Cleaning the Windows is a nightmare

[Franco3000]

Has anybody had success cleaning the windows in their M3s? for some reason, I have tried 5 types of towels, different glass cleaners, to no avail. Smudges, and residue are a given, plus lint all over the windows. I used the same towels and cleaners in my other cars and the windows are always left sparkling clean.

Did BMW put some sort of wax on the windows?...weird

[domino_z]

Rag company 16x16 pluffle with any decent glass cleaner

[ellipsis212]

Clean them off normally then use wet magic eraser sponges, and then clean them again normally just making sure you use good 2 towel (wet/dry) technique.

The magic eraser is great at removing any residues and is especially effective at renewing the interior sides of your windscreens. You may need to vacuum any particles up so I usually cover the dash with a towel to prevent them from getting trapped in the speaker grille or behind the iDrive screen.

If you have to go another level deeper you can use a dual action polisher on the glass or chemicals

[Franco3000]

Originally Posted by ellipsis212

Clean them off normally then use wet magic eraser sponges, and then clean them again normally just making sure you use good 2 towel (wet/dry) technique.

The magic eraser is great at removing any residues and is especially effective at renewing the interior sides of your windscreens. You may need to vacuum any particles up so I usually cover the dash with a towel to prevent them from getting trapped in the speaker grille or behind the iDrive screen.

If you have to go another level deeper you can use a dual action polisher on the glass or chemicals

I know, first world problem, but I like your suggestion. I will try that, thanks

[M 4 FUN]

Steel wool nr:0000 and window cleaner. The steelwool will remove all debrees and fat but not scratch at all. Never use towel that's been washed with some sort of perfume/ softening chemicals, that will make the window looking like crap. Always wipe them until they are totally dry.

[danchee]

Steel wool + tint = bad.

I just use news print and it leaves nothing behind.

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by Franco3000

Has anybody had success cleaning the windows in their M3s? for some reason, I have tried 5 types of towels, different glass cleaners, to no avail. Smudges, and residue are a given, plus lint all over the windows. I used the same towels and cleaners in my other cars and the windows are always left sparkling clean.

Did BMW put some sort of wax on the windows?...weird

Can you specifically list the products used? Please don't use steel wool or a magic eraser on your windows...you can definitely get scratches and then you'll have to polish your glass.

A really good rule of thumb in detailing is always go with the least aggressive method first and then work your way up. Once we know what you have been using or get some pics we can help you resolve the real issue.

[Sti581]

The best way to clean windows and always does the trick is use newspapers and windex without ammonia. No fibers and no streaks and it leaves the cleanest windows and two arms very sore

[chatoyer]

I’ve more or less settled on using either (1) Optimum No Rinse (wash and shine, blue version) followed by a very light coat of Beadmaker or (2) invisible glass rain repel.

That said, if I’m drying after a wash and happen to be using Optimum’s Optiseal as a drying aid, I’ll use that as well on the windows.

Interiors, I use either Adams glass cleaner or the basic version of Invisible Glass (I’ve got a tint to contend with). Both used quite sparingly as technically we should only need to use distilled water, from what I’ve read.

For towels, I will sometimes use a waffle weave or a dedicated glass towel, but most of the time I use whatever inexpensive towel that is handy.

[MrSmartyPants]

Sprayway, Sprayway & Sprayway.

Interior use 2 clothes. One wet for the initial wipe and a 2nd to finish. Must be lint free. Dry the microfiber first to remove lint. Also, never use fabric softener on the towels. You may have to do them twice if you're after perfection. Really clean glass is tough.

For exterior same, but as mentioned, fine grade steel wool helps with contaminant removal.

[Wo-Wo]

Panel wipe - simple.

[Eric S]

91% IPA will work well

We typically use glass cleaner, but when that doesnt work well, we go with 91% IPA and have zero issues. On tinted windows, i wouldnt use IPA though, just more glass cleaner and elbow grease

[RWSM3]

Always use dedicated towels only for glass cleaning and wash them separately with special microfiber detergent from Chemical Guys. This makes all the difference. Other than that, I use Invisible Glass on the inside and Bead Maker on the outside.

[behindthen0thing]

Use a waffle towel and isopropyl alcohol. Works perfectly

[Foomanchu]

I'll take this a step further and share my story. Windows are clean but after going down and coming back up, bouquet smudging. Figured the smudging is coming from the felt seals the glass moves against. Why? Tinting guy went nuts with soaps when installing film. Soap dried and whenever it gets wet it reactivates and viola...a friggin' mess. So I took a paint stirring stick, wrapped an old t-shirt scrap around the end, soaked with water and inserted into space between felt with window down. Moving it carefully from front to back and vice versa, changing the t-shirt scrap each time and re-wetting. It took a few passes, but the windows stay clean now, free of soap residue smudges.

[Kilabyte]

I just get new windows when they get dirty

[allinon72]

I had the same issues when I first got my car. After clay baring the windows, I now use 50:50 isopropyl alcohol and an Adams glass cleaning towel.

I agree though, there seems to be something about BMW glass that makes it a pain.

[papasmurf_m3]

I use that window cleaning towel it's designed to clean windows very soft and absorbent and some
Window cleaner that's sprays on like a foam and buffs off easy. Never issues.

I forgot what brand towel its is but, you can get them at pep boys or Autozone

[Franco3000]

Thank you everyone for all the tips, tried the IPA, claybar + new microfiber towels and some of the other suggestions above, in the end, newspapers and a good glass cleaner worked best.

Still puzzling though, because in my other cars I used the same microfiber towels and have no lint left on the glass.