Have a co worker with a MINI washing issue. Anyone know of a self service car wash (non drive through) in DC in NW say roughly around the Woodly Park area, or near Crystal City?

Thanks,
Mark

 

I don't know of a self service near Crystal City, but I do know that David's II on South Four Mile Run does do hand washes and detailing, in addition to their drive thru.

I think there is a self serve place somewhere on Route 7 toward Tysons?

 

What, exactly, is the "MINI washing issue?"

I am awaiting delivery of my MCSC--tomorrow I hope--and have been thinking about the whole car wash thing. I have always taken my current car to the neighborhood full service car wash, but am feeling a little uneasy about handing my MINI over to them...Is this silly?

Advice?

 

You will get a lot of opinion on this for sure!

Most MINI owners I know only handwash their cars. In the winter this can be an issue because for those of us without garages, it can be very very cold.

Several MINI owners I know occasionally take their cars to a touchless automatic washing place. If you search in the forum, you will find a couple threads dealing with this and they will have recommendations.

I do know three MINI owners who have had their cars damaged (dents, aftermarket graphics damaged, aftermarket accessories damaged) from touchless automatic car washes. But this is a very low number given the number of MINI people I know.

 

..is that it's dirty and she lives in a apartment in D.C. No where to wash the car.

Yes there are those of us who won't use a automatic car wash. Heck, even the dealers hand wash has scratched some cars. The so called 'no touch' wash in Oldtown on Rt1 has cloths that touch instead of brushs. Then they hand dry with rags I've watched them pick up off the ground.

So if you're going to be **** (like me) about swirl marks much less scratchs, you're likely to wash it yourself.

My truck on the other hand I used to run through the one in Oldtown all the time. 'Till I got it repainted and graphics from Astetic Creations. Now it's handwash too.

 

There is a self wash with bays that have high-pressure water wands on Lee Highway (Route 29) between Nutley Street and Fairfax Circle. It is a great place to pressure wash the bottom of your car after driving on salted roads. They also have hand-held brush scrubbers that feed soap suds through a hose. It always takes me two sessions, so bring lots of quarters.

Another alternative I use is a "brushless" wash at a Crown Gas station in McLean (there must be others around). It is a high pressure wash only--no brushes or anything. Pay the extra couple bucks for the undercarriage wash, but remember to enter the bay very slowly because the undercarriage wash is at the beginning and it shuts off as soon as you pass it.

 

Do you have the addresses for these places?

 

Where is the one by Crystal City? that was mentioned earlier...

 

There's a brushless carwash at the Gatehouse Plaza Sunoco (formerly Mobil) in Merrifield too. I use it fairly often as it's right by my office. It's right off Gallows Road, next to Route 50, and next door to Sweetwater Tavern.

 

I go to the one in merrifield often too. I live near there.
Another touchless laser wash in Annandale area.. corner of braddock and backlick.
A fairly new one near westfield on rt. 28
as for coin op self wash,
One near 7 corner crown station, on rt 7.
One on Little River Tnpk near 395 Exxon station
One on Lee hwy near fairfax circle/blake ln.
If you goto manassas, they have a pretty big selfwash place called sam's or something. I think it's the largest in the NoVA area..
as for handwash, detail authority in herndon did a great handwash. I've heard mixed reviews about their full detail service..
The guy that does detail for Curry's auto in chantilly also did a great job.
I know a guy that does detail in his own garage in Centreville and he also did a great job.

As for the person living in DC, it might be easier to find one in Maryland. I know a couple but don't have their addresses.

 

There is a self-wash at 2720 South Glebe Road at the Exxon gas station. It is just a single stand alone that costs $5 for 9 minutes of wash time. It is only about a 5 minute drive from Crystal City and is right off the I-395 exit.