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How and what do you use to clean the Engine compartment?

#1 User is offline   my545jjes 

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Post icon  Posted 02 February 2008 - 12:45 PM

What is the best way to clean your engine compartment?
How often should one clean this area?
What is the best products and material to use?
Please advice the do's and don't


05' 545i, Oriental Blue/Grey, Premium, Sport and L7 Package, Full tint, STEP auto.

#2 User is offline   flyingpuck 

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Posted 02 February 2008 - 01:44 PM

Mostly 'Elbow Grease", it's widely available and you can find it at the end of your arm! :lol:
2005 545i Sapphire Black, Auburn Leather, Steptronic, Logic 7, Comfort Seats, PDC, Xenons, Sirius, BMW Sport Springs with Koni's, Bimmian Carbon Fiber Pillar Trim, Bimmian Shadow 545i Emblems, Posted Image rear spoiler, Posted Image Trunk finisher, Shadowline, RPI Scoop, E60 Forum Clings, Billy Boat Muffler, Sprint Booster, Bimmian LED for License Plate Light Bulbs, LED tail light bulbs, AIB 3.0, Racemesh Grills, K&N Filter, Hella Smoked Tail Lights, Bimmian LED Smoked Side Markers, Euro Red Reflectors, Carbon Fiber roundels, Carbon Fiber Kidney Grills, Mtec bulbs in passing lights and foglights, Staggered 18" Beyern type 5 wheels, shod in Bridgestone RE760 Sport tires.
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#3 User is offline   tachyon 

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Posted 02 February 2008 - 02:20 PM

Check out this how-to.
2006 M5 Sapphire Black / Portland Brown 23,500 miles
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Previously owned BMWs: 2006 550i sport (E60) | 2001 740i sport (E38) | 1995 540i Sport (E34) | 1991 325i (E36) | 1985 320i (E30)

#4 User is offline   pyiu 

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Posted 02 February 2008 - 10:13 PM

Take a look:

Hey guys thought I would share this...

2000 S4 Engine Detail

Products used:
P21S Auto wash
Boar's Hair wheel brush
Adam's In and out
Adam's Foam applicator pad
Adam's VRT
Posted Image

Before:
Posted Image
Posted Image
Posted Image
Posted Image
After:
Posted Image
Posted Image
Posted Image
Posted Image
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#5 User is offline   khooger 

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Posted 02 February 2008 - 10:18 PM

Looking good. No detailed explanation of the process? :rolleyes:
Posted Image

2004 545i
Production Date: 02/04
Color: Black Sapphire Metallic
Trim: Anthracite
Options: Sport Package with STEPTRONIC, Premium Sound, Rear Sunshade, Xenon
Modifications: M Rear Spoiler /M-tech Kit/M-Wing Mirrors / Eisenmann Race Exhaust / Black Grills / 35% 3M tint / Tinted Taillights / CF Wheel Caps / 6000k low beam bixenon bulbs /aFe CAI -POS/ Hamann Splitter / Trunk Finisher /Xenon White LED Interior & License Plate Lights / RPI Scoop / CF Emblems / Smoked Side Markers / Matte 545i / Sprint.B / Yellow Fogs /


M style 167's w Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta 245/35/19 & 275/30/19
BBS RS-GT w Pirelli Pzero Rosso 245/35/19 & 285/30/19


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#6 User is offline   pyiu 

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Posted 02 February 2008 - 10:23 PM

View Postkhooger, on Feb 2 2008, 10:18 PM, said:

Looking good. No detailed explanation of the process? :rolleyes:

sorry.

with a warm engine (not ice cold/not hot) :)
spritz p21s autowash all over the engine (of course cover air intakes etc/exposed wires)
brush/agitate the dirt with a boar's hair brush
rinse down with a pressure washer or a strong stream of water
let dry
dress the engine compartment (with Adam's VRT or Adam's In and out)

Wipe off excess water or dressing (per your desired look)
Phil Yiu
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#7 User is offline   khooger 

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Posted 02 February 2008 - 10:29 PM

:thumbsup:


View Postpyiu, on Feb 2 2008, 10:23 PM, said:

sorry.

with a warm engine (not ice cold/not hot) :)
spritz p21s autowash all over the engine (of course cover air intakes etc/exposed wires)
brush/agitate the dirt with a boar's hair brush
rinse down with a pressure washer or a strong stream of water
let dry
dress the engine compartment (with Adam's VRT or Adam's In and out)

Wipe off excess water or dressing (per your desired look)

Posted Image

2004 545i
Production Date: 02/04
Color: Black Sapphire Metallic
Trim: Anthracite
Options: Sport Package with STEPTRONIC, Premium Sound, Rear Sunshade, Xenon
Modifications: M Rear Spoiler /M-tech Kit/M-Wing Mirrors / Eisenmann Race Exhaust / Black Grills / 35% 3M tint / Tinted Taillights / CF Wheel Caps / 6000k low beam bixenon bulbs /aFe CAI -POS/ Hamann Splitter / Trunk Finisher /Xenon White LED Interior & License Plate Lights / RPI Scoop / CF Emblems / Smoked Side Markers / Matte 545i / Sprint.B / Yellow Fogs /


M style 167's w Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta 245/35/19 & 275/30/19
BBS RS-GT w Pirelli Pzero Rosso 245/35/19 & 285/30/19


1974 MGB
Color: White

#8 User is offline   pyiu 

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Posted 02 February 2008 - 10:33 PM

View Postkhooger, on Feb 2 2008, 10:29 PM, said:

:thumbsup:

sure thing no problem.
Phil Yiu
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#9 User is offline   flyingpuck 

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Posted 02 February 2008 - 10:46 PM

View Postpyiu, on Feb 2 2008, 07:13 PM, said:

Take a look:

Hey guys thought I would share this...

2000 S4 Engine Detail

Wow, what an amazing transformation! :wow: Really nice work! :twoup:
2005 545i Sapphire Black, Auburn Leather, Steptronic, Logic 7, Comfort Seats, PDC, Xenons, Sirius, BMW Sport Springs with Koni's, Bimmian Carbon Fiber Pillar Trim, Bimmian Shadow 545i Emblems, Posted Image rear spoiler, Posted Image Trunk finisher, Shadowline, RPI Scoop, E60 Forum Clings, Billy Boat Muffler, Sprint Booster, Bimmian LED for License Plate Light Bulbs, LED tail light bulbs, AIB 3.0, Racemesh Grills, K&N Filter, Hella Smoked Tail Lights, Bimmian LED Smoked Side Markers, Euro Red Reflectors, Carbon Fiber roundels, Carbon Fiber Kidney Grills, Mtec bulbs in passing lights and foglights, Staggered 18" Beyern type 5 wheels, shod in Bridgestone RE760 Sport tires.
Posted Image Posted Image Posted Image
Retired BMW's - 2002 X5, 1995 M3, 1989 325i convertible

#10 User is offline   pyiu 

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Posted 02 February 2008 - 10:50 PM

View Postflyingpuck, on Feb 2 2008, 10:46 PM, said:

Wow, what an amazing transformation! :wow: Really nice work! :twoup:


Thanks hit me up if you need more info
Phil Yiu
www.detailersdomain.com
phil@detailersdomain.com
How to's, Videos, Deals, Detailing Write Ups

#11 User is offline   andy545 

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Posted 06 February 2008 - 05:08 AM

View Postmy545jjes, on Feb 2 2008, 06:45 PM, said:

What is the best way to clean your engine compartment?
How often should one clean this area?
What is the best products and material to use?
Please advice the do's and don't


some time ago I used THIS
BMW545i MY2005–Oct 2004 steptronic, saphire black metallic, 19" 167M Dunlop SportMaxx - 19" 172M Vredestein (winter setup), dakota leather black, poplar wood trim, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, sports suspension, servotronic, PDC, glass sun roof, comfort seats, heat seating, sports heated steering wheel, advanced climate control, HUD, navigation professional, logic 7, 6 cd changer, ipod interface, mp3, voice recognition, lights package, interior - exterior dimming folding mirrors, fold down rear seats, skibag, electric rear/side sunblind, bluetooth nokia 6230i, universal remote control, spare wheel, class 3 alarm,

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#12 User is offline   nickolas_g 

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Posted 15 February 2008 - 09:06 PM

NEVER let a detailer steam clean it. You will most likely loose something that will cost you bucks!
:o
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#13 User is offline   SLORider 

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Posted 16 February 2008 - 01:26 PM

I clean under the hood at each wash. Every week or two. Just a damp rag can take most of the dust and dirt off the top of everything under the hood. I also make sure to wipe all the water spots off under the hood from the wash job I just did. The underside of hood, around the edges, by the wipers, the front of the grill area all collect water spots so a good wipe down keeps them clean. (also do the trunk and the gas filler door as well as all door sills and edges)
Doing it each wash keeps it from building up. 10k mi. and it still looks pretty good under there. When I decide to do a full detail it will be a lot less work.
When I do use a product under the hood it is usually ProtectAll. A cleaner, protectant I get at my cycle shop. It works on everything.
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Clear Bra


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#14 User is offline   hstan545i 

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Posted 16 February 2008 - 02:42 PM

Always want to clean the engine bay, but afraid water of water damage to electrical components. If anyone can post the parts that needs to be covered up, that will be really helpful.

#15 User is offline   my545jjes 

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Posted 18 February 2008 - 11:53 PM

I agree. I have heard a lot of horror stories of cars not being able to start/ function right after engine washers. Please advice areas to protect before wash....TQ
05' 545i, Oriental Blue/Grey, Premium, Sport and L7 Package, Full tint, STEP auto.
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