stupid n00b question: car washes

[Casey]

its been about 6 years since ive gone thru a car wash. all my previous cars were always lowered, with lip kits, aftermarket wheels and "non factory parts that we are not responsible for" as the signs would say. i was always afraid of the track at the car wash ripping off my front lips and chewing up my wheels. well now obviously there is no concern for my body panels going thru, but i AM worried about the wheels. im worried that going thru the track will mess up the wheels if and when they rub against it. im looking for a hand wash in the area, but there arent many around.

i would LOVE to wash this by myself, but i dont have any way to do that in my apartment complex, so once every so often i can go to my parents house, but that is a rather large pain in the ass, to be blunt, haha.

so am i safe taking this thru a standard, "brushless" car wash, or should i track down a hand wash place?

[phillips2024]

ya do not go through any car washes with tracks!!! i go to car washes where you drive into the stall and take the hose and clean it yourself

[Ahbizmal]

Want to keep her looking good? Find that hand wash place...

Many here including myself do not like going through the washers. One Sponsor went as far to explain that they use very harsh chemicals to break down the grease, and will in time harm the paint and clear coat on the car.

Once or twice may not hurt if you are really needing to get this done. after 5 times... IT WILL start to eat away at the paint... (especially on the plastic parts). I need to get mine re-painted. Not only from the car washes (I thought it wouldn't hurt too much... WRONG) but also tiny rock chips.

[GoofyTimL]

Go to a Coin Op place. Max. $2 to rinse and apply soap. Do NOT use the brush or contact the car with any implement there. Then hand wash with microfiber (cheap at any big box store). Then another $2 to rinse and apply wax. Hand dry, again with microfiber. Take an energetic run to get the water out of the crevices, then check it out and dab again with microfiber.

Perfect for apartment dwelling...

That's what I do when I can't use my own hose.

[cnote05300]

lately my car has been washed strictly by precipatatoin.

[HealeyRick]

I took the SRT-8 through a tracked car-wash once and did exactly what you were afraid of ... scratched up the wheel on the track. Took the Yank Tank Caprice, aka Orcaprice, with standard 15" honeycomb wheels on it through a car wash today and figured out the difference. With a 15" rim, your tires rub against the rails, not your wheels. With a 20" rim, it's the wheels doing the rubbing.

[Dex]

I haven't seen a track operated car wash forever!!!
All the new ones where I am from are drive in type where you park and the machine goes around your car.

I still stay far far far away from these things... unless I am in a rush and have a date that night with a girl that is less than an "8" but still greater than a "6"

[Casey]

Originally Posted by Dex

I haven't seen a track operated car wash forever!!!
All the new ones where I am from are drive in type where you park and the machine goes around your car.

I still stay far far far away from these things... unless I am in a rush and have a date that night with a girl that is less than an "8" but still greater than a "6"

hahaha, quote of the day, thats funny.

rick, that sucks about your wheels, im sorry to hear, but thats basically what i assumed. ill try and get some input from people, which have a track and which dont.

i have never seen the ones where the machines move around you, thats pretty slick. i dont know which car washes have the track and which have the thing that just tows you along, but i dont want to get to the front and then attempt to explain to the guy (who im sure speaks excellent english) that i need to go around because of his lack of a tow along thing, haha.

you guys are right, the best bet is probably the u-wash it places, soap it up and use my own sponge. there is a very good one right up the street that i can use, but sometimes i just dont feel like doing it.

thanks guys!

[Michaelr]

Before going to the hand wash car wash I get a bucket of water and spend 15 minutes cleaning the wheels, exhaust pipes and just under the guards. Then at the car wash I bring my own bucket a fill it half up with soapy water and put the rest of the soapy water on the car. I then use my sponge around the car until done and then rinse off. I then drive out and get the shammy to dry the car and tidy up any spots I might of missed.

Regards Michaelr