M3 DCT comp in Car Wash

[icegrill]

Originally Posted by B_Hxn

I feel sorry for your short-sighted, unhelpful attitude. But I guess that comes with a forums...

It was an enquiry only. I actually took everyone's advice here on board, went out and bought a pressure washer and a bunch of cleaning products yesterday.

[doug_999]

Originally Posted by 4play

Well, white will generally hide the swirls.

You don't get scratches down to the primer or anything - it's micro scratches that manifest as swirl marks. On a darker car it is much more evident.

But nobody asked the OP what color his car was?

Originally Posted by Pseudolus

I also feel like there has to be exceptions but I’ve taken the advice of the people on here and have avoided trying one. It’s the only reason I dislike the car. I absolutely hate having to clean it myself. I don’t have the desire, the time or the spine. I’m in the middle of two seemingly high end car washes and the local Maserati and BMW dealers take their cars there but I’m still hesitant because of this forum. That’s also why I leased another car so I can have someone else wash it!

Yes, we have to remember the crowd here. It is the same crowd that won't put a front plate on because of the holes it will leave in the bumper. The holes the NEXT owner will see, but the current owner will never see - so instead people put their plate in the towhook and drive around looking silly for 3 years.

My point here is, we are all a little bit off our rockers. The rest of the normal world, rarely gives a crap about this stuff - even in the Chicago Auto Pros video, they have to go back to the shop and be under the right light to see the scratches. How many people out there really do this? Other than goofballs like us that is

Originally Posted by B_Hxn

It was an enquiry only. I actually took everyone's advice here on board, went out and bought a pressure washer and a bunch of cleaning products yesterday.

I bought all the stuff for the pressure washer - what a waste. You have to drag it out, hook everything up, soap the crap out of the car (which looks cool) - and then you rinse it and see everything you missed. Just get a good sponge and soap and do it by hand if you want - it will be cleaner and quicker. And yes, they will tell you that "you must do two buckets" - whatever

[SMGCFP]

I run my car through an automatic car wash multiple times a month. Neutral works just fine. It has brushes too, not touchless. I don't have a front plate either.

Bottom line, I don't have 2 hours to wash and detail the car. I pull it in to the car wash place. They vacuum the inside of the car and wash the mats. They then put the car in the auto wash, and I collect it on the other side.

I don't have any scratches that I can see, and that certainly no one else can see from 10 feet away....and who cares?

The OP asked if you put the DCT in neutral and the answer is "yes".

[EricP3]

Originally Posted by SMGCFP

I run my car through an automatic car wash multiple times a month. Neutral works just fine. It has brushes too, not touchless. I don't have a front plate either.

Bottom line, I don't have 2 hours to wash and detail the car. I pull it in to the car wash place. They vacuum the inside of the car and wash the mats. They then put the car in the auto wash, and I collect it on the other side.

I don't have any scratches that I can see, and that certainly no one else can see from 10 feet away....and who cares?

The OP asked if you put the DCT in neutral and the answer is "yes".

you mad man.

[Taco_Bueno]

Well after reading some of the responses in this thread, I will never buy any car sight-unseen.

[alex2364]

Originally Posted by TideMD

Anyway... I'm still hung up on the actual question. In what scenario is any automatic/DCT car put into "P" when going into an automatic car wash? That seems even worse than throwing it into neutral and applying the hand brake.

The touchless car washes around me wants you to put the car in park/complete stop and the water and sprays move around the car.

[ByeFelicia]

[HyeM3]

Originally Posted by Pseudolus

I absolutely hate having to clean it myself. I don't have the desire, the time or the spine.

I feel your pain for sure. I'm young but my back and knees kill me after washing my car. But there's some cheap handy tools out there to make things easier. Go on Amazon and look for one of those poles with a microfiber wash mitt on the end of it. It gives you leverage so it's much easier on your body and you don't really have to bend over. My 60 year old father swears by it

[TideMD]

Originally Posted by 4play

Well, white will generally hide the swirls.

You don't get scratches down to the primer or anything - it's micro scratches that manifest as swirl marks. On a darker car it is much more evident.

From personal experience, the Sakhir orange shows swirls like a bitch.

Local dealership gave mine the "courtesy wash" treatment as part of my 1200-mile service visit. They use a close-by tunnel wash that was less than a year old at the time.
Never again will I let that happen.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by SMGCFP

I run my car through an automatic car wash multiple times a month. Neutral works just fine. It has brushes too, not touchless. I don't have a front plate either.

Bottom line, I don't have 2 hours to wash and detail the car. I pull it in to the car wash place. They vacuum the inside of the car and wash the mats. They then put the car in the auto wash, and I collect it on the other side.

I don't have any scratches that I can see, and that certainly no one else can see from 10 feet away....and who cares?

The OP asked if you put the DCT in neutral and the answer is "yes".

I don't have time either. I have a foam gun, 2 bucket system, all the microfiber towels, a bunch of Adam's products to make it really look good... but it takes 1.5 hours to do all that and honestly when I don't have time I just take it to the local car wash. However, I pay for the hand wash. It's not perfect, but it's better than the machine. $30 plus $5-10 tip for the hand wash and they do a better job with the interior than I do.

[Pseudolus]

Originally Posted by HyeM3

My 60 year old father swears by it

I’m 44 but the MRIs suggest my spine is that of a 70 year old.

What I really need is a power tool that reduces the time and energy it takes to clean those damn wheels. I’ve got a stool with wheels, 4 different brushes and some chemical spray the forum recommended and it’s still brutal! But man once they’re shiny again...

[ONEof500]

Originally Posted by Pseudolus

I’m 44 but the MRIs suggest my spine is that of a 70 year old.

What I really need is a power tool that reduces the time and energy it takes to clean those damn wheels. I’ve got a stool with wheels, 4 different brushes and some chemical spray the forum recommended and it’s still brutal! But man once they’re shiny again...

Get the wheels ceramic coated

[SMGCFP]

Originally Posted by EricP3

you mad man.

I've been known to live on the edge. I also know a great detailer in Cincinnati if you're interested.

[sna66]

Car washes- brush or touch less are for kias and camrys, get that thing a hand wash or diy

[SteveChester]

Anyone that buys a M car and puts it though a car scratcher sorry car wash needs a good talking to!