I've got a screw loose.....

artm3

New member
Today I put my car (2001 BMW M3) on a lift and detailed the underside and wheel wells:



power washed



applied degreaser & soak



power washed again



removed all cosmoline (what a pain!)

off all plastic, aluminum, under body, suspension, wheel wells, etc.



washed with an old mitt w/simple green and hot water



power washed



It looked like new, better, no cosmoline, it shined.



The aluminum shined, I put tire dressing on all plastic, wheel wells, etc.



I took pictures, but they did not turn out, low battery!!!!



Took 3 hours. Usually just degrease/power wash 2 x per year, takes a 1/2 hr. The cosmoline removal took some time, but it's done.



My wife says I need help..LOL...she's always right!
 
Aaaaahhh you have found your home!!



You'll see here that your behavior is the norm and that all the rest of them are the ones who need help!! :cool:



Beautiful Bimmer by the way....have any pics??
 
Nothing "scewy" at all about that! :D :up



I'm real surprised there was so much Cosmoline under there. Is this typical of BMWs?
 
Sounds perfectly normal too me now.........A few months ago I would have thought you were a nut;) , but now I don't see anything wrong at all. Heck, I just got some Meq's Detailer car wash and you would have thought it was XMas.........:D
 
Cosmoline is a wax or grease that is sprayed on for protection during transit. They put (or used to) it on weapons in the military, first thing you do, is clean it off.



It had a good bit, I think it's common on German cars shipped by sea.



Attached is a pic, I'm a little disappointed I couldn't get the under side ones!



:nixweiss
 

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Another of the engine bay, the under carriage looks just as good.



In the short amount of time I've been visiting, I've learned a lot of good stuff. Believe it or not I only bought MF stuff within the last 2 months. I was of the well used cotton towels, and diapers school til then!



The MF is so much better, easier and versitile.



Also the wipe on/wipe off Klasse SG method is great.



Thanks guys
 

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You want to get spoiled? Try waxing a car on a lift. You can put it exactly where you want, get down low, easy, without bending!



With a little luck, I'll be doing my own detailing at 70 yrs old, without a sore back! LOL
 
artm3 said:
You want to get spoiled? Try waxing a car on a lift. You can put it exactly where you want, get down low, easy, without bending!



With a little luck, I'll be doing my own detailing at 70 yrs old, without a sore back! LOL



The shop I used to work at (where the sickness really took hold) used a lift...the only drawback was we used those 10 ton GEM buffers.
 
Owner's Manual for the MB CLK55 AMG clearly states: "do not remove the engine wax."



That's what looks like cosmoline...



Jim
 
It was not on the engine, but all the suspension, under body cladding, mostly aluminum and plastic, very little on the body.



Did a search and at BMW's CA Vehicle Prep Facility (VPC) they have a special under carriage drive through washing bay that removes it, must have missed mine, or don't do it on the east coast.



http://323ci.net/vpc-done/pages/cosmoline-remover.htm
 
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