Quick car wash tip

petesamprs · 05-01-2006, 01:27 PM

After washing the car I notice there are a few spots where water gets trapped and comes out after you drive, leaving water spots. The most notorious is the rear view mirrors (with the trunk lid a close second)

A quick tip to get water out of the rear view mirrors is to flip them outward (ie, away from the car) right after you wash. The water flows out of them like a faucet.

Then use the edge of a towel (paper or MF) in between the plastic and glass, all the way around, to grab any remaining water.

Arkansas3 · 05-01-2006, 03:06 PM

Excellent tip! Next time I wash my car I'm gonna try that.

I just hope I don't break off my mirrors in the process...

espo · 05-01-2006, 03:21 PM

I think that this has happened to me on every car I've owned, so I wasn't too surprised when I got down washing this one and that water flowed out of the side mirrors...

My biggest proplem is in the gas fill door there is just so much water collecting in there and it's not something that is easily noticed (It is supposed to blend in with the car profile).

Mr. BMW · 05-01-2006, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petesamprs

After washing the car I notice there are a few spots where water gets trapped and comes out after you drive, leaving water spots. The most notorious is the rear view mirrors (with the trunk lid a close second)

A quick tip to get water out of the rear view mirrors is to flip them outward (ie, away from the car) right after you wash. The water flows out of them like a faucet.

Then use the edge of a towel (paper or MF) in between the plastic and glass, all the way around, to grab any remaining water.

Flip them outward? How about just folding them up and then opening them again? Will that work too?

aphall · 05-01-2006, 04:33 PM

I've tried the inward fold, and that doesn't work, but how to flip them outward??

younghov85 · 05-01-2006, 05:12 PM

all i do is use the mf towel to get the excess water out of the mirror, as well as the truck lid. With the mirrors I slam the door so that any excess water will come out and i get that wiped down and im finish

Brunotheboxer · 05-01-2006, 05:15 PM

i've had good luck using a leaf blower. it sounds stuipid but it works.

petesamprs · 05-01-2006, 06:38 PM

I don't know about the inward fold since I didn't try that - I just know the outward fold works. If you're standing next to the driver/passenger door facing the front of the car, push the outside edge of the mirror housing towards the front of the car. It will fold upward and outward at an angle.

Yes the gas cap is bad too but it's more easily accessible to try off all the collected water in there.

pander5 · 05-01-2006, 06:47 PM

I use the leafblower trick too.

05-01-2006, 01:27 PM	#1
petesamprs Lieutenant 34 Rep 519 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: northeast iTrader: (0)	Quick car wash tip After washing the car I notice there are a few spots where water gets trapped and comes out after you drive, leaving water spots. The most notorious is the rear view mirrors (with the trunk lid a close second) A quick tip to get water out of the rear view mirrors is to flip them outward (ie, away from the car) right after you wash. The water flows out of them like a faucet. Then use the edge of a towel (paper or MF) in between the plastic and glass, all the way around, to grab any remaining water. __________________ '14 535i (ED) Retired: '08 M5, '08 550i (ED), '06 330i
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05-01-2006, 03:06 PM	#2
Arkansas3 Private First Class 7 Rep 186 Posts Drives: 325i Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	Excellent tip! Next time I wash my car I'm gonna try that. I just hope I don't break off my mirrors in the process... __________________ 325i \| Sparkling \| Grey Leather \| Premium \| Xenons \| Heated Seats \| Comfort Access \| Sat Prep (which is a waste of money) \| Floor Mats (which my dealer made me buy)
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05-01-2006, 03:21 PM	#3
espo Captain 12 Rep 715 Posts Drives: 2014 M235i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sugar Land TX iTrader: (0)	I think that this has happened to me on every car I've owned, so I wasn't too surprised when I got down washing this one and that water flowed out of the side mirrors... My biggest proplem is in the gas fill door there is just so much water collecting in there and it's not something that is easily noticed (It is supposed to blend in with the car profile). __________________ E46 325xi Oxford Green/Sand Leatherette/Myrtle Wood Auto ZCW - Retired E90 330xi Mystic Blue/Black Leather/Aluminum 6sp Manual ZSP/ZPP/ZCW/CA - Retired F22 M235i Mineral Gray/Red Leather/Aluminum 6sp Manual ZPP/ZTP
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05-01-2006, 04:33 PM	#5
aphall Captain 34 Rep 776 Posts Drives: 330i rec'd 2/17/06 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [0.00]	I've tried the inward fold, and that doesn't work, but how to flip them outward?? __________________ JB \| BBS CHs \| Blacklines \| HO40 \| ACS Rep Roof Spoiler \| H&R Sport \| Hartge Rep Lip \| OEM Strut Bar \| M-Tech Rear
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05-01-2006, 05:12 PM	#6
younghov85 Captain 65 Rep 889 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 black 325 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lanham, Maryland iTrader: (0)	all i do is use the mf towel to get the excess water out of the mirror, as well as the truck lid. With the mirrors I slam the door so that any excess water will come out and i get that wiped down and im finish
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05-01-2006, 05:15 PM	#7
Brunotheboxer Colonel 373 Rep 2,984 Posts Drives: 2014 Shelby GT500. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boston/Cape Cod iTrader: (0)	i've had good luck using a leaf blower. it sounds stuipid but it works.
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05-01-2006, 06:38 PM	#8
petesamprs Lieutenant 34 Rep 519 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: northeast iTrader: (0)	I don't know about the inward fold since I didn't try that - I just know the outward fold works. If you're standing next to the driver/passenger door facing the front of the car, push the outside edge of the mirror housing towards the front of the car. It will fold upward and outward at an angle. Yes the gas cap is bad too but it's more easily accessible to try off all the collected water in there. __________________ '14 535i (ED) Retired: '08 M5, '08 550i (ED), '06 330i
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05-01-2006, 06:47 PM	#9
pander5 Special Forces - Discretion is superior 31 Rep 1,011 Posts Drives: 335i Coupe Sapphire Black Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tampa, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 335i Coupe [0.00]	I use the leafblower trick too.
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