civicdrivr's Z3 thread
Rain has contaminants in it. I try to not let rain dry on the car, because that introduces hard water spots.
I do have another package to send him....
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 78,249
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Locally for me, the hose water is a lot "harder" and more prone to leaving spots. The rain water near here is pretty clean and dries almost spotless. I sometimes wash the car in the rain so I get the dirt off and let the rain rinse it. 
I wish I could go back in time and have bought that whole water softener system...supposedly if we had that, it'd leave it spotless when dried.
I wish I could go back in time and have bought that whole water softener system...supposedly if we had that, it'd leave it spotless when dried.
The car is sealed (last application was about a month ago) and I wax it after every wash. Water spots have lightly etched the paint though.
But, I did change my sealant. I originally used Blackfire Wet Diamond, but switched to 4* UPP. The BFWD didn't last that long for some reason, where on the CL it will last about 3 months.
I put two coats of the 4* UPP on the car. Before the car goes into storage for the winter Im going to do another full detail and seal it so its ready to go come Spring.
You could flood the paint j, run the hose over the car with low pressure and let the water pull the water away. Its easier to dry, and less chance of light surface scratches from drying
takin care of Business in
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 30,994
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From: Kansas City, MO
Locally for me, the hose water is a lot "harder" and more prone to leaving spots. The rain water near here is pretty clean and dries almost spotless. I sometimes wash the car in the rain so I get the dirt off and let the rain rinse it.
I wish I could go back in time and have bought that whole water softener system...supposedly if we had that, it'd leave it spotless when dried.
I wish I could go back in time and have bought that whole water softener system...supposedly if we had that, it'd leave it spotless when dried.
rain water here dries off very well as well....but the only problem is, since i park outside there is dust on my car and rain just messes up the whole car leaving dirt spots....
also it does rain really heavy down here...it will drizzle and then stop....but if the car is clean and waxed, there will be some beading and the car will dry off without a spot on it....
Giant Blue Car
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 161
From: Dallas, TX
Since I'm f'n cheap, I only have "store-brand" cleaner wax, carnuaba wax, and some "Tech wax 2.0"..... I really want to try one of those sealants.
I wish I could just go somewhere and buy it instead of ordering it online...'cause when I want something, I want it right then and there...
I wish I could just go somewhere and buy it instead of ordering it online...'cause when I want something, I want it right then and there...
I know what you mean. But buying car care products in bulk online is much cheaper, plus you can get the higher end stuff that isn't available in the stores. Not saying that the stuff in stores isn't good, but.......some of it isnt good 
You can actually see about 1/4 of my detailing supplies in the pic above your post. Most of the stuff I buy is gallon jugs. Some of the stuff, like the quick detailer, is concentrated. So I mix it with water (4:1 for the QD) and I end up saving quite a bit over buying a regular bottle of the stuff.
You can actually see about 1/4 of my detailing supplies in the pic above your post. Most of the stuff I buy is gallon jugs. Some of the stuff, like the quick detailer, is concentrated. So I mix it with water (4:1 for the QD) and I end up saving quite a bit over buying a regular bottle of the stuff.
Good thing I bought mine from Priority Toyota. "Priorities for life". That means that everything is covered for as long as I own the vehicle
But I fully expect that engine warranty to go out the window this winter
Giant Blue Car
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 161
From: Dallas, TX
I know what you mean. But buying car care products in bulk online is much cheaper, plus you can get the higher end stuff that isn't available in the stores. Not saying that the stuff in stores isn't good, but.......some of it isnt good
You can actually see about 1/4 of my detailing supplies in the pic above your post. Most of the stuff I buy is gallon jugs. Some of the stuff, like the quick detailer, is concentrated. So I mix it with water (4:1 for the QD) and I end up saving quite a bit over buying a regular bottle of the stuff.
You can actually see about 1/4 of my detailing supplies in the pic above your post. Most of the stuff I buy is gallon jugs. Some of the stuff, like the quick detailer, is concentrated. So I mix it with water (4:1 for the QD) and I end up saving quite a bit over buying a regular bottle of the stuff.
What do you use for your basic wash/detail routine? I recently bought an orbital buffer so I wouldn't get exhausted halfway through one coat....
For a full detail, I clay with a medium Megs clay bar, polish with Megs 105 (if its bad) then 205. I've only used the 105 once, and that was on my Triumph when I first bought it. That paint was swirled to hell and back.
Then I seal it with either Blackfire Wet Diamond (CL) or 4* UPP (FR-S). IIRC BFWD allows you to layer right away, but 4* UPP says to wait 12 hours. I use a Porter Cable 7424 for every step. Theres no need to apply pressure to it when sealing and it takes about 15 minutes to coat the entire car with sealant using the PC.
A maintenance wash (once a week) takes me about 2hrs start to finish. If I didnt have to worry about the wheels it would take about 30 minutes less. Speaking of the wheels and tires, I have four brushes to clean them with. I wax the wheels as well using the same Optimum Spray Wax (sprayed onto a different microfiber).
Kansas City once, NY twice, Charlotte once, and the rest....work.
Surprisingly, thats low mileage for me. I typically average 1k miles a week but work has mostly been local.
Surprisingly, thats low mileage for me. I typically average 1k miles a week but work has mostly been local.
.
I have a random orbital but I only use it for paint correction and glass polishing. I apply my zaino polishes and sealants by hand.
Giant Blue Car
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 161
From: Dallas, TX
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,543
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From: Phoenix, AZ
I use Meguiars Gold Class car shampoo (I like the slickness and the suds) during the summer and Optimum No Rinse during the winter (less time spent outside in the cold). Afterwards I use Optimum spray wax once the car is nice and dry. ALWAYS use two buckets with grit guards. I like real sheep skin mitts too, stay away from the synthetic BS. To dry, I sheet the water off the panels by pouring a steady stream of water on it. Then I blow dry the car using my ShopVac on blow. Any left over water can be dried off using a waffle weave.
For a full detail, I clay with a medium Megs clay bar, polish with Megs 105 (if its bad) then 205. I've only used the 105 once, and that was on my Triumph when I first bought it. That paint was swirled to hell and back.
Then I seal it with either Blackfire Wet Diamond (CL) or 4* UPP (FR-S). IIRC BFWD allows you to layer right away, but 4* UPP says to wait 12 hours. I use a Porter Cable 7424 for every step. Theres no need to apply pressure to it when sealing and it takes about 15 minutes to coat the entire car with sealant using the PC.
A maintenance wash (once a week) takes me about 2hrs start to finish. If I didnt have to worry about the wheels it would take about 30 minutes less. Speaking of the wheels and tires, I have four brushes to clean them with. I wax the wheels as well using the same Optimum Spray Wax (sprayed onto a different microfiber).
For a full detail, I clay with a medium Megs clay bar, polish with Megs 105 (if its bad) then 205. I've only used the 105 once, and that was on my Triumph when I first bought it. That paint was swirled to hell and back.
Then I seal it with either Blackfire Wet Diamond (CL) or 4* UPP (FR-S). IIRC BFWD allows you to layer right away, but 4* UPP says to wait 12 hours. I use a Porter Cable 7424 for every step. Theres no need to apply pressure to it when sealing and it takes about 15 minutes to coat the entire car with sealant using the PC.
A maintenance wash (once a week) takes me about 2hrs start to finish. If I didnt have to worry about the wheels it would take about 30 minutes less. Speaking of the wheels and tires, I have four brushes to clean them with. I wax the wheels as well using the same Optimum Spray Wax (sprayed onto a different microfiber).
The trips out of state werent work related. But if I am working out of state, I would fly.
Go trade your Bimmer in for another Hyundai.
Go trade your Bimmer in for another Hyundai.
Same goes for regular pictures. Im tired of taking pics in the culdesac in front of my house. So once I wash it Im going to try to go down to the river and take pics there. Just need the time
