (0)	It depends on the type of car wash. Never ever ever drive through any sort of gas station car wash, but there are dedicated standalone car washes that work very well. I never used auto car washes until my SGM 135i, now I drove it through about once a month (that's about how long it takes for SGM to look dirty ) since April 2008, and there are barely any swirls visible, even under flourescent light. The only exterior maintenance I do is reapply a coat of Zaino CS every few months. __________________ 2014 Tesla Model S 85kwh Previous cars: 2011 335d / Deep Sea Blue / Saddle brown / sport / premium 2008 BMW 135i / 6MT 2002 Z06 Corvette
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09-15-2010, 10:38 AM	#12
crzylildude Colonel 183 Rep 2,063 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Coupe Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (16) Garage List 1991 BMW E30 325i s ... [8.50] 1995 BMW 318Ti [0.00] 2007 BMW 335i Coupe [10.00] 1962 VW KarmanGhia [10.00] 2007 BMW Mini Cooper [9.00]	It only cost me $4 max at the carwash in downtown LA ... the rest is my own stuffs like detailer and spray wax...
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09-15-2010, 10:45 AM	#13
Ricer X noted crusty old man 99 Rep 7,859 Posts Drives: like a man late for work Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: of what? iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 335i [6.76]	1. Touchless auto car washes use an acidic cleanser that is damaging to your clear coats. 2. Any auto car washes runs the risk that whatever rocks/grime from previous cars is still on the towels will scratch your car. 3. Only use hand car washes but only if they change to clean/new towels/wash mits for every car. These only apply if you care, and if you asked the question, you obviously do. __________________ Photoshoot: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=448667 Ihsanshaik - X/Vasillalov - X/Nood1es - X/Countless more I can't recall - X Nobama 2012
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09-15-2010, 12:15 PM	#14
Chriztofor Colonel 103 Rep 2,783 Posts Drives: '06 325i and '13 X5 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (1)	__________________ If no codes are being thrown use Chevron Techron fuel injector cleaner (concentrate). It solves rpm fluctuating upon cold start-up. Also, for most BMW problems start off by scanning your car with the Peake Research Tool. It contains the actual BMW codes. If you want to register a newly installed battery for free (just buy a $10 cable) and google/download BMWLogger
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09-15-2010, 12:59 PM	#15
techlogik Lieutenant Colonel 70 Rep 1,565 Posts Drives: 2020 M340i Dravit Grey Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: FL iTrader: (2)	I got a local carwash that hand washes the car, they use descent quality mits and waffle/micro fiber for drying. But, who knows what soap they use. It's probably the only place I would take my car..otherwise, they will ruin your paint. I just wash it myself, that way you know it was done right. __________________ 2020 M340i: Dravit Grey Mettalic. Loaded.
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09-15-2010, 02:09 PM	#17
Trojan4evr Lieutenant Colonel 494 Rep 1,922 Posts Drives: 2021 G80 M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Socal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW/ E82 135i [1.00] 2007 BMW/ E90 335i [5.50]	yeah, I got tired of payin $60 for hand carwash and interior detailing and then tippin the dude $10. So I'm gonna start searching on how to do it my self and make a carwash kit so I don't have to spend over $300 a month for all my cars.
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09-15-2010, 05:08 PM	#18
EYE4SPEED Ex-Diesel Driver 63 Rep 2,000 Posts Drives: Audi SQ5 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: West Coast... of Michigan iTrader: (22)	So touchless carwashes use damaging soap? __________________ FS: HRE Center Caps http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...post13972317l]
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09-15-2010, 05:23 PM	#20
ChuckBMW3 Lieutenant 12 Rep 433 Posts Drives: f30 335i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Jacksonville, FL iTrader: (0)	Jet Black is one of the softest paint choices offered by BMW. My old e46 was JB and I made the huge mistake of taking it through an automatic car wash a couple of times (swirls everywhere). My advice: stay away! __________________ f30 335i: Current e92 335i: Sold 10/29/2015 e90 328i: Sold 12/7/2013
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09-15-2010, 07:59 PM	#22
pwhipple06 Second Lieutenant 2 Rep 215 Posts Drives: 2006 e90 330xi Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Providence, RI iTrader: (1)	DO NOT bring your car through a car wash. Mine is jet black and I did once...totally ruined the paint job. I'm kicking my self in the ass ever since. I recently buffed out the entire car and it got rid of the swirls. but for 3 or 4 days I couldn't move my arms. I guess that is what I get for trying to save a few mins by running my car through the local car wash! __________________ '95 4.0 V6 Explorer 160 hp (Sold) '98 2.9 I6 S90 181 hp (Totaled) '93 7.3 V8 F350 Dually 360 lb·ft (Current) '06 3.0 I6 E90 330xi 255 hp (Current) E9x Pic Game: 3pt : Gone fishin', Gone Campin', TDF Honorin'
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