car wash

[MaRKaSaURuS]

does this damage the car with little scratches? didnt have time for a full wash, so i ran it thru the car wash and buffed with some chamois leather after, and seemed to notice a lot of small scratches i didnt kno existed. they a like hairs but into the paint. =/ anyone had any experience of problems with a car wash?

[laura f]

scratches most likely to be from the car wash

[Baggers]

If they run length-wise along the car, rather than circular, then they probably are from the car wash. These are bound to be very slightly abrasive compared to handwashing it.

I once had a hairdresser who took her boyfriend's freshly resprayed car through an automatic wash, a couple of days after it had been painted. Apparently it came out the other side with a slightly stripey new look!

[matt21]

I personally wouldn't use a car wash as they do scratch. But i would say that, I've my only car valeting business!

[~Marcus~]

I use a hand car wash manned by friendly Eastern European chaps. If you look closely at my black MINI you can see the tiny scratch marks - probably from sponges that have grit in them from other cars. I should really wash it myself, but I never get to park outside my front door, it's freezing, the wash only costs £4, and you don't notice unless you really look. Bad I know!

[jasonfields007]

sometimes i take my car through a carwash. haven't noticed any scratches really but they're no where near as good as a hand wash.

J

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by jasonfields007

sometimes i take my car through a carwash. haven't noticed any scratches really but they're no where near as good as a hand wash.

J

Silver paint hides the scratches well but they are easily noticeable on black or met blue cars.

Car washes are bad. Careful handwashing is the only way to go. Only takes minutes to wash a MINI anyway.

[MaRKaSaURuS]

takes me like an hour, then another 20 mins for under bonnet check and refil, and another 30 mins inside.

[KPKalle]

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL

Only takes minutes to wash a MINI anyway.

Jeez - it takes me 2 hours just for the outside But that does include waxing. Even after all that time I always manage to miss a bit

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by MaRKaSaURuS

takes me like an hour, then another 20 mins for under bonnet check and refil, and another 30 mins inside.

To do a thorough job yes but to get results better than a car wash takes minutes.

Quick hose down, quick handwash, quick hose then a blast along a fast road to dry it - see minutes

[cfranklin]

Its called Demon Shine.....basically you wash you car as normal (hand wash) then mix a capful of this with a bucket of warm water then pour over the car, windows, wheels etc and the water runs off, no need for a chamios etc. Like I said its good for a quick wash and no water marks after....

[MyWiniCooper]

my best advice is to stay away from those evil car wash machines as much as possible.

My previous car had an oxidation issue with the manufacturer's stock paint and as a result the paint started speckling. but in the long term since i (1) didnt care about this run down piece and (2) still liked my car clean, i continued using the car wash machine. I can tell that the paint job was progressively getting worse.

Also on darker cars, you can tell if the paint is getting scratched but usually by then, its a bit too late to cover up.

I say hand wash your car! As a mini ownder, i KNOW you love your baby!
take time and give your car a good scrub!

[Al]

My scary picture for the day.

I know some people like to take meticulous care of their MINIs, but I just drive around and try and keep it clean.

I'm planning on doing some Ice-racing this winter, so scratch-free will be a thing of the past soon enough.

[TomUK23]

car washers put slight circles in the paint work stay well away imo.

Takes me bout an hour to wash my baby, I use a cap full of something called Mur in the water that I got from halfords and it brings mini up a treat

[Hickster]

Would never dream of using a car wash. I'd rather let it go dirty than use one of those monstrosities