01-02-2013, 07:36 PM | #1 |
Private
11
Rep 55
Posts |
Car Wash
Whats everyones opinion of using a car wash for their X3. I have been using a touchless wash but today I saw a guy with a 7 series going through one with brushes. Has anyone had a problem with a car wash that uses brushes?
|
01-02-2013, 07:45 PM | #3 |
Private First Class
10
Rep 157
Posts |
I've only used a touchless twice in 1-1/2 years and have washed it by hand all the rest of the time. My previous car was scratched in a brushless car wash so I would never use anything but a touchless - especially with the soft BMW paint.
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-02-2013, 07:47 PM | #4 |
First Lieutenant
176
Rep 360
Posts
Drives: 1M; E90 M3 ZCP; M4 GTS
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Minneapolis, MN
|
Brushes are bad news, as you will be assured swirl marks that certainly are more pronounced in dark colors. Go touchless if you can't accommodate the best option...hand washing.
__________________
-kskpsu
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-02-2013, 08:29 PM | #5 |
Lieutenant Colonel
45
Rep 1,876
Posts |
Agree, brushes are bad. Car wash with brushes totally thrashed the paint on one of our 3er sedans. Lot of work to fix.
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-02-2013, 08:47 PM | #6 |
First Lieutenant
10
Rep 321
Posts |
I've used the kind the vehicle is moved through with (not "brushes" but) thin "cloth strips" that spin at the front and sides and wide cloth strips that flop back and forth over the hood and roof on our 7-Series, GTI and C300. The paint was never damaged at all, from what I can see. With the X3 on order, I'll have to decide if I still want to go that route. The touchless don't clean as well and although I don't mind washing by hand, it's tough in the New England Winter weather.
__________________
2013 x35i (Space Gray, MSport, CW/CWII, DHP, Premium, Premium Sound, Technology, BMW-Apps)
Retired: '09 C300 4Matic, '09 GTI, '06 750i, '05 C55, '04 R32, '03 M5, '02 GTI, '01 M5, '00 M-Coupe, '00 540i/6, '99 M3 Coupe, '98 M3 Coupe, '96 328i,... '86 4000 CS Quattro... too many to list. |
Appreciate
0
|
01-02-2013, 08:50 PM | #7 |
Lieutenant Colonel
330
Rep 1,560
Posts
Drives: 2022 X4M40i, retired ‘11 X3
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MI
|
I only wash by hand and never use any type of car wash. When the car is in for service, I make sure to tell them never to wash the car. Don't trust anything but myself.
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-02-2013, 08:54 PM | #8 |
First Lieutenant
10
Rep 321
Posts |
I'm not that anal about it because in the bad weather here you get all kinds of crap thrown at the vehicle (e.g. sand, salt, etc) so a car wash is the least of the worry with regard to paint.
__________________
2013 x35i (Space Gray, MSport, CW/CWII, DHP, Premium, Premium Sound, Technology, BMW-Apps)
Retired: '09 C300 4Matic, '09 GTI, '06 750i, '05 C55, '04 R32, '03 M5, '02 GTI, '01 M5, '00 M-Coupe, '00 540i/6, '99 M3 Coupe, '98 M3 Coupe, '96 328i,... '86 4000 CS Quattro... too many to list. |
Appreciate
0
|
01-02-2013, 09:22 PM | #9 |
*Bimmerpost Plasti Dip Guru*
81
Rep 1,174
Posts
Drives: E53, E46-M3, E70, F25-X3
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New Jersey (NJ)
|
i would never, ever use a auto car wash the rest of my life lol.
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-02-2013, 09:30 PM | #10 | |
Private First Class
10
Rep 157
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-02-2013, 09:59 PM | #11 |
Captain
63
Rep 983
Posts |
I prefer to hand-wash, but I'm both lazier than my preferences, and a realist.
At this time of year I use the touchless car wash. I agree that it does an acceptable, but not a great job. I concede that it leaves dirt behind. But, when I drive out the front side, my X3 is invariably cleaner than when it drove in on the back side. |
Appreciate
0
|
01-03-2013, 01:11 AM | #12 |
Enlisted Member
5
Rep 40
Posts |
The last time I used a brush car wash it cost me a paint job. When I came out the other side my car was literally scratched on every square inch. Needless to say I freaked on the guy and he said another vehicle must have been very dirty and left sand/debris in the brushes.
He said nothing he could do about it. I contacted my insurance group and they took care of it for me and took care of getting the money from him. I have since never or would ever take a car through a car wash with brushes. Oh and BTW this was on a 1984 Honda Civic DX Hatchback. My car I bought fresh out of high school.
__________________
'13 X3 28i M Sport Carbon Black Metallic w/Oyster Nevada
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-03-2013, 04:43 AM | #13 |
Lieutenant Colonel
45
Rep 1,876
Posts |
Mine too.
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-03-2013, 06:40 AM | #15 |
Enlisted Member
1
Rep 39
Posts |
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-03-2013, 07:08 AM | #17 |
First Lieutenant
10
Rep 321
Posts |
Dealer offered interior/exterior protection package. Paint protection was not 3M but is called "Polyseal". I declined it, thinking it was some glorified wax job. It seems that Opticoat 2.0 is 'permanent' if I believe what I read and can be applied by yourself. I guess it would need to be done before (or instead of) applying the 3M protection film?... which I'm scheduled to have applied, called "Autobahnd". Anyone have the Opticoat done or know of anyone who applies this in the Boston area? Comments?
__________________
2013 x35i (Space Gray, MSport, CW/CWII, DHP, Premium, Premium Sound, Technology, BMW-Apps)
Retired: '09 C300 4Matic, '09 GTI, '06 750i, '05 C55, '04 R32, '03 M5, '02 GTI, '01 M5, '00 M-Coupe, '00 540i/6, '99 M3 Coupe, '98 M3 Coupe, '96 328i,... '86 4000 CS Quattro... too many to list. |
Appreciate
0
|
01-03-2013, 09:21 AM | #18 |
Lieutenant Colonel
104
Rep 1,511
Posts |
I have used automatic scratchers in the past but I only use power washers or wash by hand now.
__________________
2013, AW, xDrive35i, M Sport Package, Technology Package, Dynamic Comfort Package, Premium Package, 3M Clear Bra, Euro foglight switch, a few coded fixes
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-03-2013, 09:28 AM | #19 |
First Lieutenant
78
Rep 390
Posts |
dealership installed new car wash, it actually uses cloth, i regret accepting it to wash my car!! well i figured at some point i was gonna get a pro to detail my car... got lazy lol
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-03-2013, 10:55 AM | #20 |
Private First Class
5
Rep 110
Posts |
Just washed mine for the third time since purchase and noticed a "roughness" after hand washing it. This is on the lower areas of the car and worst behind wheel areas, looks like tar, time for the Auto Glym tar remover I suppose!
|
Appreciate
0
|
01-03-2013, 12:45 PM | #21 |
Lieutenant Colonel
104
Rep 1,511
Posts |
I just washed the crud off my car at lunch today and noticed two small, what looked like pin sized rust marks peaking through the paint.
I thought our cars were hermetically sealed in the dunk tank... I can hear the dealership now, "oh that'll buff right out". ... but, hell I hope this isn't the start of a rust problem on my 2013 model.
__________________
2013, AW, xDrive35i, M Sport Package, Technology Package, Dynamic Comfort Package, Premium Package, 3M Clear Bra, Euro foglight switch, a few coded fixes
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|