BMW engine cleaning and/or detailing

[manolop10]

As i've heard, you can't have BMW engines washed. But i'd like to know if it is even close to possibly having them cleaned? Please share if you've heard or experienced BMW engines being cleaned, washed, or detailed, and if anything bad happens. If also you can direct me to a place where i can get mine cleaned. Thanks very much!

Just for reference my car is a '98 316i E36.

[speedyfix]

big berts or mother should be able to do it for you as long as they mask off the correct parts para wala mabasa na hindi dapat mabasa.

[m_ron]

Don't wash it!!! just wipe the engine cover,hose with damp cloth then detail it with armor all.

[OTEP]

Big Bert's can detail engines without the use of running water. Of course, you pay the price and time.

I've also seen later model BMW engines being detailed by those used car agents in the Ortigas area. They use lots of plastic and tape to mask off parts.

[empy]

you can wash BMW engines just like any other EFI engine. as the guys said, just know what parts to cover in plastic bags and tape off.

[manolop10]

Alright thanks guys! I'll go ask Big Bert's then, i'm just in the Ortigas area anyway. Hopefully i wont have any problems. Thanks again!

[///MPower]

As i've heard, you can't have BMW engines washed. But i'd like to know if it is even close to possibly having them cleaned? Please share if you've heard or experienced BMW engines being cleaned, washed, or detailed, and if anything bad happens. If also you can direct me to a place where i can get mine cleaned. Thanks very much!

Just for reference my car is a '98 316i E36.

Washing your own engine is perfectly acceptable. Just cover any foam filters you may have (conical K&N), and you'll be fine.

Let it cool down (washing it hot may lead to cracking) before washing. Rinse it off with low pressure water. Run your car to dry it. If you really want to get anal about it, you can use baby wipes to get anything further. They do spell specific products for engine detailing, but I'm not sure if they sell them there. In any case, these are applied after the quick rinse.

EDIT: FWIW, I've washed my M's engine with zero negative effects. Also, make sure the place you take your car for engine detailing does NOT use steam to clean. The steam can easily end up destroying the seals and electronic components.

[manolop10]

Hey guys i got an update. I called Big Bert's and they said they don't work or BMW's.They don't even wanna touch them at all, the guy's words were, "Baka magkaproblema eh, kaya di namin ginagalaw ang BM", so there, can anyone else direct me to a place? Where can i find or contact Mothers?

[///MPower]

Just do it yourself?

I'm not sure why they would decline to do it; it's not like Bimmers have super delicate engines or anything. The only thing I can think of is that the owners can be a pain in the ass to deal with.

[manolop10]

Just do it yourself?

I'm not sure why they would decline to do it; it's not like Bimmers have super delicate engines or anything. The only thing I can think of is that the owners can be a pain in the ass to deal with.

Hahaha, well i know what you mean. But i can assure you i'm not that kind! DIY is too tough for me, hehe. I'll just see my other options.

[empy]

that's surprising. if a n00b like me can clean his bmw engine regularly with no problems whatsoever, i wonder why the BB experts won't touch it?

[theveed]

M54: Ngayon ko lang nakita to hehe...

Mainly because quite often, Euro cars sold here are very finicky with moisture. I honestly can't explain why it happens as I've washed quite a few engines in the US using coin-op car washes with no probs (especially after running over a dead skunk or something), but locally, quite a few owners (not even our customers) have experienced shorted ECUs and sensors even with the slightest moisture exposure.

We take great (can't emphasize that word enough) care when working on Euro engine bays, taking us 2-3x more effort cleaning them than with Japanese and American counterparts, sometimes, it just happens...

My assumptions will be pretty the same for older vehicles... As plastics and rubber wear off, the clamps that keeps moisture out of electronics can't provide a decent seal causing water-related electricity spikes.

Quite common phenomenon would be where the sparkplug wires are located, with most BMW engines, they're angled downwards with a metal "tray" underneath it trapping water as well... With plugs that don't seal well, it's nearly impossible to prevent water from entering the plug holes.

I know someone who DIY'ed his E36 (1.6li) at home with a normal hose and fried his ECU, TPS, MAF in one go...

But if you think about it, makes no sense for ANY engine not to be able to withstand water contact hehe.

My Altima engine compartment hates water as well, I couldn't start the car once when I cleaned it personally with a TABO... Compared to my Corolla where I engine wash my car weekly.

Kinda funny story is that many local Isuzu dealers tell owners NEVER to get Trooper engines washed because the ECU and other electronics are exposed in the engine compartment, yet their posters and brochures show Troopers submerged in a river or something :P

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While I'm pretty sure that if we clean 100 euro engines, 99 of them will turn out fine, but we really don't think the 1 engine that will experience any cleaning-related problem is worth the customer's headaches and heartaches.

We don't like to experiment with our customer's cars.