[StanDiego]

Originally Posted by Dentistguy

Im looking into dashcams for my 2022 z4.

Any recommendations on if i should/can hardwire it to the fuse box would be great.

It might be better to start a new thread on the topic rather than this one about cleaning methods. I would give it a reply.

[Bimmerfun82]

Pressure washer with foam cannon, chemical guys satin/matte soap, microfiber gloves to wash, fine brushes for wheels, special tire brush, pressure wash, blower to dry, microfiber towels to dry, special applicators for tire shine, rain X window cleaner for windshield.

Helps that I have matte xpel PPF on almost the entire car including A pillars, full front, full sides plus ceramic coating on the whole car.

[jvilla107]

I run it through the local car wash, drive home at the fastest possible speed and finish drying it off in the driveway.
This is my 4th Z4 and i buy them to drive and enjoy them.
I gave up spending my sundays washing cars years ago.

PS. Absolutely LOVE the car

[Z4itis]

Originally Posted by jvilla107

I run it through the local car wash, drive home at the fastest possible speed and finish drying it off in the driveway.
This is my 4th Z4 and i buy them to drive and enjoy them.
I gave up spending my sundays washing cars years ago.

PS. Absolutely LOVE the car

Have you had any problems with the soft top? Or any paint chips since the waster is recycled trough the car wash?

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by jvilla107

I run it through the local car wash, drive home at the fastest possible speed and finish drying it off in the driveway.
This is my 4th Z4 and i buy them to drive and enjoy them.
I gave up spending my sundays washing cars years ago.

PS. Absolutely LOVE the car

Don’t blame you but it only takes me 20 min to wash mine 😎

[jvilla107]

Originally Posted by Z4itis

Have you had any problems with the soft top? Or any paint chips since the waster is recycled trough the car wash?

No issues thus far .
Just finding things to do with all the extra time I have 😁

[OVERLND99]

Originally Posted by jvilla107

No issues this far .
Just finding things to do with all the extra time I have 😁

I Know a lot of people on here say NEVER take your car through the car wash, but some people do not enjoy washing their car by hand, or simply cannot (due to physical issues that make it difficult). I have read so many negative things about taking the Z4 in the death trap they call a car wash.

So you seriously have had no issue with water intruding into the cabin, no issues with the top coming apart, the frame breaking, the top color fading, or any other things that are threatened to happen if you take the Z4 through a car wash?

I have had other convertibles and took them through car washes with no issue ever. However, after reading on here I have it in my head that the most expensive and (supposedly) the best quality vehicle I have ever owned will fall apart in the car wash, the paint will be stripped clean off the body, or the convertible top will fade, fall apart, and leave me with no top.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by OVERLND99

I Know a lot of people on here say NEVER take your car through the car wash, but some people do not enjoy washing their car by hand, or simply cannot (due to physical issues that make it difficult). I have read so many negative things about taking the Z4 in the death trap they call a car wash.

So you seriously have had no issue with water intruding into the cabin, no issues with the top coming apart, the frame breaking, the top color fading, or any other things that are threatened to happen if you take the Z4 through a car wash?

I have had other convertibles and took them through car washes with no issue ever. However, after reading on here I have it in my head that the most expensive and (supposedly) the best quality vehicle I have ever owned will fall apart in the car wash, the paint will be stripped clean off the body, or the convertible top will fade, fall apart, and leave me with no top.

There is an alternative to going to a machine car wash, it is a hand car wash. Yes, it costs more money but in my opinion it is worth it.

I live in a condo where they don't permit residents to wash their cars in our parking lots. Therefore I had two choices to clean my Z4, going to a machine car wash or a hand car wash. I opted for a local hand car wash, it takes almost an hour for them to clean the car and they do a great job.

There is only one negative going there, I have ceramic coating on top of my PPF and they don't have ph neutral wash products which you are supposed to use on ceramic coating. They merely use high pressure water and my Z4 comes out spotless and I am very happy with the results.

[Bimmerfun82]

Yeah definitely to a brushless car wash or hand wash if you must take it to the car wash…

[OVERLND99]

Thank you for your feedback on this. I have checked around town where I live and the cheapest I can get a hand wash from a reputable business is $300. Paying $300 for a hand washing is ridiculous, especially as often as the dirt blows here and I would need it done. Also, thanks to recent unfortunate events, hand washing myself is not a valid option.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by OVERLND99

Thank you for your feedback on this. I have checked around town where I live and the cheapest I can get a hand wash from a reputable business is $300. Paying $300 for a hand washing is ridiculous, especially as often as the dirt blows here and I would need it done. Also, thanks to recent unfortunate events, hand washing myself is not a valid option.

I have never heard of a $300 hand car wash in my entire life. The average price here in the Miami - Ft. Lauderdale area is $25. I really think that something is wrong with your quote.

[SpeedyATL]

Originally Posted by OVERLND99

Thank you for your feedback on this. I have checked around town where I live and the cheapest I can get a hand wash from a reputable business is $300. Paying $300 for a hand washing is ridiculous, especially as often as the dirt blows here and I would need it done. Also, thanks to recent unfortunate events, hand washing myself is not a valid option.

This seems crazy to me. Here in ATL, you can get a true hand wash for a small 2 door car for under $15 for the exterior only.

I do it myself, but if you can't we have options.

Here's a link to their website in case it might help you find something in your area: https://www.avrils.com/

[OVERLND99]

Thank you. Just to correct my previous post, the $300 was for for inside and outside detailing. My mistake for putting the wrong info there. Just for the exterior, the cheapest hand wash I have found so far is $175. A little better, but still a lot.

[Bimmerfun82]

$300 for a car wash?! Is that an annual membership? That’s insane … oh, well $175 is still unheard of… someone is trying to rip you off… just call around and find a car wash that does by hand. They are in all the major cities and even in the suburbs.

[OVERLND99]

Originally Posted by SpeedyATL

This seems crazy to me. Here in ATL, you can get a true hand wash for a small 2 door car for under $15 for the exterior only.

I do it myself, but if you can't we have options.

Here's a link to their website in case it might help you find something in your area: https://www.avrils.com/

We used to have places like this here, but they all closed down. Now fro mwhat I can find it is either the cheap ones you drive through that do the wash and blow dry, or the expensive ones that charge ridiculous amounts. We no longer have the places that are middle of the road or less that will give the option of a hand wash for the same price or jsut a little more than a drive through car wash.

[TXSAGSBS]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

$300 for a car wash?! Is that an annual membership? That’s insane

I'm wondering if that is a quote for detailing? A couple of years ago I had my wife's Mini Cooper detailed. The guy came to the house, brought his own water, power, and chemicals. Did a great job; $200.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by OVERLND99

We used to have places like this here, but they all closed down. Now fro mwhat I can find it is either the cheap ones you drive through that do the wash and blow dry, or the expensive ones that charge ridiculous amounts. We no longer have the places that are middle of the road or less that will give the option of a hand wash for the same price or jsut a little more than a drive through car wash.

You could even take it to the bmw dealership - they’d do it for $25 or so, just add a random service checkup every month

[OVERLND99]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

You could even take it to the bmw dealership - they’d do it for $25 or so, just add a random service checkup every month

Where is your BMW dealership? I asked them (in person, not over the phone) and they told me they "started" at $300 for a hand wash and interior detailing. Said they dont do jsut the exterior, they only do the full thing (interior and exterior). I would prefer to take it to them, but they charge more than anyone else I have found so far.

[OVERLND99]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

You could even take it to the bmw dealership - they’d do it for $25 or so, just add a random service checkup every month

Just got off the phone with the dealership. I am needing to take the car in to switch tires back to the summer tires and get a wheel fixed. They said they can do the wash and reaplly their ceramic coat for $99. So, that is for sure a lot better than previous quotes. I guess adding another service like you suggestted helped make the price better. Thanks for suggesting that.

[Westside Guy]

Most dealers do a machine wash and not a hand wash. You need to inquire exactly what they are doing.

[OVERLND99]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Most dealers do a machine wash and not a hand wash. You need to inquire exactly what they are doing.

I do know this one - this dealership only does hand wash. That is what they told me anyway, hoping they didn't lie. haha

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by OVERLND99

I do know this one - this dealership only does hand wash. That is what they told me anyway, hoping they didn't lie. haha

What ceramic product are they using?