[ContactPatch]

Ready to devour your car!

The flip side is: hand washing is good exercise, cardio and nice paint!

[jwong77]

Originally Posted by ContactPatch

Ready to devour your car!

The flip side is: hand washing is good exercise, cardio and nice paint!

I find it to be a great way to stay out of my house be left alone from my family haha.

[GDEvans]

Originally Posted by cohibafan

I believe that if your regular doors are locked, the gas cap door cannot be opened.

I'm not sure if it is on the regular X3, but the iX3 has a menu option to not lock the filler cap. It means I can plug the car in to charge even when it is locked. Never had a problem with the door being opened by the car wash though.

[BMWZ4]

For all of you who live in snow/low temps during winter months...are you seriously suggesting you don't wash your car (at the car wash) for 4+ months?

And for those of you who are lucky enough to own heated garages and can wash your vehicles inside, you don't count.

[Keefy]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

For all of you who live in snow/low temps during winter months...are you seriously suggesting you don't wash your car (at the car wash) for 4+ months?

And for those of you who are lucky enough to own heated garages and can wash your vehicles inside, you don't count.

I pay for a mobile valet once every month, he comes to my house and valet’s the car inside and out. In December he also does a winter prep, tops up my ceramic coating on the bodywork, windscreen and wheels….he also repeats this after winter in April….its the only time my car gets washed and it works perfectly for me!

My car doesn’t go anywhere near a car wash.

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by Keefy

I pay for a mobile valet once every month, he comes to my house and valet’s the car inside and out. In December he also does a winter prep, tops up my ceramic coating on the bodywork, windscreen and wheels….he also repeats this after winter in April….its the only time my car gets washed and it works perfectly for me!

My car doesn’t go anywhere near a car wash.

How nice for you.

Alright, so for those of you who can't afford this service and don't frequent car washes, do you not wash your vehicles during winter months?

[lfdal54]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

How nice for you.

Alright, so for those of you who can't afford this service and don't frequent car washes, do you not wash your vehicles during winter months?

I take mine to the local self-service car wash, separate bays with high-pressure wands. I'm easy to spot, the old geezer crawling around blasting off the undercarriage. I do it once a month, December to March. More often makes no sense as 2 trips down the road and it's coated underneath again. I'll blast off the loose stuff on top, which with the ceramic coating gets off 99% of everything. When I get it home I'll crank up the heater in the garage to 45 degF or so and hand rinse any spots that need it.

I've done this for years. I figure when I stop doing it I shouldn't be driving anymore.

[lfdal54]

Originally Posted by Keefy

I pay for a mobile valet once every month, he comes to my house and valet’s the car inside and out. In December he also does a winter prep, tops up my ceramic coating on the bodywork, windscreen and wheels….he also repeats this after winter in April….its the only time my car gets washed and it works perfectly for me!

My car doesn’t go anywhere near a car wash.

If I could find one, I'd be tempted.

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by lfdal54

I take mine to the local self-service car wash. I'm easy to spot, the old geezer crawling around blasting off the undercarriage. I do it once a month, December to March. More often makes no sense as 2 trips down the road and it's coated underneath again. I'll blast off the loose stuff on top, which with the ceramic coating gets off 99% of everything. When I get it home I'll crank up the heater in the garage to 45 degF or so and hand rinse any spots that need it.

I've done this for years. I figure when I stop doing it I shouldn't be driving anymore.

Ok, but you have a heated garage...and I'm guessing someone here will have something to say about using a high pressure wand on the paint lol...

Bottom line, IMO, there are peeps here who use car washes during the winter...guaranteed. they're too afraid to say so fearing backlash from the anti-car wash folks 😂

[lfdal54]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

Ok, but you have a heated garage...and I'm guessing someone here will have something to say about using a high pressure wand on the paint lol...

Bottom line, IMO, there are peeps here who use car washes during the winter...guaranteed. they're too afraid to say so fearing backlash from the anti-car wash folks ��

Sort of heated - 45 degF isn't shorts weather. Although in New England in the winter, it can be. In Canada, it's probably beach weather. With the heater full on when it's in the teens I can get it up to 35degF.

The funny thing about the high-pressure wands, if you know what you're doing, they're fine. If you don't, they can cause some damage. A glancing dusting with the ceramic coating is all it takes. I cringe when I see people taking the power hand brushes to their cars. Some have incredibly soft bristles and won't cause issues, but I see people using them without rinsing the previous user's crud off them all the time. And in terms of getting the buildup off the undercarriage, a high-pressure wand is the only option IMO.

[Keefy]

Even during winter, a quick spray of a decent citrus cleanser and power wash off in one of the single use wash bays should suffice, as long as you don’t use the hand brush.

The initial ceramic coating is the key thing here, get that done with any paint correction then washing your car afterwards is easy as the dirt essentially just falls off.

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

For all of you who live in snow/low temps during winter months...are you seriously suggesting you don't wash your car (at the car wash) for 4+ months?

And for those of you who are lucky enough to own heated garages and can wash your vehicles inside, you don't count.

I'll now exit this thread...I'm a few mins from Hilton Head Island where even the coldest days in the winter are still beach/short days

[smaglik]

This isn't a very deep conversation. Either you care about the paint, or you don't. End of story.

[Artdnj]

Originally Posted by lfdal54

I take mine to the local self-service car wash, separate bays with high-pressure wands. I'm easy to spot, the old geezer crawling around blasting off the undercarriage. I do it once a month, December to March. More often makes no sense as 2 trips down the road and it's coated underneath again. I'll blast off the loose stuff on top, which with the ceramic coating gets off 99% of everything. When I get it home I'll crank up the heater in the garage to 45 degF or so and hand rinse any spots that need it.

I've done this for years. I figure when I stop doing it I shouldn't be driving anymore.

do you use their brush? I have found that if I don't it doesn't remove the dirt film layer. Believe me I don't want to use that filthy brush but it seems almost necessary if I go that route in the freezing temps. What's your technique?

[bocabimmer]

I’ve never really understood the pressure washer issue. Common sense of not putting the tip on 15 degrees and not placing it an inch from the paint and what’s the harm? It’s not like we don’t drive through torrential rain at 70mph on roads with cars kicking up all kinds of grime.

[lfdal54]

Originally Posted by Artdnj

do you use their brush? I have found that if I don't it doesn't remove the dirt film layer. Believe me I don't want to use that filthy brush but it seems almost necessary if I go that route in the freezing temps. What's your technique?

It's the ceramic coating. It lets the wand get a good 90%+ of anything worth bothering with. For anything tougher, I'll do it back in the driveway. BTW - I'll do it outside as long as the temp is in the 40's, else into the garage and set temp to 45.

If you want to use the brush, spend half a minute blasting it out with a thorough rinse. TBH, I've used the brush with no ill effects as long as 1) I cleaned it, 2) it's above freezing so the bristles aren't extra stiff, and 3) use it lightly. Very lightly, after you've already hit the car with the high-pressure soap. I've done this on my wife's previous sapphire black with no ill effects. The key is to be **gentle**.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by BimmerX5kid

forever now if i go through a car wash i want them to TAPE the fuel door closed. it takes just one perflectlly timed slapped by the brush and the door opens

Does locking the doors not prevent this ? On my car the fuel cover locks when the car is locked.

[avi66]

Originally Posted by Keefy

Even during winter, a quick spray of a decent citrus cleanser and power wash off in one of the single use wash bays should suffice, as long as you don’t use the hand brush.

The initial ceramic coating is the key thing here, get that done with any paint correction then washing your car afterwards is easy as the dirt essentially just falls off.

Similar here, except I use BH snow foam and Surfax APC.

Personally, I would never use a drive through mechanical brush/mop wash.

[X3rd Time Is a Charm]

Personally I don’t use the self service car wash if it’s below freezing temperatures. If it’s above, I’ll bring my 2 buckets, tire/wheel brushes , sponges and fill one bucket with clean water and the other with griots car wash and just use the wand to fill the bucket ,wet and rinse All of the salt , brine and grit off of the car, tires & wheels . Also have a edgeless towel called the Sucker and you just drag it once across the car and you are done. Love it . Actually got 2 of them . It the winter months you have to get that $hit off of your cars ! No automated car washing for me and never have .