what's your LEAST favorite car part to detail?

debaser330ci · 10-11-01, 08:38

I think it's fair to say we all enjoy standing in front of a freshly waxed/klassed/zainoed hood and admiring the reflection of the sky, but what is your least favorite part of the car to detail?

for me, it would probably be a toss-up between the inside of the windshield/windows, and the wheels on my car. i hate doing the inside of the windshield (tips would be appreciated!) because of the awkward position you have to put yourself and your arm/wrist in to clean it. plus, i can never seem to get all the hazing out of the corners to my satisfaction.

each wheel on my 330ci takes me between 5 and 10 minutes of finger pinching, knuckle busting, and the occasional nasty laceration from some sharp metal piece on the rotor (OUCHHHH!), to clean. the situation is compounded by bmw's super dust producing brake pads.

here's a pic:

as you can see, there's that narrow area between the spokes to clean, the usual tough area around the lugnuts, and worst of all....with these wheels you can see allllllll the way inside, to where you can't get to easily/at all (not as visible in pic as in person). i have dreams about pulling the wheels off and scrubbing the whole area til it's squeaky clean...but only in my dreams.

so what's your least favorite area?

PS: i also hate cleaning the exterior mirrors, and i don't know why

FLONI · 10-11-01, 08:52

my chrome wheels....not so much the front part....but i dont have any jack stands.....so i have to drive up on the curb a little...to raise the car on that side....then get under and clean it good....then reverse it and do it with the other side of the car....i dont have agarage either so to jack the car up and take each wheel off would be nuts on the street.....even though i think im the only one who can see that inner side of the chrome wheels..lol....but when you clean the chrome just right...it looks like the tires are floating......that....and of course the rear window...even after i take that little brake light thingy off....kneeling on the seats is just not comfortable....but we know the reward is worth it

Scottwax · 10-11-01, 08:55

Pretty much the same-interior windows-try a Lamborghini Diablo, you have to be a midget (oh, excuse me, a little person

) contortionist to clean them.

Wheels, especially the hideous snowflake/diamond designs, like the 740i, Lincoln Town Car and the absolute worst, the Infiniti J30 rims. Not only do they have that stupid diamond design, the coating is absolute crap and once brake dust begins to build up, it runs the coating and they are impossible to clean properly without removing, blast beading and recoating.

Slightly behind is cleaning the front end of trucks with those huge brush guards that are so close to the grill you cannot get your hand or even a thin brush between the guard and grill.

I used to hate compounding out faded paint, but when I see how good it looks when I am done, it makes it worth it--unless the person waits until it fades again to call me back.

YoSteve · 10-11-01, 09:18

since I use Rain-X wheel protectant my wheels aren't so bad to clean (I have a VW wheel similar to debasers but smooth with smooth surfaces, less intricate).

My least favorite part to detail is the lower plastic valence, they just get dirty like someone puts wax residue on it (hard to clean off, hard to keep black).

Footy · 10-11-01, 10:07

My least favorite part has to be the O-ring on the dipstick - it's so difficult to get the oil off, and 303 does not seem to last too long in this application

Debaser - I have seen it recommended to place the applicator on the back of your hand for cleaning the inside of the glass, to avoid dislocated wrists, etc. Never really tried it though it sound like it might work.

BW · 10-11-01, 10:29

Mine definately are the wheels. All of my cars have a ton of brake dust, and they are all hard to clean.

The easiest one.... takes about 10 min. for a wash (inside & out, using a bunch of tools)

Second to hardest... takes about 20 min. for a wash (inside & out, using a lotta tools)

The hardest one... takes about 30 min. for a wash (inside & out, have to climb under the car to clean)

And when it comes to polishing, claying, sealing it.... ahhhhh!

Guess My Name · 10-11-01, 11:00

hmmmmmmm I thought about this.

The rear window was a pain but I found a way to make it easier, I just remove it. Coll feature of the Avalanche.

But probably the worse is the rubber bed mat and underneath it! The sucker must weigh 30 lbs and is flipping and flopping like a MArlin jumping out of the water when hooked. Just dificult to maneuver. Takes two people and what a drag to clean the waffle pattern on the bottom of it.

But if I had to clean the bottom wheels above I would say that would be worse!

Powerslave · 10-12-01, 04:47

They arent easy to clean

Brad B. · 10-12-01, 05:34

Boxster: The rear plastic window. Impossible.

S4: Rear interior trunklid. Never stops dripping.

Jag: Wheels. 290 spokes.

BMW: Headlights/grille. Holds a lot of water.

Yell00ITR · 10-12-01, 06:37

1. My nemesis is the wheels on the BMW 330i, just like your's debaser. Not only are they hard to clean, the stock pads dust like mad.

2. Inside of the rear window on basically any car. I hate cleaning them.

3. Polishing the muffler

4. Fenderwells, since on both of my cars it is near impossible to reach back there without jacking up the car.

BradE · 10-12-01, 07:05

I hate the roof on the Explorer. It has a bunch of grooves in it that hold a ton of water, and you have to climb up there to reach it.

HoneyGold65 · 10-12-01, 07:15

the front valance on both the Camry and my Ranger. Both are a pain to get to and clean. And like everyone else.... the inside of the windows.