admit it: who runs their E46 thru touchless auto carwash????

I don't do it, never have, never will!

I have put the old Subaru Wagon and Toyota truck through one but not the BMW. They use towels to dry with scratch and they roll the car out in the sun and it gets water spotted. I love the car too much and want it to look great for a long time, even if it's a hassle to wash it once a week.

Go to the ones that you drive in, and the spray mechanism moves around the car. No brushes or rollers. Buy the cheapest package, no wax or anything, you just want to get most of the dirt and salt out. Better than leaving all that gunk on the paint and a lot easier when it's cold outside.

if i ever go to a car wash, i tell them to wash it offline. so they don't put it through the wash. plus i go to a place on pch in newport where the wash ferrari's, porsche's, and lambos.

i just did the touchless today - then it rained.

i had some bird sh1t to get off the car anyways.

Originally Posted by bluecougar

never ever and never will, hell I wont even go through one if someone paid me!

*my car is too low to go through one anyway

Everytime! This is why only half of my DPEs get cleaned at one time =)

I used to do it, they weren't that bad, considering the fact that I am lazy as ****, but then I went through one and the ****ing thing power blasted my front emblem off. It was definetly the car wash too, because I immediately checked to see if the wash had taken some bird **** off of my hood (it didn't) and I then noticed the emblem was 3/4 of the way peeled off. I had to go get a new one at the stealership: $29.95 ****ing bullshit.

BTW I still go through the car wash, because as I stated earlier I am lazy.

Originally Posted by myogr81

Go to the ones that you drive in, and the spray mechanism moves around the car. No brushes or rollers. Buy the cheapest package, no wax or anything, you just want to get most of the dirt and salt out. Better than leaving all that gunk on the paint and a lot easier when it's cold outside.

exactly, i never go to the brush car washes tho.

:wavey: roughly 2 times a week, have done it with all my cars, and in the stang took trophies in shows all the time hahaha, maybe its just that I chose a really good one, dunno. I always hit it up with my touch in the end and finish off with Quick Detailer.

i have a 2003 325i with 19" adr m classics..35 series tires. i use the "laser" wash type touchless car wash about once a month. it is totally safe for your vehicle however the only thing you may keep in mind is the life of your wax. in order for the "touchless" car wash to thoroughly clean your car, they must use more potent chemicals than other closh type washers. Whether you get some rims just use the kind that dosnt pull your car through. the one i use you pull up to a certain pont and stop when its done you drive off. one last thing is if you have aftermarket lights the pressure cleaner may cause condensation inside.

Originally Posted by PYRITE

:wavey: roughly 2 times a week, have done it with all my cars, and in the stang took trophies in shows all the time hahaha, maybe its just that I chose a really good one, dunno. I always hit it up with my touch in the end and finish off with Quick Detailer.

i agree. if you can, bring a absorber or similar to catch stray water beads.

I've only been to the car wash so far. I haven't washed it myself. The one I go to is brand new and they do a pretty good job. The whole process takes 1-1.5 hours. The wash takes a couple of minutes but then they take it under a big covered area. Then they detail it. Wipe down, blown dry with a compressor and hose to get the water in the cracks, vacuum. I think it's a deal at $16.