Car Washes

[zeta596]

Anyone have any bad experiences @ Drive-Thru Car Washes??

I have a few decent (brushless) places around that I used w confidence w my prior vehicle.

I am looking to get some feedback from others on how you wash your M most often.

Thanks

[BassPilot]

I made the mistake of trying my (formerly) favorite tunnel wash last week and came away with some slight scratches at the edge of the roof, just above the doors on *both* sides of the vehicle. It'll be bucket-washing or the corner spray'n'go for me from now on.

[digiboy]

Brushless wash sounds great - but it actually harsher on your finish because of the chemicals used.

[M4T5]

Anyone who owns a Midnight Blue or black M....I feel for you. Those will show swirls and scratches like crazy! If any of you bring you car to get it waxed with a machine type buffer.... DONT! Most of the buffer operators do not know what they are doing! Unless you know of a good body shop that you trust to have them perform this. A hand type wax is the only way to go. Also, you will pay more for it, but a place that hand washes would be prefered. If that doesn't do it for you, the best wash is your own hands on washing, waxing, and detailing. No one could do it better than you!

J

[Bob24]

I go to a gas station that has a tunnel type wash with the soft cloths that actually make contact with your car. An attendent comes out and guides you in, hands you a couple of interior wipes, makes sure you are in neutral and enters the code for you.

The attendent then sprays your car down before hitting the start button. You stay in your car during the wash. I had a black BMW before my gray M45 and never had any issues.

They sell unlimited wash packages for $19.95 a month! Not too shabby.

I am firm believer that in order to get your car really clean, something has to touch it. These touchless washes are pretty worthless IMHO. In the winter with the salt on the roads, the touchless washes get most of it off but not all of it. You spend $8-9 on a wash and once the car dries it still has a light film of salt on it. Not good.

[candymanfb]

I've stayed away from the tunnel washes so far. I've let the dealer, body shop wash it and spray n go when I'm lazy.The tunnel wash dented and chipped the paint off a friend's car. The car was strictly hand or dealer washed before. In about a year I don't think I'll care how I wash it, but now I'll like to keep her as scratchless as possible.

[M4T5]

I go to a gas station that has a tunnel type wash with the soft cloths that actually make contact with your car. An attendent comes out and guides you in, hands you a couple of interior wipes, makes sure you are in neutral and enters the code for you.

The attendent then sprays your car down before hitting the start button. You stay in your car during the wash. I had a black BMW before my gray M45 and never had any issues.

They sell unlimited wash packages for $19.95 a month! Not too shabby.

I am firm believer that in order to get your car really clean, something has to touch it. These touchless washes are pretty worthless IMHO. In the winter with the salt on the roads, the touchless washes get most of it off but not all of it. You spend $8-9 on a wash and once the car dries it still has a light film of salt on it. Not good.

Sorry, but I have yet to see a black (any brand) car (low or high miles) that didn't have swirls all in the paint. They look good brand new, but as soon as they are taken to a carwash where the tunnel machines rub or spin that wet cloth on them, the swirls start to appear.

J

[zeta596]

I took my FX thru a car wash @ the BP gas station & their tire guide left me w a nice scratch on my 20" wheels. Glad to hear that nobody has experienced anything similar w the wheels on their M.

Hopefully, the 18" wheels will be safe. I would opt to wash it myself but winters get too cold in Pittsburgh...

[ArbitrageMan]

Heres why you dont take a black (or dark colored) car through automatic car washes that touch your car.

The before pictures were the doing of the previous owner.

zerothread?id=389610

The gentleman who fixed the paint on my car said that indeed touchless car washes wont scratch your paint, or produce swirls, but they dont get the film of dirt off. He said the only way to properly wash a car is with two buckets (rinse and fresh water), TONS and TONS of suds, and plenty of microfiber wash mitts.

Certainly its wintertime and you look like a bit of a jackass washing your car outside, but I have hand washed my car twice so far this winter and its worked out well. I rinse outside, back into the garage and soap and hand wash the car, drive out and rinse off the suds, then back in and dry the car.

I hate seeing cars with swirl marks on them. And although it might be pointless for me to try, Im going to prolong their appearance as much as possible.

[LEXKYM45]

I've had a similar experience with the tire guides at a car wash. They assured me the rails they line up to would not do any damage to the low profile tires and the rims. Wrong! I took pictures of all 4 rims just before I entered the wash and verified to the attendant that there were no scrapes or dings to the rims. The M came out looking nice and clean but with 3 scrapes on the left side rims. I told the manager that it was interesting that the "new" scrapes were all on the same side as the guide rails that weren't there 5 mins. before. They were not responsible for any damages as noted on their posted sign. Lesson learned, will never do that again. All hand washing from here on out!

Rob

[M4T5]

Heres why you dont take a black (or dark colored) car through automatic car washes that touch your car.

The before pictures were the doing of the previous owner.

zerothread?id=389610

The gentleman who fixed the paint on my car said that indeed touchless car washes wont scratch your paint, or produce swirls, but they dont get the film of dirt off. He said the only way to properly wash a car is with two buckets (rinse and fresh water), TONS and TONS of suds, and plenty of microfiber wash mitts.

Certainly its wintertime and you look like a bit of a jackass washing your car outside, but I have hand washed my car twice so far this winter and its worked out well. I rinse outside, back into the garage and soap and hand wash the car, drive out and rinse off the suds, then back in and dry the car.

I hate seeing cars with swirl marks on them. And although it might be pointless for me to try, Im going to prolong their appearance as much as possible.

Did they tell you how and what they used to do that??For $1500 I would think he would give you a list of what was used!They did a hell of a job by all means!!I bet you were intitially baffled or wondering where "your" car was at??That's is just amazing! I wish I knew of a place around the Houston area that would do a detail job like that if it was needed.Beautiful ride my friend!

J

[zeta596]

... update on my car wash experience. I thought I would chance it w my paint color being Desert Shadow.

Went thru the wash today that I had confidence in & as I was drying off the car, wouldn't you know it- Karma strikes again. My roof has a bunch of surface scratches!! There is about a 6" x 10" square that has about a dozen scratches that are very noticeable in the daylight. (For the record, this wash uses Neoprene cloth that does contact the car.)

I filed a claim w the Manager & he faxed it in. Told me Monday that their claims woman will be contacting me.

Now, I just need to hope they pay for it. Any idea what the dealer would charge to buff out the surface scratches??

[Carlito]

i swear by meguiars car care products. im by no means a professional car detailor but their products make me look like one. lots of info on car cars as well on the website http://www.meguiars.com/