whats wrong with the car wash?

[justdrive]

Is the BMW paint job really sensitive?


I mean I never had a nice car before...but I never noticed problems with any prior car wash places.....does the BMW paint get scratched by the automatic brushes or wipers?

has anyone actually had a problem



Justdrive

 

[mscoins]

It depends on the type of car wash. Most car washes recycle the water, which raises the chances of dirt in the water. The ones that use spinning brushes can leave swirl marks on any paint. Those that use sponge strips can leave minute marks, especially if there is dirt on the strips. The ones that use high-pressure water spray can leave marks from particles hitting the surface with the pressure. When the car is dried by the attendent, the towels may not be free of foreign material.

The only way I feel comfortable cleaning my car is doing it myself and doing it right (see vlad's excellent sticky post under the detailing section).

 

[vlad]

Well for one, dinged/scratched up wheels!

Secondly, do you really think that the 4 weeks of mud and dirt from the 4x4 that just went through before you has been completely removed from brushes/wipers before they wipe over your paint?


I prefer not to take that chance.

 

[PuShAkOv]

The best way you can show LOVE for your car is to wash it yourself. Otherwise, its like having a minimum-wage teenager shower your wife... instead of you. [fake]

 

[///M SPEED]

to every post above. The only real way to get an excellent car wash with tender-loving care a car like a BMW deserves is to do it yourself. I wont even let my nephews was my car. I don't trust many people to (or care as much of the finished results) to wash my car. They have to go to my pre-approved training course first and then maybe I will be willing to let them help wash. [joke]

 

[Big Daddy]

Everyone I know who has used an automatic car wash, any kind, has some horror story to tell.
I hand wash my own cars, period!

 

[///M SPEED]

Amen!

 

[MrElussive]

I love my local auto car wash. In NJ, it just gets too cold during the winter to hand-wash my car. So I take my car to my local auto car wash. I sit in the car and let the auto brushes and stuff do their job. Then, when I get home, I take a microfiber towel and swipe the entire car down, wiping out the swirl marks and drying off whatever spots are still wet. But overall, there is just no comparison...hand-washing your car comes out much cleaner and has a shinier, smoother look.

 

[justdrive]

ok I am a believer

Sounds like I am going to have to start washing the car myself

so what do you guys use

I have a metallic steel blue paint job and black leatherette interior

what do you use on the paint and what would you use
for the leatherette and dashboard

I got some armorall wheel cleaner that seems to take the asbestos dust off pretty well

after I get it cleaned up, I finally be ablt to post some pics of my new beaut.


thanx

JUSTDRIVE

 

[PuShAkOv]

The first time ever that I used an automatic it left two streaks (that stayed for months) on my trunk. Never ever again!! I will hand-wash it in winter@!@!!

 

[vlad]

Re: ok I am a believer

Sounds like I am going to have to start washing the car myself

so what do you guys use

Here ya go!

 

[Big Daddy]

Another satisfied customer.....

 

[joema]

does the BMW paint get scratched by the automatic brushes or wipers?

As already has been mentioned, one of the biggest risks is not paint but the car wash's wheel guide track scratching the alloy wheels, especially on sport-packaged e46s. The guide track is supposed to be padded on both interior sides with rubber, or similar, but this is often worn away.

There's a funnel-shaped section at the start of the guide track designed to accomodate cars not perfectly lined up. This imparts a lateral force on the tires, pulling the car sideways to line it up. On most regular passenger cars, the tires "stand proud" of the wheels sufficiently that they protect the wheels from lateral impacts of the guide track, even if the track padding is missing.

However on (for example) a 330i SP, the tires are nearly flush with the wheels so there's little protection. If the car wash guide track is worn, any misalignment upon entering the track can often scratch your wheels, sometimes really gouging them. Don't ask me how I know

There are probably some automated car washes of different design which don't incur this risk.

 

[mscoins]

Possible Damage To Wheels

Never thought about that. The 18" sport wheels on mine are flush with the tires. Thanks.

 

[justdrive]

wow

the car wash places just scare the crap out of me now that you all
have enlightened me.

but I know I am pretty lazy too.

I will try to do some of what vladimir's 20 page car maintenance list
mentions, but I hope to find a place that will give a good detail to my
car around here in Jacksonville, florida

maybe once a month I can let a professional really make my car
shine...I figure maybe they will charge $50 to $100

is that fair to expect????



JUSTDRIVE

 

[joema]

Although I don't take my 330i SP to "pull through"-type car washes, I do wash it in "do it yourself" wash bays. Before using the foaming wash brush, I thoroughly wash the brush down with the pressure wand for quite a while. This hopefully removes any dirt or grit from the previous user. Many BMW owners don't like this, but I figure the brush is just as clean (or cleaner) than a used personal wash mitt which isn't laundered between uses.

So far I haven't had any problems, but my car is silver so it's less critical than (say) black cars. Doing it myself is much cheaper than an automated wash, plus I can safely clean the sport wheels which most automated washes can't do.

 

[Big Daddy]

Ouch, you mean those hard bristle brushes, noooo. I only use a clean wash mit.

 

[MrElussive]

Yeah, the first time I took my car through my local pull-through auto wash, I was really really scared. Before I even went in, I asked the guy if it would harm my rims because my rims stick out a little bit (meaning if I hit something on the side, my rims would hit first, not the tires). The guy was really nice and understanding and he said, "No way, don't worry about it." and he told me how they use plastic siding that wouldn't hurt anything. So I took him up on his word and I have had no problem. I do prefer hand-washing, but like I said, sometimes I either get lazy or I just cannot deal with washing in the cold winter, so I take my car there. Then I get home and in my garage, I do a wipe-down with a microfiber towel, which gets rid of the swirl marks.

 

[MrElussive]

You guys should all check out vlad's detailing guide, he is really hard-core about cleaning and he knows his stuff.

 

[boomerbimmer]

I can't believe anyone would even consider driving a BMW through am automatic car wash. I would never take that chance with mine. Heck, I won't even take my Ranger pick-up into there. Not sure what I would do if I lived up north where it gets real cold in the winter.