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      09-27-2011, 03:25 PM   #1
tbonem3
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Where do you park it and how often you wash it?

hello all,

thinking of ordering a 2012 M3 and using it in the middle east and then shipping it back stateside..back in Virginia i have a garage, so when it goes back it will be garage kept.

but here in this side of the world, Garages are not the norm and not that common, and most cars, including I seen many Ferraris and Bentleys and Rolls, etc are also parked outside under car shades..

from a car care standpoint, longevity of the paint, the interior leather, car interior, etc - what's the most optimal, and does it make a huge difference between the following:

1. garage kept and parked overnight - wash 1-3/wk
2. Park outdoors under car shade - wash 5-7/wk
3. Park outdoors no shade - wash 5-7/wk

Not much snow or ice or salt over here to worry about, however we get plenty of Dust, sand, sand storms, Sun and plenty of 120+ temps!

Also, Is there such a thing as washing it too much? too little?

thanks for your input.
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      09-27-2011, 03:30 PM   #2
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who has time to wash a car 5-7 times a week? and if you say car wash then whats the point of trying to keep it prestine

I say wash it once a week. Do not wipe off the dust! get the color combo you want
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      09-27-2011, 03:35 PM   #3
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Mine is garage kept in North Carolina, so not too bad weather, but I wash it once every couple of weeks. If I notice a lot of bugs or something I'll wash it again, but no more than once a week.

Kuwait huh? I've seen LOTS of nice cars there I've also seen a lot of nice cars in Qatar. I was out once while I was there for a week and saw what appeared to be a 17-18 year old girl driving a brand new M6 convertible. Nothing too exotic, but more than what I could afford for my kids, lol!
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      09-27-2011, 03:53 PM   #4
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The car parks in my garage over night and I wash it once a week (mostly Saturdays).

I just spray the dirt away with a high-pressure cleaner and afterwards dry it with a microfiber towel. Car is sealed with Autobrill --> Autobrill
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      09-27-2011, 03:54 PM   #5
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Mine will be washed once a week and will be stored in my garage at night and inside my shop during the day.
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      09-27-2011, 03:55 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1sikbmr View Post
who has time to wash a car 5-7 times a week?
cocaines a hell of a drug!


I think he meant every 5-7 weeks but wrote it out incorrectly
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      09-27-2011, 03:56 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3XTR3M3 View Post
cocaines a hell of a drug!


I think he meant every 5-7 weeks but wrote it out incorrectly
Wash it every 5-7 weeks?? That's blasphemy!
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      09-27-2011, 03:58 PM   #8
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Once a week garaged at work (covered) and at home
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      09-27-2011, 04:08 PM   #9
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i wash my car once a week...

EDIT: WTF washing the car 5-7x a week... thats fawking OCD men... come on if you have a life... i doubt you have time to wash the car 5-7x a week...
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      09-27-2011, 04:08 PM   #10
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Wash mine once a week and garage it both at home and at work.
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      09-27-2011, 04:15 PM   #11
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Once a week. Garaged over night. On campus open parking when at school 5 days a week. Jerez Black. Campus gets really dusty too. I just don't have time to wash more than once a week.
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      09-27-2011, 04:28 PM   #12
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Usually less than once a week.
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      09-27-2011, 04:30 PM   #13
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garaged at home and out at work but only few days a week when i dont drive the x5. i wash about once a week but often let it go a lot longer particularly in the winter when its filthy as soon as it leaves the garage so dont worry about it as much.
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      09-27-2011, 04:32 PM   #14
tbonem3
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yes i meant 5-7/week lol..but i was refering to the way they do things over here in the gulf an dmiddle east..

almost every car over gets washed daily, weather a toyota or a Bmw or a Lambo,,due ot the high dust and harsh environemt..you basically get your car washed at 7 am and by noon, it looks like it needs another bath! same goes for me, I usually take 2-3 showers a day otherwise I can't stand myself..i think unless you have been to this side of the world before you would know what I am talking about..

but going back to the daily car wash thing again, if you are wondering who washed the cars here, well, almost every household, or apartment building or company or parking lot, etc, has a maid, a driver, a caretaker, a Gardner, or a plain old car washer that roams the neighborhoods, and they all wash the cars here almost on a daily basis..
some don't have to get that fancy, and just use water and a towel..not even soap! but it still gets the dust and dirt off and the car is looking clean again with the shinny sun...of course i don't just let anyone touch my cars, and I usually provide the Shampoo, the Sheepskin, the micor fiber and specific instructions..

.and the average monthly cost of a daily wash is about $25/month. that's dirt cheap! and the washing usually takes place around dusk 5-6 am, before people go to work..
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      09-27-2011, 04:34 PM   #15
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I'd say washing more than 2x / week is excessive (don't misunderstand, I've done this, but not as a general rule ).

Parked under cover full time is clearly optimal. However, where I now work we don't have covered parking, so that's not an option. Recommend:
  1. Make sure there's a coat of good wax on your car
  2. When you wash, use good products that a) don't remove the wax and b) add protection (e.g. sealer like Zaino Z8)
  3. Make sure the internal plastics / leather has good protection, regularly applied
  4. Get tint
  5. Get a windshield reflector

After that, I just looked around until I found parking spots that give shade, without high bird populations (!). Shouldn't be a problem.

Cheers
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      09-28-2011, 03:20 AM   #16
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I would have it polished and waxed and then wash it every month or so.
But then I only wash mine 4 or 5 times a year (garaged at night but do 10,000 miles a year).
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      09-28-2011, 04:50 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by THE TECH View Post
Wash it every 5-7 weeks?? That's blasphemy!
That's normal. It's a car. Who has the time or desire to spend hours washing a car. I'm out driving it!!!

I wish I could bring myself to wash my car more often, but I hate that task.
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      09-28-2011, 07:05 AM   #18
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All my cars are garage parked. When I go on a trip I stay at B&B's so my car is safe When I go shopping my car is normally parked furthest away from the mall entrance. I make it a habit not to park my car unless it is absolutely in a safe place. I know I am a car nut then there is not a mark or scratch on any part of my car(s) (touch wood), the exception of course is our e28 that is being restored at the moment.

Wash my cars once a week ... Both my cars have been paint treated so waxing is not necessary not just yet, perhaps when they are 3 years old they might need to be waxed.
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      09-28-2011, 12:15 PM   #19
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Even once a week is quite often. Who the hell has time to do that? I certainly will not spend my weekends every week washing it. I m better off enjoying the car on the road. I say once a month is normal. Longest I went without washing the car was 8 weeks. yeah, I know that is pretty lazy. But surprisingly it didnt look too bad.
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      09-28-2011, 12:22 PM   #20
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Seldom use and garage at home. Only use it if the weather is fine. Wash it if needed. Usually once a week or every couple of weeks. Seal/wax 3 to 4 times a year. Polish and claying the car once a year.
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      09-28-2011, 12:29 PM   #21
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Daily drive the car so I wash it every week. I seal it once every month and clay, full polish and detail once every 3-4 months.

It doesn't get very dirty as it is garaged all day long but still good to maintain the finish.
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      09-28-2011, 12:46 PM   #22
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I smell a rusty car if you wash it everyday!
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