I've have my 06 mini for a couple weeks now. Twice I've tried to take it to one of thos car washes that you put your car in neutral and it pulls you through. Each time the car wash track scrapes against something on the bottom. The last time it kept my back tires from turning. My owner's manual says you can take them through these car washes. What's up? Am I doomed to do the self car wash through the winter ?

 

Wash your car by hand.

 

Car washes are frowned upon by many on this site, including me.
Mostly because of the damage they can do to your paint.

However, if you must use a car wash look for a touchless.
You should be about to get your car through either the kind that pulls you through or where the equipment moves around you. You may just need to look for a different car wash. Ask around about.

 

I would also suggest hand wash, I recently bought my 05 MCC which had one owner before me, and while the engine and interior were in great shape the paint and windows are not. However they washed it it was rough. Under lights at the correct angle you can see tons of swirl mark scratches in the paint which has dulled the color. It's still pretty, don't get me wrong, but it could be even prettier and shiny . The front window has a lot of swirl scratch marks too. I currently use microfiber cloths and Meguiar's products but I want to go spend a day with a detailer and get it fully detailed and buff out all the scratches and swirls.

When I think back on it my old Scion XB was in this condition too, I used car wash places and regular towels if i did it myself. Many scratches and swirls in it's paint as well, I just didn't love that car the way I do this one.

But even with special treatment hand wash the car is so small I'm done in around 40 min or so.

 

I'm a hand-wash guy ...but I refuse to drag out the bucket and hose when its below freezing. So, in the winter I use a car wash that pulls the car through on a track, but the car is hand-washed (guys with wool mitts and sinks with grit guards).

Maybe you can find a place like that where you are. Its the only car wash I have ever used, my '06 has no issues going through. The place is called "Splash" and is throughout Connecticut. I am unsure if they are elsewhere too.

Good luck.

Dean.

 

thanks for your answers, everyone. Unfortunately, like Dean, I live in the north where it is not possible to hand wash, except in warmer weather. The car washes that pull u through are the ones I had trouble with. The "track" you put your left front tire in is apparently too high and it contacts the underside of my car.

 

I'm the most experienced MINI detailer around and voted #1 Best Detail Shop in the OC for a reason, lol, and I offer special rates for MINI owners. Don't just look for ANY detailer.

For the OP.. if you can't hand wash, consider using a wash solution like ONR (Optimum No Rinse). Do you have a garage? With this system, you can wash with a small 2 gallon bucket of water and do it in your (heated?) garage.

Richard

 

Pepper, I feel your pain, because Chicago winters can be brutal. In the winter I try to wash it myself at the self car wash places, and if it's too cold to wash it myself, I go to a touch-less car wash a couple of miles away. Basically, the system uses high pressure water and soap, so you don't have to worry about the rough brushes or scraping from the track car washes. You won't have to worry about scraping underneath your vehicle or curb rashing your rims. They also spray the under carriage. I would check the web, because I'm sure there is one in your area. When the weather is nice, I go back to hand washing. Also, I would recommend Collinite Marque D’Elegance Carnauba Paste Wax #915 for the winter. This stuff is kind of pricey and a little bit of a p.i.t.a. to wipe off, but it is very durable. Good luck!

 

only use the non contact washes. the ones that just spray your car. also only as a last result...


id suggest you wash your car by hands...

 

I live in Seattle, and took a drive down to Eugene, OR to visit some friends and go along with the Emerald MINI club on their Covered Bridges Tour. WIth no time to do a self wash before meeting the club, I tried to go through one of those washes where your car is pulled through. They said my clearance was too low (and this was with a bone stock '02 MC) and I had to back out and so did everybody else in line behind me!

I'm guessing that's your problem as well and it's sheer luck that your car hasn't been damaged already. Does your city not have the kind of car wash where you pull in, put your quarters in and get a high pressure hose and soapy brush to wash with? That's the way to go- ours even have a thing that blows hot air to dry your car if you want.

MINIs are small- I can get a great wash for about $5!

Val

 

i hand washed my car yesterday.. two and a half hours... lol i got carried away.

but the local hand carwash around here is very close for me. just make it in there. when the car gets lowered im doomed!

i usually go to the car wash a few times a year. mostly to get the underbody cleaned and protected through out the winters

 

MINI's control arms are set pretty low to the ground. Most of the automatic carwashes of the type you are referring to have a track that one side of your car's wheels are pulled along a track. This track is usually set too high for cars with low profile tires. There are a few places that know that and will say they can't do MINIs.

I would say wash by hand or at the very least, take it to a place that doesn't require your MINI to be on a track of any sort.

or take it to a proper detailing shop like Octane Guy's .

 

The track is hitting the left rear lower shock mount. I discovered this when I replaced my exhaust. I'll take pictures of mine when it's light out.