[jedpause]

Hi All, wonder if you have any intelligent tips on reducing the attraction of dust and dirt on the rear part of the car (sedan).

Of course I realise you can't stop it, it's normal... I just seem to be cleaning my car every week, and in a few days it's grubby again! Far more than any previous car....

Made worse by the fact that my car is white.... will roof spoilers or anti-static wax or something help?

It does clean very quickly with the wax/sealants I have put on, just a PITA cleaning it

[E90Fleet]

California Car duster

Used correctly it will not scratch the paint and lifts dust like you wont believe
just dust the car each day before putting her to bed

[jedpause]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

California Car duster

Used correctly it will not scratch the paint and lifts dust like you wont believe
just dust the car each day before putting her to bed

Thanks for the tip! Will check eBay/Amazon accordingly...

[sanf]

how do you clean the duster? just remove and wash the pad?

[Needsdecaf]

1. YOu don't clean the duster.
2. The duster is only good for dust and pollen, certainly not dirt.

[gatoman39]

Originally Posted by sanf

how do you clean the duster? just remove and wash the pad?

the duster rarely needs to be washed but the instructions say to hand wash it in a woolite solution and air dry it.
You have to be very careful using this product though. It can be used to remove light dust, but that's it really. I prefer the waterless wash and microfiber towels.

[darrko]

Originally Posted by gatoman39

the duster rarely needs to be washed but the instructions say to hand wash it in a woolite solution and air dry it.
You have to be very careful using this product though. It can be used to remove light dust, but that's it really. I prefer the waterless wash and microfiber towels.

So is the waterless wash really recommended? I'd be afraid of scratching the paint. What real benefit does this method offer over the conventional way, apart from the obvious saving on water?

[gatoman39]

Originally Posted by darrko

So is the waterless wash really recommended? I'd be afraid of scratching the paint. What real benefit does this method offer over the conventional way, apart from the obvious saving on water?

yes it's recommended for a certain segment of the population that is anal about keeping their car clean. The benefits are numerous.

Cheaper, environmentally friendly,good for people living in apartment complexes with no access to hoses, the list goes on and on.

You have to start with a clean and waxed car. Every few days, depending on your level of insanity, all you have to do it spray a solution on the car and gently wipe it off, that's it. However, you need to have several different types of MF towels. Ones that are only for the top portion of the car, others for the lower portions, ones specific to glass and ones dedicated to tires and they must be washed seperately to avoid contamination.

[BigKutta]

I know I shouldn't be going through an automatic car wash, but even the best one around here is unable to get the dirt off from around the rear license plate area. The design prevents the brushes from even getting there.

[gatoman39]

Originally Posted by BigKutta

I know I shouldn't be going through an automatic car wash, but even the best one around here is unable to get the dirt off from around the rear license plate area. The design prevents the brushes from even getting there.

your car is already likely to be scratch to shit. Look at it in the sunlight at and angle it probably looks like this.

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by gatoman39

your car is already likely to be scratch to shit. Look at it in the sunlight at and angle it probably looks like this.

jpg[/IMG]

I know I am not the only one who doesn't always hand was their cars, and I can assure you none of my cars have ever looked like that. My e46 went through 10 years of auto washes and did not have those Brillo pad marks. Actually a car fanatic bought my car for his son and was surprised at how good the paint looked after 10 years.

I wish I had the time and patience to hand wash but there just isn't enough time.

[gatoman39]

Originally Posted by BigKutta

I know I am not the only one who doesn't always hand was their cars, and I can assure you none of my cars have ever looked like that. My e46 went through 10 years of auto washes and did not have those Brillo pad marks. Actually a car fanatic bought my car for his son and was surprised at how good the paint looked after 10 years.

I wish I had the time and patience to hand wash but there just isn't enough time.

those aren't brillo marks, they're marks caused by improper washing and drying, and if you take your car to an automated wash it will most certainly look like that. It will only be apparent to you if you are looking for it under direct sunlight or under halogens. For people who don't really care or don't know what to look for it won't be apparent. In fact I kinda wish I was like that cause even the slightest amount of swirl marks give me hives. You don't have to hand wash the car, you can take it to hand wash facilities or have a mobile detailer do it for you. It's all up to your level of expectation.

[BD997]

Very hard to see scratches on a white car... thats why I chose alpine white :-)

[darrko]

So for a normal non-automated wash, is it enough to use micro-fiber cloth and a good shampoo and wax to prevent swirls and scratches? Or is that something that's gonna happen anyway?

[joey5622]

i am dreading the swirl marks on my imperial blue when she arrives...

[Bimmernerd]

I will never use an automatic car wash with brushes...it will definitely cause swirls/scratches, very visable in sun light. What I have noticed however when hand washing the car is how this also causes tiny scratches, even though I always use a clean sponge and lots and lots of water. Too bad...as you need to wash the car once a week in the winter. It is amazing how easily the boot gets dirty on the Touring!

[darrko]

Originally Posted by joey5622

i am dreading the swirl marks on my imperial blue when she arrives...

Yeah me too because my current black car looks exactly like the photo gatoman39 posted. I would really like to be able to avoid this in the future, especially with the dark grey color my F10 is gonna be.

[eskdale]

Originally Posted by Bimmernerd

I will never use an automatic car wash with brushes...it will definitely cause swirls/scratches, very visable in sun light. What I have noticed however when hand washing the car is how this also causes tiny scratches, even though I always use a clean sponge and lots and lots of water. Too bad...as you need to wash the car once a week in the winter. It is amazing how easily the boot gets dirty on the Touring!

Totally agree with you on the boot on the Touring - Had an MPV before and although that got dirty nothing like as quickly as the Touring. Also the M Sport sills (perhaps its the style the way they protrude) they both need cleaning daily!
Wouldn't be quite so bad but the boot on the Touring has so many crevices that with a quick clean I almost always manage to miss a bit somewhere!

[vdubturbo]

Originally Posted by darrko

Yeah me too because my current black car looks exactly like the photo gatoman39 posted. I would really like to be able to avoid this in the future, especially with the dark grey color my F10 is gonna be.

I've been using a synthetic chamois. Are there better solutions?

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by gatoman39

those aren't brillo marks, they're marks caused by improper washing and drying, and if you take your car to an automated wash it will most certainly look like that. It will only be apparent to you if you are looking for it under direct sunlight or under halogens. For people who don't really care or don't know what to look for it won't be apparent. In fact I kinda wish I was like that cause even the slightest amount of swirl marks give me hives. You don't have to hand wash the car, you can take it to hand wash facilities or have a mobile detailer do it for you. It's all up to your level of expectation.

I only take my car to a brushless car wash, and I feel like they are very good. I used to wash my e46 (when I first got it) and noticed that unless I really took my time, I could be using the grime on the car to cause more scratches. Even with these hand wash places, I am not sure if someone getting paid $5 per hour is really paying attention to replacing the cloth at the right time, or soaping and watering the right way. The whole thing can make you really nervous.

[gatoman39]

Originally Posted by BD997

Very hard to see scratches on a white car... thats why I chose alpine white :-)

scratches will show up less on lighter colors, but they will still be there if you're not careful. This is my alpine white as I'm polishing her...

Originally Posted by darrko

So for a normal non-automated wash, is it enough to use micro-fiber cloth and a good shampoo and wax to prevent swirls and scratches? Or is that something that's gonna happen anyway?

It's gonna happen, you can't stop it, you can only hope to contain it.

Originally Posted by vdubturbo

I've been using a synthetic chamois. Are there better solutions?

you mean to dry the car? Yes waffle weave microfiber drying towels. If you meant to wash the car, yes, sheepskin wash mitts.

Originally Posted by BigKutta

I only take my car to a brushless car wash, and I feel like they are very good. I used to wash my e46 (when I first got it) and noticed that unless I really took my time, I could be using the grime on the car to cause more scratches. Even with these hand wash places, I am not sure if someone getting paid $5 per hour is really paying attention to replacing the cloth at the right time, or soaping and watering the right way. The whole thing can make you really nervous.

Hand wash places are the least worst. SOme are better than others, you have to watch the place and see how they do it. The brushless or touchless places use chemicals that are too strong and will strip the wax off the car. The chemicals are especially bad for rubber and trim pieces around the doors and glass.
such as here:

[Rbembas_M3]

Originally Posted by gatoman39

your car is already likely to be scratch to shit. Look at it in the sunlight at and angle it probably looks like this.

luck that is why i hand wash my car once a week and watch your dealers when you take your car in for service. I tell them not to wash it, give me the discount I'll wash it myself.