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      06-10-2016, 10:27 AM   #67
Naz24
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2x a week probably
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      06-10-2016, 02:52 PM   #68
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ecf34 View Post
I'm moving to a new apartment soon and the complex doesn't have a spot to wash cars. Should I waterless wash it (dunno what to do about the wheels) or just take it to an automated wash?

FWIW I have Xpel on the front cap and CQUK on the whole car. I'm willing to take it to the detailer once a year if it means no swirls.
do u have a coin op in your area? if so, take two buckets and your detailing kit and go there at late or early hours.
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      06-10-2016, 04:24 PM   #69
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aajjcc View Post
do u have a coin op in your area? if so, take two buckets and your detailing kit and go there at late or early hours.
I do, but they specifically forbid bringing your own equipment there to wash your car, you can only use their stuff

Is there a way to clean my wheels without using water? I was thinking waterless wash + microfiber towels.
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      06-11-2016, 01:23 PM   #70
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Given the time investment it would take to do a hand wash I wouldn't do the hand wash until the car was more significantly dirty . I'd rather risk the swirls and have a clean car all the time than having to wait for me to have the time and energy to fit in a hand wash on a dirtier car. I'm sure my car has some swirls after 3 years of automatic washes, but I can't see them at all unless I look really close.
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      06-13-2016, 10:06 PM   #71
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Different paint has different properties. A good friend has a Porsche Cayenne in black. Car wash 2x per week, every week, for 3 years - never polished, just a few waxes. In direct sunlight, I can barely make out swirls.

My AW m3 is almost impossible to see swirls on.

My buddy's red caddy ATS with 50k miles - never polished, driven PA winters, shows no swirls in direct sunlight after simply regular waxing.

My carbon black e39 m5 swirled like crazy - even a professional detailer near me, well reputed, put a ton of machine swirls - and i mean a TON - into the paint that I only saw once their filler wore off.

My wife's 535xit, 2008, 125k miles, has been absolutely abused. Shame on me. It is resistant to forming swirls in Monaco Blue compared to most dark paints I've seen.

...

Point is: Don't knock people for using automatic car washes and having different experiences than you expect.
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      06-29-2016, 12:46 PM   #72
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There are different types of automatics car washes. I own a full service and detail center. When looking for a wash ask what type of material they used and how often they're cleaned. You want to find a wash that uses foam brush and washed hourly at the least. I run my cars through my conveyor wash every day or every other days. I have zero swirls or scratches on my car, wifes car and gasp my dads gt3 that gets washed weekly.


Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeFromPA View Post
Different paint has different properties. A good friend has a Porsche Cayenne in black. Car wash 2x per week, every week, for 3 years - never polished, just a few waxes. In direct sunlight, I can barely make out swirls.

My AW m3 is almost impossible to see swirls on.

My buddy's red caddy ATS with 50k miles - never polished, driven PA winters, shows no swirls in direct sunlight after simply regular waxing.

My carbon black e39 m5 swirled like crazy - even a professional detailer near me, well reputed, put a ton of machine swirls - and i mean a TON - into the paint that I only saw once their filler wore off.

My wife's 535xit, 2008, 125k miles, has been absolutely abused. Shame on me. It is resistant to forming swirls in Monaco Blue compared to most dark paints I've seen.

...

Point is: Don't knock people for using automatic car washes and having different experiences than you expect.
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      06-29-2016, 08:49 PM   #73
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Guys the 4th of July sales are up.

15% off @ Adam's

and 20% off @ The rag company.


FYI - The rag company's "Dry me a river" towel is the same as the Adam's Great white drying towel. I believe Adam's buys them wholesale bulk from TRC.
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      06-29-2016, 09:15 PM   #74
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Do some of you guys exclusively drive on dirt roads and park under trees?

I've never had the need to wash any of my cars more than once every 2 or 3 months, and even then, they're still very clean. Granted, I have a garage home and I park in an underground garage at work, but jeez...
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      06-29-2016, 09:19 PM   #75
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FC4 View Post
Do some of you guys exclusively drive on dirt roads and park under trees?

I've never had the need to wash any of my cars more than once every 2 or 3 months, and even then, they're still very clean. Granted, I have a garage home and I park in an underground garage at work, but jeez...
Really? You must be like my parents who don't take their Corvette out if its slightly cloudy or if there is a 20% chance of gentle breeze tomorrow.

I have a garage and park in a garage at work, but my car still gets plenty dirty with just normal everyday driving. The first place dust and dirt seem to accumulate are on that flat ledge right under the trunk and during the summer, bugs on the front and windows.
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      06-29-2016, 09:24 PM   #76
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Quote:
Originally Posted by snareman View Post
Really? You must be like my parents who don't take their Corvette out if its slightly cloudy or if there is a 20% chance of gentle breeze tomorrow.
So they're like every other midwestern Corvette owner?

But, no. I drive them.
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      06-29-2016, 09:25 PM   #77
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Quote:
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So they're like every other midwestern Corvette owner?
Likely so.
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      06-30-2016, 10:02 AM   #78
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Once 1 - 1.5 weeks. Raining season and I just can't stand the car being dirty.
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      07-05-2016, 06:49 PM   #79
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Wipe it down with quick detail spray after every time I drive it which is 3-4 times a week. Never wash yet. So far so good, still look like from day 1.
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      07-05-2016, 06:50 PM   #80
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Quote:
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Wipe it down with quick detail spray after every time I drive it. Never wash yet. So far so good, still look like from day 1.
Wow, every time! That's dedication! Is it your daily driver?
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      07-05-2016, 06:51 PM   #81
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Wow, every time! That's dedication! Is it your daily driver?
No, not my daily. I drive my truck most of the time for work. The M4 only comes out on the weekend :-(
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      07-18-2016, 09:28 AM   #82
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I daily the m4; has xpel and ceramic pro 9h... I wash it once every 2 weeks unless I get rained on a few times. The car rarely sees rain since its garaged outside of driving. Having the ceramic pro really helps reduce the need for more frequent washing.
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      07-22-2016, 09:26 AM   #83
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmw0perat0r View Post
I daily the m4; has xpel and ceramic pro 9h... I wash it once every 2 weeks unless I get rained on a few times. The car rarely sees rain since its garaged outside of driving. Having the ceramic pro really helps reduce the need for more frequent washing.
Post some pics of the cermaic pro! I'm thinking of having mine done. Can you use Adams products like the quick detail spray or waterless wash on it?
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      07-28-2016, 09:59 AM   #84
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Washed it, drove it, it got dirty. I immediately felt the need to wash it again. There's a huge construction site across the street from work and the wind causes a huge brown layer of dust to coat the whole thing. Even with SS and xpel I cannot stand it. I don't care who sees it if I know it's there it needs to be done... Love hate relationship, especially with the black 19s.

I even got rear ended and still do the same thing. My first BMW and first new car...so maybe that's why.
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      07-28-2016, 11:35 AM   #85
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Bi weekly. I wait till the sun is setting (backyard) faces west and then I'll give it a good bath.
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      07-28-2016, 12:38 PM   #86
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BV335 View Post
Can you use Adams products like the quick detail spray or waterless wash on it?
absolutely
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      07-29-2016, 07:37 PM   #87
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Not sure if I posted earlier, but I usually try and keep it to once a week, weather dependent. But of course past few weekends here, it's forcasted rain on Monday so I won't bother at that point. Now the car has gone a few weeks and is disgusting, like gives me stress every time I look at it. lol The wheels are a matte finish now, just ugh.
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      07-31-2016, 10:42 AM   #88
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Probably once every two weeks.
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