Automatic Car Wash

[motordavid]

Jes' jumping in...Z Fan here; I have used it for a couple of decades. Everyone has their fave of the year, nouveau riche 'wax',
but for me, Z is very, very good: I know the stuff, like the shine and protection, and its 'release' of debris is fabulous, imo.

Z, however, is like pouring wine in a good Spiegelau or Riedel glass: less is more, as in put on less, wipe more softly, and
results are 'more'.
That, and Z is not your friend in colder temps.

Sal and the Z Gang are amazing backyard chemists, with service like Zappos, or better, imo.
Shine on...
GL, mD

[smuggymba]

I live in an apartment community and there's no car wash facility and my X5 has a clear bra - any suggestions?

[rh71]

I noticed swirls on my white one night against the light... the only wash other than my hands, was with the dealer (I know, I always neglect to tell them not to wash). So it's not just the brush washes that do you in...

Anyway, it's alright since it's not that noticeable other than in artificial light on an angle.

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by boyce89976

Just got a call back from Sal with Zaino... I had called their tech support line when I realized I had screwed up somehow... pretty cool that the owner called! He said I probably applied enough AIO to do the car 3 times! Ha ha, that's probably only half the number of times I wiped it down getting the darn AIO off!

Less is more with Zaino.

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by boyce89976

Not to threadjack, but as a former Zaino user, what are the benefits of Menzerna over Zaino?

Former? what do you use now?
I find Menzerna easier to use and with better results.
Some use the Menzerna with Zaino sealant

From Zaino to Menzerna and happy. - bimmerfest - BMW Forums
Used Menzerna and it rocks!

[Jeg Norge]

when it's really dirty, touchless carwash twice a week. when it's not so dirty, touchless wash every 2 weeks or so. i use credit card points so it's free. IMO washing the car by hand is a total waste of time and effort.

[Richard in NC]

How does everyone wash or wax the roof of the X5? With a step stool or just let it go most of the time? I could reach the X3 roof just good enough but not the X5.

[motordavid]

I've hand washed the roof of our '01 X5 maybe 6 times; Zaino'd it a couple times...
usually just shoot a jet of water across the top.

I do do the leading edge up from windshield to the small sun roof regularly, and clean the sun roof glass and black roof rails, but the roof itself is left to when I really feel like it/seldom. And, yes I use a step ladder for the parts I can't reach standing on the rocker panel floor.
GL, mD

[BGM]

Originally Posted by Richard in NC

How does everyone wash or wax the roof of the X5? With a step stool or just let it go most of the time? I could reach the X3 roof just good enough but not the X5.

I'm 6'3" so for the back I just open the rear doors and stand on the inside of the rear door sills. And there's only a small section of the front of the roof since there's not much to wax with the Pano roof--I can just reach from the ground.

[boyce89976]

Originally Posted by LeMansX5

Former? what do you use now?
I find Menzerna easier to use and with better results.
Some use the Menzerna with Zaino sealant

From Zaino to Menzerna and happy. - bimmerfest - BMW Forums
Used Menzerna and it rocks!

I was actually referring to your comment about being a former Z user.

I am still using it since I like the results. Just curious what differences you found with Menzerna.