touchless automatic car wash?

sieben · Feb 16, 2004

I saw those Mobil gas station with touchless automatic car wash with some sort of protective clear coat. It looks quite convenient--wash it and go home to do the waxing. How do you guys think?

RuflessPhilly · Feb 16, 2004

sieben said:

Don't even think about it [confused]

especially if you have aftermarket rims. Even the OEM have a clear coat on them that can be damaged by the harsh chemicals they use. A gas station is for gas [thumb]

. That's like going to a steak house and ordering fish, just not suggested.

sieben · Feb 16, 2004

Re: Re: touchless automatic car wash?

RuflessPhilly said:

Thanks! I'm asking since I really don't trust those hand-wash places, and I cannot wash the car myself. A bunch of kids who do care about your car at all. By the way, what kind of damage this could cause to the paint?

audi4t · Feb 16, 2004

I have used the Mobil Touchless Car Wash for the past 7 years with 3 Audis and now 2 BMWs never had a problem with either damage or chemical reaction on alloy rims.

However I always towel dry the cars immediately after driving out of the car wash.

William330 · Feb 16, 2004

I finally found a car wash that does a good job. Not all car automatic washes are the same, even ones that look or claim to be high end.

Sadly, finding a decent car wach is a trial and error process...

Most folks who live in cold climates simply can't always hand wash the car.

sieben · Feb 16, 2004

audi4t said:

Thanks! That's a great tip!

sieben · Feb 16, 2004

William330 said:

Care to tell us which one you found?

aNoodle · Feb 16, 2004

audi4t said:

Agreed...the touchless deals are great for some washings inbetween times that you can't do a hand wash yourself.

But I wouldn't consider waxing until you can do a hand wash and get the car really clean...otherwise you're just waxing in the little gook that a touchless car wash can't remove.

Chakueem · Feb 16, 2004

Its not that I don't trust the touchless places, but I'd just rather wash it myself. It gives me a sense of pride in a job well done.

RuflessPhilly · Feb 16, 2004

Chakueem said:

I would have to agree. If you don't have a drive way to do it in, atleast go to a self serve car wash.

epj3 · Feb 16, 2004

Same here, except I do not trust those washes. What if a hick drove his muddy old rusty beater through there before you did, now you risk getting some nice scratches.

William330 · Feb 16, 2004

sieben said:

Madison Car Wash in central New Jersey. I drive a few miles to get there, and
there's a car wash just down the block.

It costs $11.00, and there were two other BMWs (one a new 7 series) and a
Jaguar in line as I waited for my wash.

It comes out excellent, even the brake dust is gone from the rims.

No scratches that I could see.

sieben · Feb 17, 2004

William330 said:

Thanks. However, it's way too far away

By the way, do you know what kind of auto wash equipment they use, is it touchless?

dzervit · Feb 17, 2004

Touchless carwashes rule. For the cold winter months when there is NO WAY in hell I'm going to hand wash anything in sub-freezing temps (and often sub-zero this winter) you can't beat a touchless. We have one near us that offers a great blow drying AND an undercarrage flush! No scratches no swirls no fuss... done deal!

Mick · Feb 17, 2004

I understand you guys like to wash cars yourselves, but you have to understand, some of us live up north, you know, where it's cold? It's freakin' -5 degrees outside, you telling me you're going to stand out and wash the car by hand? If it's over 40, I wash it myself, otherwise it's the auto touchless wash for mine. I don't like it, but it's better than letting the salt sit on the car for days.

RuflessPhilly · Feb 17, 2004

Mick said:

There are hand wash spots that are indoors. The one that I go to is indoors and I'm sure there is one close to just about everyone. What it basically comes down to is, are you willing to pay 20 bucks a pop to get your car washed the right way or pay 8 bucks at the gas station touchless car wash. No way would I run my car thru one of those things. I would love to see the condition of your clear coat[fake]

Disclaimer:

The typed words expressed in this hastly written reply are my opinion only and not meant to pass judgment on anything anyone else says or does. [^]

dzervit · Feb 17, 2004

RuflessPhilly said:

Uhhhh... touchless means what it says: TOUCHLESS. No rags, no spinning brushes, etc... it's all high pressure nozzles blowing the crap off your car. Since nothing actually touches the vehicle, NO scrathces! A little 2000psi of h20 isn't going to harm anybody's clear coat (unless your using a 0/15 degree tip or something close to it). And indoor car washes? In all my years in MI, I haven't seen one yet. Outdoors or nothing, baby!

Again, touchless car washes rule in the winter months... use them, love them, live them...

codex57 · Feb 17, 2004

Touchless is only good if your car is relatively clean to begin with. If it's covered with mud and junk, the high pressure is more than likely going to scratch the paint by blasting the rocks or whatever gunk across it.

I used to take my old Civic to those gas station washes but I only went like once a month or so. That much dirt build up is just too much for those touchless washes to handle. If you go every few days, it's probably ok.

William330 · Feb 17, 2004

sieben said:

They have the giant spinning wheels, but it looks like they keep it tweaked so
they don't get too close to the paint to scratch it.

They literally have a staff of 20 people on the line.

In the beginning, they have one guy on each side of the car with a power washer
hit the rims and gunk that collects on the paint behind the wheels.

Then the machine rinses with a ton of water.

Then they apply the soap.

Then they have those funky spinning wheels (which look new).

Then they have a rinse spray.

Then they have a forced air dryer.

Then they have 2-3 guys towel dry the paint (with what appear to be clean towels).

Then once outside, they have 3-4 more guys who open teh doors and wipe down
the door sills, and any left over water/suds.

Then they wash the windows.

The average car wash is $6.75, so this costs almost double. But it comes out almost
as clean as if I did it myself, and I have not seen any scratches.

The alternative, it to leave the car with salt and road grime on it for a few months...

Section_8 · Feb 17, 2004

heck I thought you meant touchless as in the auto car washes that only use water and sprays - none of those abrasive spinning paint eaters in the old style washes. I do a 'touchless' wash once a week, and when it's warm wash it by hand every 2-3 weeks, and wax once a month..

Can't wait for some warm weather, it's time to put a 'Spring Bling' cleaning on it! [:D]

touchless automatic car wash?

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