Maintaining your Bimmer clear is extra than simply taking pleasure in your automobile. It’s additionally an essential a part of making it final so long as potential, so that you wish to do it proper. Stress washing looks like a handy method to try this, however is that this a protected approach to clear your BMW?

Generally, sure, you possibly can safely pressure-wash your BMW — or any automobile, for that matter. That mentioned, it poses some dangers you don’t have to fret about with different washing strategies.

Considerations With Stress Washing

The largest concern with stress washing your BMW is, effectively, the stress. Some energy washers can ship upwards of 4,000 kilos per sq. inch (psi) of pressure. That’s greater than sufficient to take your paint off or harm delicate elements. 

Nevertheless, most washers additionally help you use a lot decrease stress, particularly in the event you’re utilizing an electrical one. Most surfaces in your BMW ought to face up to something under 2,000 psi.

The opposite large concern with stress washers is that they may ship unfastened particles flying in the event you hit it on the proper angle. These tiny projectiles, in flip, may hit and harm your Bimmer — particularly the home windows. Whereas auto glass is 4 instances stronger than regular window glass, a tiny, fast-moving pebble can nonetheless crack it by placing quite a lot of pressure in a small space.

Nonetheless, you possibly can keep away from that in the event you strategy energy washing fastidiously. None of those dangers make stress washing too harmful to be price it if you understand what you’re doing.

The way to Safely Stress-Wash Your BMW

Given these dangers, you’ll wish to take a number of precautions when stress washing your BMW. Right here’s how you are able to do it with out damaging your automobile.

1. Discover the Proper Stress Washer for the Job

First, you might want to use the correct of energy washer. You’ll need an electrical one as an alternative of a gas-powered various, as these are a lot much less highly effective. Search for a washer with adjustable stress settings and, ideally, wheels to make it simpler to make use of.

Take note of the nozzles that include your stress washer, too. A 40-degree nozzle is finest for many automobile surfaces as a result of it creates a much less concentrated stream, resulting in much less stress in your BMW’s paint. A 25-degree nozzle is okay for wheels or different robust however dirty elements, however you’ll wish to keep away from 0-degree nozzles altogether.

2. Thoughts Your Atmosphere

You’ll additionally wish to watch out about what’s round you when stress washing your BMW. Park it on a tough, flat floor earlier than beginning. Gravel or filth driveways received’t work as a result of you could by chance ship particles from these surfaces flying in the event you hit it with the facility washer.

It could assist to clear the world of any small objects like rocks and twigs earlier than getting began. You would do that along with your energy washer on a low-pressure setting earlier than shifting your BMW there or sweep it away with a brush. Guarantee your automobile is prepared for laundry, too, together with rolling up the home windows and shutting the sunroof, when you’ve got one.

3. Rinse, Wash and Rinse Once more

Now you’re prepared for laundry. Begin by rinsing off unfastened filth and particles by placing your washer on a water-only setting and spraying your BMW from the highest down. Use a wider nozzle and set the stress to round 2,000 psi. Take a number of steps again when spraying home windows or different delicate surfaces.

Subsequent, it’s time so as to add some cleaning soap. Your stress washer ought to have a setting for detergent, so set it to that and switch the stress as little as potential. Keep in mind to dilute your cleansing fluid in keeping with the producer’s instructions. Since you’re utilizing low stress, you could have to take a sponge and scrub some areas by hand to take away more durable stains.

Let the cleaning soap sit for a number of seconds, then swap your washer again to a water-only setting and rinse it off from prime to backside. Dry your BMW instantly after rinsing, as leftover water can go away mineral deposits in your paint.

4. Keep away from Delicate Areas

You’ll wish to be additional cautious round sure elements of your Bimmer as you’re employed. Most significantly, by no means energy wash the engine bay. Whereas some authorities say you possibly can hose your engine, there are quite a lot of delicate and digital elements in there. It’s finest to keep away from getting them moist or making use of an excessive amount of stress.

Equally, you’ll wish to keep away from energy washing any spots the place your paint is chipping. These areas are vulnerable to flaking underneath stress, so that you’ll make them worse in the event you don’t go round them.

You Can Stress-Wash Your BMW if You’re Cautious

Stress washing your BMW is an effective way to get it clear rapidly. It may be dangerous in the event you don’t be careful for a number of areas of concern, however you’ll be OK by following these steps. As soon as you understand the do’s and don’ts of energy washing, it’s completely protected.

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