[pengpeng28]

I'm curious about the processes and products people go through to clean their beloved cars.

For me, I try to keep it simple and not time consuming with just snowfoam > hand wash > drying towel. Vacuum and wipe down for our interior.

Would love to hear about any must have products.

[NewToM]

Originally Posted by pengpeng28

I'm curious about the processes and products people go through to clean their beloved cars.

For me, I try to keep it simple and not time consuming with just snowfoam > hand wash > drying towel. Vacuum and wipe down for our interior.

Would love to hear about any must have products.

Here is a prior thread that might be of interest.

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2056096

[TiresAlwaysFlat]

Car is ceramic coated with GYEON Q² SYNCRO EVO, GYEON Q² Rim EVO and SOFT99 GLACO(windshield)

Weekly wash regimen..
P&S Brake Buster wheel and tire cleaner
MTM foam cannon & GYEON Q²M Foam
2 bucket wash & GYEON Q²M Bathe Essence
Air dry using Metro Vac N Blo
GYEON Q²M Ceramic Detailer
Stoner Invincible Glass
CarPro Darkside tire dressing

[chris719]

Originally Posted by TiresAlwaysFlat

Car is ceramic coated with GYEON Q² SYNCRO EVO, GYEON Q² Rim EVO and SOFT99 GLACO(windshield)

Weekly wash regimen..
P&S Brake Buster wheel and tire cleaner
MTM foam cannon & GYEON Q²M Foam
2 bucket wash & GYEON Q²M Bathe Essence
Air dry using Metro Vac N Blo
GYEON Q²M Ceramic Detailer
Stoner Invincible Glass
CarPro Darkside tire dressing

Pretty good setup. I’d just say you can skip the Brake Buster and just use soap sometimes or alternate with wheel cleaner with iron remover like Gyeon’s. The iron removers are actually more gentle on the coating than the alkaline BB and more effective. How is Rim Evo working for you so far?

[TiresAlwaysFlat]

Originally Posted by chris719

Pretty good setup. I’d just say you can skip the Brake Buster and just use soap sometimes or alternate with wheel cleaner with iron remover like Gyeon’s. The iron removers are actually more gentle on the coating than the alkaline BB and more effective. How is Rim Evo working for you so far?

Rim Evo has been holding up so far(3 months old). I dilute Brake Buster 6:1 so its pretty gentle and I mainly use it to clean the tire more so than the rim. I've used Iron remover before as well but Brake Buster is cheap enough and along with the ceramic coating makes brake dust come off with no effort.

[txmav]

Originally Posted by TiresAlwaysFlat

Car is ceramic coated with GYEON Q² SYNCRO EVO, GYEON Q² Rim EVO and SOFT99 GLACO(windshield)

Weekly wash regimen..
P&S Brake Buster wheel and tire cleaner
MTM foam cannon & GYEON Q²M Foam
2 bucket wash & GYEON Q²M Bathe Essence
Air dry using Metro Vac N Blo
GYEON Q²M Ceramic Detailer
Stoner Invincible Glass
CarPro Darkside tire dressing

Looks like a really good setup. What pressure washer do you use? Do you use deionized water? If so, what filter system do you use?

[TiresAlwaysFlat]

Originally Posted by txmav

Looks like a really good setup. What pressure washer do you use? Do you use deionized water? If so, what filter system do you use?

Soon as my Karcher 1700 dies (still strong after 6 years), I will probably then invest on a Krenzle. I don't use a deionizer, maybe one day when I have the cash.. it's nice but I don't feel it is something I really need.

[T-Rexx]

Originally Posted by pengpeng28

I'm curious about the processes and products people go through to clean their beloved cars.

For me, I try to keep it simple and not time consuming with just snowfoam > hand wash > drying towel. Vacuum and wipe down for our interior.

Would love to hear about any must have products.

Car detailing is a rabbit hole that never ever ends my friend.
How deep you go down into the science of it depends on you. But do not look for the “best” wash because there is always something more, or new.
Tread carefully lol

[Good 4 2 reasons]

Originally Posted by pengpeng28

I'm curious about the processes and products people go through to clean their beloved cars.

For me, I try to keep it simple and not time consuming with just snowfoam > hand wash > drying towel. Vacuum and wipe down for our interior.

Would love to hear about any must have products.

Pan the organizer on youtube is a great resource. Even if you don't commit to the products, he can show methods and techniques for great results.

[TheSiege]

I am a big fan of self-detailing. I've owned BMW's for over 10 years, and now that I sold my '23 X3 M40i, I am awaiting a 2024 M2. Here's what I usually do, which should work for any vehicle:

I put on Gyeon Show ceramic coating when purchased and I wash every 2-3 weeks, as it helps to maintain the ceramic coating. Below are some high level steps:

Spray bottom with Gyeon Tar cleaner (dissolves stains and gunk), rinse select areas
Apply Gyeon Foam
2 bucket wash with Gyeon Bathe Soap, wash and rinse in sections so soap does not dry
Since I live in the North East, if the bottom/back is especially dirty, I'll use a different mitt so that I don't get that debris on the upper panels
Air dry using a electric leaf blower with a silicon tipped short tube attachment
Occasionally I will use Gyeon Wet Coat before drying, usually I dry and then apply a Gyeon Cure maintenance spray coating. A this time I also detail door jams with a cleaning spray and microfiber.
Next is generic wheel cleaner spray, I clean wheels and brakes by hand with mitt and gloves
Exterior Windex
Enjoy!

[giphlag]

I also keep it pretty simple and have been washing my own cars for over 20 years now.

My cars live outside, and I do a hand wash whenever I can. I use Adam's products and am quite happy with them. I also use a leaf blower for drying. Use a simple spray wax and tire dressing. I buy my cars and keep them for as long as it makes sense and they always look and show great when I do try to sell them. I'm not one to PPF or Ceramic coat, but to each to their own.

[T-Rexx]

Originally Posted by Good 4 2 reasons

Pan the organizer on youtube is a great resource. Even if you don't commit to the products, he can show methods and techniques for great results.

Big fan of pan and trust his recommendations and techniques implicitly

[T-Rexx]

Call me crazy but as a passionate car guy, I love spending some quality wash time with my car.
I will put on some music, have a couple of beers in the garage bar fridge, and spend 2-3 hours getting up close and personal with my baby.
By the end of it it’s getting to be around sun set, a neighbour or two will stroll over to talk all things automotive / Motorsport while we sit in the garage and admire the view (the car, not the sunset hahaha).

Perfect Saturday night in for me.

[DrewNewM2]

My M2 is garaged not driven much and I hand wash it like once every other month. Sonax wheel cleaner first then power wash, Adam’s products Foam canon, two bucket method and hand and leaf blower dry and back in garage. No PPF. Will probably try polish and ceramic this year but will test out my skills on my wife’s car first, then my cars.

I do like washing my car but the damn wheels! Crouching hurts my back after a while and if I wash mine I have to wash my wife’s car and then I might as well wash my STi and Bronco too. It turns into a 3 hour session easily.

[T-Rexx]

Originally Posted by DrewNewM2

My M2 is garaged not driven much and I hand wash it like once every other month. Sonax wheel cleaner first then power wash, Adam’s products Foam canon, two bucket method and hand and leaf blower dry and back in garage. No PPF. Will probably try polish and ceramic this year but will test out my skills on my wife’s car first, then my cars.

I do like washing my car but the damn wheels! Crouching hurts my back after a while and if I wash mine I have to wash my wife’s car and then I might as well wash my STi and Bronco too. It turns into a 3 hour session easily.

Sounds similar to me mate.
I don’t drive my ‘special car’ much. Only for a planned car meet, or a club Cruze or just a Saturday night drive to the city perhaps (my girlfriend used to call my car sleeping beauty hahahaha), but I still wash it once a month.
Even if it hadn’t driven it, maybe just to tinker I would give it a quick waterless wash / gloss to up, just to be able to hang out in the garage for a while and admire my prize possession.

For the wheels and the bad back, have you tried using a really low garage stool on wheels.
I love washing mat car but also favoured it tiresome to stay down that low.
With the low stool on wheels it changes everything!!!

[mdrobc13]

Originally Posted by DrewNewM2

My M2 is garaged not driven much and I hand wash it like once every other month. Sonax wheel cleaner first then power wash, Adam’s products Foam canon, two bucket method and hand and leaf blower dry and back in garage. No PPF. Will probably try polish and ceramic this year but will test out my skills on my wife’s car first, then my cars.

I do like washing my car but the damn wheels! Crouching hurts my back after a while and if I wash mine I have to wash my wife’s car and then I might as well wash my STi and Bronco too. It turns into a 3 hour session easily.

Crouching and washing hurt my back a bit too until my kids and wife got me this for my Bday or Xmas. Helps alot...three cars down detailed to include ceramic coated and this saved the day!

https://www.griotsgarage.com/kings-p...ic-creeper-ii/

[beren]

What are people using for tire dressing? My dealer used something amazing. I've got 1700 miles on the car over two months and the tires still look great. I've used a bunch of things but never got that kind of durability. My current fav is Pinnacle Black Tire Onyx, but 2-3 weeks max with that.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by beren

What are people using for tire dressing? My dealer used something amazing. I've got 1700 miles on the car over two months and the tires still look great. I've used a bunch of things but never got that kind of durability. My current fav is Pinnacle Black Tire Onyx, but 2-3 weeks max with that.

CarPro Darkside is the best solvent based dressing. All the water based are the same effectively.

[sammytothe]

Originally Posted by chris719

CarPro Darkside is the best solvent based dressing. All the water based are the same effectively.

I use CarPro Perl, have you compared the 2 by chance?

[chris719]

Originally Posted by sammytothe

I use CarPro Perl, have you compared the 2 by chance?

DarkSide lasts longer, especially if exposed to water. Perl is just a fairly generic water based product. If you reapply weekly not much difference, but DarkSide will give you an extra couple weeks. It’s still not magic. It’s also slightly glossier.

Actually I take my previous post back. My favorite dressing is Labocosmetica Nero. It’s just slightly better than DarkSide, nearly identical behavior.

[RootsTootsMagoots]

ProjectFarm just did a tire dressing video and the Jay Leno product did really well for 9 bucks a bottle. I was going to give it a try when I run out of what I have now.

[sammytothe]

Originally Posted by chris719

DarkSide lasts longer, especially if exposed to water. Perl is just a fairly generic water based product. If you reapply weekly not much difference, but DarkSide will give you an extra couple weeks. It’s still not magic. It’s also slightly glossier.

Actually I take my previous post back. My favorite dressing is Labocosmetica Nero. It’s just slightly better than DarkSide, nearly identical behavior.

Thank you! Think I’ll give darkside a try