M4 + car wash???

[Gils2018M4]

just sold my '16 GT350 for 2018 YMB comp package with black satans, beautiful car, love it already... on mile 60 so a long way to 1200 miles until I can open her up.....

so, any guys running the M4 through car washes? I never did it for the Shelby for obvious reason, but does the M4 fit, rim damage? height issues?

[nicknaz]

Hi, touchless one with no wheel tracks should be fine

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Hire a good mobile detailer in your area

[Wmf80]

No shot would I bring it to a car wash spot. Either myself w great technique or a detailing spot. Also a mobile detailed. Worth the extra money spent imo.

[Darth One]

"My M4" and "car wash" should never be used in the same sentence unless the sentence is "no car wash will ever touch my M4"

[Aaaaaaaaa]

I don't even take our beater Hyundai through the car wash

[uniqueMR]

Touchless or hand wash

[JayZap16]

I always wondered what people do in the winter time for car washes if its your DD. I live in Michigan where we drive on salt and pieces of broken exhausts that have fallen off from people's shitty cars.

I plan on storing my M4 in the winter but still wouldnt mind a good rip on sunny days. Is a touchless wash sufficient to get salt and winter crud off? Dont mean to jack the thread but I guess it relates to OP


Also I have to say I took the M4 through a wash once last late winter, still have dramatic memories from it. Although there were no height issues or tire width issues. I do remember the young punk just salivating to throw his hand brush on the front and rear. At washes in MI there is usually a "car wash technician" (cheap labor worker) that will use a brush and soapy water to prewash the front grill and rear of the car where the car wash struggles to reach. Held that horn down when he was inches away with the brush. Looked at him straight in the eyes and said, you better not f$%king do that. They pick up everyone dirt with that brush.

Now I hand wash that its warm with my methods, pain in the ass sometimes. Have to load the foam cannon and get the power washer, buckets, wash the mitts, blah blah blah, I enjoy it most of the time just a pain to do on a weekly basis. Also the neighbor says, "why are you washing your car again"

[BoxKing]

I 100% take my car through car washes, especially in the winter here in Philly. I have an AW M4, and its tough to see the little marks on the car left behind by a car wash, or even marks from ppl who have poor washing techniques of their own.

My twice a year detail consists of applying Chem Guys White light glaze, on top with ReLoad, then topped with Chem Guys White wax... you need a microscope to pick out the imperfections. This time next year I will polish with VSS to remove, and not just hide any marks.

I only plan to keep teh car fro 3 or so years, and could car less to have it looking like a garage queen when I drive 20K+ miles a year. Rather be lookin' Fresh to death then dirty, or spend extra coin on mobile detailing. To each their own... Dont' get me wrong, in the summer I 90% of the time will hand wash only, mainly bc I like the process.

[rvacha]

I run my BMWs through car washes all the time - but only touchless and only stationary (no wheel "conveyor belts")

[boss2k]

Talking about touchless wash doesn't it causes water spots on the black shadowline window trims , that's why I don't take it.

[IM2C]

Never gonna happen.

[mephiska]

Touchless only, but they are hit & miss. Some have higher pressure/coverage than others. Some are quicker and some take FOREVER. Usually the good ones that are the most thorough take the longest, and if you get there on a Friday afternoon with 3 cars ahead of you prepare to wait 30 minutes to get out of there. I've done if this way for over 2 years and am actually pretty swirl-free. I've even "cheated" and gone through the local higher end microfiber brush place a couple times when I wanted it to be extra clean.

If you can't wash at home consider using the self wash places, using the sprayer wand ONLY - NEVER USE THE BRUSH. But spray wash your car as best you can, then bring a bucket and sponge/mitt with you and some rinse less wash solution. Fill the bucket with the sprayer as you wash, then move your car, add some rinse less solution and hand scrub your car in the vacuum parking space after to get off all the big stuff. Dry it and done!

[Clark_Kent]

I don't use car washes. I just wash it myself.

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

honestly its not a collector car. I got so many rock chips, what can you do on NJ highways going 80mph. I used to be anal but fuck it in the winter. Swirl marks on my black trim kinda irritates me. But i just bought pressure washer and foam cannon so I will begin only washing myself. Any tips for removing the swirls off the black trim on outside.

[TMD29]

Originally Posted by G35POPPEDMYCHERRY

honestly its not a collector car. I got so many rock chips, what can you do on NJ highways going 80mph. I used to be anal but fuck it in the winter. Swirl marks on my black trim kinda irritates me. But i just bought pressure washer and foam cannon so I will begin only washing myself. Any tips for removing the swirls off the black trim on outside.

Good video here:

[Clark_Kent]

Originally Posted by G35POPPEDMYCHERRY

honestly its not a collector car. I got so many rock chips, what can you do on NJ highways going 80mph. I used to be anal but fuck it in the winter. Swirl marks on my black trim kinda irritates me. But i just bought pressure washer and foam cannon so I will begin only washing myself. Any tips for removing the swirls off the black trim on outside.

Once you correct it will swirl back up in a few months tops. If you're concerned about it you can throw a piece of ppf on it and you won't ever have to worry about it. I did the b-pillars and the trim closer to the rear of the car (c-pillar?).

[Eric S]

Originally Posted by Clark_Kent

Once you correct it will swirl back up in a few months tops. If you're concerned about it you can throw a piece of ppf on it and you won't ever have to worry about it. I did the b-pillars and the trim closer to the rear of the car (c-pillar?).

we recommend this on every single car, period. Doesn't matter if its the M3/4, F150 trucks, etc. The window painted trim scratches far too easily!

[instarand]

I "hear" that touch free car washes can be bad since they often use harsher chemicals to make up for the fact that there's no contact. Not sure if this is true. For me, hand wash only option.

[mephiska]

Originally Posted by instarand

I "hear" that touch free car washes can be bad since they often use harsher chemicals to make up for the fact that there's no contact. Not sure if this is true. For me, hand wash only option.

It's not. They use pretty shitty weak chemicals and their waxes don't last more than a day or two. I should know, I relied on them for two years straight.

The really tough stuff still has to be washed off by hand

[Suds]

Car wash for my cars. They get hand pampered a couple times a year.

[Speedwell-Industries]

If you want your paint looking good for the long-term, hand wash or get a detailer to wash it for you . Better than any drive-through washes IMO.