Advice to get a 2009 323i

[benjovi]

bro benjovi,

What a beauty. :top: I like the color too. Ha...

So happy when look at the picture.

Thanks bro SeanChen.

I guess I am waiting for your ride to be posted here as well soon...:top:

 

[seanchen78]

Yes, i will post my ride.

Now convincing my family. Ha...

 

[sharp]

is tat saddle brown interioir?

 

[Ennui78]

Congrats on the new ride! You're gonna love it. Just a quick tip on the saddle brown leather both our rides are fitted with. You have to be very careful with it. The dye isn't very deep....this allows for the grain to come through and for suppleness. As such, you will have to use a very gentle cleaner on it. And you can't be too rough. The colour is actually rather dark - a greyish brown. It's coated first with a lighter off-white base colour, and then the saddle-brown dye that you see, is layered on top. So if you are a bit too abrasive or over-enthused in your cleaning regimen, you may end up with lighter patches which may eventually reveal, a darker shade beneath that!

Stick to the leather cleaner/conditioner from BMW or use a gentle cleaner from Meguiar's first and then use your hands to rub in the BMW leather conditioner(if you use your hands, you end up using a lot less because the sponge really soaks up most of the stuff and you can do a better job 'feeling', to ensure even application). After that, if you leave the car in the sun, the stuff will penetrate much better. Just my 2 cents and a bit....

 

[Schwepps]

My tips:
1. Wear a cheap cotton mesh glove from any hardware shop rather than use bare fingers - spreads better.
2. Leave it overnight rather than leave it in the sun - penetrates deeper.

 

[benjovi]

Enui/schepps,

thanks for you guys tips. I never knew that our leather need so much attention. At the moment all I have is Armorall leather cleaner/ conditioner.

After your guys tips, I guess I have to upgrade all the cleaner and the car care product. What I am using now is what being used for my older car.

Anyway, how often do I need to condition the leather?

 

[Schwepps]

ARMOURALL?? That's like using soap to wash your hair and dishwasher to wash your face! Boy! Lucky we rescued your lovely new car. Get some proper leathercare stuff!

Every 6 months is good, every 3 months is better. Best to oil once right now, to protect from day one. Also best to wax your paintwork right now, before our acid rain etches the clear coat. :listen:

 

[racheltoh]

ARMOURALL?? That's like using soap to wash your hair and dishwasher to wash your face! Boy! Lucky we rescued your lovely new car. Get some proper leathercare stuff!

so extreme meh????

 

[Schwepps]

Hahaha, maybe...but I use Armourall only on my tyres.

 

[Schwepps]

Rach, I've been a leather buff since I was a child, and leathercraft was an early hobby. So I know more about leather than most people. Eg, my wallet is Cordovan. Inside may be kosong, but outside is the most beautiful and expensive leather you can get hold of.

 

[Ennui78]

I so hear you, Schwepps.......I'm an Hermes fan. My passenger seat is for a Birkin(the bag's pretty empty too. All my money is in my wardrobe and a hunk of metal on four wheels!)! LOL.... *benjovi, you should take schwepps advice. Don't use anything except the good stuff for your seats. Look at the stitching....some of the sections are handstitched. That's why the directions are '///////' as opposed to '----------'. The former example is a stitch that is made by hand. A machine couldn't create a stitch like that. Never use any petroleum based products on your leather seats. Some of the threads used in the stitching are a poly-mix.... a petroleum based solvent in lower grade leather cleaners will just dissolve your stitches.

And speaking of soap, if you really must. Get equestrian saddle soap.....


PS: Told you guys already that I was really anal!

 

[Ennui78]

And before you get worried, no, the leather doesn't need THAT much attention. But as with all my own leather things, when they look old, I want them to look well cared for. Hmmm.....the same could be said of myself! LOL.

Age gracefully? Hell, no! I'm gonna fight it all the way, babes...

 

[Schwepps]

I don't have particular brand tastes Ennui...Cordovan is the exclusive leather from the rump of a horse. Agree with you on solvent-based products, they'll destroy the leather and stitching.

Sorry for being 'extreme' in my comment last night, Benjovi. IMO, the two car care brands to look for are Meguiars and Autoglym.

 

[seanchen78]

Dear Schwepps,

I am so happy to read your post. I don't have much knowledges in how to take care of the leather. Even though i still yet to get myself a BMW, your post really help.

Bro Ben, i agree with bro Ennui78.

 

[Schwepps]

You're welcome seanchen. It can be a chore to apply leather moisturiser with a sponge or cloth, but using cotton gloves, it's so easy and you can even slip your fingers into unreachable places like between seat bottom and seat back. A pack of gloves is only a few ringgit, so you just throw away after one use. They get black picking up all the dirt anyway.

My recommendation to cream your leather and wax your paintwork immediately on getting the car is based on experience in previous cars. The driver's seat and steering wheel start wearing immediately if they're dry. One or two acid rain showers and you'll see water marks on your clear coat that you won't be able to get rid of easily.

Just buy the best stuff you can afford. Meguiars and Autoglym are a bit expensive.

 

[benjovi]

I don't have particular brand tastes Ennui...Cordovan is the exclusive leather from the rump of a horse. Agree with you on solvent-based products, they'll destroy the leather and stitching.

Sorry for being 'extreme' in my comment last night, Benjovi. IMO, the two car care brands to look for are Meguiars and Autoglym.

No worries Schwepps, your advice has enligthened me. Definitely I will go Parkson where Meguiars are sold.

How about car shampoo and wax, any recommendation? I am currently using KIT Wash and Wax, hahha...I guess this is like putting Clorox on the car....am I right bro Schwepps?:stupid:

 

[Ennui78]

Ok lah...not exactly like Clorox, perhaps.....but hey, don't you think she deserves a tad better? LOL. And there is a certain satisfaction derived from knowing you did it yourself. But if you're rolling in the moolah, then ok, sudahlah. Send for weekly wash, pro-detailing every other month and every two years, re-spray! Just kidding.....

Consider getting the following stuff:

1. Gold Class or NXT Generation Shampoo - cleans without removing your wax.
2. Washing Mitt/Glove - using the wrong material to wash the car with, will just give you swirls.
3. And a wax. Depending on what kind of finish you want. A warm glow(Gold Class with Carnauba) or a hard-glassy shine (NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0 with Polymers). Once a month?
4. Ultimate Quikwax Spray - touching up after each wash or to add an extra layer of gloss after the waxing.

All the products listed above are from Meguiar's. You'll need microfibre cloths(some shops sell them by the half dozen - it's cheaper seeing how quickly you can actually go though them) to remove the wax. There's a loooooonnnnggg list of things to buy. But we start you off slowly, ok? Heheh. We save the chat about the claybars, sprays, sealants, special brushes and DA Polishers for another day.


Honestly, the list goes on and on and on. And watch out. The detailing bug bite is very strong. Almost incurable. You see people with dirty car, you will already shake head, Tsk Tsk Tsk! And when you see your own car get dirty, even more cannot tahan. Must wash liao! LOL If you saw pictures of the stuff I've bought over the years. People either look and laugh or they walk away looking very worried. I should be a Meguiar's Salesman. Sure can make money one!! Upgrade to F10 even faster...or an X1(dream dream dream).

 

[Schwepps]

No worries Schwepps, your advice has enligthened me. Definitely I will go Parkson where Meguiars are sold.

How about car shampoo and wax, any recommendation? I am currently using KIT Wash and Wax, hahha...I guess this is like putting Clorox on the car....am I right bro Schwepps?:stupid:

Heyy! I think my help use Kit wor. Anyway, I haven't washed a car in +20 yrs, and the only car I polish is MINE. But I do the leather of our leathered cars (leather fetish perhaps )

BTW, I'm very lazy and not OC like Mr Meguiar here.

 

[NekoRacing]

Hey guys,

Where is a good place to send the new car for wash?

Supposedly let's say if I live around Old Klang Road and my office is at Shah Alam.

 

[NekoRacing]

Does anyone know anything about the 323 electric side mirrors.

Can we put it on Automatic or something to retract when we off the engine?