Undercarriage destroyer

eZag · 05-30-2016, 04:27 PM

The car wash has been ripping apart my frontend undercarriage. Is this a permanent M3 problem with all car wash?

GRUESOM3 · 05-30-2016, 04:53 PM

M3's don't belong on automatic car washes.

redpriest · 05-30-2016, 06:58 PM

This is a problem in general with the M3 undercarriage, lmao, not just in car washes. I'm due for another replacement - the 2nd time I've needed to in a year's span. It just can't withstand the constant track abuse I give it

eZag · 05-31-2016, 09:25 PM

Good to know ... Can't find the time to handwash all the time

chief · 05-31-2016, 09:34 PM

Yep, the damn black plastic felt undercarriage trays continue to be destroyed by every driveway, speed hump/bump and rough road I seem to come across. I just replaced my for the 3rd time and foresee the need to continue to replace these damn things (particularly the left and right 'wings').

It would seem to me that a flatter lower profile version could be made from aluminum for about the same price or less than the factory plastic pieces.

Jab555 · 05-31-2016, 10:53 PM

I don't do auto car washes anymore. Went through it in my e36 m and had to go back to find 3 separate moldings that fell off!

amn3sia · 05-31-2016, 11:21 PM

Oh god, yeah - I've had my E90 all of 12 days now, and learned my lesson early on to stay the f**k away from automatic car washes! It's more of a pleasure washing her by hand anyhow

Edward · 06-01-2016, 11:58 AM

Are you guys on coils? I have had my car three years now and the felt looks like it's brand new.

admranger · 06-01-2016, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redpriest

This is a problem in general with the M3 undercarriage, lmao, not just in car washes. I'm due for another replacement - the 2nd time I've needed to in a year's span. It just can't withstand the constant track abuse I give it

I finally ghetto fixed mine with sheet aluminum and pop rivets. Pretty? No. Functional? Yes. Cost effective? Yes. #Winning.

modkrazy · 06-01-2016, 08:44 PM

It's instant karma for taking your car into a car wash. So yes.

Each time this subject pops up, someone chimes in about how they have "a guy" who is totes "designing them a carbon fiber low profile alternative", but nothing ever materializes.

kb9uwu · 06-02-2016, 08:23 AM

Find a good touchless carwash in your area to use between hand washes!

Ingenio · 06-02-2016, 08:44 AM

Ditto.... Had a full paint correction and glass coat done on mine and now touch less car washes are my friend... In and out followed by micro fibre drying... Too easy!

335m · 06-02-2016, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ingenio

Ditto.... Had a full paint correction and glass coat done on mine and now touch less car washes are my friend... In and out followed by micro fibre drying... Too easy!

After my paint correction and coating I just have to hit mine with a power washer and it's perfectly clean. I feel like it might just pay for itself with all the time and products I save.

Groundpilot · 06-02-2016, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by admranger

I finally ghetto fixed mine with sheet aluminum and pop rivets. Pretty? No. Functional? Yes. Cost effective? Yes. #Winning.

I fabricated mine also. But used plexiglass instead of aluminum.
Plexi is tough, yet is very resilient and flexible.
Also its transparent, which means i can see through it

admranger · 06-02-2016, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundpilot

I fabricated mine also. But used plexiglass instead of aluminum.
Plexi is tough, yet is very resilient and flexible.
Also its transparent, which means i can see through it

I only repaired mine with sheet aluminum pieces. I didn't fabricate the whole thing! That must be an interesting look -- pics please!

3Pedals_6Speeds · 06-02-2016, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ingenio

Ditto.... Had a full paint correction and glass coat

? Explain please ?

Ingenio · 06-02-2016, 06:59 PM

Swirl Mark removal... Modesta glass coat for protect the corrected paint...

jt10mc · 06-02-2016, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eZag

The car wash has been ripping apart my frontend undercarriage. Is this a permanent M3 problem with all car wash?

I have to agree with the OP's M3's don't belong in automatic car washes...

Elaz · 06-02-2016, 07:37 PM

Hand car wash only.

eZag · 06-03-2016, 09:45 PM

Yah ... I'll find a touchless in the area ... I have a shammy still in the package ... I had good intentions.

MachinesWithSouls · 06-04-2016, 07:26 PM

So I'm a big proponent of Larry Kosilla and his AMMO products. Use a base of reflex, then Skin, and finally creme. 2 times a year makes it easy to just hit the car with a hose and wash it off with hydrate.

It's better to leave the car dirty then run it through an auto wash. Spend the time to do it right 2 times a year, and hand washes will only take you a half hour tops, from wheels to dried.

05-30-2016, 04:27 PM	#1
eZag Performance 1 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 M3 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Undercarriage destroyer The car wash has been ripping apart my frontend undercarriage. Is this a permanent M3 problem with all car wash?
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05-30-2016, 04:53 PM	#2
GRUESOM3 Major 1092 Rep 1,318 Posts Drives: 3 NA cars and 1 Turbo car Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: NJ iTrader: (4)	M3's don't belong on automatic car washes.
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05-30-2016, 06:58 PM	#3
redpriest Colonel 2147 Rep 2,527 Posts Drives: 2011 M3/Porsche 992 GT3RS Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 Porsche 911 GT3RS [0.00] 2021 Porsche 718 Sp ... [0.00] 2021 Mazda Miata MX-5 [0.00] 2006 BMW M3 [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [10.00]	This is a problem in general with the M3 undercarriage, lmao, not just in car washes. I'm due for another replacement - the 2nd time I've needed to in a year's span. It just can't withstand the constant track abuse I give it __________________ '06 BMW M3 ZCP 6MT \| JRZ RS Pro + Hyperco 650/750 \| Epic Tune \| Brembo 355mm BBK \| too many to list '11 BMW M3 ZCP DCT \| Akra Evolution \| Eventuri intake \| MCS 3-way \| 4.6L Carbahn S65 \| Zebulon Aero \| AP Racing Radi-CAL BBK by Essex \| 305/645-18 Pirelli DHB Porsche 992 GT3, 991.2 GT3RS, 718 Spyder instagram.com/titomanlio
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05-31-2016, 09:25 PM	#4
eZag Performance 1 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 M3 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Good to know ... Can't find the time to handwash all the time
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05-31-2016, 09:34 PM	#5
chief Captain 208 Rep 651 Posts Drives: 2008 Melbourne Red M3 Coupe Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Riverside, California iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [9.51]	Yep, the damn black plastic felt undercarriage trays continue to be destroyed by every driveway, speed hump/bump and rough road I seem to come across. I just replaced my for the 3rd time and foresee the need to continue to replace these damn things (particularly the left and right 'wings'). It would seem to me that a flatter lower profile version could be made from aluminum for about the same price or less than the factory plastic pieces.
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05-31-2016, 10:53 PM	#6
Jab555 Private 17 Rep 53 Posts Drives: Jerez Black Metallic E90 M3 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Kirkland, WA iTrader: (1)	I don't do auto car washes anymore. Went through it in my e36 m and had to go back to find 3 separate moldings that fell off!
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05-31-2016, 11:21 PM	#7
amn3sia Private 10 Rep 56 Posts Drives: '11 M3 E90 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	Oh god, yeah - I've had my E90 all of 12 days now, and learned my lesson early on to stay the f**k away from automatic car washes! It's more of a pleasure washing her by hand anyhow
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06-01-2016, 11:58 AM	#8
Edward Colonel 377 Rep 2,982 Posts Drives: 2013.9999 E92 Jerez ZCP Join Date: May 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	Are you guys on coils? I have had my car three years now and the felt looks like it's brand new.
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06-01-2016, 08:44 PM	#10
modkrazy Lieutenant Colonel 171 Rep 1,536 Posts Drives: m3 Join Date: May 2014 Location: tx iTrader: (1)	It's instant karma for taking your car into a car wash. So yes. Each time this subject pops up, someone chimes in about how they have "a guy" who is totes "designing them a carbon fiber low profile alternative", but nothing ever materializes.
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06-02-2016, 08:23 AM	#11
kb9uwu Supreme Czar 309 Rep 779 Posts Drives: AW E90 M3 6MT (GONE) Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Central Illinois iTrader: (0)	Find a good touchless carwash in your area to use between hand washes!
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06-02-2016, 08:44 AM	#12
Ingenio Major 180 Rep 1,171 Posts Drives: 2008 Space Grey E92 M3 (6MT) Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Perth iTrader: (0)	Ditto.... Had a full paint correction and glass coat done on mine and now touch less car washes are my friend... In and out followed by micro fibre drying... Too easy!
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06-02-2016, 06:59 PM	#17
Ingenio Major 180 Rep 1,171 Posts Drives: 2008 Space Grey E92 M3 (6MT) Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Perth iTrader: (0)	Swirl Mark removal... Modesta glass coat for protect the corrected paint...
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06-02-2016, 07:37 PM	#19
Elaz Lieutenant 51 Rep 591 Posts Drives: e92m Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: bx ny iTrader: (1)	Hand car wash only.
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06-03-2016, 09:45 PM	#20
eZag Performance 1 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 M3 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Yah ... I'll find a touchless in the area ... I have a shammy still in the package ... I had good intentions.
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06-04-2016, 07:26 PM	#21
MachinesWithSouls Colonel 4836 Rep 2,442 Posts Drives: 2022 M3 6MT Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 BMW M3 [10.00]	So I'm a big proponent of Larry Kosilla and his AMMO products. Use a base of reflex, then Skin, and finally creme. 2 times a year makes it easy to just hit the car with a hose and wash it off with hydrate. It's better to leave the car dirty then run it through an auto wash. Spend the time to do it right 2 times a year, and hand washes will only take you a half hour tops, from wheels to dried. __________________ 2022 M3 6MT - Portimao Blue Metallic 2022 X3 M40i - Tanzanite Blue Metallic
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