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Thread: Suggestions for how to go about cleaning the underside of the car

  1. #26
    Join Date
    May 2004
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    Texas...all of it.
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    328i
    This is easily the most ridiculous car I’ve ever owned...and I’ve owned a lot. Thing has nearly 300,000 miles on it and by all accounts when I got it was all original. Literally. Like down to the coolant and oil...or at least the oil filter because it leaked so much oil it couldn’t possibly be the original stuff. Everything leaked...oil (obviously), coolant, power steering, brakes...if it was wet it was getting out. I had to scrape half an inch of “stuff” off the flanges just to the get to cat pipe/header bolts. I couldn’t tell you with any certainty what color the transmission is because all I can see is a general area in which I’m sure it’s located. The only part of the engine that’s remotely clean is the front of the oil pan, and only that because the car was wrecked which took out all the plastic shielding so it’s been blasted with water and road debris for who knows how long.

    Finding the largest oil leaks was easy enough. The power steering leak was easy to find, and was painfully addressed, but it’s still leaking a few drops of oil and about a tablespoon of coolant every day but it’s like finding a leak in the roof of a building that used to be three buildings under two, possibly three, roofs all done by different people 15 years ago.

  2. #27
    Join Date
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    hiss by my window
    Quote Originally Posted by bossman1 View Post
    What i have done is buy the largest plastic bins from target and put them under the car. Use Purple Power degreaser, let it sit and then power wash everything. Works pretty well. After you can dispose of the dirty water properly.
    So, you've done this?
    just how many tubs are needed to cover the area beneath a car? What about the space in between and around them?
    Those plastic tubs hold twenty gallons or more. How did you carry them off for "proper disposal"?

    @OP
    If you have access to a coin op DIY car wash that is the answer. Bring a change of clothes as you'll be filthy.

    I'd be looking at the oil filter housing gasket to the block and coolant is probably weeping from the plastic hose to block seals. I am facing the same unpleasant situation.
    Last edited by ross1; 11-20-2018 at 12:21 PM.

    If you can leave two black stripes from the exit of one corner to the braking zone of the next, you have enough horsepower. - Mark Donohue

  3. #28
    Join Date
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    Alexandria, VA
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    ‘01 540’00 528T’03 525T
    Jeezuz Christ, did the PO have you at gunpoint to buy that pile of Eturdynine??? Shoot, you bought it like that, you might as well be as guilty as the PO....
    Set the controls for the heart of the sun

  4. #29
    Join Date
    May 2004
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    Texas...all of it.
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    328i
    It was cheap, had 190psi +/-5 all around, what I wanted, and I wasn’t too constrained by concern over your approval.

  5. #30
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
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    ‘01 540’00 528T’03 525T
    Lol! Busting your balls man!
    Set the controls for the heart of the sun

  6. #31
    geargrinder's Avatar
    geargrinder is offline Having No Trouble Here BMW CCA Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
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    AndoverRockport MA & Intl
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    E46M3Cic E39.540iT E84X1
    Quote Originally Posted by bimmer7410 View Post
    *hangs head in greasy shame*
    LOL.

    It is true even a “only moderately leaky” M62 can end up a filth encrusted mess underneath. As all have concurred, a just-don’t-be-stupid pressure wash is way to go. The bigger pain is when you have sludge all down the front of the motor to clean up during a timing job or whatever, and the car is in a place where you can’t blast it w the washer cuz it’s half torn down. When I did mine I really wanted to be able to roll it out and just blast the crap out of the front and the oil pan shelf from above...
    2003 M3CicM6 TiAg
    2002 540iT Sport Vortech S/C 6MT LSD TiAg
    2008 Audi A3 2.0T DSG (the daily beater)
    2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i (wifemobile)

    Former:

    1985 MB Euro graymarket 300SL
    1995.5 Audi S6 Avant (utility/winter billetturbobattlewagen)


  7. #32
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
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    North OC, CA
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    01 M5 TiAg/M1SW
    Elbow grease, dish soap, no pressure washer:

    IMG_2386.jpg
    IMG_2414.jpg
    Nate J.

    (oOO\ (|||)º(|||) /OOo)
    Titanium Silver/Black Nappa Full 07-18-2001 E39 M5 Heritage (BZ99672). 198,000mi+. Increasing daily. Engine rebuild thread.
    (eŌō\ (||||)º(||||) / ōŌe)
    Alpineweiss III/Black Merino Full 03-26-2007 E60 M5 Manual (CX08265). 157,000+. Dead starter -_-

    RIP, Seabiscuit. Black Sapphire/Schwarz 03-11-2003 530iA Sport (CK39185). T-boned 03-01-2017 at 155,861mi.
    Take 2 "Otto" - Toledo Blue/Sandbeige 04-25-2002 530iA Sport (CH98032). Sold 11-10-2017 at 147,743mi.
    Take 3 "Manuel" - Toledo Blue/Grau 10-29-2001 530i5 Sport (CE92358). Sold 02-01-2019 at 217,600mi. I regret that. Build Log
    Reliable P.O.S. - Green/gray 1995 Camry V6 LE. 270k mi. Sold for space.

  8. #33
    Join Date
    May 2004
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    Texas...all of it.
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    328i
    you're cheating with your fancy rack and pinion

  9. #34
    JimLev's Avatar
    JimLev is offline Artifically Aspirated Moderator
    Join Date
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    00 540/6, '16 Highlander
    Eibach sway bar...+2
    Hope you have the rear one too.

  10. #35
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
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    01 M5 TiAg/M1SW
    Quote Originally Posted by JimLev View Post
    Eibach sway bar...+2
    Hope you have the rear one too.
    Yep! Front and rear.
    Here’s the whole thing reassembled with the rack and the heat shield in place:
    D5A34144-3C09-46A3-925C-510C4D976460.jpg
    Last edited by computiNATEor; 11-23-2018 at 02:57 AM.
    Nate J.

    (oOO\ (|||)º(|||) /OOo)
    Titanium Silver/Black Nappa Full 07-18-2001 E39 M5 Heritage (BZ99672). 198,000mi+. Increasing daily. Engine rebuild thread.
    (eŌō\ (||||)º(||||) / ōŌe)
    Alpineweiss III/Black Merino Full 03-26-2007 E60 M5 Manual (CX08265). 157,000+. Dead starter -_-

    RIP, Seabiscuit. Black Sapphire/Schwarz 03-11-2003 530iA Sport (CK39185). T-boned 03-01-2017 at 155,861mi.
    Take 2 "Otto" - Toledo Blue/Sandbeige 04-25-2002 530iA Sport (CH98032). Sold 11-10-2017 at 147,743mi.
    Take 3 "Manuel" - Toledo Blue/Grau 10-29-2001 530i5 Sport (CE92358). Sold 02-01-2019 at 217,600mi. I regret that. Build Log
    Reliable P.O.S. - Green/gray 1995 Camry V6 LE. 270k mi. Sold for space.

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