Thinking about taking my car to a car show, what should I do?

[GraphicRage]

I want to make the most impact at her first ever car show. I know she's the only Baur in the area. There's still minor cosmetic things here and there that need to be addressed, but if you were going to put your car in a non-professional show but still wanted some ohhhhs and ahhhhs, what would be your check list for the car before getting there?

It's a classic Euro car show, more of a cruise type event than a show with awards though...

[ColdAccord]

ditch the bottlecaps

[GraphicRage]

Let me rephrase - what should I do that I can accomplish in the next two days with a very limited budget? ;-)

I want BBS RS and don't want to blow $$ on anything but, and can't afford them now... soooo... bottlecaps have to stay put for now.

Some folks tell me to keep the bottle caps, incidentally, because they are in such nice shape. I don't agree, though I will hang onto them to keep with the car regardless...

[Nic01101011]

Wash, clay, polish, wax, back to black, tire shine

[GraphicRage]

How about the valve cover? Any way to give it a good scrub enough to give it a semi polished look without removing it?

Having the window trim replaced tomorrow with new chrome.

[JasonC]

Wash, clay, polish, wax, back to black, tire shine

+1, and don't forget to clean the fenderwells also.

[88driftIS]

CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN. Did I mention clean. Having a spotless car is the number one thing they will look at. Maybe instead of getting new wheels you could paint the bottle caps. Black on black would look hot.

[devonjordan]

Clean the shit out of this. Will you be competing for anything?

[cferb]

+1 on what has been said. I wouldn't paint the wheels, especially since the rest of the car is stock.

[Motorsports]

Wash, clay, polish, wax, back to black, tire shine

what he said..

[e34john]

Simplegreen the engine bay, dont know about the valvecover, maybe some light steel wool??

[ColdAccord]

i should have a spare valve cover gasket if you wanted to take it off and paint it or something

btw euro bbs weaves would be hawt and not too pricey

[rThor432]

Use lots of Q-tips. Shine up the trim a good bit.

Another tech at work and I stayed late Friday cleaning up his Spec E30 car for a concourse event the next day. We spent maybe an hour on the car and it won the best pre-90's car award. Even beat an all original '88 henna M3 that is pristine.

So, to make sure you have everything covered, here is the checklist--

Q-tips
Vaseline
Tire shine
R-comps

And if you are really feeling piimpy, paint your tow-hooks Koni orange :).

Have a good time.

[atle36m3]

funny, i am doing the same thing today. The geogia concourse is sat. I have been cleaning cleaning cleaning!

took out space tire, cleaned trunck floor and tire pan. clean and shine spare tire.

clean your door jams, front and rear, everywhere you can get into.

i used a metal brush on the valve cover and intake mani, its a PITA but looks much beter. I am going to polish them shine when i get some time, didnt want to take apart the engine so close to the show.

also you can use armorall or something like that on the engine, it makes your hoses etc nice and shiny.

make sure your interior is spotless etc, i shill need to swab out my vents.

if you have time pull the seats and clean underneath them.

remove the trunk and hood rubber moulding (comes right out) and clean the channels, they always have a bunch of gunk in them.

of course make sure your paint is nice and shiny etc.

just take your time and you will have a nice pretty car. i wouldt worry about the wheel wells too much.

[FLUTE007]

attention to detail, things like door jams, gutters, spare tire, glove box, all the interior nooks and crannys, good luck.