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05-05-2016, 05:13 PM | #1 |
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How I Wash/Detail My M3 - Tips/Suggestions/Guide
I have learned there are plenty knowledgeable car enthuisasts who know everything about their cars, except how to correctly clean their car while not damaging their cars.
I am no expert, but I consider myself a weekend warrior. I did not go to any detail school or obtained any training other than reading and YouTube videos. I figured if even one person learns a tip from this thread it was worth it. The Products I Use: Tools 2x Home Depot 5 Gallon Buckets (1x for Body, 1x for Wheels) Wheel Woolies Wheel Brushes - LINK The Rag Company Microfiber Towels - LINK The Rag Company Glass Towels - LINK The Rag Company Microfiber Drying Towel - LINK The Rag Company Microfiber Sponge - LINK Foam Gun - LINK Liquids Meguiar's Ultimate Wash and Wax - LINK AMMO Mud Tire Gel - LINK AMMO Plum Wheel Cleaner - LINK Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Wax - LINK Chemical Guys New Car Smell - LINK Rain-X 2-in-1 Glass Cleaner and Rain Repellant - LINK Meguiar's Ultimate Liquid Wax - LINK What I Do You will find detailers who swear by doing the body first, you will find others who say do wheels first. I do wheels first. I am not right, I am not wrong. I fill up my two buckets with water and the car wash soap. I shoot water on all of my wheels then I hit each wheel with 4-5 sprays of AMMO Plum. I wait about 30 seconds then I begin agitating the AMMO Plum on my wheels with my larger Wheel Woolie which was sitting in the wheel bucket of soap. I agitate and rinse until my wheels are clean. Then I move on to the body... I first walk around my car to determine any significantly dirty spots. Maybe a spot has extra road grime or a big bird stain, sometimes it is hard to see these things when your car is covered in soap, so I take note of any bad spots and give them extra love later. I then shoot water all around the car to get any lose items like dust or leaves out of the way. Then comes the foam gun. I use the foam gun and cover the car completely in soap. Once the car is covered I use the microfiber sponge and clean the car. Once I hit every spot with the microfiber sponge I rinse the car off. Then dry with the Rag Company Microfiber Drying towel. *Twice a year I do a full wax job with Meguiar's Ultimate Liquid Wax* Other than the two times a year at this point I hit my car with Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Wax using the Rag Company Microfiber Towels. Then I use the Rain X Glass Cleaner along with the Glass Towels. I use the AMMO Mud Tire Gel on crappy buy anywhere applicators. The finishing touch last thing I do is spray the Chemical Guys New Car Smell in my car in multiple spots, some people dread the smell but I like it. You maybe asking you did not tell us your steps for the interior. I do not dirty my interior beyond the WeatherTech floor mats so I feel no need to clean biblically. If you have any direct questions or want anything further explained shoot me a PM or respond to this thread. Again, I am just a guy with an M3 who likes to keep it clean. |
05-10-2016, 03:03 AM | #2 |
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You still haven't answered our question how you managed to get your M3 new??!! Lol I'm kiddin
My wash step is pretty much identical as yours. However, in addition to start with the wheels I also clean the exhaust tips |
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05-11-2016, 01:11 PM | #3 |
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I have a similar procedure
but I use Griots. I like their stuff; I also do the interior but like you it stays very clean.
I also do her MSport 535I and my Tundra...the Tundra is a bear. I plan on claybarring and waxing the Tundra this weekend... |
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09-11-2016, 10:52 AM | #6 |
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Drives: 2013 E93 M3 Jerez Black, 13 x5
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when you 'dry' the car. how quickly are you getting to it? are you using several towels at once? one to get the bulk of the water off the car, then use a second one to get the small areas, then use a third towel to 'buff' it out? do you do sections at a time? or the whole car once?
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09-11-2016, 11:21 AM | #7 | |
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06-13-2017, 11:16 PM | #8 |
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Was just looking for exactly this. Lifesaver. Thanks for sharing your experience!
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'13 SG E92 M3 (sold) | GTS DCT tune | Remus Race Catback | CF Competition Splitters and Mirrors | Eurospec Bumper | Swift Spec-Rs |
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03-23-2018, 02:04 PM | #9 |
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Use a leaf blower. Not kidding. I have the Consumer-reports recommended electric leaf blower form a few years ago and it really makes drying the car a much quicker and less damaging thing.
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03-29-2018, 05:09 PM | #10 | |
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This. It also helps get all the water out of the door jambs and other crevices that inevitably leave streaks all over the bumpers when you drive away.
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04-21-2018, 08:05 PM | #11 |
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Drives: 2022 M3 6MT
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Few things.
1- always do wheels first. If you wash the body, you'll have to dry it before water evaporates, but then it will simply get wet again when cleaning the wheels. 2- if your wheels are egregiously dirty, you can spray plum directly on without wetting the wheel first. This allows plum to work at full concentration without mixing with water. 3- when drying, I use AMMO hydrate. It creates a layer of protection when drying the car, allows minor dirt spots to be cleaned (you always miss some small spot), and leaves behind a no streak finish with no water spots. 4- wax will last maybe a week. Use a sealant to help protect the paint, and use a wax whenever you want for shine. Nice write up!
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05-02-2018, 08:27 PM | #12 |
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The new AMMO Hydrate formula works really well. I just got his Frothe system and it works rather well. I live in a condo and no access to a car wash bay so the AMMO Frothe system fills in the gaps when my car is slightly dirty.
I have a mix of products I use, mostly Menzerna and Chemical Guys stuff. Cleaning the wheels is always a chore haha
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05-03-2018, 09:28 AM | #13 | |
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05-04-2018, 11:16 AM | #14 |
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If your all in to detailing, I highly recommend Optimum products. From their wash, to their All Purpose Cleaner, to their matte tire shine, their products are excellent quality.
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06-19-2018, 02:59 PM | #15 |
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Wheels/Tires first
Top down in sections for paint. I have been using 2 mitts for body. 1 for top half the other bottom (dirtier half). Admittedly never feel I have right sudds/water ratio in wash bucket. Always use per suggested amount of product. Maybe haven't found right car wash product, or using pressure washer on low setting to suds once in wash bucket is wrong? Metro air blower game changer. Can't picture drying car any other way since discovering years back. |
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