[crosebud]

Looking for some advice on carwashing from San Francisco MINI drivers (I know there are a lot of you out there):

I live in an apartment building with no access to a hose, and my brand new MINI is due for its first wash . I'm wondering how other SF MINI drivers wash your cars. Is there a car wash where I can just use the water and hand wash it with my own products? What do you think of the Touchless place on Divisadero? What do you do to wash and/or wax your MINI? I must say I see a lot of very dirty MINIs around town . . . Any advice would be helpful.

[supersand]

Hi

I also live in an apt in the city so its a little tough to wash my car as well. But fortunately for me my work has a hose that I can use on the weekends which works out well. I've used a touchless washer, not the one on Divis. They do an alright job as long as everything isn't crusted on like bugs, tar from trees etc. and forget about the wheels getting totally clean. I think there's a place on geary somewhere and maybe another place in SOMA somwhere ... I forget... that has one of those pay as you wash places with a pressure washer.

Good Luck,
Erik

[barbaloot]

If you take your MINI to Mini of SF Monday thru Thursday, during the day they will wash to outside for free.

[crosebud]

Quote: Originally Posted by barbaloot

If you take your MINI to Mini of SF Monday thru Thursday, during the day they will wash to outside for free.

Wow, that's amazing. Do you just show up at the service dept. and say will you wash my MINI, please, or do you call ahead? They're totally cool with it?

[retrohasen]

I have taken mine to the wash on Divis. & Oak a couple of times. They do OK. No scratches or damage. I usually have to do a little bit of follow up on the wheels and such. Luckily I just wash my cars in the driveway most of the time.

If you need a full detail, I recommend California Detailing at 340 Fell. They did my Mini last year and the it still looks like new. I am taking in the Audi next week for it's first wax.

[crosebud]

Quote: Originally Posted by retrohasen

I have taken mine to the wash on Divis. & Oak a couple of times. They do OK. No scratches or damage. I usually have to do a little bit of follow up on the wheels and such. Luckily I just wash my cars in the driveway most of the time.

If you need a full detail, I recommend California Detailing at 340 Fell. They did my Mini last year and the it still looks like new. I am taking in the Audi next week for it's first wax.

Thanks! Good to know about California Detailing, too. I live about three blocks from there.

[minirossa]

I just moved out of the city last October. Have been to most of the hand car washes
and have had good & bad luck. The one on Divis & Oak is OK.

The one on Van Ness & Mission chiped my MINI's door pretty bad. Did not
actually see them do it but I know it was not there before the wash. The one
on S.Van Ness & 16th broke my BMW's shift knob!

My favorite wash technique is to go to the "quarter" car wash on Bayshore near
the 101 on ramp and wash the car by hand. Bring your own bucket, soap etc.
and use the power wash to rinse. It's OK to do this as long as no one is waiting
behind you.