Gang,

I get GP1292 in the next two days. I am mending a broken leg and blown knee therefore my ability to wash a car by hand is limited for the next few months. I've read the postings about the GP in a carwash.

I want to know....has anyone ran their GP through a TOUCHLESS car wash yet?

iflyMINI

 

From what I've heard, because of the GP wing, it is not supposed to be ran through any automatic wash, touchless or not. However, I am not 100% sure about that, so hopefully someone else can help you with that.


However, if you list your location, I bet someone could recommend a decent place in your area where you could get a hand car wash done .

 

Or a fellow motoer willing to do some extra detailing duty!

 

Where do u live!? Ill help u clean it haha

 

DEAL!!!!!!!!!!! Littleton, CO (Denver). Living here and being mine will be my daily driver I must keep it CLEAN.

 

I'm no expert on the matter, I don't own a GP, and I'm not a detailer... but I really can't imagine that a touchless car wash would damage the wing. It's supposed to withstand very strong force winds, it should be able to stand high pressure water blasts. Just a hunch.

 

I'll help you clean it if I can drive it

 

If it were me I wouldn't take the chance. Get on your knees and beg someone to do it if you have to. I would contact your local MINI club. I'm sure there's someone that would be willing to help out a fellow owner...

I'd consider doing it if you live in the DC area!

 

So are 3rd brake lights but I've heard multiple accounts of those getting blown off in touchless washes. Besides I've had some paint work done, and had that get blasted off when I broke down and went to a touchless last winter.

 

I stand corrected then!

 

From what I've been told by my MA, the dealership ran a GP through their automatic wash. The result was that the directional high pressure spray found a weak spot where the rear spoiler attached to the window and leaked significantly. They recommended to be careful with high pressure water in this area.

 

I had to sign a waiver that MINI would not cover damage to the wing under warranty. I wouldn't want to chance it! Another vote for finding someone to hand wash for you.

 

If you want to find a professional to come out bi-weekly, or something like that, I would recommend posting something over in the regional forums of www.autopia.org . You will generally find professionals there who know what they are doing, and use the right products to ensure they are not messing with your paint .

 

High pressure wash could easily lift some of the decals on the car ... I really wouldn't risk any more than regular hose pressure and good old fashioned hand washing.
On the other hand, *I* haven't yet hand washed GPMINI since collecting it in August! On MTTS it was hand washed a few times, and since then I've managed to schedule various work on it so it gets a dealership hand wash

 

With all the high-pressure wash discussions, I'm getting flashbacks to being on Okinawa in 2000, watching Super Typhoon Bart rip the airfoil off of my Toyota Sera.

Another item to consider for the automatic car wash is the low ground clearance of some of our under-bits. Not sure whether the GP has the little 15" wheels or the big 17". A handful of cars here in Albuquerque (most likely with 15-inch wheels) have had a rubber part ripped off or damaged by the car-mover track. I think it was called the "shock mount" but it's been a few months since I read the article.

 

The GP has 18" wheels.

I read the manual on the way home after getting the car, and I think the main concern was that the power washers would tear off the wing and the decals. I remember it saying it "would" damage it, not it "may" damage it.

 

Congratulations on the new GP! I'm the vice president of the local MINI club, MINI5280 and know for a fact there are lots of owners that keep their cars very clean (including myself.) I'm sure there would somebody that would be willing to help keep your baby clean . We are even having a ride on Friday if you wanted to test your car...

Happy Motoring!

-Andy

 

I don't always do what I'm told to do but

 

if ur area has those that are REAL touchless then it's probably alright... that's what i'd do if i were u

 

The first time I took my wifes S thur a touchless wash with a track it ripped off the shock boot. We have used a different touchless wsh for the Cooper and the S but it has a pedestal you drive on to be positioned. That pedestal is too tall for the GP to clear. I don't know of a touchless wash that will work for the bottom of the GP without regard to the top.

 

I just moved from san jose, ca to erie, co and could help you wash your car when needed. I wouldn't accept a payment just the enjoyment of working on a beautifull car!