Hi guys and gals,
I have got a 330d (E46) and although I love it it desperately needs a clean. I have a lot of questions and hope that at least some of them can be answered.
The interior is grey but heavily soiled (not particularly worn bar the DS bolster), the doorcards are leather and again soiled, the trim is vinyl in grey, heavily soiled into grain, the plastics are, grey, black and aluminium coloured and are more smeary from being cleaned than actually dirty. Here come the questions.
Cleaning leather:
-Is meths too harsh a cleaner for leather if you aren't restoring the seats with dynamix, liquid leather, woolies leather restorer or the professional kit from Furniture Clinic as mentioned here (http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f4/changing-colour-your-leather-interior-t109100/index2.html) NB I cleaned an inconspicuous area of leather today with meths and it looked AMAZING but the cloth did remove some of the seat colour...
-If meths is too harsh as an interim cleaner, what do you recommend for cleaning and conditioning the leather. Warm water and soap with lemon juice followed by the tiniest amounts of leather conditioner for shoes is one suggestion.
-Should nail brushes/toothbrushes be used on leather or are they too harsh?
Cleaning Trim:
-Meths is surely too harsh. Therefore, what tools and cleaner do you advise? Brushes are surely a must as cloths do little/nothing in terms of removing really ingrained dirt and grime.
-What have you guys found to be the best interior dressing. I have read around, searched etc and even got the detailers' handbook - just a question of personal experiences here
Carpet Cleaning:
-Is it safe to wash car mats in the washing machine?
-What is the best way to restore carpets to their former glory? A manual wet it, apply cleaner, scrub it, dry it approach. Or a wet n dry vac?
Finally, considering I will be in this car for 2.5-3h a day, 5 days a week plus personal use would you guys say it is better to just pay someone to clean it completely for me? If yes, what is a decent amount to pay, who offers a good service in Wiltshire, Bath and Bristol area?
Thanks in advance for all the help. Fred.