Are these a nono since a machine won't take any precautions while wshing your car? Do you guys just use the washing stations that take quarters?

I don't have access to a hose,etc at home.

 

bump for any answers

 

If you can find one of the "No Touch" ones they are ok, and the White Glove style ones have gotten much better, they used to be known for ripping off mirrors and such, but they arent nearly as bad anymore. The station ones you speak of are ok as long as you check that brush for foreign debris, Id rather not use that and just rely on the pressure washer to remove any grime, or bring your own bucket and sponge, wash it like that and use the pressure hose to rinse it. If you have no real access to a hose then anything would be better than nothing

 

I think it depends on your expectations. If you really care about your finish (especially if you have a dark color like black) and want to avoid the small scratches that tend to happen in car washes, you need to hand wash with good technique - lots of water, clean wash rags, etc. You can do this in one of the coin-operated places if you can catch them when they're not busy and can occupy the bay for awhile. I think pressure washers are a good start to a hand wash job, but can't get a car really clean by themselves, at least not without sand-blasting the finish.

If you're not terribly picky and just want a reasonably clean car, the automated places do a pretty good, but not great, job. I'd look for one associated with a good detail shop and that looks clean and well-run. It's probably better for your finish to do a once/month car wash at an automated place rather than let it go for two-months and do a hand wash.

- Mark

 

+1 for the no touch--actually think they are a good idea for spraying the underside of the car sometimes. The ones that run your car through a machine and then hand dry them seem to be better than the self serve in terms of leaving behind clear coat scratches, but hand washing is the way to go.

 

I used touch-less washes sometimes with my last MINI. They are fine for quick OK wash, especially in the winter, but they tend to leave a dirty film which is more noticeable on darker cars. They also do a pathetic job of brake dust removal. But it is easier to get the underside rinsed for those salty winter days and you don't work up a sweat cleaning.

There are several full-service type washes nearby but I tend to avoid them as they are relatively expensive and I noticed they use rags for drying (= swirl marks).

I prefer coin op bays with a power washer so if the paint is getting damaged it's my fault but during winter they are probably not ideal. I have a coin op bay in my apartment building which works pretty well, especially in the winter since the garage is partially heated to above freezing temperatures. I usually take a bucket of soapy water to the car for washing and fill up a second bucket of clear water for rinse at the wash bay. $1.50 to rinse and spray with soapy water... wash by hand with a mit, etc. then rinse is another $1.50 and dry with a synthetic shammy. $3 for a decent wash and takes me maybe 20 minutes plus time to move the car around.

 

Thanks for the informative response. And thanks to everyone else. I drive a dark colored car and its starting to look like I'll definitely need to look into NOT automatic the cleaning of my car lol.
I am a total n00b to cars. This is my first new car I've ever purchased so I am trying to tread lightly when taking care of it. Appreciate the recommendations!

 

Since I'm stuck in a climate that gets below freezing for far too many months out of the year, I have a choice: let it pile up, or take it to an indoor heated automated place at a detail shop and cross my fingers.

Honestly, I'd rather risk having to do a good serious polish on the car every spring as a side effect of the car washing than finding out what kind of brutality the muck has done to my car in the meantime. But after visiting a couple of places and picking out one that seems upstanding, I'm not really worried that they'll hurt my paint more than what clay can clean up.

It definitely pays to do your research if you go this route.

 

Ahhh you got a 2012? fuuu so jealous congrats

 

Thanks so much for the detailed response. Thanks to everyone else too. I've got a dark car(black), and I am a n00b as this is the first car I've ever purchased (that wasn't under 3,000 USD).
I think I am going to avoid any automation in taking care of my car, and just learn to do things the old fashioned way

 

Does this advice change much with a ragtop? I live in Minnesota, so driveway washes are out for a long time for me. The irony is that it's also the time of year I most NEED to keep my baby clean. Oh, and yes, I'm picky about my finish.

I need a hug.

 

I use a coin operated bay place. The local guy maintains it well, but I always check the brushes before I use them for rocks or anything else. A lot of local car washes won't take Mini's, Vets, or any other low profile vehicles.

Use it all year long and I carry a shammie with me to dry off the car when done.

 

ONly the finest mircrofiber mitts touch my car with hand washing only. I don't live in a super cold area. The Seattle area, but it does get below freezing sometimes. I keep a hose in my garage at the ready. As soon as I have a good hour I wash the car. I keep it machine waxed very good and clay it twice a year. I hate swirl marks and refuse to take it in a car wash.

My son took his 2000 Jetta into a car wash the other day and it ripped a taillight off.

User be warned. Keeping the paint in excellent shape over the life of the car really helps with resale value plus your car looks most excellent even when it's aged.



My MCS looked just as good as my new Coupe when I traded it in and I got top dollar for it.

 

TwinCitiesDetailing.com - Hiawatha and Lake. I was just there today; they told me they wash all winter, use fresh mitts/cloths with each car, the whole nine yards. And Euro vehicles get first priority

 

Dude, I LOVE your car! Perfect!

Also, those of you going to a coin operated wash, that's great, but it defeats the purpose of going if you use those brushes. Even when they are brand new they are way to rough to be on the paint without causing damage.

Keep in mind, it all depends on how particular you like to keep your car's finish. If it looks good to you, then keep doing what you're doing!

As for rag tops I'm not so sure. I've always heard not to ever put soap on them and not to blast them with water. So driving through a car wash is out. I think the specialized cleaners made for rag tops should work the best, but I'm just guessing as I've never owned a convertible.

 

If I lived in Mn. and a business could convince me that they did what they say they do I would be tempted to let them wash my car. However in my neck of the woods it's hard to even find a decent detail shop that won't trash your car let alone a car wash. It seems people around here just don't wash their cars. I see cars that I would be embarrassed to drive. Some look like they have never, never ever, ever been washed and that is no exaggeration. I have never seen a car wash in the state that hand washes a car.

 

My Coupe was probably the cheapest car in their garage/lot by about $100k and that's not an exaggeration. They took me for a walk through the shop and I got to feel up a couple of Ferraris that were getting clearbras put on. Some old guy was haggling with them about work he needed done on his classic Jag and Aston Martin. And then I watched another dude pull a Lambo around to the other side of the lot.

I've NEVER in my life seen a place like this and had been settled on taking my car this winter to a drive-thru wash that seemed a cut above some others. And if you knew the neighborhood in Minneapolis where it's located, you'd never believe in a million years that people would take their exotics there. Sometimes you just stumble into a goldmine.

 

gloomchen, sounds like you found a gem.
One would think that with all the Microsoft and Starbucks and Amazon millionaires in this city that there would be all kinds of places. I guess I just live in the wrong end of town. LOL

 

PayM, I'm guessing you don't live in the PDX Metro Area (E. Vancouver, Here), but these gusy do Hand Washes...http://www.finishlineautodetailing.com/, now mind you I've never gone by or called, but it is advertised as HW on their website. I have though about checking them out, but would rather do my own car washing.

 

No, Seattle metro area. But I prefer to do my own washing as well. But I still haven't found a hand car wash facility in this neighborhood or a decent detailer for that matter.

Anyway, thanks for the info. I bet there are some folks that can use that information.

PS. What do you think of this weather. Makes me want to go out and mow my lawn. Real nice here and has been for a few days.

 

Gorgeous weather here as well!! A bit chilly yesterday Mid-30's but still nice...NO Wind!! I know I've PO'd the Wind Gods now...so batten' down the hatches!!

 

The dealership I bought mine from comes with a 6 day a week free car wash that I use once a week at this point but I'm sure I'll use more this winter. Maine roads can really beat up your car with salt from the roads.