[truekumar]

So, im receiving my M340i Portimao Blue in September and wish to protect the paint as well as giving it that glossy liquid look.

Should I go for Protect X from BMW or pay double to a professional detailer and get them to detail it?

Is Protect X any good?

[Beemer5to3]

Don't give anything to BMW - you may as well set fire to your money. They make a commission to sell it, and will do a really shoddy job of it (if they even bother at all).

Go to a professional dealer and have a proper ceramic coating done by someone who knows what they're doing - that's what I'm doing when mine arrives in September.

[Dark_cobra]

Avoid dealer applied detailing products at all costs. Even if "free"

[srbs73]

Originally Posted by Dark_cobra

Avoid dealer applied detailing products at all costs. Even if "free"

That’s exactly what I said to the dealer when he’d included it on my order!

When the car arrives, it will already be covered in swirl marks, so sealing them in with a coating doesn’t make sense.

My car was stuck in transit in the UK between mid-March and mid-June. You can imagine the quality of the wash when some poor sod is told he has several hundred cars to prep for the transporter!!

IMO, it’s only worth getting your car properly polished and coated if you are planning on avoiding any machine/hand car washes e.g. DIY, jet wash, two bucket method etc. If not, save your money.

[del82]

Yeah completely agree with all the above posts. It's not necessarily the products, it's the way it is applied. Although I can't see how Protect X is better than a ceramic coat.

A proper job will take at least 3 days (1 day alone is curing the ceramic coat). And it's engine bay, wheels off and protected, paint correction and all the interior as a starter.

A proper detailer may be double the price of BMW but it's 4x the effort and result.

I had a full new car detail and ceramic coating on my M340i before I picked her up. Car looks brand new 9 months on and is easy to wash. And I haven't really washed her much. The guy who did it is a genuinely great guy who's helped me with tips on maintaining it since.

My dealer (who allowed my detailer to come into the BMW site to do the detail) told me that BMW couldn't afford to do it properly for £399. It's done by the dealers car wash people in an hour. It's about the profit. He's not a fan of it all so doesn't even bother to try and sell it.

Pay an expert c£800 and it'll return 4 fold in quality vs BMW.

Saying all that, if you take it to hand or machine car wash even the BMW stuff is pointless. The chemicals they use are brutal.

[srbs73]

I think your last sentence is key. If you’re not prepared to wash it yourself or get it done properly, you’d be better off not to bother with the coating and put that £500 aside for valet washes over the first 3-4 years of ownership.

Having it properly washed won’t be as good as detailer, but will be miles better than the average car you’ll see on the road.

I had a brand new 2011 X5 in Carbon Black and loved the colour with the blue tint in the sun. I never washed it myself and only took it to the local polish hand wash for 4 years thinking it was better than a machine wash (before I think Fifth gear proved machine wash was better!). After 4 years the paintwork was a disaster. Covered in scratches and the colour just looked dead.

[truekumar]

I normally use a hand car wash place to clean the car. But from what you have stated, if I am going to spend the money on detailing the vehicle, I will have to wash it myself?? The hand car wash guys will destroy the paint protection that the detailer has put on?? Is that true???

[srbs73]

Originally Posted by truekumar

I normally use a hand car wash place to clean the car. But from what you have stated, if I am going to spend the money on detailing the vehicle, I will have to wash it myself?? The hand car wash guys will destroy the paint protection that the detailer has put on?? Is that true???

I my opinion, I think it would be a waste of money. You would be better off putting that money aside and getting a local valet company to do a proper wash 3 or 4 times a year (probably costing around £50 each time).

[del82]

Originally Posted by srbs73

I my opinion, I think it would be a waste of money. You would be better off putting that money aside and getting a local valet company to do a proper wash 3 or 4 times a year (probably costing around £50 each time).

Car wash places use acid based products which remove wax, polish, ceramic coating. Plus they use the same equipment for every car so dirt builds up and scratches the paint work, isn't dried properly so you end up with swirls. No paint protection will be able to withstand that.

Us freaks who like to detail will only use non acid based products.

[danorman777]

100% go with a professional detail. My Touring was £550 so not much more and took 5 days! Then much more protected if you take it to a hand wash place. Or hose it with some snow foam occasionally and it will look great.

[truekumar]

Hmmmm...still thinking about the detailing. Not sure whether to go with it or not now as I just wouldn't have the time to wash the car myself after detailing and would definitely have to take it to a hand car wash. I dont really want to waste my money and lose all the ceramic protection on it.

[truekumar]

So im thinking of going for the detailing and then just hand washing the car myself from now on.


Can anyone offer advice as to what products I should use to hand wash the car? Also is a pressure washer ok to use?

[Beemer5to3]

Originally Posted by truekumar

So im thinking of going for the detailing and then just hand washing the car myself from now on.


Can anyone offer advice as to what products I should use to hand wash the car? Also is a pressure washer ok to use?

Honestly it'll make so much difference taking the time to wash your car properly yourself.

Pressure washer is fine - a must in my opinion.

Here's what I do / use:

1) Pressure wash any obvious stubborn dirt off, and let the majority of the water drip off the car. At the same time apply Auto Finesse Iron Out to the wheels (decontamination / fallout remover)

2) Apply snow foam (Autoglym Polar Blast), leave for 5-10 mins while agitating the wheels, and pressure wash off.

3) Contact wash (Autoglym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner) with a good quality micro fibre wash mitt - I think mine is a Meguiars one.

4) Rinse with pressure washer thoroughly.

5) Apply Autoglym Aqua Wax to wet car, and gently use a large micro fibre drying towel to absorb excess water / work in the Aqua Wax.

6) Use a dry micro fibre towel to buff off. The finish is amazing, and leaves a lasting hydrophobic layer, where you can see the water heading etc.

Whole process takes no longer than an hour & is far better than taking it to your local £6 a wash place, where they use the same sponges / cloths etc on every car. Swirl mark city!

[Beemer5to3]

My 5 series is approaching 3 years old, and this is how good the paint still looks after doing the above every 3-4 weeks.

[truekumar]

Originally Posted by Beemer5to3

Honestly it'll make so much difference taking the time to wash your car properly yourself.

Pressure washer is fine - a must in my opinion.

Here's what I do / use:

1) Pressure wash any obvious stubborn dirt off, and let the majority of the water drip off the car. At the same time apply Auto Finesse Iron Out to the wheels (decontamination / fallout remover)

2) Apply snow foam (Autoglym Polar Blast), leave for 5-10 mins while agitating the wheels, and pressure wash off.

3) Contact wash (Autoglym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner) with a good quality micro fibre wash mitt - I think mine is a Meguiars one.

4) Rinse with pressure washer thoroughly.

5) Apply Autoglym Aqua Wax to wet car, and gently use a large micro fibre drying towel to absorb excess water / work in the Aqua Wax.

6) Use a dry micro fibre towel to buff off. The finish is amazing, and leaves a lasting hydrophobic layer, where you can see the water heading etc.

Whole process takes no longer than an hour & is far better than taking it to your local £6 a wash place, where they use the same sponges / cloths etc on every car. Swirl mark city!

Nice one. Thanks for the tips and the advice, I’m going to follow this routine 😊

[del82]

Originally Posted by truekumar

Nice one. Thanks for the tips and the advice, I’m going to follow this routine 😊

Don't forget the two bucket method!

One for the shampoo and one for rinsing your hand mitt with a grit collector in both.

[Beemer5to3]

Originally Posted by del82

Don't forget the two bucket method!

One for the shampoo and one for rinsing your hand mitt with a grit collector in both.

I've personally never bothered with it - partially because I do a really thorough pre-wash, and because I don't have two buckets

You're right though, a professional detailer would recommend using 2 buckets.

[225]

Loads of threads on this in the f series section. I had gtechniq crystal serum light and XO put on at the dealer before pickup of my 340 by a detailer and it looked great. Washed with gwash and it kept the beading for a long time. Id top up with sonax every now and again as well.

[VictorRomeo]

In Ireland Protect X is actually a GardX product. I had it on my f30 and for the first month or two it was just OK but after a couple of washes - with the supplied kit - it was gone. So no, avoid. I avoided this time around....

[Kleev]

Originally Posted by Beemer5to3

Honestly it'll make so much difference taking the time to wash your car properly yourself.

Pressure washer is fine - a must in my opinion.

Here's what I do / use:

1) Pressure wash any obvious stubborn dirt off, and let the majority of the water drip off the car. At the same time apply Auto Finesse Iron Out to the wheels (decontamination / fallout remover)

2) Apply snow foam (Autoglym Polar Blast), leave for 5-10 mins while agitating the wheels, and pressure wash off.

3) Contact wash (Autoglym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner) with a good quality micro fibre wash mitt - I think mine is a Meguiars one.

4) Rinse with pressure washer thoroughly.

5) Apply Autoglym Aqua Wax to wet car, and gently use a large micro fibre drying towel to absorb excess water / work in the Aqua Wax.

6) Use a dry micro fibre towel to buff off. The finish is amazing, and leaves a lasting hydrophobic layer, where you can see the water heading etc.

Whole process takes no longer than an hour & is far better than taking it to your local £6 a wash place, where they use the same sponges / cloths etc on every car. Swirl mark city!

Really useful thanks! Although all of that stuff priced up is over 130 quid. I guess it's an investment.

[Andy-1878]

Originally Posted by Kleev

Really useful thanks! Although all of that stuff priced up is over 130 quid. I guess it's an investment.

I have a similar approach, just a few small differences and different products.

1- Clean wheels and tyres with autoglym specialist wheel cleaner (buy this in a 5litre or I think even 25litre may be available) I get mine from elitecarcare. Rinse with pressure washer, also give the arches a quick spray. Also do the exhaust tips with the wheel cleaner.

2- Either auto finesse or autoglym bug spray on windscreen/backs of mirrors and front end.

3- Snow foam. Leave to dwell as directions of snow foam. Rinse with pressure washer.

4- Clean car (don't forget shuts and returns and around the boot opening) with autoglym UHD shampoo or you can use the polar wash (applied with pressure washer). Use a two bucket method, grit guards in buckets too is even better. Rinse thoroughly.

5- Apply autoglym coat it. Avoiding too much spray on the windscreen. Rinse thoroughly. I use a large Klin Korea towel to dry. I can dry mine and a mazda 2 with one towel. Truly amazing item to have.

6- Autoglym rubber & vinyl care to door/boot seals.

7- ODK tyre and attire dressing.

If you buy products in bulk and use as directed they should last you well. Much better to do it yourself.

I'd avoid buying any "packs" as they usually contain items you'll rarely use, better to buy products you will use regularly.

[Kleev]

Originally Posted by Andy-1878

I have a similar approach, just a few small differences and different products.

1- Clean wheels and tyres with autoglym specialist wheel cleaner (buy this in a 5litre or I think even 25litre may be available) I get mine from elitecarcare. Rinse with pressure washer, also give the arches a quick spray. Also do the exhaust tips with the wheel cleaner.

2- Either auto finesse or autoglym bug spray on windscreen/backs of mirrors and front end.

3- Snow foam. Leave to dwell as directions of snow foam. Rinse with pressure washer.

4- Clean car (don't forget shuts and returns and around the boot opening) with autoglym UHD shampoo or you can use the polar wash (applied with pressure washer). Use a two bucket method, grit guards in buckets too is even better. Rinse thoroughly.

5- Apply autoglym coat it. Avoiding too much spray on the windscreen. Rinse thoroughly. I use a large Klin Korea towel to dry. I can dry mine and a mazda 2 with one towel. Truly amazing item to have.

6- Autoglym rubber & vinyl care to door/boot seals.

7- ODK tyre and attire dressing.

If you buy products in bulk and use as directed they should last you well. Much better to do it yourself.

I'd avoid buying any "packs" as they usually contain items you'll rarely use, better to buy products you will use regularly.

Awesome thanks. Car arrives tomorrow. Well today in (5 minutes)