I was just wondering what you guys use to wash your cars when you do them by hand (which I hope you do every time!!)

My Dad (sigh) used to use Ivory soap in a bucket when he did the 92 Camry we have. Now he just takes it to a quick wash (where you drive in) or one of the ones where you pay like 75 cents for extra time.

I was just wondering because right now I've just been (unfortunatly) using the 75 cent auto wash, then drying her off at the car wash, and waxing when I get home.

I use Meguier's:

1.) Clear Coat Body Scruber (for nasty nicks, etc)
2.) First Step in Three Step Process - Paint Cleaner
3.) Second Step in Three Step Process - Polish
4.) Third Step in Three Step Process - Carunauba Wax
5.) Take pictures
6.) Drive around in all my glory ;)

I just need tips on washing, cleaning rims, etc.

Thanks (once again) everyone!:cool:

Mothers car wash (and I don't mean I make my mom wash my car... I'm talkin' about the brand...

:p

Exactly the same method as you TheBestCow except I use all the products with a machine and therefore the fine-cut cleaner. Not much difference by hand but faster. Best methond known by me!

Yea my friend has a hand buffer that I borrow occassionally, other times and just me and my baby (er, car) for a couple of hours.

Can someone recommend a good car 'shampoo' and method?

And rims, how do I clean my rims? They look rather bad... what product for these? I've been using Simple Green (not specificially for cars) and I'm not happy!

Arg!
:D

Good car shampoo? I use the Meguiar's gel wash (the pink stuff) and a cotton woven mitt/pad. I wash my car one section at a time so the suds don't have a chance to dry on the paint. Wash from top to bottom, and preferrably use 2 mitts ("clean" one for topside, "dirty" one for the bottom panels, like sections where dirt sticks to). I use high-pressure water to loosen the dirt beforehand and to blast the suds away; finishing off with low-pressure. Dry with the "absorber".

Cleaning rims can be tricky, especially my stock 10-spokes M contour wheel. I just crouch down and use soapy rag (or old mitts) and brush after loosening the dirt with Simple Green. Either that or change your brakepads to the dustless one.

-E-

i use Meguiars pink stuff as well with a mit. i follow the same procedure as vroo//M describes. for polishing i use 3M imperial handglaze and follow that with one grand blitz wax. i think alot of people use this stuff on their cars on this board. works really nicely and lasts pretty long. i use to use mothers products but found that it did not last as long. the 3M is great at hiding swirl marks.

For polishing I use the Zaino stuff. I like this a lot better than Blitz because of longevity. My car still beads when it's wet months after the application. Real easy to apply and remove too....I'm a believer...

Don't waste your $$$ on Zymol IMO.

-E-

Originally posted by vroo//M
I use high-pressure water to loosen the dirt beforehand and to blast the suds away; finishing off with low-pressure. Dry with the "absorber".

Cleaning rims can be tricky, especially my stock 10-spokes M contour wheel. I just crouch down and use soapy rag (or old mitts) and brush after loosening the dirt with Simple Green. Either that or change your brakepads to the dustless one.

-E-

By high-pressure water do you mean just from like a garden hose with a nozzel turned to powerful spray? And lowp ressure would be w/nozzel on a really light spray correct?

"Absorber" ? Are you referring to one of the mitts (I don't think so, since they would both be dirty and wet...) what are you referring to?

I'll have to get some of the Meguier's pink stuff :) Do you put it right on the car or in a bucket with water? I know this is probably on the bottle but I figure I might as well ask. :)

Guess I need to pick up some Mitts too.

I have terry cloth towels to do my waxing with, does anyone else have the problem of them 'shedding' on your newly cleaned car? Annoys me...

One last question (heh, doubtful).

What do you guys use to clean/protect your leather? I need to get a treatment on my car as it is one month old (in my possession) and I still haven't protected the leather. Advice?

Thanks again.

how long does it take you guys to wash, when I do it, and I mean interior, engine bay, and exterior, it's a while, which is why I usually leave them for separate days. Anyone else do this?

Originally posted by TheBestCow

"Absorber" ? Are you referring to one of the mitts (I don't think so, since they would both be dirty and wet...) what are you referring to?


Well, I think he means a sham.. made out of lamb skin that soaks up the water.. and I also use Meguiers... (or is it spelled Meguiars?)..

Hey, what's that clear coat scrubber stuff do?

I use Meguiers GOLD CLASS car wash...good GOD is that stuff awesome! suds like no other and smells great. leaves the paint nice and soft like it added a coat or something if you have a nicely waxed exterior....keeps it smoother longer. then just a regular mitt, the california water blade to quick dry, and then finally this family airloom(sp?)-of-a-chamois that i use. it kicks MAJOR ass.

I don't have a nozzle...I live in high rise building. So I just press the edge of the hose (equivalent of squeezing the spray gun, I guess) for "high-pressure". and by low pressure I just let go of the hose edge to get that nice sheeting action on the paint surface. Some people here use pressure-washer....nice when you have your own driveway.

By "absorber" i mean the chamois, "absorber" is the brand, it's that rubbery fabric that comes in a tube.

I use 100% plush cotton white towel (TJ Maxx or Ross can be a good source) for taking off the wax/polish and a cotton applicator to put it on. This is per Zaino polish instruction.

Leather? I use Lexol stuff - good, cheap, and available everywhere. and 303 stuff for my dash, some people use Vinylex (from the maker of Lexol) for their dash. If you like the high gloss look, Lexol is not for you then.

Happy washing....
-E-

Originally posted by EuroKRN


Well, I think he means a sham.. made out of lamb skin that soaks up the water.. and I also use Meguiers... (or is it spelled Meguiars?)..

Hey, what's that clear coat scrubber stuff do?

What clear coat scrubber?

-E-

i did my car (wash, meguiar'spolish, meguiar's wax and treat the exterior molding) a couple weeks ago, and i think it took me something like almost 4 hours (by hand). i wanted to do the inside...but it was too hot and i was too tired. i think that i am going to do the inside today. i just got some of the 303 protectant.
i do the leather a couple times a year. i heard that treating too often will just "clog" it up and not allow it to "breathe" and make it succeptible to cracking.

Originally posted by Anto Klar
how long does it take you guys to wash, when I do it, and I mean interior, engine bay, and exterior, it's a while, which is why I usually leave them for separate days. Anyone else do this?

Hmmm.... I like to do polishing and waxing right after washing, so the dust have no chance to settle. That's about 3 hours right there......which is why I leave the interior for another day.

I normally don't do the engine bay, I just wipe the parts off with damp rag (for fear of shorting the electricals). My engine bay is pretty clean. I also put the plastic protectant on the plastic bits in the bay.

-E-

Hehehe..... just a quick note, black leather interior does have its advantage, despite the heat absorption factor in the summer.... I don't have to clean it as often.... good thing that dirt is black.

I feel sorry for you people who have tan or even white leather... :P

-E-

yea tell me about it...i will never get white again....

Take heart! I think it does looked good if you keep it really-really clean.... does it show as much when it's worn off or cracks?

-E-

Originally posted by vroo//M


What clear coat scrubber?

-E-

The one that the very first post talks about.

Originally posted by vroo//M
Take heart! I think it does looked good if you keep it really-really clean.... does it show as much when it's worn off or cracks?

-E-

I've been keeping my light gray leather really clean so.. :D I love it.. but when someone dirty gets into my back seat and .... ARGH, that really sucks.

Originally posted by EuroKRN


I've been keeping my light gray leather really clean so.. :D I love it.. but when someone dirty gets into my back seat and .... ARGH, that really sucks.

Do you think your passengers will get insulted if you lay down a toel before they get to sit down? :P

-E-

Originally posted by EuroKRN



Hey, what's that clear coat scrubber stuff do?

Meguier's Clear Coat is for lightly oxidated cars. It is supposed to revive the color of the car, take away stains and fix blemishes like dead paint. Looked pretty good when used with Meguier's three-step process.

Note : I bought it because I got my car used one month ago today. It has many many spots on the hood where something has eaten through the clear coat and is on the paint, I thought I'd give it a try. It fixed the minor ones, but I guess mine is 'heavily oxidated' (Meguier's says to call them if you have heavy oxidation, I figure I'll just save up and repaint the whole car, which is what it needs).

Slightly Offtopic - Anyone know how much repainting the whole car w/ clear coat would cost? What about re-doing my trim (around the windows it has places where previous owner has waxed and not used tape to cover it up, one place it has somehow been cut and is rusting along the window).

Thanks once more :D

Originally posted by TheBestCow


Meguier's Clear Coat is for lightly oxidated cars. It is supposed to revive the color of the car, take away stains and fix blemishes like dead paint. Looked pretty good when used with Meguier's three-step process.

Note : I bought it because I got my car used one month ago today. It has many many spots on the hood where something has eaten through the clear coat and is on the paint, I thought I'd give it a try. It fixed the minor ones, but I guess mine is 'heavily oxidated' (Meguier's says to call them if you have heavy oxidation, I figure I'll just save up and repaint the whole car, which is what it needs).

Slightly Offtopic - Anyone know how much repainting the whole car w/ clear coat would cost? What about re-doing my trim (around the windows it has places where previous owner has waxed and not used tape to cover it up, one place it has somehow been cut and is rusting along the window).

Thanks once more :D

How about repainting the whole car? Always wanted to go Alpine White.. :p Of course, this is probably only an option if you're not planning on ever selling the car..

aahhh...if they get insulted, make them drive. then it saves the miles on your bimmer.

whoa seed u use the water blade too? thought i was the only one. its a lot faster drying off the car when i use this, i use to run around like a madman trying to dry it off with terry cloths. as for polishing with the terry cloths, i usually wash the towels first and throw them in the dryer. i dun use any detergent or softner just to get as much of the lint out of the towel. works pretty well.

Originally posted by caball
whoa seed u use the water blade too? thought i was the only one. its a lot faster drying off the car when i use this, i use to run around like a madman trying to dry it off with terry cloths. as for polishing with the terry cloths, i usually wash the towels first and throw them in the dryer. i dun use any detergent or softner just to get as much of the lint out of the towel. works pretty well.

I've always worry that the waterblade will drag through unseen particles and scratch my paint. U guys have no problem with that? I just might try it, chamois leaves streaks, and I have to run through the same surface many-many times.

-E-

Originally posted by TheBestCow

Note : I bought it because I got my car used one month ago today. It has many many spots on the hood where something has eaten through the clear coat and is on the paint, I thought I'd give it a try. It fixed the minor ones, but I guess mine is 'heavily oxidated' (Meguier's says to call them if you have heavy oxidation, I figure I'll just save up and repaint the whole car, which is what it needs).
Thanks once more :D

Why don't you try the clay bar? Mother's, Zaino, and Griot's Garage all sell it. Some people swear by it. I'm going to try it on the next "session" with my car.

-E-

Originally posted by EuroKRN


How about repainting the whole car? Always wanted to go Alpine White.. :p Of course, this is probably only an option if you're not planning on ever selling the car..

I've always wanted to repaint just the hood. Do you think that'll hurt the resale value? it's got little nicks here and there when I got it (used). Any idea what a decent paint job and clearcoat might cost me just for the hood?

-E-

Originally posted by vroo//M


I've always wanted to repaint just the hood. Do you think that'll hurt the resale value? it's got little nicks here and there when I got it (used). Any idea what a decent paint job and clearcoat might cost me just for the hood?

-E-
I'm wondering this too... would they be able to match my dark green color perfectly? Would most shops, if they messed up the color slightly, repaint it for free? Or paint the rest of the car or what? Free painted car... hehe :D

i'm repainting the hood, i am getting the m3 bumper and since they are matching the paint for that i thought i might as well paint the hood as well. the place that i'm going to gaurantees that the paint will match, if not they will repaint it again. my car is black so its hard to screw up. i drive in the city and the roads suck like shit which lead to alot of little nicks from stones.

Originally posted by caball
i'm repainting the hood, i am getting the m3 bumper and since they are matching the paint for that i thought i might as well paint the hood as well. the place that i'm going to gaurantees that the paint will match, if not they will repaint it again. my car is black so its hard to screw up. i drive in the city and the roads suck like shit which lead to alot of little nicks from stones.

How much will the paint job cost you (for both hood and bumper)? Do you have jet black or cosmos black?

-E-

Not that I ever would take my car to a car wash but is it safe to take convertibles to car washes? I heard the machines apply too much pressure to the top.

Originally posted by Makaveli
Not that I ever would take my car to a car wash but is it safe to take convertibles to car washes? I heard the machines apply too much pressure to the top.

Not too mention that the top brush will prolly scratch your rear plastic window. Just handwash it yourself, you've got one less panel to wash than any of our hardtop:P

-E-

Dish soap (Joy, Dawn, whatever), a soft cotton rag, and a hose.

I use Zaino and a Boar's hair brush to wash. The California Water Blade and the Miracle Towel to dry. No swirl marks, just a shiny jet black 2000 E46 sitting in the driveway. :p

Give Zaino Brothers (http://www.zainobros.com) a try. I use them all the time and get great results.

i hope you're not serious. dish detergent is too harsh and will strip off the wax :eek: :(

I use Meguiar's gold class car wash, quik detailer and gold class liquid wax

should try a clay bar for step one or something like that. it takes out all the dirt that's been stuck to your paint and other stuff that regular soap can't take out. my cousin uses it on his M3 and that thing is smooth like human skin!:eek:

Bump up!