[RKB]

Ok - so there is one vote for No automatic carwashing:yikes:

Just for clarification - I am only talking about the type of carwash that is spray-only - no wheels/brushes/bristles/waving sponges, etc.

 

[RKB]

I think I'm retarded

sorry for wasting a new thread - this has to do with carwash and 'vert questions

 

[variable42]

Personally, I'm opposed to any carwish in which other people are in some way interacting with my car. Whether it be drying or doing the windows, they'll find a way to screw something up. My brother-in-law once watched as a guy dried the top of his car and scraped his belt-buckle all over the paintjob.

There's a carwash near me, extremely reputable. They pride themselves on using treated water and this and that, and in all honesty they do the best job of any carwash I've seen. But the one time I took my new BMW to them (I used to take my VW Jetta to them all the time when I wasn't as particular), they seriously scratched one of my 17" wheels and put in numerous swirl-marks.

Whether it be scratching your wheels, putting swirl-marks in while drying, etc... they'll find a way to screw it up. The only way to keep it perfect is to do it yourself.

 

[johnlew]

Re: I think I'm retarded

sorry for wasting a new thread - this has to do with carwash and 'vert questions

I think I answered for you before...

I've taken mine through a touchless wash, no spinning things, with the ragtop. NO PROBLEM. The car is tight as a drum, minor leak between the front and rear side windows (just hold up a rag when the power blast of water goes by) and the top is just fine. I also read not to, and wouldn't recommend, the add on waxes to the top. It's just silly to think a BMW (Haartz) ragtop can withstand wind, dirt, salt, rain, snow, ice, pollution, acid rain, sun and hail but can't handle a car wash of any sort for that matter. The junk and dirt on your top is worse than the wash in my opinion. Come summer, you can wash with Wolfsteins cleaner and retreat to look and seal like new with Wolfsteins protectant. Great stuff. Remember to never lower the top until absolutely dry.

I have NO problems in the touchless and the underbody flush is a godsend for salt. Some mention the larger tires won't fit thru. That's silly, SUVs the size of semis go through these things. Their tires are MUCH wider than ours. Give it a try and wipe your car with a damp rag to detail when you get home.

Any minor problems can be dealt with in spring when you detail the car yourself and retreat the top. A clean car in the winter from an automatic is WAY ahead of a filthy, grimy winter car.

Just my experience and opinion