Ok, I know that many of the people here will probably be of the opinion that there is no such thing as a good car wash and I should just wash my car myself, but assuming that was not always possible I wanted to see if maybe I could draw on your collective experiences and find out what is truely good down here.

Personally I was using Checkered Flag here in Irvine (on Alton). Overall they were pretty good, but not perfectly consistent all of the time. However, my old car was metallic white with a light interior, so I don't know if I'll still find myself as happy with their work after I take my DS/B mini in with it's black interior.

I was thinking about trying Crevier's (my dealers) own free car wash to see how it is. However, I've always heard bad things be said about dealer washes (and I've had bad experiences too), and seeing as how it is a free wash, I don't know if they have that much of a legitimate incentive to do a good job (aside from the fact that my getting pissed at them could adversely affect the word-of-mouth I give in the future).

So does anyone actually use a car wash around Irvine (or the greater OC area) that they are completely satisfied with?

 

While I don't like to take my CR Cabrio to a car wash, every now and then it seems to be a necessity. I usually go to Checkered Flag on Alton. They do a good job, but I always budget a few minutes for "fine tuning" when I get home.

 

For Irvine -

I recommend three places...

Beacon Autowash in the Woodbridge Village Center (Barranca and Lake).
Newport Car Wash on Birch before Bristol (3767 Birch St, Newport Beach, CA 92660)
All Hands Car Wash on Edinger (3091 Edinger Ave Tustin, CA 92780)

I have other recommendations further south near Ladera Ranch or Laguna Niguel.

One word of advice.... never go to Alfie's on Culver and Michelson nor Crevier's to get your MINI washed - you will have swirl marks if you do.

All the best!

 

I wash my own car but if i get lazy i go to Bid Daddys on PCH and Warner in Sunset Beach. Best price i've seen from a car wash, 10.00

 

Lexter,

Who do you recommend in the south county? I usually wash myself, but like the idea of being lazy occasionally....

 

I've heard good things about the Chevron at Oso and Antonio by Ladera Ranch, but so far have done the washing myself.

 

I used to frequent Las Flores Car Wash on Antonio and Oso. Very nice place, you have the Autosound place attached to it so you can enjoy the leather seats and big screen tvs. However, I stopped going because it gets way too busy.

I now go to the Chevron Car Wash place on Crown Valley. If you heading south on 5 - exit on Crown Valley, turn right on Crown Valley and it is almost immediately on your right. They're quicker and once they know you they willl give you discounts. <added - when I mean quicker, I mean less cars than at Las Flores so you don't have to wait as long in the queue. They service the MINI as fast as Las Flores before they became a zoo - plus, they stay open later than Las Flores in the summer time>. I go there more often now because they are closer to the freeway and I can go to Costco (which is right across the street) to get gas.

With all hand car wash places, you will find they will lack in something. For the uber obsessive, the best thing is to wash your MINI yourself. Yet, work takes my time so I take the easier route more often. I never go back to car wash places that leave swirl marks. Have them wash your car, but don't let them armor-all your moldings - do it yourself.

Since I just attended a detailing clinic, I guess I better wash the MINI myself more often. I just need to find a nice little stool to sit on while I wash my white wheels.

 

Yes, the wheels. I'm an old guy, and cleaning those wheels is a pain.... A little stool on wheels. That's the ticket!

I've been to the car wash you mentioned at Crown Valley and the 5, but it was back in the days of my SUV. I might give them a try with Basil now that I have a coating of Epic.

 

Yes, I've been learning about Crevier the hard way (inadvertantly) I've had to put it in 3 times in the past two weeks to get a rattle fixed in the secret compartment (which finally was). However, all of their washing has already swirled the paint on a two week old car (DS/B).

I used to use Checkered Flag on Alton with my old car. They always seemed to do a good job, but the old car was white pearl, so it would be hard to mess it up. I haven't used them yet with the Mini. Don't know if I trust them in there quite frankly with the exposed nav screen and everything. The issue with checkered flag is that though they can be great most of the time, they are not always consistent, and occasionally you will get a pretty major booboo.

This leads me to another question. Anyone know any good detailers in the OC? I'm going to guess that the detailing at creviers may be no better than their washing. I hate going to detailing shops as in my experience most are mediocre. I personally hate having any sort of dressing applied to my dash and other interior plastic bits. I hate that shiny greasy look inside the car, yet many of these places will do it anyway (in one case even after being expressly told not too).

Realistically I doubt I will have time to do this stuff myself. I used to wash detail my own cars back in high school, but that process would usually take the better part of a whole weekend, and these days I don't have that kind of time. I have no problem paying good money for someone who will do a good job. I guess I'm looking for someone I can rely on to produce consistently professional results while being able to respect personal requests (like no shiny dash).