Cleaning the underside of the car

Muffin`

Muffin`

Muffin`

Caporegime
Joined
21 Apr 2004
Posts
33,234
Location
Bristol
Think it's time to keep on top of this, is just going to a garage, getting down on my hands and knees and spraying the underside enough? Or am I better getting this done properly? The car's getting on now and I want to start taking preventative measures :p
 
It's the underside, the moment you drive in the wet it's going to get covered anyway.

Just pressure wash it as best possible and take care of possible rust spots from stone chips etc I guess.
 
I just give it a quick once over with the jet wash under the sills, nothing special. What is important though is to wash out inside the wheel arches, use a brush and pay close attention to inside of the arch lip, this is where 99% of your rust will stem from.
 
It's not anything special but if I can prevent anything with 10 minuets jet was session then I'll go for it. That's a good point Clarkey but I can barley fit my hand under the arches atm :( :p
 
Local independant drive through automatic carwash here has an under-car cleaning program.

I just bung the owner a couple of quid and tell him to only activate the underside cleansing (so as to not get the stupid swirl mark clean from the brushes).
 
Always check the rear arches where the rear bumper attaches, mud etc. gets stuck there and starts the rust off quite well on the e36.

Generally speaking when I was under mine the only problem areas were the arches, the actual underside of the car was fine. They are undersealed or something anyway.
 
I just have an old sponge and chamois that I use for sill and arch duties to make sure they're all clean :)
 
I did my wheel arches but the underside would be the same process.

Wheels off, jacked up.

Pressure wash wheel arch to get general cack off.

Spray with APC and agitate with a 50p cheapo bog brush.

Pressure wash down.

Repeat until clean.

Allow to dry.

Paint with hammerite with waxoyl (some people like other stuff, but I had it at home so cost me nothing). Have to warm up the tin/contents first or its too hard so stuck it in the oven. Old brush and cardboard under the car to catch the drips.
 
Take the wheels off and the wheel arch liners. Then clear all the dirt out (there will be LOTS). Other than that, take the jacking points off and give them a good clean underneath, clean the backs of the wheel arches and you should be ok. e36s aren't too bad for rust except for in specific areas.
 
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Cheers for the useful info
 
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