I have a do it yourself car wash near my house that I use. It is a power wash and it will spray water and then water and soap and then water again, well, actually you pick what you want it to do, and then you have a limited amoutn of time based on how many quarters you put in. It also has a tire brush that dispenses soap so you can wash your wheels. Takes about 6 or 7 bucks to wash your car, so its about the same as any other car wash and no brushes ever touch your car!

It's a good solution for winter when its too cold to wash it yourself.

 

Here is NJ I think they are ALL brushless. I haven't seen one that hasn't said "Brushless" in probably 20 years.

On the other hand, I only know of ONE "Touchless" wash on Route 46 across from Teterboro Airport. They do a fantastic job and a guy literally spends about 10 minutes just doing your wheels!

Otherwise, I take it to the large local "brushless" wash at least once a week. No probs with the mirrors turned and the antenae off.

 

We have a couple of touchless ones here in the North Hills of Burgh that I like to use, mostly because they are static. That is, the car sits still and the equipment moves past it and back. It is a garage bay sort of set-up. When you put your money in the overhead garage door opens, you roll in slowly and the undercarriage wash sprays up. I feel this is critical for removing the salt from the underside and preventing future rust. No hand-wash will accomplish this unless you have a power sprayer and can really get under there. But who wants to fool with that in the cold? You're bound to get overspray in your face. When you drive in the door closes behind you.

Also, there is no underside rail rubbing as used in the drag-thru car washes because you drive up to the "stop here" depression. When done the door opens in front of you and you exit slowly and pass under the blow dryer. I keep a soft terry cloth towel in the car to dry up the remaining drops of water.

There are 2 areas that the car wash doesn't handle very well though. One is the wheels. To overcome this I have once used the foaming brushes before entering the brushless wash (They are in the do it yourself bays next door.) I am even reluctant to use the foaming bushes on the wheels though, because of scratching. The one time I did it didn't hurt, but I don't think I'll do it again. The other thing I've tried, with mixed success, is to use the liquid wheel cleaners before entering the car wash. I spray the crap out of the wheels before going into the carwash. While it helps, it's not perfect. But when I get out to dry the car I use dry papertowels to clean & dry the wheels. I have the white enamel wheels, and they clean easily.

The other area is the rear of the car. The brushless car wash admittedly doesn't do a very good job on the back. I haven't found anything to overcome this, other than a good hand wash.

One final thing. I am only suggesting an automated wash for a temporary solution in between hand washes, and for a preliminary wash before you do the full job yourself too. In the winter here, it's better than nothing! Just don't forget that every time you wash the car you strip the wax off. So spring for the extra buck or two for the spray wax, until you can do the job right!

 

A lot of information (more than you want to know actually) about cleaning and detailing can be found at http://www.autopia.com
>>
This link takes you to a dental practice management software site!

 

Hey everyone,

I am actually in Midswing, launching My Mini Cooper Specialty Auto Salon Soaps and Waxes! I've tested the products, they work. I washed and waxed our mini 2 weeks ago, still looks like a fresh wash n wax... even after all the SoCal Rains. I use the highest grade soaps and carnubas in my product. If you are interested in obtaining more info, please contact me at info@mightyminiz.com and I will explain more!

Enjoy!
Doug

 

>>A lot of information (more than you want to know actually) about cleaning and detailing can be found at http://www.autopia.com
>>>>
>>This link takes you to a dental practice management software site!

Ooops. Sorry... It's .org

Click HERE to get to that site.

 

Up here in MI we don't have any problems with water restrictions, since you seriously cannot go more than 5 miles without happening upon a body of water. I have a question about car wash damage though. I shipped my MINI from Germany (where I lived for 2 years) to the US, and when I arrived in the Vehicle Processing Center in Mainz I couldn't find a single non-gas station car wash. After driving around Mainz for about 2 hours, I finally broke down and put it though the wash (only because if I didn't do it then, I couldn't ship it for another 2 weeks, and I was scheduled to leave Germany in about a week and a half.) Of course, after it came out it was covered in small scratches

 

I have a hose and a bucket in the back yard that works great. No troulbe yet, except for frozen hands!! Seriously, I like the old brush washes but thanks for telling about the rear spoiler. I'll avoid it in the MINI!!

 

Wax on Wax oFF

 

Oh Zappason, you learn so well. Enjoy the day.

 

||I think I did that last night. I used the "bubble brush" and now I've got swirls all over the car. I'm hoping it is just surface and if I get it washed, waxed & detailed professionally, I'll be back to where I was before. If it actually scratched the paint, I will just cry. Any suggestions? ||

wouldn't that possibly be from someone cleaning their tires and then the soap/degreaser is still on there when you drive up unknowingly? I am always very careful of that.

I use a 'do it yourself' car wash and I store my fuzzy hand washer that looks like a puppet in my boot so I use that with the powerwash sprayer. No one has said - no hand washing - to me but that way i'm sure that I don't get anyone else's schmutz on my car. The spot-free rinse is great and then I use a chamois that i got at target that stores in a little case.

i have seen an all hands wash around here where about 4 people hand wash your car. I never go through brushless since the blue mop like things swing around and could contain a rock or something and just create havoc on a paintjob. I'd love to see a "laserwash" or whatever someone referenced earlier in this thread.

Gidget
PS. i'm also shocked that L.MINI admitted to having an Aztec

 

>>No troulbe yet, except for frozen hands!!


One trick I've found helpful for this problem is to use latex gloves. It doesn't completely prevent frozen hands, but it is substantially better than having WET, frozen hands!

 

Just to clarify....I really don't have an Aztek.....

BUT MAN DO I WANT ONE!!!! THEY ARE SO HOT!!!!!!

 

>>Just to clarify....I really don't have an Aztek.....
>>
>>BUT MAN DO I WANT ONE!!!! THEY ARE SO HOT!!!!!!

 

>>Saw one today...white with black cladding

There's my DB! I knew you would be here to back me up!

 

This is the Aztek done right!

 

Be careful with a floor drain in your garage. Better check the plumbing code. A few years ago there was an explosion in a similarly described garage, due to some gas that had gotten in the drain, and a resultant spark when the car was started. You also will probably need an oil separator, to ensure that oil or other contaminants don't get into the public sanitary sewer system.