After going through a carwash today(yea I know, what am I doing with my mini in a carwash:RoadTrip), I noticed steam billowing out of the front grill. I pulled out and opened the hood, and it looked like it was coming from the radiator. I had the car turned of wile inside the carwash. Is this a problem? I havnt ever noticed this before wile washing my car when hot or after a auto carwash. Thanks in advance!

 

its happened 2 me a couple times didnt think much of it since the radiator & IC are so close 2 d nose, but after those 2 times i used a car wash i was amazed at how soft Mini's paint is.

so no more car wash 4 me! just use de spray type in de winter 2 remove winter salts & chemicals ;0)

 

I have steam whenever the moter gets wet, even after a good rain. It used to worry me but now I thinks it's kinda cool, like a dragon.

 

Don't worry about a thing it's nothing to be concerned about it's just the steam coming off the engine and all the parts that get hot from driving. The water from the car wash gets into more places than you would if you were to wash your car at home WHERE IT SHOULD BE WASHED What's cool to see is if you have a Cooper S, the steam comes out of the Super Charger Snout

 

Not everyone has this capability, of course, though we all probably wish we did. I live in a 3rd floor apartment in the city, and even if I did want to buy a hose (which would promptly be stolen), there's no outside spigot. I go to a self-service bay about 3 blocks away with my wash mitt and microfiber towels. Probably many people don't even have that option. In an ideal world, we'd all have garages and driveways and road salt would be banished from existence, but we have to make do with whatever our situation is.

 

I don't live in a 3rd floor apt. But I don't have a HEATED garage, I don't have a garage at all. So when it's -35F, the wand wash is the only choice.
As long as you don't use the brushs and use your own wash mitt, not much different than doing it at home.

Best thing about any temps below -10, it's to cold for salt, so they don't bother using it here