[Straight Six]

Due to recent road treatments I feel I need to perform an undercarriage was on my 335xi. Once I did this with my Chevy at an automatic car wash and it damaged my horn that goes off when I lock the car. I was wondering if there is anything I could damage on my 335?

Thank you!

[F32Fleet]

No

[Straight Six]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

No

Thanks!

[shivaswrath]

This isn't a good idea...

[2014_335i]

Originally Posted by Straight Six

Due to recent road treatments I feel I need to perform an undercarriage was on my 335xi. Once I did this with my Chevy at an automatic car wash and it damaged my horn that goes off when I lock the car. I was wondering if there is anything I could damage on my 335?

Thank you!

It will be fine.

[Vegetable]

Originally Posted by 2014_335i

It will be fine.

..... (rest of sentence) without the undercarriage car wash

[2014_335i]

Originally Posted by Vegetable

..... (rest of sentence) without the undercarriage car wash

Thanks, I can speak for myself.. Vege-brain can enjoy his German bits as they tarnish and rot off.

I highly recommend a thorough cleaning on a regular basis of the car's undercarriage for any cars that spend time on mag chloride, salt, ice melt etc.

[Vegetable]

Originally Posted by 2014_335i

Thanks, I can speak for myself.. Vege-brain can enjoy his bits as they tarnish and rot.

I highly recommend a thorough cleaning on a regular basis of the car's undercarriage for any cars that spend time on mag chloride, salt, ice melt etc.

Perhaps you can start speaking in complete sentences, then. If a Vegie-brain can do it, so can you.. I have faith. But I agree that nobody ever needs an undercarriage wash from a car wash.. oh wait..

[floydarogers]

Because BMWs have a protective under-carriage body panel - actually part of the aerodynamics to smooth under-body airflow - there is much less exposed to corrosion. The engine compartment, for instance, is completely protected.

I don't think anything is exposed to get water-logged, and I've taken my car through car washes that spray under there.

[Prossx]

I know nobody reads these but page 11, 2014 BMW Service and Warranty Information manual states: Underbody maintenance: The underbody has to be cleaned at least once a year, in Spring, with plain water in order to remove mud, chemical sediments and other deposits. If those materials are not removed, corrosion will occur on metal components. Your BMW center will do this anti-corrosion service for you.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Prossx

I know nobody reads these but page 11, 2014 BMW Service and Warranty Information manual states: Underbody maintenance: The underbody has to be cleaned at least once a year, in Spring, with plain water in order to remove mud, chemical sediments and other deposits. If those materials are not removed, corrosion will occur on metal components. Your BMW center will do this anti-corrosion service for you.

You read your manual?

[Kev314]

I do under-wash in a touch less system every couple of weeks or so. No problem. However, I make sure air temp is at least 32degF.

On other cars (not bmw) I've seen tie rods and other bits corrode/rust-out after 10+ years, and hope to keep the 328 that long. So if you're a short-timer then doesn't matter.

[ft1330]

I wash the underside with a hose, as much as I can reach without lifting the car.

[Don N.]

Don't go through an automatic car wash to have it done. If you do it yourself with a hose, it should be fine enough.

-Don

[eric@helix]

I don't recommend automatic car washes for any nice car, but certainly not the undercarriage squirt: many car washes re-capture and re-use rinse water. So you would be spraying a sheen of salty water underneath your car.

[Billfitz]

Use a lawn sprinkler. Run the hose under the car from front to rear, turn on the water with moderate pressure, slowly pull the hose.

[JMSpace144]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Use a lawn sprinkler. Run the hose under the car from front to rear, turn on the water with moderate pressure, slowly pull the hose.

Never thought of this

[Cyberdemon]

Washing underneath is always a good idea, all of those suspension components that get caked with road salt would like a good cleaning.

If you have a pressure washer that can be adjusted for lower pressure it will work great to help blast the gunky stuff off.

[Thumper333]

I lift the car and roll under on a dolly with a toothbrush.....................


Seriously, the hose and sprinkler suggestion above is genius, obviously it's a choice that has to be made. Do nothing, or use one of the automatic's. If you can't get to it yourself for whatever reason, better to go auto than do nothing.

[Straight Six]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Use a lawn sprinkler. Run the hose under the car from front to rear, turn on the water with moderate pressure, slowly pull the hose.

I love this idea!

[Agamemnon]

Yes the lawn sprinkler idea is the best. I have used this method since owning my first car in 1970. Stay away from car washes - they cause nothing but grief. I don't let the dealer run my car through the car wash when it goes in for service.

[capt_slow]

Set your hose to the widest spray and thoroughly sweep through the underside of the car on all 4 sides. This will catch a majority of the salt dust since the underbody is decently flat. No more than 5 mins for the whole process. As Prossx mentioned, BMW recommends this in the manual.

I did this every weekend during MN winters and the results showed when I got a loaner. The loaner had rust on exposed bolt threads on the rear suspension while mine were like new.