Black cars. How often do you wash?

vapore0n · 07-16-2012, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

Jet Black here and I wash at least once a week. Don't you risk washing the wax right off it if you wash every 3-4 days?

Completely true.
But, if you use a micro fiber towel to dry the car and a soft cloth to wash the car, the wax will last longer than drying with a shamwow.

Dark_Knight_335 · 07-16-2012, 11:41 AM

Too damn often.

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 07-16-2012, 11:45 AM

When I had my car it was dirty about 10 minutes after washing it. Jet black was a nightmare. It's a very soft paint. Swirls easy and if you use the wrong washing or drying techniques you can easily mar the paint.

hemi to e90 · 07-16-2012, 11:48 AM

what do you have now jeff?

ChasVS · 07-16-2012, 12:01 PM

When it needs it. Might be once a week or two weeks. I use a California duster when there's a small layer of dust to remove. I try to dry it off if I get caught in the rain after a recent washing to keep water spotting. Bit of a pain, but Jet Black is one of the better looking colors for the E92!

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 07-16-2012, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hemi to e90

what do you have now jeff?

z06

BMW_Belgier · 07-16-2012, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hemi to e90

lol this made me laugh so hard.

nothing is worse than bsm after it snows or rains and you get those run off marks that say "so what i still drove my 400whp rwd car in the snow". the back of the car is just disgusting after.

So true...

ChasVS · 07-16-2012, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff@topgearsolutions

When I had my car it was dirty about 10 minutes after washing it. Jet black was a nightmare. It's a very soft paint. Swirls easy and if you use the wrong washing or drying techniques you can easily mar the paint.

Jet Black is no softer a paint than any other. All are Clear Coated anyway and that's where the swirling occurs. A light polish is all it takes to make it look awesome!

90SLOWE · 07-16-2012, 12:03 PM

wash and wax every 2 weeks.. its jet black too and i dust it off in between so it stays clean.. i go really lightly over the car when i dust it off so i don't scratch the paint.. it works well for me

AllBlackBimmer · 07-16-2012, 12:04 PM

I have a Jet Black car... BMW's best black IMO. when clean, it is a very "deep" black and looks great.

when you guys say "wash" .. are you actaully WASHING the car, or just spraying it off?

I spray my car off (soap and water) at a local car wash (you know, the open bays, where you manaully wash it off)... but I don't usually dry it for fear of swirl marks (they have a "air jet" that gets a lot of the water off that i use)

... but as far as actual washing, I wash my car every.. 2 weeks? 3 weeks?.. it kind of depends, I hate a dirty car, but between the weather and my schedule, can't always wash it as much as I want.

BOBKUR · 07-16-2012, 12:06 PM

Get a good car duster.

upstatedoc · 07-16-2012, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vapore0n

drying with a shamwow.

I wonder whatever happened to Vince...

SeansBMW328 · 07-16-2012, 12:12 PM

Metallic Black paint, Have to wash at least once a week and water spots are definitely a problem with the hard water we have in Nashville. Going to purchase the Turtle Wax black Box wax system and see how that works after I clay bar the vehicle. Will post pics after I get done if it stops raining long enough!!

Turb0Surge · 07-16-2012, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllBlackBimmer

I have a Jet Black car... BMW's best black IMO. when clean, it is a very "deep" black and looks great.

when you guys say "wash" .. are you actaully WASHING the car, or just spraying it off?

I spray my car off (soap and water) at a local car wash (you know, the open bays, where you manaully wash it off)... but I don't usually dry it for fear of swirl marks (they have a "air jet" that gets a lot of the water off that i use)

... but as far as actual washing, I wash my car every.. 2 weeks? 3 weeks?.. it kind of depends, I hate a dirty car, but between the weather and my schedule, can't always wash it as much as I want.

Wash wash. Like hand wash.

tofu- · 07-16-2012, 12:27 PM

I try to wash it every week. If I had a garage attached to my house (or hell... Even just a garage), I'd probably give it a quick ONR bath every 2-3 days because of how simple it is.

BMW_Belgier · 07-16-2012, 12:30 PM

Guys,

Jet black? Is that black uni or metallic?

I have black Saphire metallic: is that the same???

upstatedoc · 07-16-2012, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW_Belgier

Guys,

Jet black? Is that black uni or metallic?

I have black Saphire metallic: is that the same???

jet black=non-metallic

upstatedoc · 07-16-2012, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeansBMW328

like the red leather.

SeansBMW328 · 07-16-2012, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

like the red leather.

Thank you!!

peeej · 07-16-2012, 01:46 PM

used to wash it frequently till it just became a hassle. so usually on the weekends and i'll just leave it till it gets really dirty again.

3_runner · 07-16-2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark_Knight_335

Too damn often.

Yup, I'm done with black after this.

gatoman39 · 07-16-2012, 02:12 PM

I haven't washed my car in about 3 months. Meguairs brake dust barrier for the wheels and Ultima Waterless Wash. I'll never go back. Saves, water,time,money and allows me to binge drink more than usual.

07-16-2012, 11:41 AM	#24
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1112 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	Too damn often.
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07-16-2012, 11:45 AM	#25
Jeff@TopGearSolutions 3441 Rep 79,211 Posts Drives: C6 Z06, 09 335i, 10 335xi Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: www.TopGearSolutions.com iTrader: (37)	When I had my car it was dirty about 10 minutes after washing it. Jet black was a nightmare. It's a very soft paint. Swirls easy and if you use the wrong washing or drying techniques you can easily mar the paint.
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07-16-2012, 11:48 AM	#26
hemi to e90 dat boost doe 238 Rep 1,823 Posts Drives: 10 335i 21 740li Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: nyc iTrader: (1)	what do you have now jeff? __________________
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07-16-2012, 12:01 PM	#27
ChasVS Colonel 40 Rep 2,431 Posts Drives: 2012 MB ML350 Bluetec Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Central FL iTrader: (10)	When it needs it. Might be once a week or two weeks. I use a California duster when there's a small layer of dust to remove. I try to dry it off if I get caught in the rain after a recent washing to keep water spotting. Bit of a pain, but Jet Black is one of the better looking colors for the E92! __________________ My speeding isn't the problem. It's the Slow Folks ahead of me that cause accidents!
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07-16-2012, 12:03 PM	#31
90SLOWE Private 18 Rep 88 Posts Drives: F30 328i Join Date: May 2012 Location: Dublin, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	wash and wax every 2 weeks.. its jet black too and i dust it off in between so it stays clean.. i go really lightly over the car when i dust it off so i don't scratch the paint.. it works well for me
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07-16-2012, 12:04 PM	#32
AllBlackBimmer Colonel 815 Rep 2,869 Posts Drives: 2019 X3 m40i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: USA iTrader: (-1)	I have a Jet Black car... BMW's best black IMO. when clean, it is a very "deep" black and looks great. when you guys say "wash" .. are you actaully WASHING the car, or just spraying it off? I spray my car off (soap and water) at a local car wash (you know, the open bays, where you manaully wash it off)... but I don't usually dry it for fear of swirl marks (they have a "air jet" that gets a lot of the water off that i use) ... but as far as actual washing, I wash my car every.. 2 weeks? 3 weeks?.. it kind of depends, I hate a dirty car, but between the weather and my schedule, can't always wash it as much as I want. __________________ 2019 X3 m40i:Carbon Black:Executive:Premium:Adaptive:Vernasca:699M:HK: Ambient:IND trim:M Mirrors:15mm spacers:Maxton lip:20% tint windows/pano:dsg paddles:TLG mudflaps 2008 328i E90 Jet Black:6MT:RWD:Premium:Sport:Xenon:MTEC V3 AEs:Front Splitters:CF spoiler:19" VMR FF v710
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07-16-2012, 12:06 PM	#33
BOBKUR Major 20 Rep 1,361 Posts Drives: 2008 E 90 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: CALIFORNIA iTrader: (2)	Get a good car duster.
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07-16-2012, 12:12 PM	#35
SeansBMW328 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 40 Posts Drives: 2009 328i Convertible Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Nashville/Bellevue iTrader: (0)	Metallic Black paint, Have to wash at least once a week and water spots are definitely a problem with the hard water we have in Nashville. Going to purchase the Turtle Wax black Box wax system and see how that works after I clay bar the vehicle. Will post pics after I get done if it stops raining long enough!!
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07-16-2012, 12:27 PM	#37
tofu- Banned 87 Rep 2,854 Posts Drives: 335i Jet Black/Coral Red Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: nyc iTrader: (4)	I try to wash it every week. If I had a garage attached to my house (or hell... Even just a garage), I'd probably give it a quick ONR bath every 2-3 days because of how simple it is.
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07-16-2012, 12:30 PM	#38
BMW_Belgier Lieutenant Colonel 99 Rep 1,597 Posts Drives: E92 335xi n55 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	Guys, Jet black? Is that black uni or metallic? I have black Saphire metallic: is that the same???
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07-16-2012, 01:46 PM	#42
peeej Lieutenant 58 Rep 584 Posts Drives: Former E92 owner Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hawaii iTrader: (0)	used to wash it frequently till it just became a hassle. so usually on the weekends and i'll just leave it till it gets really dirty again.
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07-16-2012, 02:12 PM	#44
gatoman39 Major 116 Rep 1,346 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 335 M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: LA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E92 335i M Sport [1.00]	I haven't washed my car in about 3 months. Meguairs brake dust barrier for the wheels and Ultima Waterless Wash. I'll never go back. Saves, water,time,money and allows me to binge drink more than usual. __________________
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