ZHP at the Car Wash

The question is: Do you take your BMW to a car wash? Well, I never have but there's an excellent touchless close by (Used for my truck and the wife's VUE) and out of desperation I ran the 330ci/ZHP through it yesterday. The crew went nuts over the car! By the time they were finished it was probably nine tenths of what I'd have it looking like after 2 days of washing/cleaning. (All glass washed inside/outside, wheels spotless, tires blacked etc) Best $10.99 I've spent in a long time.

Originally Posted by woody underwood

The question is: Do you take your BMW to a car wash? Well, I never have but there's an excellent touchless close by (Used for my truck and the wife's VUE) and out of desperation I ran the 330ci/ZHP through it yesterday. The crew went nuts over the car! By the time they were finished it was probably nine tenths of what I'd have it looking like after 2 days of washing/cleaning. (All glass washed inside/outside, wheels spotless, tires blacked etc) Best $10.99 I've spent in a long time.

I take my 325Ci / Non-ZHP ( ) through the car wash (touchless only) because I don't have time to do a thorough hand wash, and since I live on a dirt road, the pleasure is short lived... Except for one time when they changed the stop pad to something meant for Mack Trucks (and which ended up damaging my rocker sill (They removed it after it ripped the side pipes off a couple of Corvettes )) I have never hand any problems with going through the car wash... however, my car is far from perfect looking, so I can understand when some people think it is heresy...

Would you mind if I gave your wife a bath? Then why the ZHP!

Originally Posted by misterlance

Would you mind if I gave your wife a bath? Then why the ZHP!

She came home kinda smelly today...but don't ask that question again OK. Was supposed to rain here in the afternoon and the carwash was the only way to get it clean for the winter wax job this weekend FYI.

Originally Posted by ff

You can wash regular old BMW's at the car wash, but never a ZHP.

Personally, I wouldn't trust them with any car of mine.

They certainly wouldn't have gone nuts for any ol' regular BeeEmDoubleya

Originally Posted by misterlance

Would you mind if I gave your wife a bath? Then why the ZHP!

Originally Posted by woody underwood

She came home kinda smelly today...but don't ask that question again OK. Was supposed to rain here in the afternoon and the carwash was the only way to get it clean for the winter wax job this weekend FYI.

It's been raining almost all day out here. Bad day for a wash, no? Yesterday would have been perfect...well, except for all the work going to waste today.

I used a pressure wash station in France- here I'm not so sure about taking it to a car wash. I just don't think I'd trust them driving the car, no matter how short it is. And sometimes there are those tracks they have to drive onto- those would kill our wheels. What exactly is a touchless car wash?

Not unless I'm really pressed for time and willing to run a risk of damage to the car. I've used a full service car wash 5 times with this car, and on 4 occasions there was some form of damage (scratch on roof - permanent, scratched tint - permanent, scratched radio faceplate - permanent, scratched trunklid - polished out with PC-ROB). I have to be fairly desperate to visit a full service car wash at this point.

Originally Posted by misterlance

Would you mind if I gave your wife a bath? Then why the ZHP!

Well put.

Imagine if you pulled up to one in a lowly ZSP? They probably wouldn't even come out to help you.

Just joking...

If I'm pressed for time I might spray my car off at a do-it-yourself carwash, but no way anyone else touches her.

I have a touchless car wash were I drive into the bay, the machine moves around the car, I drive out. Works great, nothing ever touches the car, I don't even have to talk to an employee as you can just swipe your credit card.

Originally Posted by nzDave

I have a touchless car wash were I drive into the bay, the machine moves around the car, I drive out. Works great, nothing ever touches the car, I don't even have to talk to an employee as you can just swipe your credit card.

I finally found one of those that didn't have wheel guides, just a flat open floor. It's going to be my winter wash solution. All other times, my own hands only.

Alex

Originally Posted by nzDave

I have a touchless car wash were I drive into the bay, the machine moves around the car, I drive out. Works great, nothing ever touches the car, I don't even have to talk to an employee as you can just swipe your credit card.

I run mine through a "soft cloth" car wash regularly.. No problems.. It is in an area of town where people like to drive flashy cars, If you knowhutimean.. They do a great job on the detail work after you come out.. I started doing it after spending an hour cleaning my wheels one day... The wheels look about 95% as good as me doing them. I guess if you live in SoCal, washing it yourself all the time is okay, but it is too cold here..

Besides, I'd rather be driving... the outside is just paint and sheetmetal... I'm not in love with that part of it.

And..if you want to wash the wife? Throw in a massage for $10.99 and you can do it.. I'll be $50 ahead.

Originally Posted by woody underwood

The question is: Do you take your BMW to a car wash? Well, I never have but there's an excellent touchless close by (Used for my truck and the wife's VUE) and out of desperation I ran the 330ci/ZHP through it yesterday. The crew went nuts over the car! By the time they were finished it was probably nine tenths of what I'd have it looking like after 2 days of washing/cleaning. (All glass washed inside/outside, wheels spotless, tires blacked etc) Best $10.99 I've spent in a long time.

I use a all hand wash place that does a bang up job. no swirl marks, they clean between the spokes of the zhp, etc. $10. $3 tip and they do an astounding job.

Edit: I cannot physically wash my own car effectively, so I must pay someone to do it no matter what.

Originally Posted by allaboutme

They certainly wouldn't have gone nuts for any ol' regular BeeEmDoubleya

Actually in 2003 when I get my ZHP the crew kept coming up to me and commenting on how they love the car. This was in San Diego where you can't swing a cat without hitting a Bimmer. The little differences in the car are noticed by people who know their cars. Shrug.

Originally Posted by woody underwood

The question is: Do you take your BMW to a car wash? Well, I never have but there's an excellent touchless close by (Used for my truck and the wife's VUE) and out of desperation I ran the 330ci/ZHP through it yesterday. The crew went nuts over the car! By the time they were finished it was probably nine tenths of what I'd have it looking like after 2 days of washing/cleaning. (All glass washed inside/outside, wheels spotless, tires blacked etc) Best $10.99 I've spent in a long time.

I take my Touring to Pasadena Car Wash every 2 weeks, $14.95 and $3.00 tip does the trick... looks great!
I took my wife's Coupe to a different car wash in Encino and they screwed up major...

Originally Posted by blueguydotcom

I use a all hand wash place that does a bang up job. no swirl marks, they clean between the spokes of the zhp, etc. $10. $3 tip and they do an astounding job.

Yeah, this is what I want to find out too. I'm in LA county. Is there a decent place for all hand wash? Most of the all hand and touchless wash I've seen are using wheel guides which is an absolute no no for me. I have yet to find one that doesn't use rollers to push the car forward in the washing process.

Originally Posted by mkh

Yeah, this is what I want to find out too. I'm in LA county. Is there a decent place for all hand wash? Most of the all hand and touchless wash I've seen are using wheel guides which is an absolute no no for me. I have yet to find one that doesn't use rollers to push the car forward in the washing process.

This place uses a wheel guide. Haven't had a problem. Around here so many cars have big rims on nice car that they try to really do a nice job.

Originally Posted by blueguydotcom

This place uses a wheel guide. Haven't had a problem. Around here so many cars have big rims on nice car that they try to really do a nice job.

I know, but be careful. I got screwed once with my M3/4 with the ///M forged alloy. They were not willing to get me a new one but did apologize and offered me 10 free coupons for future washes. No way I would return, even for free! That's why I'm scared of wheel guides.

I don't have a ZHP ...

But that does not stop me from NOT washing my BMW.

Oh well, it is just an E39 Touring.




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Originally Posted by Patrick 520iAT

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Sooo, what does "Ajamisen iloa" mean?

Originally Posted by Salvator

Sooo, what does "Ajamisen iloa" mean?

It translates to, "Wash Me "


No, it means, "Driving Pleasure", or something like that. "The Pleasure of Driving" might be better. Anyway, it sounds dumb to my ear in Finnish.


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I take my car to the same "brushless" car wash all the time. Yesterday when I was there, my car went in behind a 1963 Corvette. This place does a great job.