The Bimmer Basement

[Mpower5266]

I've got a McCulloch MC1275. Compared the specs to what you ordered, and the MC1375 just puts out 58psi vs 48 psi for the MC1275. Flow rate is slightly higher on the smaller unit.

Used it again yesterday - still doesn't come close to brake cleaner, but it does certainly loosen the grime to be wiped with a towel. Maybe my expectation that it will blast grime away is off base.

The videos I have seen, detailers spray down the area first with apc/simple green. If the unit I ordered does a decent enough job on my wife's tahoe interior it was worth it.

 

[Mpower5266]

The steam cleaner came in last night and I pretty much torture tested it, by cleaning my 2002's fender well. Honestly, I probably should have pressure washed it first but I wanted to see what the steam could do. Here is the before.

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During....and maybe the only picture so far of my garage dirty.

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And after degreaser, wheel cleaner, some light scrubbing, and lots of steam.

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There is still some gunk behind the strut and the gray spots are places where the paint has worn through but it actually came out pretty clean. I am going to work on the rest this week but I will pressure wash them first. And do them in the driveway.

I also found a cruddy spot on the front of the cylinder head so I gave it a go. A little steam, degreaser, toothbrush action, and more steam. This came out very nice.

Untitled by mpower5266, on Flickr

Untitled by mpower5266, on Flickr

All and all I give it a B+ maybe an A-, I am very interested to see how well it works on the underside of the much less dirty M3.

 

[eric.holmslice]

Sweet reel. What brand is that and pressure rating for the hose?


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[Mpower5266]

Sweet reel. What brand is that and pressure rating for the hose?


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The reel is a General Pump D30002 and its rated to 4000psi. The hose is a JBG Eagle and is also rated to 4000psi. The feeder hose from the washer to the reel is Aeroquip 303 aircraft fuel line which is only rated to 2000psi and the pressure washer is listed as 2200psi.

 

[patrickg20]

I really liked the before and after steam cleaner photos. I'm looking forward to seeing some more. After seeing how well it worked for you, I might have to look into getting one myself. How much time did you have in each use?

 

[M-technik-3]

Reading the reviews on the steam cleaner is making me wanting to place an order in with Amazon so I clean up one of my projects to make wrenching just that easier.

 

[Hugo L.]

Sounds overkill and works the part. Tim Taylor would approve.

 

[kap384]

Just read the entire thread. Very enjoyable. Congrats on the girl, the house, everything! Love the BMW's! Keep it up!

 

[Purist]

Reading the reviews on the steam cleaner is making me wanting to place an order in with Amazon so I clean up one of my projects to make wrenching just that easier.

You and me, both!

FYI, I PM'd you recently

 

[Mpower5266]

I am very happy with the steam cleaner, I used it for about 4 hours yesterday cleaning the M3. Started with the back of the brakes and front suspension.

Untitled by mpower5266, on Flickr

Untitled by mpower5266, on Flickr

I still need to pull the wheels and fender liners but not bad. I decided to do the rest.

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Untitled by mpower5266, on Flickr

Untitled by mpower5266, on Flickr

RIP cheap brushes from the grocery store.

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Untitled by mpower5266, on Flickr

Untitled by mpower5266, on Flickr

Untitled by mpower5266, on Flickr

It was fairly easy to do, even the gunk around the power steering. Blast of steam, a little brushing, more steam, and wipe.

 

[M-technik-3]

Nice now track down the leaks that all E36's seem to have and enjoy your clean floor.

 

[Mpower5266]

Nice now track down the leaks that all E36's seem to have and enjoy your clean floor.

The plan was to just to the engine because before I had the lift I had a mechanic friend tell me the oil pan was leaking but it looks like its coming from higher on the engine. Ill drive it a few weeks and put it back up and hopefully not find an oil pan leak, that look like a PIA.

I didnt do much in the garage this morning just a little tidying up, and I hung a poster from an event I sadly couldnt make it to. I guess the poster is the next best thing.

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[TX4runner]

I didn't go either this year, but everyone said it was a great event except the heat on the day of the car corral at the races was brutal, but the sea of cars over all the hills was an awesome experience. I know you would have enjoyed all the 02s.

Do you watch MotorWeek? I think I saw your Wagon in the coverage of Radwood that aired last weekend.

 

[Mpower5266]

I didn't go either this year, but everyone said it was a great event except the heat on the day of the car corral at the races was brutal, but the sea of cars over all the hills was an awesome experience. I know you would have enjoyed all the 02s.

Do you watch MotorWeek? I think I saw your Wagon in the coverage of Radwood that aired last weekend.

Oh really? I know they were there filming, Ill have to check it out. I am excited about Ofest next year since its only a couple hours away in Greenville. I changed jobs at work, kind of a promotion, but I should have weekends off so Im hoping to make the vintage too.

 

[JMURiz]

Great....not you have me shopping for a steam cleaner

Never thought of using on on the cleaning of car undercarriage (other than just on interior cleaning)...it's like a bonus feature.

I may do this on my older cars to make sure they are clean and examine for rust before/after winter.

 

[Mpower5266]

Do you watch MotorWeek? I think I saw your Wagon in the coverage of Radwood that aired last weekend.

I found the video, and two things. I need to drop some lbs and I have been on Motorweek while drinking a beer!!!!

 

[M-technik-3]

NIce, I was not able to go to Pittsburgh this year. It's a great event! I was debating taking the E30M to SIG Fest but weather was crappy so I skipped it.

 

[TX4runner]

I found the video, and two things. I need to drop some lbs and I have been on Motorweek while drinking a beer!!!!

Drinking a second beer, while still holding onto the first. lol

 

[Mpower5266]

Drinking a second beer, while still holding onto the first. lol

To be fair, I think it was the 4th and I was still holding the 3rd.

 

[Mpower5266]

Didnt do too much this weekend. I took the Miniwag and the 02 to a car show and afterwards I put the 02 on the lift.

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I basically put it up to put together a list of parts that its going to need and I got those parts on order. I am going to start cleaning the under side and installing parts soon.

I also cleaned up the wifes ride a little, it needs a full detail but it wont fit in my garage so Ill have to do it at my parents.

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Then I started on my moms car. I gave a good wash with Adams strip wash to pull off any waxes and grime.

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Then I hit it with an Autoscrub(clay bar) and some iron remover. I am surprised that it had so much iron still on it after the wash and clay. The pink dots are iron deposits lifting from the paint.

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Then I wiped down and dressed the engine with Gyeon trim.

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And here it is after a light polish, trim coated, tires dressed and the paint and wheels with a coat of powerlock.

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I will finish it up tonight with a coat of collinite and clean the windows and interior. I really dont want to give it back to her. Haha

 

[Mpower5266]

Finished up my moms sled. I love the look of powerlock and collinite.

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Untitled by mpower5266, on Flickr

Hof dog inspecting my work.

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All clean.

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Im kinda at a loss, I feel like I am out of things I can do to the actual garage. Im going to clean it up tonight and look at maybe extending the M stripe down one more wall.

 

[pbon]

I wish I did not have more to do than I have time for. I won’t get to the point where I am looking for projects until I retire.

 

[Ronin22]

I've been reading GJ from the shadows for years (literally), and I have to admit that your thread motivated me to finally register just to say: wow! Congratulations! You've done a beautiful job with your garage (and your house), and you have an amazing collection of cars.
Cheers!

 

[Mpower5266]

I wish I did not have more to do than I have time for. I won’t get to the point where I am looking for projects until I retire.

Oh I have plenty of projects, just not sure what I have left to do to my garage.

I've been reading GJ from the shadows for years (literally), and I have to admit that your thread motivated me to finally register just to say: wow! Congratulations! You've done a beautiful job with your garage (and your house), and you have an amazing collection of cars.
Cheers!

Thanks for checking out my thread, I am honored to be the reason you joined up.

 

[Mpower5266]

The 02 is still waiting on a bunch of parts, so the last couple of nights I have given the M3 some much needed attention. I started with a good bath a couple nights ago.

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The wheels really needed it. I never properly cleaned them after the weekend in the mountains, I've never seen my wheel cleaner get this purple.

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Much better.

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Last night I changed out the cabin air filter, which involved this...

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That pile of leaves and **** came out of the filter when I pulled it. The old one had a bmw part number on it, so either someone bought a factory one..... or it was original. Either way it needed to be done and its like my ac fan goes to 11 now!!!

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Then I tackled the wiper tray and windshield trim(or whatever its called.) As you can see its pretty bad.

Untitled by mpower5266, on Flickr

Untitled by mpower5266, on Flickr

And after fighting with it, its out.

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Tonight I'll break out the steam cleaner, clean up all the paint under the tray, probably wax it, seal the trim and replacement tray, install the new tray, probably wax the wiper arms(yes I am that weird) and button it all up.

 

[Mpower5266]

Finished the wiper tray last night. I LOVE my steam cleaner.

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Couple quick puffs of steam and quick wipe with a micro fiber and it looks good as new.

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I gave the new tray a wipe down with IPA and hit it with a little Gyeon trim.

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And buttoned up.

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I went ahead and steamed the engine bay and gave it a wipe down while I had the steamer out.

 

[M-technik-3]

What wheel cleaner are you using, seems to work fantastic. My water is hard so it's tough getting them spotless.

 

[Mpower5266]

What wheel cleaner are you using, seems to work fantastic. My water is hard so it's tough getting them spotless.

Adams wheel cleaner, it seems to work okay. It smells awful though.

 

[M-technik-3]

I will check it out. Thanks

 

[trecane]

Nice build. I have a basement workshop in a 100 year old house and am very jealous of your headroom.

 

[Mpower5266]

Last time I washed the M3 I was getting really frustrated with my sprayer wand for the pressure washer. The new hose I got for the reel is a little heavier than my old hose and not as flexible and my old gun didn't have a swivel. I had to twist the gun a lot and ended up unscrewing one of fittings accidentally, which caused a leak. I had to upgrade.

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Here it is with my old set up.

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It was a little pricey but I wash cars at least 3 times a week and with the stainless fittings it should last a long time. Its like going from a HiPoint to a custom built competition 1911. Well worth the money.

 

[Purist]

Finished up my moms sled. I love the look of powerlock and collinite.


Hof dog inspecting my work.


All clean.


Im kinda at a loss, I feel like I am out of things I can do to the actual garage. Im going to clean it up tonight and look at maybe extending the M stripe down one more wall.

Having used that combo of powerlock/collinite, you, my friend, sound like you're a fan of Matt Moreman/Obsessed Garage! I just dialed in my Raptor for the winter, myself. One coat of Powerlock, two coats of Collinite 845 with Bead Maker used as a lube for wiping off the 2nd layer.

My truck POPS in the light!

Keep up the good work and thanks for all the inspiration and enjoyment along the way!

 

[Mpower5266]

Having used that combo of powerlock/collinite, you, my friend, sound like you're a fan of Matt Moreman/Obsessed Garage! I just dialed in my Raptor for the winter, myself. One coat of Powerlock, two coats of Collinite 845 with Bead Maker used as a lube for wiping off the 2nd layer.

My truck POPS in the light!

Keep up the good work and thanks for all the inspiration and enjoyment along the way!

I am a fan of Matt, his videos have kept me busy at work.

I need to try bead maker, but I have some stuff I need to use up first.

 

[Purist]

I am a fan of Matt, his videos have kept me busy at work.

I need to try bead maker, but I have some stuff I need to use up first.

Ditto! I even went back to watch his old videos and will listen to the back episodes of his podcast, eventually.

It was my first experience using Bead Maker and I can safely say I am SOLD. It smells delicious enough to drink and as a last layer/coat on my waxed truck, it looks/feels phenomenal. Easy to work with, too.

 

[Mpower5266]

Ditto! I even went back to watch his old videos and will listen to the back episodes of his podcast, eventually.

It was my first experience using Bead Maker and I can safely say I am SOLD. It smells delicious enough to drink and as a last layer/coat on my waxed truck, it looks/feels phenomenal. Easy to work with, too.

I feel like you are about to cost me some money.

 

[Purist]

I feel like you are about to cost me some money.

Do it!!!

Hell, I'll buy it off you if you don't like it. But you will, I guarantee it!

 

[Mpower5266]

Do it!!!

Hell, I'll buy it off you if you don't like it. But you will, I guarantee it!

What are you using for a glass sealant?

 

[Purist]

What are you using for a glass sealant?

I use Adam's Polishes Glass Sealant, in conjunction with Adam's Glass Cleaner and I use Adam's Glass Boost on top of the sealant.

I'm very happy with how these products function, especially when you factor in the cost.

 

[TX4runner]

Seeing your E36 look so good motivated me to clean up ours. Spent the morning washing, polishing and then sealing the paint and windows to remove a lot of the water spots. Doesn’t look as good as yours but much better. Used Griots Fast Correction, Perfecting and Finishing polishes. I’ve got some clear coat issues so couldn’t get more aggressive. Thanks for the motivation!!


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[Mpower5266]

Seeing your E36 look so good motivated me to clean up ours. Spent the morning washing, polishing and then sealing the paint and windows to remove a lot of the water spots. Doesn’t look as good as yours but much better. Used Griots Fast Correction, Perfecting and Finishing polishes. I’ve got some clear coat issues so couldn’t get more aggressive. Thanks for the motivation!!


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Looks great. I love a black car when it’s clean.


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