Automatic car wash

SL335I · 03-06-2010, 10:40 AM

Sorry about the newbie question. I am wondering if it's safe to take my brand new car through an automatic car wash? I used to wash my other car this way, but want to make sure I wash the new one the best way I could. Will the automatic car wash hurt the new car shine / look? Is hand washing better?

Ryan323i · 03-06-2010, 11:16 AM

Hand washing is always better IMO because it will clean all the dirt off your car that an automatic wash may leave behind. It may be too cold where you live right now for hand washing though. Automatic car washes are perfectly safe as long as they are touchless. And if you take your car to one, don't try to dry it afterwards because chances are it will not get all of the dirt off and you will scratch the paint when drying.

jopa489 · 03-06-2010, 12:26 PM

Eventually, tunnel washes will start to degrade the condition of the clearcoat - more on some colors than others. Any detailer will tell you to avoid them like the plague, and I'm no exception. Technically you can correct most of the "damage" a tunnel wash would cause over time. Depending on the color, you may need a more complete detail 1-2x per year if you're tunnel washing regularly. If you go, ask them to not use their brush on the paint before the wash begins, and wave off any towel dry people.

Touchless washes are safe enough, especially for a daily driver. When you can't wash by hand, just swing by a touchless.

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 03-06-2010, 12:30 PM

I would not go to the automatic car watch, especially if it uses brushes.

Problem with touchless is they use harsher chemicals to clean which degrades the protectants (wax/sealant), so they need to be applied more often.

SL335I · 03-06-2010, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkRyan323

Hand washing is always better IMO because it will clean all the dirt off your car that an automatic wash may leave behind. It may be too cold where you live right now for hand washing though. Automatic car washes are perfectly safe as long as they are touchless. And if you take your car to one, don't try to dry it afterwards because chances are it will not get all of the dirt off and you will scratch the paint when drying.

I guess I should have read this message before I took the car to a do-it-yourself car wash place. I used their hish pressure wash, soap etc etc and hand dried with the microfiber towels tht I bought. We finally had some sunshine here in Minneapolis. Parked my car in front of the building only to find out my brand new Lemans Blue hood has a 6'' scratch on it FML!!!

TheRox · 03-06-2010, 09:29 PM

Don't ever go anywhere that is not touchless.

Always wash and detail your car yourself; don't let the dealership wash it.

jopa489 · 03-06-2010, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRox

Don't ever go anywhere that is not touchless.

Always wash and detail your car yourself; don't let the dealership wash it.

Don't let them detail it either.

03-06-2010, 10:40 AM	#1
SL335I New Member 0 Rep 28 Posts Drives: 335i M sport Le Mans E92 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Minneapolis iTrader: (0)	Automatic car wash Sorry about the newbie question. I am wondering if it's safe to take my brand new car through an automatic car wash? I used to wash my other car this way, but want to make sure I wash the new one the best way I could. Will the automatic car wash hurt the new car shine / look? Is hand washing better?
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03-06-2010, 11:16 AM	#2
Ryan323i Captain 22 Rep 844 Posts Drives: 2015 320i xDrive Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Columbus, OH iTrader: (0)	Hand washing is always better IMO because it will clean all the dirt off your car that an automatic wash may leave behind. It may be too cold where you live right now for hand washing though. Automatic car washes are perfectly safe as long as they are touchless. And if you take your car to one, don't try to dry it afterwards because chances are it will not get all of the dirt off and you will scratch the paint when drying. __________________ 2015 320i xDrive \| Imperial Blue Metallic/Black SensaTec \| Sport Package \| Lighting Package \| Moonroof \| Heated front seats Past BMWs: 2006 330i, 2000 323i
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03-06-2010, 12:26 PM	#3
jopa489 Major General 127 Rep 6,594 Posts Drives: Anything with Wheels Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	Eventually, tunnel washes will start to degrade the condition of the clearcoat - more on some colors than others. Any detailer will tell you to avoid them like the plague, and I'm no exception. Technically you can correct most of the "damage" a tunnel wash would cause over time. Depending on the color, you may need a more complete detail 1-2x per year if you're tunnel washing regularly. If you go, ask them to not use their brush on the paint before the wash begins, and wave off any towel dry people. Touchless washes are safe enough, especially for a daily driver. When you can't wash by hand, just swing by a touchless. __________________ X7 LCI // Incoming C7 ZR1 ZTK // Sebring + TRX // Hydro + Raptor Gen1 Roush // Tuxedo
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03-06-2010, 12:30 PM	#4
Jeff@TopGearSolutions 3481 Rep 79,210 Posts Drives: C6 Z06, 09 335i, 10 335xi Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: www.TopGearSolutions.com iTrader: (37)	I would not go to the automatic car watch, especially if it uses brushes. Problem with touchless is they use harsher chemicals to clean which degrades the protectants (wax/sealant), so they need to be applied more often.
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03-06-2010, 09:29 PM	#6
TheRox Colonel 127 Rep 2,312 Posts Drives: 6mt Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Here and there iTrader: (2)	Don't ever go anywhere that is not touchless. Always wash and detail your car yourself; don't let the dealership wash it.
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