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Engine Bay Detail

Claying, polishing, waxing... share your secrets in here.
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Beeacon
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Engine Bay Detail

Post by Beeacon » Mon Apr 15, 2019 3:29 pm

Full external and internal clean, seal restoration, and got around to fully cleaning the engine bay today!

Just need to figure out how to clean the exhausts without affecting the brushed chrome finish.

Engine Bay Clean Method:

https://youtu.be/6LwCbmvLYb0

Work on a cloudy day and cover any electrical or sensitive components with plastic sheeting or a carrier bag (alternator / ECU housing / exposed air filters). Make sure all caps and dipsticks are fully secured. Also wear gloves, degreaser is nasty stuff on your hands.

1. Spray a degreaser (Autoglym Engine & Machine Cleaner) on the underside of the bonnet and let it dwell for a couple of minutes. Use large soft wheel brushes to clean the underside of the bonnet. Do not touch the heat shield.
2. Rinse using a normal hose or a pressure washer on the lowest setting.
3. Rinse the engine bay to remove loose dirt and contaminants.
4. Spray a degreaser (Autoglym Engine & Machine Cleaner) in the engine bay and let it dwell for a couple of minutes.
5. Clean the engine bay with wheel brush, bendy thistle brush, and small detailing brush for hard to reach areas.
6. Rinse.
7. This can be done two ways: 1) Apply a wet dressing (Autoglym Vinyl & Rubber Care) and leave to dry before buffing off. 2) Dry the engine bay using either microfiber drying towels or air dryers/leaf blowers. Make sure it’s completely dry, then using a spray dressing to restore faded plastics.
8. Remove protective plastic bags and start the engine up and leave to run for a few minutes to dry out those last few hidden recesses. Done!

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Current: Still thinking...
Past: 2009 BMW Z4 35i sDrive DCT
Past: 1997 BMW Z3 2.8 wide boy

Angelus666
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Engine Bay Detail

Post by Angelus666 » Tue Apr 16, 2019 10:08 pm

Nicely done...! For exhausts it's Autosol and elbow grease...does the trick nicely!

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buzyg
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Engine Bay Detail

Post by buzyg » Tue Apr 16, 2019 10:50 pm

Nice Job OP. :thumbsup:
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Engine Bay Detail

Post by buzyg » Tue Apr 16, 2019 10:51 pm

Angelus666 wrote: Tue Apr 16, 2019 10:08 pm Nicely done...! For exhausts it's Autosol and elbow grease...does the trick nicely!
Noted, need to get mine looking shiny again. :D
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Beeacon
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Engine Bay Detail

Post by Beeacon » Thu Apr 18, 2019 1:35 pm

Thanks for the tip (no pun intended) Angelus!
Current: Still thinking...
Past: 2009 BMW Z4 35i sDrive DCT
Past: 1997 BMW Z3 2.8 wide boy

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Mr Tidy
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Engine Bay Detail

Post by Mr Tidy » Thu Apr 18, 2019 8:24 pm

Yes, Autosol does a great job! :thumbsup:

I just need to get a bit more dextrous. :(
Attachments
Blue Z4 Tips 060716.JPG
Blue Z4 Tips 060716.JPG (222.79 KiB) Viewed 1771 times
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black

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Engine Bay Detail

Post by Doddsy » Thu Apr 18, 2019 9:10 pm

Mr Tidy wrote: Thu Apr 18, 2019 8:24 pm Yes, Autosol does a great job! :thumbsup:

I just need to get a bit more dextrous. :(
Those tips should just pull off if standard
Now: Z4MC Titan Silver
Gone: E86 3.0Si Sport Titan Silver - M exhaust + bumper - Battery Relocated - Aero Front
E86 3.0Si Sport Silver Grey - Carbon Diffuser - Aero Kit - B/Box Mod - Storm MW V2
E85 2.5 Si Sport Titan Silver

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Mr Tidy
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Engine Bay Detail

Post by Mr Tidy » Thu Apr 18, 2019 9:40 pm

Doddsy wrote: Thu Apr 18, 2019 9:10 pm Those tips should just pull off if standard
They would, but I'm quite glad it isn't standard! A previous owner had a cat-back system made for it - which sounds much better. :lol:
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black

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Beeacon
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Engine Bay Detail

Post by Beeacon » Mon Apr 29, 2019 2:25 pm

Well, I got some Autosol, a wool polishing drill bit, a microfibre cloth, some latex gloves and went at it! Here are the results on the exhaust, they look a bit better but I was fearful of rubbing the rest of the paint off.

Beeacon.

After:

Image

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Before:

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Current: Still thinking...
Past: 2009 BMW Z4 35i sDrive DCT
Past: 1997 BMW Z3 2.8 wide boy

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Engine Bay Detail

Post by Angelus666 » Tue Apr 30, 2019 10:14 pm

A nice start...keep going back to them at your next wash, over time they'll come back to a full shine

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srhutch
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Engine Bay Detail

Post by srhutch » Wed May 01, 2019 7:01 am

Mr Tidy wrote: Thu Apr 18, 2019 9:40 pm
Doddsy wrote: Thu Apr 18, 2019 9:10 pm Those tips should just pull off if standard
They would, but I'm quite glad it isn't standard! A previous owner had a cat-back system made for it - which sounds much better. :lol:
You’ve only cleaned half of them though :poke:
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Mr Tidy
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Engine Bay Detail

Post by Mr Tidy » Wed May 01, 2019 10:05 pm

srhutch wrote: Wed May 01, 2019 7:01 am You’ve only cleaned half of them though
Well I did say I wished I was a bit more dextrous! :lol:
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black

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