BMW M3 Forum (E90 E92)

BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   M3Post - BMW M3 Forum > E90/E92 M3 Technical Topics > Wash, Wax, Detail, Cosmetic Maintenance & Repairs
 
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      05-05-2016, 05:13 PM   #1
Apex Everything
Banned
Apex Everything's Avatar
United_States
190
Rep
462
Posts

Drives: M3
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: A place

iTrader: (3)

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.
Appreciate 3
      05-10-2016, 03:03 AM   #2
Agent-GHQ
Captain
Agent-GHQ's Avatar
United_States
107
Rep
837
Posts

Drives: '13 AW ///M3 E92 MT Comp Pkg
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: San Diego, CA

iTrader: (0)

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
Appreciate 0
      05-11-2016, 01:11 PM   #3
jt10mc
Private First Class
58
Rep
117
Posts

Drives: 2013 M3 Coupe
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Florida

iTrader: (0)

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...
Appreciate 0
      05-11-2016, 01:16 PM   #4
FType22
First Lieutenant
FType22's Avatar
143
Rep
300
Posts

Drives: 2011 e92 M3
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: NY

iTrader: (1)

Just curious, how does that new car smell stuff work? As in, how good is it, not the chemical makeup of why.
Appreciate 0
      06-03-2016, 01:15 PM   #5
dragonsi
Second Lieutenant
66
Rep
249
Posts

Drives: 2008 M3
Join Date: May 2013
Location: IL

iTrader: (2)

surprised at how detailed of a process for a new car
Appreciate 0
      09-11-2016, 10:52 AM   #6
2013M3
Second Lieutenant
2013M3's Avatar
87
Rep
259
Posts

Drives: 2013 E93 M3 Jerez Black, 13 x5
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: PA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
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?
Appreciate 0
      09-11-2016, 11:21 AM   #7
///M Power-Belgium
General
///M Power-Belgium's Avatar
Belgium
62783
Rep
24,525
Posts

Drives: ///M3-E92-DCT Silverstone II
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Belgium

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2013M3 View Post
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?
I use the "Meguiar's water magnet" for years and it works just perfect !

__________________
"MAX VERSTAPPEN" IS THE 2021+2022+2023 F1 WORLD CHAMPION - #UnLeashTheLion

BPM DEV-Tune & DCT Software-Tune & Servotronic & coding ///Alpine HID Angeleyes ///Oem.exhaust mod.
Appreciate 0
      06-13-2017, 11:16 PM   #8
Grey///Matter
Private
Grey///Matter's Avatar
Canada
31
Rep
60
Posts

Drives: 2019 M4 CS
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Toronto, Ontario

iTrader: (0)

Was just looking for exactly this. Lifesaver. Thanks for sharing your experience!
__________________
'19 SMB M4 CS | iND reflector delete
'13 SG E92 M3 (sold) | GTS DCT tune | Remus Race Catback | CF Competition Splitters and Mirrors | Eurospec Bumper | Swift Spec-Rs
Appreciate 0
      03-23-2018, 02:04 PM   #9
Visceral
Lieutenant
Visceral's Avatar
363
Rep
554
Posts

Drives: E90 M track mule, cars n bikes
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Oregon

iTrader: (1)

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.
Appreciate 0
      03-29-2018, 05:09 PM   #10
dparm
Stop the hate, get a V8
dparm's Avatar
United_States
3848
Rep
8,625
Posts

Drives: C7 Corvette GS, AMG C63 S
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Frisco, TX

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Visceral View Post
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.

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.
__________________
Now: 2017 Corvette Grand Sport, 2021 AMG C63 S sedan
Past: 2011.5 M3 sedan ZCP
Appreciate 0
      04-21-2018, 08:05 PM   #11
MachinesWithSouls
Colonel
MachinesWithSouls's Avatar
United_States
4833
Rep
2,442
Posts

Drives: 2022 M3 6MT
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: New Jersey

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2022 BMW M3  [10.00]
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!
__________________
2022 M3 6MT - Portimao Blue Metallic
2022 X3 M40i - Tanzanite Blue Metallic
Appreciate 1
Exclusivs540.50
      05-02-2018, 08:27 PM   #12
IntegraXTR
Captain
187
Rep
714
Posts

Drives: MY08 E92 M3 and MY15 F80 M3
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Hawaii

iTrader: (4)

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
__________________
2008 Alpineweiss III E92 M3
Amuse/Varis/CAE/BBS/BRIDE
IG: Integraxtr
Appreciate 0
      05-03-2018, 09:28 AM   #13
Ngilbe36
Captain
Ngilbe36's Avatar
United_States
1619
Rep
880
Posts

Drives: 2011 E90 M3, 2019 F150
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: MI

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2011 BMW E90 M3  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by IntegraXTR View Post
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
I think Larry (Owns AMMO) seems like a great guy with tons of knowledge and is a 1,000 X better detailer than I will every be, but water-less washing will always scare me.
Appreciate 0
      05-04-2018, 11:16 AM   #14
BPe90M3
Captain
BPe90M3's Avatar
United_States
256
Rep
769
Posts

Drives: 2011.75 AW e92 M3
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: North Jersey

iTrader: (2)

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.
Appreciate 0
      06-19-2018, 02:59 PM   #15
Exclusivs
Colonel
Exclusivs's Avatar
United_States
541
Rep
2,962
Posts

Drives: E92 M3
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA

iTrader: (34)

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.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:51 AM.




m3post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST