[rlmesq]

I have a black sapphire metallic 435i. Whenever I go through the carwash, water gets trapped in the mirrors and dribbles down the side of the car when I get up to about 30 mph. It happens no matter how well the carwash crew wipes down the car.

It might've happened with my e92, too, but it was silver and wouldn't have down the streaks like the black does.

Anybody have a way to prevent this?

[Busa1]

Originally Posted by rlmesq

I have a black sapphire metallic 435i. Whenever I go through the carwash, water gets trapped in the mirrors and dribbles down the side of the car when I get up to about 30 mph. It happens no matter how well the carwash crew wipes down the car.

It might've happened with my e92, too, but it was silver and wouldn't have down the streaks like the black does.

Anybody have a way to prevent this?

Well, first I would stop taking the car to the car wash if you can.
The only sure way I think is to blow out the water with the Metro Sidekick Blaster or something similar. I see alot of people praise it for blowing out the water in crevices, mirrors, engine bay, etc.
I think Amazon sells them for around $75.

[X2 Monstah]

Fold your mirrors in when washing. I found this helps a little.

[vanbmw]

I fold my mirrors in after washing. The amount of water that spills out is suprising. I leave them turn like that while I blow dry the car and it solves the problem.

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Do a waterless car wash. No water spots at all afterwards.

[B39 B58]

Originally Posted by pheerix

Do a waterless car wash. No water spots at all afterwards.

Rinseless (like Optimum No Rinse) is a good middle ground and uses way less water than an automated wash so less chance of drips after.

And because you have black paint, I'll also echo what someone else said... if you care about the condition of your paint (avoiding swirls and random scratches), avoid the auto wash altogether. That goes double for the rushed wipedown by the carwash crew.

[mcleod52]

Ditto on the no automated car wash and I would use Meguiars D114 as a no rinse product :-)

[Blubaron79]

Originally Posted by vanbmw

I fold my mirrors in after washing. The amount of water that spills out is suprising. I leave them turn like that while I blow dry the car and it solves the problem.

I do the same. It helps!

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Originally Posted by mcleod52

Ditto on the no car wash and I would use Meguiars D114 as a no rinse product

I wanna try D114 but I have 2 gallons of ONR to go through first.

[smithf80]

Here is the trick for this, you can actually push your mirrors BACK further, so the front is leaning downwards allowing the water to spill out, I also fold the mirrors a few times normally as well.

[fshubert]

Maybe I'm naive here, but how do you wash a car without water?

[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by fshubert

Maybe I'm naive here, but how do you wash a car without water?

Waterless car wash bays?????

[azzurro]

Originally Posted by rlmesq

I have a black sapphire metallic 435i. Whenever I go through the carwash, water gets trapped in the mirrors and dribbles down the side of the car when I get up to about 30 mph. It happens no matter how well the carwash crew wipes down the car.

It might've happened with my e92, too, but it was silver and wouldn't have down the streaks like the black does.

Anybody have a way to prevent this?

When I use Optimum no rinse this doesn't happen. When I go to the $4 self car wash it does happen and it's annoying. Water also runs down the black seals on the rear windows.

I do a couple of things. If you open and shut the front doors fairly hard several times most of the water comes out. after this, I will run the edges of my microfiber towel insinde the spaces between the mirrors and the housing and that usually does it. Be sure to also wipe off under the arm that attached the mirror housing to the car because a lot of water pools there too.

I'll keep my micro fiber towel inside my car and then drive a mile or so and then pull over. whatever water that's left isn't much but then I'll wipe it all off one last time and that's usually it.

[Fronzdan]

Really, don't take a BSM or any color really through an automated wash. The swirls you get will soon far outweigh water marks from the mirror in driving you crazy.
But pick up an electric leaf blower. They can be had for like 30bucks. Then blow dry you car. It gets all the water out of every crevice.