[jeepgrady]

I took my car in to the dealer for an oil change. The dealers policy is to run the car through their car wash free with every service. It's the brushless kind, so no scratches. When I get out of the car to hand my keys to the service jock I see a big sign that tells them not to run any of the new 300's through the wash. I asked the service advisor why. The answer was that the car is too wide and some damage occurred on a customers car.

While I accepted that statement, I didn't really beleive it. Have you seen how wide the Pacifica is? How about the Grand Caravan? In my opinion, I think that the car wash damaged the flimsy plastic lower rear fenders.

Has anyone run through any car washes with negative results?

 

[Cdnhemi]

I've only run my car through the laser car wash at my Esso and have not had a problem except when I left my rear window open. What a surprise!!!!

 

[C-Man]

Mine's only getting washed by hand. Black shows scratches too easily.

 

[mileshoover]

I no longer handwash cars. Have neither the time nor inclination. Same goes for waxing, etc.

Mine is regularly washed at the local automatic <brushless> wash. It does a reasonable job and there have been no problems for years. You will have to be careful to ensure that your plastic-coated wheels get on the trigger ramps carefully or you will screw them up.

I would never permit my car to be put through a <brush> wash nor by a dealer (since most cannot afford a brushless wash). Dealer washes are a good way to have your finish messed up. Their wash equipment is generally very basic and uses brushes.

I do inspect very carefully after service and INSIST that the car is returned to me in the condition I turned it into them -- clean - which is pointed out the the Service Writer upon arrival. No greased seats, floor mats, door panels, steering wheels, etc., are acceptable. All it takes is to turn it back one time for being unclean before paying them. It usually doesn't happen again.

 

[Angi300C]

Personally,
I've always enjoyed washing my cars myself. If I'm feeling really energetic I might surprise my hubby and wash his truck . Once I took my SAAB to a hand wash and the guy that was doing the washing had on watch and a bracelet. All I asked is are you washing my car! Don't get me wrong if anyone is going to scratch my car it will be me. However if I must I prefer brushless and hand car washes.

 

[II kings 9:20]

After Zaino, handwashing is a breeze. I am on a weekly schedule (never before, not even with the RX8). For auto, brushless is absolutely the way to go. I did the C once and routinely have the Sienna in there. Boy was I ticked when I found a brush strand on my first wash after delivery, "dealer prep" Ha!

 

[Hemi57]

I wash the 2 cars in my garage every week as a sort of therapy

Plain water, pressure washer, rinse, wash with clean sponge, short drive, then chamois dry. Also try and get in a routine of polishing a section each week so that I don't feel so bad if it is raining the next time it is wheeled out.

Never ever weaken and put your car through a brush car wash.

Good advice (as usual) from mileshoover to inspect the car before driving away after service. I have the experience of driving back to the office, forgotten something in the car and returning to see a significant scratch on the passenger side door. I was on the phone straight away and they did honour the repair. Damn Honda Dealer

 

[joey]

Car wash brushes supposedly ruin clearcoat finishes. That is what I was told in 1995 when I got my first clearcoat car.
I believe the 300's are clearcoat.
Unless they have changed/improved clearcoat paint, I will never take my car through a brush car wash.

 

[DSMLVR]

No automatic/commercial car washes here - EVER.

My baby gets a good hand job, usually (at least ) every week. Nothing but the best for her. ONE mistake in a car wash and it will show forever. I have Brilliant Black and that is even more of a reason for a personal wash/dry.

I am 58 years old and I have NEVER put ANY of my cars thru a car wash, ever. If it deserves to be done, it deserves to be done RIGHT.

 

[james jefferson]

this new car wash apparatus thats being advertised (mr. clean?) that hand drying is not necessary got a good writeup in consumers reports.

 

[II kings 9:20]

this new car wash apparatus thats being advertised (mr. clean?) that hand drying is not necessary got a good writeup in consumers reports.

I have thought about this, drying is a real PIA, guys with black cars should really consider this cause the fewer things that touch your car the fewer swirl marks. My Cool Vanilla won't show swirls so I continue to hand dry with 100% cotton towels and diapers (new of course). The Mr clean includes a PUR filter which would help with those of us on well water, seems rather pricey and my results thus far are excellent .

 

[smitty]

I bought one its ok until the rinse. When you turn the knob to rinse the soap from your C water is diverted through the filter and instead of a good soap removing spray you get this wimpy fine mist. The mist has a hard time removing the soap from my blk C. When I was done I still had to use my shammy. Another waste of money.

 

[C-Man]

For drying, order a big blue micro fiber waffle weave towel. I can dry my C without ever wringing it out and it is more gentle on the paint than cotton.

 

[Billy94Z]

Once you run out ofsoap you can just use the high pressure water. I heard not to worry about the soap its the water filter that saves you from the shammyr

 

[Angi300C]

For drying, order a big blue micro fiber waffle weave towel.

Just wondering where do you order it from any auto parts store????
Thanks

 

[the duke]

bought one its ok until the rinse. When you turn the knob to rinse the soap from your C water is diverted through the filter and instead of a good soap removing spray you get this wimpy fine mist. The mist has a hard time removing the soap from my blk C. When I was done I still had to use my shammy. Another waste of money.

The filtered rinse is the final step in the Mr. Clean process. You wet your car down and rinse with the cleaner in the middle position. You should start in the middle, turn to the right to soap, back to the middle to rinse off soap and finally to the left for the spot free rinse.

The unit works well for me and was not too pricey, but I am worried about the replacement filter costs.

Also as with all car wash products, I would recomend against using in direct sun or on a hot car.

 

[II kings 9:20]

Saw it at wal mart, don't know the price.

 

[C-Man]

Just wondering where do you order it from any auto parts store????
Thanks

I bought mine from Classic Motoring Accessories. It wasn't cheap, but works great. Here's the link

I ended up getting the the big and little blue combo for $30. Walmart has one that's only around $6, but I have not used it. There's a great forum on detailing here that states the Walmart MF is not bad for the money. I just wanted to get the best one I could find.

I also ended up getting the Klasse All-In-One and High Gloss Sealant Glaze kit, detailing clay, some mitts and a quick detailing spray. Now my wife and 6 year old son complain I spend too much time cleaning the car.

 

[300CinLV]

I have my car washed every Monday morning by a hand wash service. I have had the car waxed four times since I got it 6/17. I agree that the micro fiber cloths are the way to go for drying without causing scatches or swirl marks. My detail guy only uses them. This is the first non-white car I have had in about twelve years, and I am surprised at the amount of additional maintenance necessary to keep the car looking good. Of course, I am not complaining.......I love my car.

 

[Billy94Z]

I used my MR Clean for the first time on my C and my Escalade. It workes as advertised but I am not sure it cleans really good. I like using a bucket of soapy water. I am not sure it gets all of the dirt off. I had a $5 coupon from somewhere and I paid $14 from Target. I saw a commercial and you can download a $3 coupon from the MR Clean website. You have a year to get a full refund if you dont like it. Let me know if anyone figures out their own mix for the soap so you dont have to buy expensive refills. Also a cheap source for the refills would be great for the water purifier refills. For those that dont know it attaches to your hose and you have 3 settings 1 for rinse 1 for soap and 1 for rinsing so you dont have to use a shammy.

I do have 1 question. Does the rinse setting bypass the filter or not?