washing black car

[shadrack]

so next week im collecting my x5 in carbon black, how do i wash it without getting swirl marks

[X5Sport]

Carefully!  Find a non contact way of getting the worst of the grit off first - I use a Karcher - and if you are in a hard water area consider getting a softener cartridge full of resin.  The soft water just runs off and makes the cars easy to dry with no streaks.

[shadrack]

well i have a karcher but someone told me that using this scratches the car  ::) all i know is my rrs was very swirl marked and that my ml was pale met blue so i could wash it with wire wool and it would still look great....

[X5Sport]

Not had it scratch mine, but I don't use it to do anything but spray - no wash heads at all.

[AW8]

Firstly I suggest ensuring it is corrected and sealed as results of careful washing and drying depend on the actual  condition of the paint/clearcoat.

Basically as you know - dark colours can show damage, swirls and water marks

Assuming it will be a daily driver and not a garage queen I suggest you need to be realistic as to how much time you are prepared to spend to make car look acceptable to you.

30 miles use a day &/or parking in a dusty location can leave a dark car needing attention if you want to maintain a clean and pampered look.

For me in summer and when time, motivation, weather and comitments permit,  I ideally aim to have the car looking 80% for 80% of the time. (Sadly sometimes the reality differs).

Are you planning to do a weekly wash, for the car to look great for Sunday lunchtime and look so so or dusty/dirty rest of week ? Going to do a full wash daily or every other day ? Are you really prepared to snow foam, pressure wash, and use water filters, leaf blower, bespoke waxes and mabe detail spray every time you clean it ?

Be realistic for likely time investment for cleaning in duration of ownership.....(not just the honeymoon period).

My car is my daily driver. It is 14 years old and lives outside. It carries kayaks, paddleboards, bikes and dogs. I work varied but often long hours.

My aim is to reduce harm from dragging bonded mud, sand, grit, dirt across hte car. I therefore try to remove same before it bonds firmly. If caked I pressure wash or hose 1st and use shampoo to reduce wash (friction) damage....Otherwise I simply use 2 bucket method and a wash using neat tap water...I usually use neat tap water as it saves me the faff time from having to hose or pressure wash away suds from shampoo. I split car into sections - smaller if its warmer weather.....I dry panels before the sun or wind does.(critical to avoid tap water marks).  A decent buffing tecnique is important if you want to avoid your car having a grey water marked sheen. I try to keep my drying towels (two needed), non saturated & moving vigorously so as to keep plenty of air circulating when drying panels....(this is pretty critical and saves me time from having to re wash). Ideally I will follow up with a microfibre cloth and light use of some detailing spray as/when required.

I can wash and dry entire car in about 15 mins maybe 20 or so  if going over afterwards with detail spray and a microfibre cloth.

Assuming I have a clean car at start of each dry day, (with wax/sealant making the clearcoat relatively smooth), then if I spend 5 mins or so daily dusting off (hand mop duster) & quickly spraying/wipeping (microfibre cloth & detailing spray) then I can go many dry days between washes.

Typing this today I have a realtively clean car outside albeit I confess it needs a machine polish, a bumper dink sorting (soon) &  has enjoyed more pampered times.  (when I have been less distracted).

[shadrack]

I dont use it daily i generally wash at week ends (time permitting) so if i was to pressure wash, wash two bucket meathod to wash then dry?  i allready wash my car in stages/ sections so usually start roof, rinse then say a side etc, i normally do the doors bellow rub strip and bottom of front/ rear bumpers last then the wheels although at the moment i only use one bucket!

[shadrack]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Not had it scratch mine, but I don't use it to do anything but spray - no wash heads at all.
[/quote]

i only use spray on car, someone said it blasts the dirt against the surface using the muck as sandpaper.....

no idea if its correct, ive always tried to look after my cars but time is often rare, the ml is very easy to keep clean because of the colour but ive got the e70 in carbon black as im not a fan of the other colours apart from the grey but didnt find one, im quite worried now as theres many same spec milage as mine for alot more than i pay'd in independent garages and mine was a auc car i also got what i thought was an excellent trade in price on the ml

[Steamyrotter]

I think from now I am going round AW8s for a cup of tea whilst he washes my car!!!

Wish I could get down to 15 mins!!

[AW8]

More than happy to demonstrate against the clock.

I should add that this based on washing frequently enough so as to avoid heavy debris clean. Saves time as well as risk of paint damage.

As for PW causing dirt to damage  paint - Sure there is some friction but never heard of it being frowned against for fear of abrasive damage.

My last post may seem a little lengthy and my routine perhaps a little complex but it's quite simple. It doesn't matter how good your routine - if the cars clearcoat is swirled and unprotected you can only achieve so much.

Twin buckets not be all and end all - merely a means to reducing carrying debris from one panel onto another. A moving mitt covered in mud will damage the paint however many buckets are to hand.

Proper and clean drying towels (not a chamois) are key to a smear free finish. Forget sponges - microfibre or other safe wash mitts are the way to go.

All academic really as many folk only drive a clean on the event day it gets washed.

Black and carbon can arguably be a full time except for those who have a sound & well practiced routine.

I know folk with mirror like carbon paint albeit they probably spend longer than my 15 mins. I would not avoid black or carbon but would buy Metallic grey if I couldn't clean the car often enough - relative to  use &/or garaging.

Like I said my current aim is to have car looking 80% for 80% of the time..... Any pamper days are a bonus.

[graemeX5]

Hi
One suggestion is if you are keeping it outside rather than in a garage then I would recommend getting a car cover no cheap but effective, as I have a sharphire black car and use a stormforce cover and it lets the car breath and keeps all the bits off it.

Then when I take the cover off I just give the car a quick wipe over with detailer, certainly easier than a full wash every week and the car is protected from bird droppings etc.

Ps, Which car are you changing for the x5 the ML?

[shadrack]

[quote="graemeX5"]
Hi
One suggestion is if you are keeping it outside rather than in a garage then I would recommend getting a car cover no cheap but effective, as I have a sharphire black car and use a stormforce cover and it lets the car breath and keeps all the bits off it.

Then when I take the cover off I just give the car a quick wipe over with detailer, certainly easier than a full wash every week and the car is protected from bird droppings etc.

Ps, Which car are you changing for the x5 the ML?
[/quote]

ive a garage but i doubt the x5 will fit in as the ml is so so tight i stopped putting it in for fear of damage going in/out, so i keep my jimny in there, a car cover is not an option either i don't think with the wind we get on the front of the house were drive is is bad.
yes the ml63 is going in for the x5 anytime now, bmw rang this morn to say it was back from the paint shop (i picked up a few faults) and its going for new tyres tomorrow as they looked worn on the edge to me.