IMO/ARC car wash
Discussion
Stevey101 said:
I’m new to the whole car world and only just recently got into cars. My mistake I just thought as this is the only actual M 1 series you can get it’d be an M1.
Also interested what car do you have?
Also interested what car do you have?
CraigyMc said:
At the moment, an Exige V6 and an E90 320d/ED, though if the Emira turns out to be a sportscar, i'll most likely buy one of those.
Right before I bought the Exige I was looking at an M2 CS, but the Exige was just a much better car for the money. Turns out the Exige has appreciated in value since I bought it.
Reading what Stevey101 said to you and considering the problem that arose in the first place, I couldn't help having a little chuckle at your reply. Right before I bought the Exige I was looking at an M2 CS, but the Exige was just a much better car for the money. Turns out the Exige has appreciated in value since I bought it.
Stevey101 said:
So I’ve been reading up and I’ve heard bad things about car washes as they’re really bad for your paint work apparently.
Was thinking of getting the PRO-SHIELD wash which is there top premium wash with a polymer sealant.
Anyone had an experience with this and should I use it? It’s just I’ve got a brand new M1 so it’s not some s
tty banger I wanna ruin lol.
I also have an M1<something> and it gets washed by hand by me only. I’m no detailer or car washer but I splashed a significant (for me!) amount of cash on it and can’t bring myself to let anyone else ruin it!Was thinking of getting the PRO-SHIELD wash which is there top premium wash with a polymer sealant.
Anyone had an experience with this and should I use it? It’s just I’ve got a brand new M1 so it’s not some s
tty banger I wanna ruin lol.Chris (aka one bucket and no grit guard!)
Get the'sen up to Halfords, choose a nice bucket, a noodle washmitt, some autoglym products and enjoy the process - doesn't take long and its a good way of checking for bodywork problems. More up front but will more than pay for itself - my wash mitt is probably a decade old and perfect. Just a few products, and some microfibres. Easy.
Spend hundreds of pounds on detailing gear and a DA polisher and after your car is looking amazing drive it down the road to be peppered by stone chips, bird st, dust, tree sap, country lane mud and aholes opening doors into it when you park up. OR… go to the soap chuckers down the road. Yeah I did the whole car detailing thing and life is too short to be worrying about holograms, swirls and paint depth.
t, dust, tree sap, country lane mud and aholes opening doors into it when you park up. OR… go to the soap chuckers down the road. Yeah I did the whole car detailing thing and life is too short to be worrying about holograms, swirls and paint depth. Edited by Section 8 on Thursday 17th June 09:14
Section 8 said:
Spend hundreds of pounds on detailing gear and a DA polisher and after your car is looking amazing drive it down the road to be peppered by stone chips, bird st, dust, tree sap, country lane mud and aholes opening doors into it when you park up. OR… go to the soap chuckers down the road. Yeah I did the whole car detailing thing and life is to short to be worrying about holograms, swirls and paint depth.
There's a middle ground though. I wash my cars myself and have a few different shampoos, polishes and sealants. I don't have a DA but my cars generally look presentable with their weekly wash. With a half decent sealant on your car, things like birds muck don't tend to burn into the clearcoat as easily and also, as I sit looking at my car with rain pouring down on it right now, I know it's actually washing all the dust off it as it's got a coat of synthetic sealant on it.t, dust, tree sap, country lane mud and aholes opening doors into it when you park up. OR… go to the soap chuckers down the road. Yeah I did the whole car detailing thing and life is to short to be worrying about holograms, swirls and paint depth. The problem (if the owner cares) about the Tesco car park washers is the swirls etc. you tend to get over time which you're less likely to doing it yourself. For the price of a few of those washes you could have bought yourself everything you need to clean your car at home for a year.
Section 8 said:
Spend hundreds of pounds on detailing gear and a DA polisher and after your car is looking amazing drive it down the road to be peppered by stone chips, bird st, dust, tree sap, country lane mud and aholes opening doors into it when you park up. OR… go to the soap chuckers down the road. Yeah I did the whole car detailing thing and life is to short to be worrying about holograms, swirls and paint depth.
Each to their own. I don't watch TV and would rather be doing something constructive than baying at football teams on TV and CelebrityIceJungleSkateRinkNoTalentt, dust, tree sap, country lane mud and aholes opening doors into it when you park up. OR… go to the soap chuckers down the road. Yeah I did the whole car detailing thing and life is to short to be worrying about holograms, swirls and paint depth. PartsMonkey said:
If you're not going to clean it yourself and you have a budget of less than £15 then IMO/ARC is your best bet. Yes it will be swirled afterwards but it'll still be better than a normal car wash or any local hand car wash center at your local disused petrol station
You lost me at "Yes it will be swirled afterwards" 
The fact of the matter is, and people can deny this all they like, but if you care about your cars paintwork you will never use any kind of automated or hand car wash.
Been washing my own cars for ever and regularly, gentle washing, don't need to mad on the wheels because don't abuse the brakes, wax couple of times a year, all good.
DIY you can give the underbody a good hose down after driving in the wet to get rid of salt and muck, everything lasts longer.
Pressure washers are ok if set and used correctly, but people buy cheap domestic toy pressure washers that boast high pressure but not enough water flow rate, its lightly pressurised high water rate throough a professional standard wide angle nozzle you need, not minimal water at too high a pressure of only use to draw pencil thin lines.
Wouldn't dream of using some dodgy roadside car wash where its anyone's guess what chemicals they bought cheaply might still be there in diluted form in the nooks and crannies doing its worst, and no chance of using some automated paint wrecking place, but each to their own.
If you allow the wheels to get ingrained brake dust, suggest getting some AutoWheel from Bilt Hamber, removes all that dirt with only gentle agitation and won't damage the finish, but best practice is to not let dirt get ingrained in the first place even if you only swill the wheels down with soapy water once a week.
DIY you can give the underbody a good hose down after driving in the wet to get rid of salt and muck, everything lasts longer.
Pressure washers are ok if set and used correctly, but people buy cheap domestic toy pressure washers that boast high pressure but not enough water flow rate, its lightly pressurised high water rate throough a professional standard wide angle nozzle you need, not minimal water at too high a pressure of only use to draw pencil thin lines.
Wouldn't dream of using some dodgy roadside car wash where its anyone's guess what chemicals they bought cheaply might still be there in diluted form in the nooks and crannies doing its worst, and no chance of using some automated paint wrecking place, but each to their own.
If you allow the wheels to get ingrained brake dust, suggest getting some AutoWheel from Bilt Hamber, removes all that dirt with only gentle agitation and won't damage the finish, but best practice is to not let dirt get ingrained in the first place even if you only swill the wheels down with soapy water once a week.
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