F12/F13 Detailing and Care
 

I thought I'd go ahead and begin a thread to consolidate detailing info specifically on our sub-forum. Here is a questioning have and a few of the things I've done so far:

Has anyone used Rain-X (or similar product) on their F12/13? I've used Rain-X in the past and it has been effective, but I want to make sure that it won't make the wipers squeaky (they're currently amazingly quiet) or cause any problems with BMW's windows. Thanks!

Exterior Upkeep: The first weekend after taking delivery, I washed and waxed my coupe to get a nice protective layer of wax on it early. The following is my wash routine...
(1) Wash wheels using Meguire's car shampoo using a mitt and microfiber cloth. The microfiber is helpful for getting in the tight spaces. The mitt is good for getting the bigger, deeper portions and protecting your hand from the sharp bits. By this point the water is nasty and filled with brake dust, so I dump and start fresh for the body.
(2) Wash body using Wolfgang's car wash using a microfiber mitt. Rinse.
(3) Dry by first squeegeeing with a special rubber car squeegee to remove the bulk of the water, blow the rest off using a high-powered leaf blower, and then finishing with a chamois to get any remaining water. The leaf blower is also great for drying the wheels.

Interior: I haven't done anything with the inside yet, but I think I'm going to try Meguire's cleaner/conditioner on the leather. I want to try to maintain the matte look (which I'm worried about because I saw a car at the dealer that had shiny leather after they did something to it). I'm going to try it on a discrete spot on the backseat/useless piece of extra Nappa, and see how that looks.

Anyone have suggestions, recommendations, or tips regarding technique or cleaning products?

Thanks!

There's a whole detail section on these forums from the pros. They take detailing to a whole other level.

But, yeah I get why you'd have a thread "in house" too.

I could be wrong but I've heard it's nit good to wax brand new paint. It's still curing or something to that effect.

I use Maguire's on leather. Works good. Doesn't leave slick shiny. It leaves it w the kind of shine that's natural and shows the leather isn't dried out.

I need to pick up a good leaf blower.

Edit: will you guys take a look at the leaf blowers on amazon. I can't tell which one to get.

My dad mentioned the leaf blower idea to me, and it is amazing how much water gets in all of the crevices. More importantly, the high powered air gets rid of all of the water with minimal chamois use. He's been using the above regimen on our black Denali for the last year and a half and haven't had any trouble with swirls.

Southern it may sound silly but do me a favor: look on amazon.com. Help me pick out a good blower.

Thank you. :)

Consumer Reports recommends the Husqvarna 125BVx (highest score of all tested: 80) - $180. The second highest is the Stihl BG55 (score: 79) - $140. The third highest is Weed Eater FB25 (score: 65) - $78.

The Weed Eater is apparently very powerful for its size, and the only cons they have listed are that it is loud (which most of them are - it's a freakin' leaf blower, what are they expecting?) and it doesn't offer a vacuuming capability (whatever that is - not really applicable for drying purposes).

I think I'd go with the Weed Eater. The price difference is huge, and from what I read it doesn't sound like it will have any trouble blowing water off your car. If you get matted, dried leaves on your car, then you may have some issues :)

Hope this helps!

Cool man thanks! I'll look the three over and pick among them. That's perfect help.

No problem. They apparently make some blowers specifically for drying cars, but you pay a premium for that. I like toys but that's definitely something I can live without.

Ha ha sorry to turn this into a leaf blower derail thread. But you think an electric one will suffice? I don't want to deal w. gas.

Haha. That's ok. I'd just try to find one that has similar specs to the Weed Eater in terms of power, etc. The reasons I like the gas are no cord to plug in (or battery to charge), and I don't have to negotiate the cord around the body... and that's the blower we have and didn't want to buy a new one lol. I understand not wanting to mess with the gas.

OK, now I feel that I'm at an all new level of lazy. You guys not only wash your own cars, but buy water filtration units and leaf blowers to hand wash your own cars. I certainly like the idea of nothing coming in contact with my car, but find it so much easier to drive it to Aqua Car Wash every week, and trade it three years later. LOL

Hahaha. Well, I'm 23 and even though money isn't really a worry for me, I'm not a trust fund brat either with no concept of money. Thus, I try to control my spending a little bit like detailing my own car rather than paying someone else - especially because there isn't anyone where I live that I trust to properly clean and care for my car (very jealous of everything y'all have in Houston. I just spent the weekend there being reminded of how great real cities are lol). Some say it helps make me humble - though not likely lol. I guess I'm just too much of an OCD perfectionist who doesn't trust anyone.

Reading this post back, it sounds like a psych clinical note. Haha.

Edit; I buy all this **** and then just bring it to detailer anyway.

Edit. Ignore me. I'm cracked our of my head on the elliptical from too much caffeine.

Lol. Mobile is a cool place, too. I'm from New Orleans, but am glad to be in a big city.

Happy (recent) Birthday?

Weren't you still 22 like a week ago?

Haha yep - Thanks! - good observation. My PCD + 2-day car control course was my birthday present from my parents.

Jonny: To answer your question, the Sparknotes version of how I can afford this car is supportive family, great schooling, and lots of working. I started my own catering business when I was 16, began teaching cooking classes at 18, and I have been working in the medical field all through college. I'm pretty much a workaholic and am at work whenever I'm not in class or studying. My family is pretty well off, so I don't have to pay tuition, living expenses, etc. so my paychecks sit in the bank. The above + graduaton present = 6er. I said I'm not a trust fund brat, but I didn't say I'm not a little spoiled lol. Life is very busy but pretty good :)

Happy B-day my man!
May you be blessed w the fruit of your hard work for many many years to come!

Enjoy!

Haha. Thanks!

:)

Spent a few hours washing my car today and noticed that it had claimed the lives of more than a few bugs, and the normal car shampoo wasn't cutting it. Here's what I used (pic below), and it did a really good job getting rid of the stubborn spots.

I put a tiny amount on a clean microfiber cloth, rubbed it in (circular motion) carefully in as small an area as possible (a little pressure was necessary for some spots), and then buffed it off gently using a clean area of the towel.

It worked perfectly without any swirls. I made sure to dust the area with a clean microfiber cloth before doing this even though I had just washed the car (to make sure no pollen or dust particles had settled in that short period of time). I used it on the painted surfaces, chrome around the grill, and plastic headlight housing, and it did a great job. Some people say to use a piece of the little waxing sponges, but I've used those before and I could see some micro scratches (only noticeable from the right angle in the right light, but noticeable nonetheless). The microfiber cloth was great because I used a different portion of the cloth for every little spot, and then I had a lot of soft, lint-free cloth to softly remove the remaining compound solution. I couldn't detect any micro scratches after using it on several portions on the front and the mirrors.

Southern have you thought about hand modeling?! :)

It's that blasted elastic young skin of his. Just wait until you're 'southern6er42'! :madrazz:

That's a great idea. I could use my young skin to pay for my young male insurance on this car. Insurance and skin depreciate at about the same rate, right? lol.

Edit - I used a Meguire's external plastic cleaner/polish on the headlight housing (this product is meant for headlights) that is kinda between a liquid and a paste), not the same compound.

Am I the only one who got a wierd feeling inside upon reading this???;););)

Haha. I knew as I was typing it that it was not the most innocent wording... so, in typical form, I decided to keep it lol.