Do you guys wash your M3 with power hoses at pay car washe

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Corpus Christi
#1
i have found that it is really easy to simply go and wash my car at the car wash.. pay about 1.00 and rinse it off with pressure.. i give it a good songe bath too.. but it is easier to spray the car after a drive.. Do you guys think this is bad for the paint?

thanks
 

Tom

1
Staff Team
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Southwest
#5
I do on occasions, but I make sure to keep the hose far away from the car so that it wont damage the paint. Also, I never use their brush and would bring my own sponge.
 

Big Daddy

Senior Member
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PNW (Left) Coast
#6
Power wash, nope never. "More you wax and polish than more your paint will get damage". The pros, experts and those in the know tell you to never use a power wash, or concentrated spray of water on your car. And if you read you will realize that paint needs "feeding" and this can only be done with wax and polish. This is protection from UV rays, acid rain, and other harsh chemicals in our enviroment.
 
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Livermore, California
#7
I actually enjoy washing and waxing my car. A little therapy of sorts. The only thing I wash at the car wash it my jeep, the paint on it is not the greatest and it needs the blast when I get it really muddy. But I heard somewhere along the way, that the paint on BMW's tends to be soft and I think that may be so. Sure nicks and scratches a whole lot easier than other cars.
 

tomperwu

New Member
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SF, CA
#8
I dont wash my car .. I bought 10 cats and trained them to lick it clean. haha just kidding.

I use this high power washer that I bought at Price Club. It costs around 150 bucks and is primiarly used to wash windows and driveways. I found this one nozzle that sprains this really light mist which I find is pretty good. Then I PAT dry.. never rub....
 

99M3

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San Jose CA
#9
I too use a power wash and this is the best way if you want to avoid circles in the paint. Most people wet their car down and use a fancy sponge and the old elbow grease. What people do not realize is that between the sponge and paint is dirt and that acts like sandpaper. If you power wash the car you get shot of any harmful grit dead bugs and at the end worst case all you are left with is a film of dirt (if you drive in the rain) which can be removed if you use a good quality chamois. I tend to go back over with a non wax stripping soap (Maguire’s car soap) and then rinse with high pressure washer again. Finally I blow dry most of the water off using a power blower/vacuum and then dry what’s left using a chamois.

Follow the above and you will never have swirls/circles in your paint ever.

Oh! BTW I also wax my car at least 1 every two months.
 
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Bay Area
#11
Personally, I wouldn't use a pressure/power wash sprayer. For hand washing, always use a micro-fiber cloth -not those terry cloths from Costco. Finally, for the protectant, I use Crystal Guard. Good stuff! Highly recommended! Here's the link: click here [thumb]
 
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New Jersey
#14
Exactly how powerful is the power washer thingy? I use a hose (with the special head that you squeeze and it shoots water), which sprays water pretty hard, but I never even considered it being too much pressure. I mean, come on, it's permanent paint with a clear coat and all that crap...how much damage could you possibly do with a spray of water? I think even all those people who say automatic car washes are bad for you are wrong. My local auto car wash sprays two jets of foamy soap that doesn't strip wax and the side spinner brushes and the "tentacles" that flap all over your car are not strong enough at all to strip your wax and/or harm your paint. It's always the auto care companies that say this anyways...they just want you to stay home and use their car wash products so they make $$$.
 
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Location
San Diego, CA / Regensburg, D
#18
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San Diego, CA / Regensburg, D
#19
The best is to go to self serve car wash where you spend less water. Check ou this picture. This is a Trabant a car made in East Germany. If there are some Germans here they know what Im talking about. This car has been made completely from fiberglass. At 50kmh there are only minimum chances the person will survive. But the point is the picture.[8)] I posted the picture because it has been car wash related.
 

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