Maybe I am totally retarted to JUST have figured this out after washing cars for 10 years, BUT....

When you are finished washing your car and it is completely covered in water, remove the spray nozzle from your hose. Then turn the water on and just let the hose pour gently on your car without a nozzle or holding your finger over it.

For some reason, with a decent coat of wax, the water just completely beads right off. You will still have to towel dry your car, but instead of using a beach towel, you will only need one-two small hand towels.

I'm sure you gurus know this already, but I thought it was cool.

Oh and Meguairs Quik Detailer RULES!!!!!
of course

 

Must be an Arizona thang...


ADMAN

 

California Water Blade is nice too

 

yup, the water sheets off instead of beading.

 

Or just do what a lot of the M3 owners are doing and use a leaf blower.

 

Ill try that next time

 

all you have to do is go for a short drive (unless you live on a dirt road). all the excess water will drip right off.
next, just park back in your driveway and throw a clean 100% cotton terry cloth in a bucket of clean water, wring it, and wipe down the area's that have water spots. then use a chamois to wipe it dry. your car will sparkle.

 

Yup, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it happening. And leaf blowers are overrated. They are only good for wheels, door handles, headlights, mirrors, molding and side markers. But I love it for my wheels. Spray, hose, blow, and polish.

 

I always used to use a leaf blower to dry my car before i got the California Water Blade. I love that thing . I highly recommend it.

 

the california water blade is one of the great inventions of the 20'th century.

well right next to the simpsons

 

Yeah, I used to use that thing before my magical hose trick. But the blade doesn't work on doors, side windows, and side panels.

Trust me. Just try it next time you wash your car. You won't even need to take your blade out.

 

 

i own an m3, and i don't use a leaf blower, cause i dunno what it is....but i use california blade, and so does my dealer

EDIT: oh..hehe...i know what it is now....i think im gettin too tired

 

You dont know how to use the blade properly. I can use my California Water blade on doors, side windows, and panels. The only part thats troublesome is the door moldings.

 

dang, maybe i should go buy a leaf blower... the only thing is, my car is jet black, and i get spots no matter what...
'cept after i zainoed my car... it dries pretty well on it's own

 

Its kinda different in AZ, car dries so fast that its hard to get it all with the blade...least thats my problem...

 

"the absorber"

wal-mart $8.88 works like a chamois ,but better.

*also comes in various colors too. even ricer green and pink!!!

kj

 

Get a can of condensed air. They are usually sold in the computer area. It works great on the door moldings and behind the turn lights.

 

Yup!

"I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet, sweet beer." -Homer

 

100% Agreed.

 

I first heard about this a few months ago and tried it. It is pretty cool. I have also used the water blade. The blade works great, also. If I just run the water over the car, there is not enough water for the blade - it just squeaks across the car. Sometimes I just run the water over the car and sometimes I just use the blade, but I have found that I can't do both. I haven't used the absorber cuz I read that it leaves some streaks on black cars.

 

Yeah I tried using the Absorber, and it is so awesome! It picks up all the water, doesn't streak too much (just barely on the glass). It's so much better than my Chamois. I'm gonna go pick up that California Waterblade too, sounds pretty cool. But if you are using any kind of spray on wax/polish, that probably wouldn't work with it then, right?

 

P, the waterblade will work even if you already have wax/polish applied on the car. It's basically a silicone-type squeegee to get the water out of your car Just don't use it if you're sure there's dirt on your car or you'll find out how to make a deep scratch the nasty way.

Also, for the daily upkeep of your car from dust, try to get hold of the California Duster.

 

I agree, a short high-speed pass around the block will usually remove most of the water beads. The absorber to wipe up the body panels and a REAL chamois to clean up the windows.

 

The BIG reason I do not trust this approach is no matter how 'clean' your roads look, if there are droplets of water on the car they will trap ANY type of particulate matter and wiping across the car will be akin to using a sander.

 

I wipe the car down first, then do the "drive-by" to get the water out of the trapped spaces...door sills, handles, windows, wipers, etc...