Cleaner cars drive better??

Acepilot01 · 01-24-2011, 12:16 AM

Hey guys is it just me or does it seem like the cleaner your car is the better it drives? Yesterday I spent 2 hours detailing my car. I do it weekly cause the car looks so damn good when its clean lol. not to say my car drives crappy when its dirty but it seems like everytime its clean, it just drives better. Even the seatbelt handovers work right lol. Does anyone else experience this? not just in thier bmw but in any car they own??

NaTuReB0Y · 01-24-2011, 12:19 AM

tofu- · 01-24-2011, 12:39 AM

No

kred · 01-24-2011, 12:45 AM

the car has a mind of its own

henry418 · 01-24-2011, 12:45 AM

Isn't that obvious?

Waxed cars have smoother surfaces; therefore, air will pass around the car more easily.

This means the car becomes more aerodynamic after being detailed and in result will perform significantly better.

lawl2ez · 01-24-2011, 12:59 AM

a clean car wash add +150 hp just like an M badge

Acepilot01 · 01-24-2011, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kred

the car has a mind of its own

Exactly!

bsamoul · 01-24-2011, 01:07 AM

And you'll get better mileage

M340i Pride · 01-24-2011, 01:22 AM

i think it is mental thing. every time i get a car wash, i feel the car moves lighter to the touch. conversely, when i have mess in my car and its dirty outside, i feel like it is moving heavily.

however, keyword is 'feel like'. in reality, the car is of course moving the same way...

Philz BMW · 01-24-2011, 05:32 AM

this would explain why rally cars are so damn slow

Morpheus · 01-24-2011, 05:33 AM

Gran Turismo for the win! Going to the carwash netted like 10-15 hp IIRC.

koreez88 · 01-24-2011, 05:53 AM

I get 50mpg with a clean car, 30 when dirty.

335BBS · 01-24-2011, 08:04 AM

While I think you are correct, unfortunately in Toronto a 2 hr detail is usually followed by rain or ,as happened this weekend........snow.

Diver · 01-24-2011, 08:06 AM

Washing your car by hand helps you to bond with it.

tony20009 · 01-24-2011, 08:12 AM

No. Clean doesn't make it work any better.

Do you, OP, come down with the illnesses other folks at your workplace have? Just wondering...

Seriously, though, perhaps it's because you feel better about your car when it's clean and are less sloppy in your driving style when it's clean. (Not saying you are generally a sloppy driver, so don't take it the wrong way, please.)

PsychoSlug · 01-24-2011, 08:48 AM

I agree - a clean car just feels like it drives better, particularly if you washed/waxed it yourself. Purely pyschological, but true nonetheless.

GRLPWR · 01-24-2011, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpratt34

I agree - a clean car just feels like it drives better, particularly if you washed/waxed it yourself. Purely pyschological, but true nonetheless.

reprod · 01-24-2011, 12:01 PM

Mmmmm.... clean car... placebo effect...

I drive slower in my car when it is clean so that improves my MPG also...

IN54NITY · 01-24-2011, 12:51 PM

My car drives better when it's dirty and has
fresh oil.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vortex_generator

Coolieman1220 · 01-24-2011, 01:23 PM

mines always clean. lol

hipnotic · 01-24-2011, 04:45 PM

i don't feel a difference just proud feeling that i washed it

07E92TT · 01-24-2011, 05:16 PM

i havent washed my car in over a month and its 70 degrees here. It's running alright though, going into the dealer tuesday for it's last free maintenance

01-24-2011, 12:16 AM	#1
Acepilot01 Second to None 4 Rep 81 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Space Grey 6sp Man Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Southern Maryland iTrader: (1)	Cleaner cars drive better?? Hey guys is it just me or does it seem like the cleaner your car is the better it drives? Yesterday I spent 2 hours detailing my car. I do it weekly cause the car looks so damn good when its clean lol. not to say my car drives crappy when its dirty but it seems like everytime its clean, it just drives better. Even the seatbelt handovers work right lol. Does anyone else experience this? not just in thier bmw but in any car they own??
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01-24-2011, 12:19 AM	#2
NaTuReB0Y Powered By 36DD 339 Rep 7,369 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Inland Empire iTrader: (12)	__________________ 2006 E90 330i Jet Black \| 20" WORK VS-XX \| FK452 \| H&R Sport on Koni Yellow \| REMUS QUAD
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01-24-2011, 12:39 AM	#3
tofu- Banned 87 Rep 2,854 Posts Drives: 335i Jet Black/Coral Red Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: nyc iTrader: (4)	No
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01-24-2011, 12:45 AM	#4
kred Lieutenant 80 Rep 532 Posts Drives: '07 e92 328i 6mt Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	the car has a mind of its own __________________ 2007 Space Gray 6MT 328i / BMW SSK
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01-24-2011, 12:45 AM	#5
henry418 Captain 54 Rep 769 Posts Drives: 2016 BMW M3 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Vancouver, Canada iTrader: (4)	Isn't that obvious? Waxed cars have smoother surfaces; therefore, air will pass around the car more easily. This means the car becomes more aerodynamic after being detailed and in result will perform significantly better.
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01-24-2011, 12:59 AM	#6
lawl2ez Private 2 Rep 72 Posts Drives: 2011 Mineral White 328i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Ann Arbor, MI iTrader: (0)	a clean car wash add +150 hp just like an M badge
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01-24-2011, 01:07 AM	#8
bsamoul Major General 167 Rep 7,433 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Walnut Creek, California iTrader: (2)	And you'll get better mileage __________________ -Brian 2X 2006 BMW 325i [Electric Red & Mystic Blue] \| ZPP \| V1 \| Rear Fogs \| M3 Lip Spoiler \| EAS RemoteKey \| BMS Powerbox \| Projector90 Headlights w/ LED AE \| LED plate lights \| OEM Blacklines http://www.tech-shine.com
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01-24-2011, 01:22 AM	#9
M340i Pride Lieutenant Colonel 212 Rep 1,713 Posts Drives: 2020 BMW M340i Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (1)	i think it is mental thing. every time i get a car wash, i feel the car moves lighter to the touch. conversely, when i have mess in my car and its dirty outside, i feel like it is moving heavily. however, keyword is 'feel like'. in reality, the car is of course moving the same way...
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01-24-2011, 05:32 AM	#10
Philz BMW Slow rollin 10 Rep 406 Posts Drives: 328i koop Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	this would explain why rally cars are so damn slow __________________ Business: BMW 328i Coupe Pleasure: Ducati 1098S
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01-24-2011, 05:33 AM	#11
Morpheus Captain 25 Rep 941 Posts Drives: 335i Titanium Silver Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Cockaigne iTrader: (1)	Gran Turismo for the win! Going to the carwash netted like 10-15 hp IIRC.
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01-24-2011, 05:53 AM	#12
koreez88 Всем привет ;) 146 Rep 3,358 Posts Drives: Tesla Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (12)	I get 50mpg with a clean car, 30 when dirty.
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01-24-2011, 08:04 AM	#13
335BBS Brigadier General 55 Rep 3,606 Posts Drives: 2009 335 coupe. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (0)	While I think you are correct, unfortunately in Toronto a 2 hr detail is usually followed by rain or ,as happened this weekend........snow.
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01-24-2011, 08:06 AM	#14
Diver Brigadier General 504 Rep 3,446 Posts Drives: Black '12 135i - Sold Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Washing your car by hand helps you to bond with it. __________________ See my photography at http://ronscubadiver.wordpress.com
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01-24-2011, 08:12 AM	#15
tony20009 Major General 1052 Rep 5,660 Posts Drives: BMW 335i - Coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (0)	No. Clean doesn't make it work any better. Do you, OP, come down with the illnesses other folks at your workplace have? Just wondering... Seriously, though, perhaps it's because you feel better about your car when it's clean and are less sloppy in your driving style when it's clean. (Not saying you are generally a sloppy driver, so don't take it the wrong way, please.) __________________ Cheers, Tony ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ '07, e92 335i, *Sparkling Graphite, Coral Leather, Aluminum, 6-speed*
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01-24-2011, 08:48 AM	#16
PsychoSlug Lieutenant 36 Rep 564 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Nowhere iTrader: (0)	I agree - a clean car just feels like it drives better, particularly if you washed/waxed it yourself. Purely pyschological, but true nonetheless.
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01-24-2011, 12:01 PM	#18
reprod Lieutenant Colonel 148 Rep 1,728 Posts Drives: '16 M3 ZCP Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (6)	Mmmmm.... clean car... placebo effect... I drive slower in my car when it is clean so that improves my MPG also... __________________ '11 Space Grey E92 335xi M-Sport (KWv1 Coils \| Saddle Brown \| Bamboo) (Returned) '14 Mineral Grey F32 335i M-Sport (Dinan DHP \| LED Lights \| Coral Red \| Hexagonal Aluminum) (Returned) '16 Mineral Grey F80 M3 ZCP
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01-24-2011, 12:51 PM	#19
IN54NITY Major nutz 86 Rep 1,488 Posts Drives: '09 n54 e92xi, 6mt, kw v3 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Colorado, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 335xi [8.89]	My car drives better when it's dirty and has fresh oil. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vortex_generator __________________ KWs - Vorshlags - APEX EC-7s - "My garage" has suspension install pictures. _____________________
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01-24-2011, 01:23 PM	#20
Coolieman1220 Banned 73 Rep 1,770 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York City iTrader: (0)	mines always clean. lol
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01-24-2011, 04:45 PM	#21
hipnotic Major General 149 Rep 6,604 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: So. Cal iTrader: (7) Garage List 2008 335i coupe [7.00]	i don't feel a difference just proud feeling that i washed it
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01-24-2011, 05:16 PM	#22
07E92TT Major 57 Rep 1,336 Posts Drives: 08 C63 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Orlando,FL iTrader: (1)	i havent washed my car in over a month and its 70 degrees here. It's running alright though, going into the dealer tuesday for it's last free maintenance __________________ Car: 2008 E90 SG/Black/Dark Burl (sold) 2008 MB C63 P.Silver/Black
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