Winter wash/wax? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

OS · 22nd August 2003, 06:53

Gentlemen

how do you wash and/or wax you cars when there is snow outside?
When the car is grey with the layer of salt ... Do you at all?

M5 owners in California can relax .... most likely you will have no answer for this one

TCM · 22nd August 2003, 07:02

Your best bet is to wax it inside. Wax is not easy to deal with when it is cold, in fact, it can be downright awful. Washing can be accomplished but only on warm sunny days. Worst case scenario is to bring the car to a detailer. They have the capabilities to properly care for the car. In fact, go to Cato's detailing located below the near the Four Seasons. Great guy and good service.

OS · 22nd August 2003, 07:11

thanx for the reference ... will go an talk to the guy.

TCM : you lived in Toronto?

OS · 22nd August 2003, 07:20

TCM

Man - you need a facelift for the logo on your web site.
Or is it deliberate? I mean the letters are a lil chopy ...
I can make it look good free of charge ... takes 5 sec for me.

TCM · 22nd August 2003, 07:38

LMAO, I know. I need a whole new design!! Been too busy/lazy to come up with anything. Never lived in Toronto but have some friends who live up there. Cato does all their vehicles and is a great guy. Pretty reasonably priced as well.

OS · 22nd August 2003, 08:17

indeed.

get someone do it for you, a client of yours for instance

audio1der · 22nd August 2003, 16:44

Whether you do the procedure yourself or have a detailing shop do it, use a synthetic polymer-sealant over the winter.(Zaino, Klasse come to mind)
It will outlast any carnauba thus requiring much less maintenance in those cold months.
If you're a real stickler for looks as well as protection, you can top most sealants with a carnauba to add depth/warmth to the shine.

OS · 22nd August 2003, 17:58

any particular brand of carnauba?

or it does not matter at all?

audio1der · 22nd August 2003, 22:15

It depends on the amount of prep you're willing to do before you apply the sealant.
Polymers will magnify swirls much mor so than a natural carnauba, so it is reccommended that you spend some time getting the surface just right before hand- but that is another thread altogether.

I'd suggest a 100% carnauba such as S100 or Meguiars #26 Hi-Tech Yellow. Lower-end waxes usually contain cleaners, which can strip off part of the last layer (your polymer in this case), which is generally counter-productive.
Also, using a paste wax is a little more time consuming than a liquid, but they tend to last longer, and provide an even deeper shine.
Whew!
I use in this order:
-wash with Dawn dish detergent to remove old wax, dirt
-3M Swirl Mark Remover (SMR)
-wash with good car wash soap to remove any remaining SMR
-Zaino pre-lock conditioner (Z1)
-Zaino Show Car Polish (Z2)
-Zaino Gloss Enhancer Spray (Z6)
then layer as many times as you like with Z2/Z6 every 24 hrs.
-Meguiars Show Car Glaze (#7) for added "wet-look"/depth
-Meguiars #26 Hi-Tech yellow wax [paste]

And I don't even drive anything resembling an M5

;Wait until I do!
Here's everything you couls possible need to know- these fellows transformed my car!
http://www.autopia.org/index.php

kwalls · 23rd August 2003, 02:35

Washing a car in Germany is such a pain in the ***** and always involves going somewhere else to do it.

Nevertheless, I do it and I do it by hand.

Now when the weather gets cold in the winter I just use the old tongue test, if my tongue doesn't stick to the paint, then its wax time after I get the beast dried off and re-attach my fingers.

Ken