Anybody know what kind of car wash soap/shampoo leave a nice smooth, slippery almost waxy feel to the finish after washing it?
What do the dealerships use? Car detailers?
Each time I get my car back from the dealer, they wash the car for me and it has this smooth/slippery/glossy/waxy feel to the paint. I notice it just by grabbing the door handle to open the door, and the rest of the car feels this way too.

Anybody have any insight to what they use? Or what I can get that will do this?

Thanks

Most dealers use a mainstream soap found in stores. Some of them will just re-package it in their own bmw bottles, while others will sell it as is. You should ask the parts dept at your dealer what they sell. It's most likely the same one they use when they wash your car for you.

David.

As David recommended in his Detailing 101 post, try Meguiars Gold Glass soap/shampoo. I love it and bought it for a buddy of mine for an X-mas joke gift since he was previously using dish soap :confused: . His comments after using the Megs: "Wow, I can't believe how much smoother and shinier it leaves the paint!"

It can be had for $10/gallon at Target.

Thanks for the responses. I've tried the Meguires Gold Class wash, and it's pretty good. Tried Xymol car wash too. Okay. Currently use Griot's Garage, which I like better than both of those, but still looking for that smooth/waxy feeling car wash shampoo.
I'll ask the dealer when I'm there next.

Anybody else?

Thanks!

...but still looking for that smooth/waxy feeling car wash shampoo.

That really isn't a function of the car shampoo. The dedicated car shampoos are desingend to not strip off the wax that is currently on your car, not add wax to it. Sure, there are some products out there you add to the bucket while washing that are supposed to "wax as you wash", but don't try it.

Sounds like you need a thorough detail to get that 'to the touch feeling' you're looking for.

Are you sure they're not using some sort of spray wax as you dry product with the wash?

I've been using Meguiars Gold Class for a while and it's been great. Question though, ahs anyone tried Meguiars new NXT Generation Car Wash? http://www.meguiars.com/whatsnew/carwash.cfm

Looks like it could be better than then Gold Class, thoughts?

MDex, Hal,
Thanks for the replies. Agreed. I am not interested in the "wax-as-you-go" products. Nothing replaces a real, wax job.
I don't know if they are using a spray on wax as they dry, but I doubt it. That's an extra, time-consuming step for them.

Hmm, I'll keep looking to see what I find and ask the dealer, and a detailer as well. Thanks again for the input! I'll report back what I find.

I bet they use a wash with some amount of wax built into it. My neighbor let me borrow some of his car soap when I was out, and it has some carnuba or something in the fluid. It leaves my car really smooth and slippery, compared to the cheap-ass Blue Coral stuff my dad got me :stickoutt . But yeah, I would look for some shampoo that says it has wax in it, or something similar.

Now that I think of it, some Bimmer dealers in the US use/sell re-packaged sonax as their car wash. Sonax is pretty popular with some detailing enthusiasts.

David.

Sonax? Hmm... haven't heard of it. Any more info on it?
I think I saw some PS21 soap/shampoo that the dealer/parts dept. had in their display case. Think that might be it?

Thanks!

If that's what they have in their display case then that is what they are using on your car. I've heard good things about that as well. My dealer sells repackaged p21s wheel cleaner. Not sure about the car wash though.

I've used the Meguiar's NXT Car Wash, and it really doesn't touch the Gold Class stuff. It's nice and all, but the Gold Class does a much more thorough cleaning job.

P21S wheel cleaner and car wash are both great products... but sheesh, you would think it was liquid gold by how much it sells for. Not worth it, IMHO. The same effect can be had by waxing your car with quality products frequently enough.

all things considered equal (wash w/o wax), how could one car wash product be better than the other. All you're doing is washing the dirt off your car. The look/feel of your car is based on the condition of the exterior paint, how could a simple carwash make your car smoother/shinier than another car wash........................ :confused:

all things considered equal (wash w/o wax), how could one car wash product be better than the other. All you're doing is washing the dirt off your car. The look/feel of your car is based on the condition of the exterior paint, how could a simple carwash make your car smoother/shinier than another car wash........................ :confused:
Refer to every other thread on the forum.

all things considered equal (wash w/o wax), how could one car wash product be better than the other. All you're doing is washing the dirt off your car. The look/feel of your car is based on the condition of the exterior paint, how could a simple carwash make your car smoother/shinier than another car wash........................ :confused:

I believe that the purpose of a car wash product should be to properly sud and lubricate during the wash process to diminish the creation of fine scratches and swirl marks. That being said, there are most likely some products that are more effective than others towards this end.

The finish that is left on your car after the wash is less a function of the wash product you use, but rather a direct result of the efforts you put into the detailing process (i.e. clay bar, polisher, sealant, wax).

car washes absolutely differ...some a great deal. I've used some car wash soaps that simply did not create suds....yeah...those are good.... ;)

Some car washes simply are made better...they suds better, rinse off easier...and leave a slicker feel to the car that makes for easier drying.

all things considered equal (wash w/o wax), how could one car wash product be better than the other. All you're doing is washing the dirt off your car. The look/feel of your car is based on the condition of the exterior paint, how could a simple carwash make your car smoother/shinier than another car wash........................ :confused:
The last two posts were spot on. :cool:

And for my buck, a half gallon of Gold Class can't be beaten.

The last two posts were spot on. :cool:

And for my buck, a half gallon of Gold Class can't be beaten.

Amen to that...i get mine at target for cheap... ;)

Interesting, my wife picked up some turtle wax car wash solvent just recently and I used it about a week ago. It said on the container that it contained additional lubricants to prevent scratches and swirl marks. So I was curious how this would work. The solution suds'd up extremely well during the intial spray of water into the bucket. But during the wash process itself, the suds broke down quickly and did not last very long. I was disappointed.

I went to Target over the weekend and picked up the gallon of the Meguiars gold class wash. Now my wife can use the turtle wax on the Audi. :)