Pressure washing under neath the car.. HELP any attachments?

**animescreen** · 07-09-2019, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Paul A.

You'll probably find a pretty continuous under tray on your BMW. I have one on my 3 Series and it not only makes it easy to clean but protects the under guts from getting too filth laden. I do spray APC on all the exposed guts and rinse them well after a brush scrub.

If Mike@DedicatedPerfection sees this, he has a nice rig for a PW underside attachment.

You are right. I actually, had a mazda3 before and lot of the compopnents show underneath besides the front hood area. So cleaning this would have been pretty daunting. I haven't really checked the x3 underneath but i kind of sensed its has pretty good coverage. I should jack it up and check..

BTW jacking car up.. is there way to add some rubber between my jack and the car so it doesn't have any marks.. (sounds stupid i know but whatever) lol

Anyways i think bmw did this on purpose as they know many are into detailing . Or maybe not.

So how often you clean under down there and just with water or rinse, soap and rinse?

**DirtyCanuck** · 07-09-2019, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by animescreen

What is APC? You actually put your car on all jacks and then wash? I'm afraid car will crush me .. (Has that ever happened or stories? Don't want to be gory but that is fear of mine).

Do you just use water ? Or Soap and wash cloth then rinse?

If I drive around 7k miles on this car in Seattle weather rain how often you think I should clean the bottom?

Anyways, I want to go under and get good cleaning with jacks but if there is not horror stories (Saw even car lifts in shops break down etc)

APC is: all purpose cleaner.

I usually just spray really well with Apc/degreaser, let it sit a couple minutes than rinse with pressure washer

Yes sometimes when prepping cars for shows I will jack up car and put it on jack stands. I use quality 20 ton jack stands, which when placed properly are perfectly safe. You don’t really have to crawl right under the car on your back lol. Raising it up just makes it easier to reach under with the sprayer and pressure washer.

Honestly for a regular driver I wouldn’t worry about all that, plus I believe your car has pretty well complete plastic skid covers under it so not much of the actual undercarriage is exposed to the elements.

**DirtyCanuck** · 07-09-2019, 05:41 PM

Also, What Bill said about using the oscillating lawn sprinkler is a great idea. If it’ll fit under the car.

**Klasse Act** · 07-09-2019, 06:29 PM

Check out Auto-Fanatics You Tube channel, he reviewed one of these, also Scott from Dallas Paint Correction and Luxury Microfibers has also reviewed it as well, pretty cool tool and should fit your needs!

**vobro** · 07-09-2019, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by animescreen

You are right. I actually, had a mazda3 before and lot of the compopnents show underneath besides the front hood area. So cleaning this would have been pretty daunting. I haven't really checked the x3 underneath but i kind of sensed its has pretty good coverage. I should jack it up and check..

BTW jacking car up.. is there way to add some rubber between my jack and the car so it doesn't have any marks.. (sounds stupid i know but whatever) lol

Anyways i think bmw did this on purpose as they know many are into detailing . Or maybe not.

So how often you clean under down there and just with water or rinse, soap and rinse?

They do it for aerodynamics and there is specific jack points under your chassis that should be used. The jacking points are located with an arrow and already have rubber grommets. Do not jack any where but those areas, my brother is a shop foreman for a BMW dealer and he's told me many stories of suspension parts being damaged from customers using a jack. The under carriage of your lil SUV is pretty much fully covered with an under carriage shield and is easily cleaned with a soft bristled brush

**Mike@DedicatedPerfection** · 07-09-2019, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by animescreen

So I want to take care of my bmw x3 2019 which will be garaged a lot. Driving in Seattle where it rains lot will produce lot of mud dirt and other debris underneath the car and outside. I never clean underneath my ocd side of new ride wants too.

1). Is there any pressure washer attachment that will curve so i can point it underneath the car and will wash (even some foam gun if possible). Or is that dangerous .

2). Do most people don't even clean underneath the car? (not even sure how the x3 looks like without lifting it with a lifter). Im guessing engine bay is more cleaned then underneath the car

either way i just want to make sure each section is good. since i paid so much money

There are a few that are available. I think the mentioned Ryobi chassis cleaner is available from HD. Stop by and give it a look.

I have a Kärcher Chassis cleaner and absolutely love it. I run it under my vehicles at least twice a year. Its too bad it has become so hard to come by.
Product Review: Kärcher Underbody Chassis Cleaner

**BillE** · 07-10-2019, 07:07 AM

Originally Posted by animescreen

Seattle rains so no salts here (isn't salt for snow only?) Never really snows here so glad. BUT raining a lot sucks as it brings lot of mud and dirt and debris splashed on your car. So after washing sometimes it rains the same day (or worse minutes after you finish)

I was referring to the fact that streets/roads do NOT use salt in the winter for whatever the reason. Now, the East side of the pass(es)-that's a different story.

Not to argue, but when Seattle and surrounding areas DOES get snow, it's a mess. I remember MANY times when I-5 & 405 was/were a parking lot due to snow.

Bill