* What did you do to/for your E46 today? *

Originally Posted by E46Mango

My friend is a pro detailer and he showed me the fine art of steaming the interior. And he just handed it over to me and I went nuts. Steamed the seatbelts too. It's an actual steam wand that emits pure steam. No liquid. so theres no messy wet soapy mess to deal with. The heat kills bacteria which kills odors. My interior looked great before but now looks immaculate x10. It just gives everything a consistent matte finish exactly the way it looked from the factory. definitely going to buy one for myself. The steam just melts everything away... we even steamed my trunk keyhole.... :-p

This is the exact one we used:

Amazon.com - Wagner 915 Steamer

...wow this is another level. I steam-cleaned my carpets and I thought you meant this same but this is something else. I'd love to try it. I steam my shirts and the steam emitted from my unit is hot enough to burn your hands.

yes. man for $99 you can't beat it. this would work wonders at home too. i would go nuts cleaning everything. i even gently dabbed at the head liner (scrubbing it hard would ruin it) and it removed a couple of grease stains from when I did my sunroof repair. My vent flaps are all pristine. So much black came off my interior even though i "clean" it weekly. was amazed. steam is powerful!

I would love to try this. I would probably go crazy as well. I'd love to steam the headliner.

safe to steam the Alcantara in the ZHP? my grey seats are starting to look kinda brownish (eww)

Originally Posted by ExcelonGT

safe to steam the Alcantara in the ZHP? my grey seats are starting to look kinda brownish (eww)

I don't see why not. Once I get this steamer, you guys will see a thread "I just steamed my entire suspension and undercarriage"

I did attack it with simple green while I had my car up on a lift over the weekend but it still looked dirty =( the grease and road grime is so stubborn. I doubt the steamer i linked from amazon is powerful enough for that but i will certainly try it. i understand they make commercial grade steamers meant for that purpose but they're $4,000 and half the size of a car

I just finished up swapping out entire cooling system (radiator, water pump, themostat, etc.), oil filter housing, installed an ECS tuning pulley and an oil change with mobil 1 for good measure. I just got the car in May as an upgrade from my E36. Shes been good so I spoil her.

I Sea Foamed my car [02 325ci] just now, on my lunch break, and still got food! HA!!
Did it through the brake booster/vacuum line and the gas tank!
Noticed an immediate difference......... AND NO LIGHTS WENT OFF (check engine, EML etc)

Learned about it here, so I ahve to say Thank You to every E46 member just becuase. Every member has contributed something to help, to maintain, to save a buck useful or thought provoking!

Originally Posted by E46Mango

I don't see why not. Once I get this steamer, you guys will see a thread "I just steamed my entire suspension and undercarriage"

I did attack it with simple green while I had my car up on a lift over the weekend but it still looked dirty =( the grease and road grime is so stubborn. I doubt the steamer i linked from amazon is powerful enough for that but i will certainly try it. i understand they make commercial grade steamers meant for that purpose but they're $4,000 and half the size of a car

Hey Mango "the guru" whats cracking bossman:
Ever hear of "greased lightning"?, it used to come in a purple bottle, now its yellow! I swear by this stuff! Add that to your steamer and i almost guarantee whatever you clean with have renewed life.
I've detailed many of my cars with this. you can use it on any fabric, i clean my sneakers with it too- KEEPS THEM FRESH FOR YRS. I've gotten stains out of my silk shirts, revamped a cream interior (G35)- used it on the headiner too. I havent gotten around to using it on this new e46 baby in my fleet, the car came pretty clean. The interior is black only my headliner is gray, so no rush to clean 2 4mm spots. It can clean plastics, metals, woods, removes just about anything blood and wine too. [i even throw it in my laundry sometimes- white clothes only though]when using it on leather dilute it jusssst a liiiil bit. Not too much- when its in it's regular state out the bottle it works too well on light colored leathers- so move fast or you'll get lil spots that will appear brighter than the rest of the upholstery. I used to be able to buy it in auto zone, now i mostly only see it in family dollar.

Originally Posted by E46Mango

I don't see why not. Once I get this steamer, you guys will see a thread "I just steamed my entire suspension and undercarriage"

I did attack it with simple green while I had my car up on a lift over the weekend but it still looked dirty =( the grease and road grime is so stubborn. I doubt the steamer i linked from amazon is powerful enough for that but i will certainly try it. i understand they make commercial grade steamers meant for that purpose but they're $4,000 and half the size of a car

THANKS for the idea mango, just ordered it. Going to go all out interior, exterior, brakes, under carriage and suspension.

Today I changed out the stock mechanical belt tensioner for the hydraulic belt tensioner. Both belts changed!

I got it that the steamer is good for getting the crud out. But where does the crud go when steaming?

Originally Posted by E46Mango

I don't see why not. Once I get this steamer, you guys will see a thread "I just steamed my entire suspension and undercarriage"

...you can steam my undercariage anytime.

I washed her today.

but i did THIS (see below) 3 weeks ago. primer, paint and masking tape.

Originally Posted by JTripper

Hey Mango "the guru" whats cracking bossman:
Ever hear of "greased lightning"?, it used to come in a purple bottle, now its yellow! I swear by this stuff! Add that to your steamer and i almost guarantee whatever you clean with have renewed life.
I've detailed many of my cars with this. you can use it on any fabric, i clean my sneakers with it too- KEEPS THEM FRESH FOR YRS. I've gotten stains out of my silk shirts, revamped a cream interior (G35)- used it on the headiner too. I havent gotten around to using it on this new e46 baby in my fleet, the car came pretty clean. The interior is black only my headliner is gray, so no rush to clean 2 4mm spots. It can clean plastics, metals, woods, removes just about anything blood and wine too. [i even throw it in my laundry sometimes- white clothes only though]when using it on leather dilute it jusssst a liiiil bit. Not too much- when its in it's regular state out the bottle it works too well on light colored leathers- so move fast or you'll get lil spots that will appear brighter than the rest of the upholstery. I used to be able to buy it in auto zone, now i mostly only see it in family dollar.

Nope. I usually don't like to use too many products. I was advised to never ever ever add anything to the steamer. thanks for the tip though

Originally Posted by serdar255

THANKS for the idea mango, just ordered it. Going to go all out interior, exterior, brakes, under carriage and suspension.

wow. good man. let me know how it works. i'll be getting one myself

Originally Posted by Schlag96

...you can steam my undercariage anytime.

sicko


wait... can dmax watch??

Originally Posted by sfcjetjr

I got it that the steamer is good for getting the crud out. But where does the crud go when steaming?

you use a rag to wipe down whatever you're cleaning/steaming. the steam just loosens the crap and you wipe it off

Passed inspection

Mango sets such a good example

Originally Posted by E46Mango

wow. good man. let me know how it works. i'll be getting one myself

Mine comes tomorrow, ill probably do my brakes then. Undercarriage, probably on the weekend unless i don't have much homework tomorrow.

Originally Posted by serdar255

Mine comes tomorrow, ill probably do my brakes then. Undercarriage, probably on the weekend unless i don't have much homework tomorrow.

you might want to soak the brakes in some powerful degreaser first. the steamer is more suited to interior and stuff. the brake stuff is really heavy duty grease!!!

Originally Posted by Dr Dyme

I washed her today.

but i did THIS (see below) 3 weeks ago. primer, paint and masking tape.

2JZ in an E46, now I've seen everything