Automatic car washes... I know I know...

crappie_fisherman · #1 12-02-2007, 10:41 AM

I'm a pretty savy forum user on other sites...and I have to say...the 'search' feature on this site is well...never mind.

As a senior user on the other sites...I know that this question I am about to ask has been asked and answered a ga-zillion times...and I apologize for asking it again.

First I would like to say...those that choose to answer my question...I'm not looking for someone telling me that automatic car washes will ruin my mini's finish or that a mini should never see the inside of an automatic car wash...I've been thru this on every car forum I've ever joined (PTCruiser, 300M, Durango, etc...)...I am NOT a purist...and I don't mean this preface to sound harsh...I've just seen it before and I'm okay with running my vehicles thru the auto car wash in the winter months to remove salt...yes salt...I do live in a northern climate and I DO drive my vehicles year round...within reason for this little gal though...

What I am unsure about is the shear little size of this car. My question centers around the mechanical methodology that the automatic car washes utilize to push the wheel and the rail that keeps the wheels in line. Is the mini simply too little and low to utilize the automatic car washes? Has anyone tried and torn up any suspension components? Should I simply go and roll it onto the rail to see how much clearance I have?...I'm looking for inputs on the mechanical part here.

Thanks in advance for the replies...and again...I'm not trying to sound like I don't want inputs...I simply don't want inputs telling me that car washes will ruin my finish...that's all...salt will ruin my finish if left there all winter and it is simply too cold to get the hose out and hand wash ALL my vehicles (even the BEAST) which IS my PREFERRED method...but in the winter months must utilize the auto ones...

joe.

kyriian · #2 12-02-2007, 01:14 PM

i have heard of a friend of mine, at stock height grinded his ball joints at an auto wash... though i never experienced it

trust me, alot of us drive our cars year around (me included), and i detail the car too

first and foremost is wax on the car, there's a wide selection to what's availiable, a good sealant like zaino, klasse, prima will go a long way to protecting the paint... unfortunately this should be done in the fall

nevermind, the key to keeping the car clean is mainly so that the dirty stuff has no chance to work itself into the paint... i use auto washes if im short on time, i only find those where there's no rails to ensure that it never has a chance to attack anything underneath the car, if there's one in your area or around your work place, make mental notes on where these are... its worth it just to drive to those places as they are touchless, and they do not have the potential to ruin my drivetrain... ultimately, i just try to avoid using them though... but i know what you mean, a very dirty mini versus somewhat cleaner mini i think i'd pay my 10 bucks for the cleaner mini

if i have a bit more time, coin-op places are great, as they have hot water pressure jets. these get the car cleaner than most touchless washes i go, bring alot of towels and just learn exactly how to wash quickily, remember the hotspots, and start with them, glass, front bumper and lights, anything below the belt-line, those are the hot-zones (my term) for dirt to accumulate. I fill a bucket with my own soap though, drive there, spray the car down, and wash with my stuff.

hope this helped.

mrs.mini · #3 12-02-2007, 02:02 PM

I have used auto car washes with no problems - the ones where just the driver front wheel gets "locked" in. There are no other rails to drive over...actually, I think the bottom of the bay is just concrete. My car is my daily/yearly driver and I live in an apartment, so the drive through washes are easy for me.

o4amini · #4 12-02-2007, 02:09 PM

The biggest problem with auto car washes (brushless/touchless) for me is that the MINI is just too short to clean the boot really good. I haven't had any issues with getting up in the ramps at all. I use them in the winter months when it's just too cold to hand wash. I try and use ones that don't recycle their water and have jets that get underneath at all the nasty salt/sand/cinders they throw on the roads here locally.

Mrono · #5 12-02-2007, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by o4amini

The biggest problem with auto car washes (brushless/touchless) for me is that the MINI is just too short to clean the boot really good. I haven't had any issues with getting up in the ramps at all. I use them in the winter months when it's just too cold to hand wash. I try and use ones that don't recycle their water and have jets that get underneath at all the nasty salt/sand/cinders they throw on the roads here locally.

I've taken mine through a touchless one that you ride in, the express, i know i know horrible. I wasn't too happy with it the first time, and the second time they people said i should put it through the main carwash because of the height, i think i'll just wash it by hand from now on.

crappie_fisherman · #6 12-02-2007, 02:42 PM

Thank you for the replies...these are JUST what I was looking for...

In the warmer months I DO hand wash my vehicles...and wax them...the mini has a fresh coat of wax for the winter...

I know what you are saying kyriian about the rails...my PT used to 'hit'/'grind' if I went to one particular car wash...but there is one that has no rails that the mini will use for the 'winter'.

I've used Zaino on my PT and had GREAT results...I may use it on the mini...but I've also had really good results with Mothers carnuba...we'll see...I am a firm believer in waxing...and do so a few times a year...this 'little' gal will be much easier than the beast too!

I do appreciate all the genuine answers...thank you all for taking the time to reply...the replies really helped me focus on the 'right' one to choose!

joe.

reelsmith. · #7 12-07-2007, 01:40 PM

Here in CT we have a chain of car washes called Splash. Some locations offer a true hand wash.

The car is pulled along on one side only (single rail) and is first blasted with high pressure jets of water. Next a very thick foam covers the car. Then two guys go at the car with wool mitts. When I was watching them they rinsed the mitts between cars and were using grit guards. One guy per side and there are steps on both sides that they climb up to do the roof and then back down as the car travels along.

The car is then dried with those large jet air things and lastly folks on the outside dry the missed spots and do the windows. Oh, and they vacuum the car before it goes through. All for $16.95. $11.95 after 6PM on Thursday and Friday.

I went over my car with a fine tooth comb the first time I put my car through and did not find a swirl on it anywhere. Perhaps it due to the Epic.

dean.

Loony2N · #8 12-07-2007, 01:43 PM

I haven't had a problem with the car fitting/clearing. But, they usually don't clean the boot.

Doc Mini · #9 12-07-2007, 05:18 PM

Here in Tucson we are cursed with hard water. I've hand washed both minis and found it IMPOSSIBLE to do without horrible calcium spots showing up the next day. So now I use a touchless auto wash without rails for both cars (even the GP), and have no issues with spots. The boot does not get perfectly clean though, and requires some hand work afterward.

chicagolab · #10 12-09-2007, 07:23 AM

I went yesterday to a regular car wash to get the salt off. It did grind on the rails loudly, I will never use it again, next time I'll use a touchless that has no rails. It was just 20degrees yesterday and I did not have the time or energy to do it myself

kenchan · #11 12-09-2007, 07:46 AM

i usually wait until it's closer to 30F when washing my cars at those
auto wash places.

erickvonzipper · #12 12-09-2007, 08:14 AM

Okay, I'm not gonna tell not to use an automatic car wash, BUT . . .

. . . since my landlord turned off the hose spigot because the temps have dipped below freezing, I now use two 5 gallon spackle buckets to wash the car. One is filled with hot water with a little car wash soap. The other is filled with plain hot water.

I wash in the usual manner and rinse by tossing the clean water from the bucket onto the car. I don't even need gloves because the water is hot! Yes I have to refill the bucket a few times, but its not a hassle for me. The bath tub works great for that.

Of course, this will no longer work when the ambient temperature drops below freezing, but is good for a while longer yet.

Zip

Keeper · #13 12-09-2007, 08:34 AM

I always use touchless car washes and avoid hand washing my cars. My theory is that every time I touch it the paint is worse off than it was before. My oldest car is currently a 2000 MR2 Spyder with 90,000 New England miles on it. Always washed touchless and never by hand. The paint and soft top are in excellent condition. Plus, it was real easy to keep it that way.

kenchan · #14 12-09-2007, 08:51 AM

the touchless wash works well if your car is not salted down too much.
when you dry use QD or Hydro to assist in lubricating the towel...cause
there is quite a bit of grit left on the paint.

from my experience, in the winter time you can just leave the car
frozen outside (sub 30F) without washing it for weeks. i see minimal
rusting this way. the more you go through the wet/dry cycle the salt
just melts and penetrates more to the sus parts, body panels where you
can't see from the outside. when temps reach 30F and above it helps
to wash it more frequenty... touchless or soft cloth or hand wash...just
get the wet salt off!

btw, i can't speak for aftermarket wheels. paint and durability is not the
same.

ScottRiqui · #15 12-09-2007, 08:51 AM

Maybe it's the difference between Virginia dirt and New England dirt, but I've never found a touchless car wash that really gets the paint clean. They always seem to leave a light film behind.

kenchan · #16 12-09-2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottRiqui

Maybe it's the difference between Virginia dirt and New England dirt, but I've never found a touchless car wash that really gets the paint clean. They always seem to leave a light film behind.

yep, this is exactly wat im talking about.