M4 and Car Wash

[Mr. Big]

Has anyone had any problems putting your stock M4 through a regular car wash? Are there any clearance problems with the conveyors or rollers in regards to scratching wheels? My car hasn't been lowered so I'm wondering if it'll go through one of these without damage to the underside (like the front lower facia or oil cooler).

[frankiebones]

Find a hand wash. It will ruin your paint job otherwise. Also, you risk rim scraping, etc.

You drive an Austin Yellow M4...drive through car washes dont fit your lifestyle any longer my friend.

[BoxKing]

Originally Posted by Mr. Big

Has anyone had any problems putting your stock M4 through a regular car wash? Are there any clearance problems with the conveyors or rollers in regards to scratching wheels? My car hasn't been lowered so I'm wondering if it'll go through one of these without damage to the underside (like the front lower facia or oil cooler).

I went through one only once since I have had the car (1/3/2017), and I had no issues, but I plant to never go back to one. I can tell you this as a piece of common sense; no 2 car washes are alike, and you're asking for trouble when entering

[frankiebones]

My advice is to ask any enthusiasts in your area where they get there cars hand washed. the place I go to is a great place to hang out, and there are always other M drivers present to talk to. ive learned quite a bit from hanging out at Water Werkz in Lynbook, NY, for example. Hell, the name of the package I get is the Yas Marina Blue haha.

[STR8-6IX]

+3

hand car wash.

[mstevens]

What is a "regular car wash"? I think there are too many variations to be able to answer this.

Around here, there are 2 car washes within 20 miles. One has a "touchless" bay where one sits stationary while machinery goes back and forth and 2 bays with hand wands. The other has those cloth strips that jiggle up and down. The nearest place that does hand washing in the winter is over 30 miles away.

Hand washing during the winter at home is simply not an option. We have to turn off the water to the outside faucets, and it'd give us an unwanted ice rink.

The paint on my wife's X3's has remained perfect over years of using the jiggly cloth carwashes. They never worked on my Z4's, nor did the touchless ones, because it was too low and the "flame surfacing" areas barely even got wet. BMW says the cloth ones are fine to use. What I tend to worry about is tracks in which I'm supposed to run a wheel.

The washes that use wands are fine, if there's one around you.

[Mr. Big]

Originally Posted by frankiebones

You drive an Austin Yellow M4...drive through car washes dont fit your lifestyle any longer my friend.

I also drive a 2016 C7 Corvette so I still hang out with the "wife-beater" t-shirt crowd. ��

[1uscalumni]

mobile detailer in your area?
wash the car yourself?

[BoxKing]

Buy a water-less wash and be happy knowing that you're saving your paint. This has been the best addition to my car care EVER during the winter seasons. Your car will look like it just got detailed, and it will take you 20-30 minutes.

[Habber]

It's a car. Use it, enjoy it and get a new one when it gets old. These aren't limited editions.

[hlothery]

This is the third car for which I have exclusively used waterless wash, although I did go to a manual car wash once to use the water cannon to knock off some heavy mud which I picked up on a backroad being resurfaced prior to using the waterless to finish. The cars include this M4, my former (now my wife's) 2014 E350, and my former Cayman. We have water restrictions in San Antonio, and that's when I started using it. It works so well, I have never stopped. Have not used water (except as described above) ever in washing these cars. I use EcoSmart RU from ChemicalGuys. YMMV

[mstevens]

Originally Posted by BoxKing

Buy a water-less wash and be happy knowing that you're saving your paint. This has been the best addition to my car care EVER during the winter seasons. Your car will look like it just got detailed, and it will take you 20-30 minutes.

No way. My car will sometimes look tan with road sand after driving just 12 miles to work and back. I'm not going to touch the paint any more than I have to until it's at least had enough grit rinsed off that I can see the blue.

[BoxKing]

Originally Posted by mstevens

No way. My car will sometimes look tan with road sand after driving just 12 miles to work and back. I'm not going to touch the paint any more than I have to until it's at least had enough grit rinsed off that I can see the blue.

You're not the OP, and get a new job!

Its called car wash 101 - first step, get rid of all major contaminants prior to washing. You're better off going through the car wash if you don't follow this step.

Of course you don't want to go off-roading then handwash your car without rinsing it.. this process can easily be done with a garden hose, or power washer at any local do-it-yourself wash stall.

FYI OP... i used CarPro waterless wash.

[blake9220]

A guy I know with an M4 went through one of those car washes and it ended up eating up the front of his bumper, and chewing up one of his rims. All of this was BEFORE the M-Performance Lip + Splitters, which luckily covered it, but would have been far worse if they had been installed.

I'd definitely advise against the auto wash if you can avoid it. If you do decide to do it, you better be sure it won't rub! Double and triple check clearance!

[mstevens]

Originally Posted by BoxKing

You're not the OP

I don't think that only the OP can respond to posts.

Originally Posted by BoxKing

and get a new job!

Why? I enjoy practicing medicine. It's fun and pays well. I don't see how that's related to the fact that New Hampshire roads are covered in grit this time of year.

Originally Posted by BoxKing

Its called car wash 101 - first step, get rid of all major contaminants prior to washing. You're better off going through the car wash if you don't follow this step.

Exactly my point.

Originally Posted by BoxKing

Of course you don't want to go off-roading then handwash your car without rinsing it..

Or on-roading in some parts of the country.

Originally Posted by BoxKing

this process can easily be done with a garden hose

You crack me up! "Garden hose" in the middle of winter!

Originally Posted by BoxKing

or power washer at any local do-it-yourself wash stall.

Sure. Pretty much what I said. But then the overall process is hardly "waterless", is it?

"Local" means different things in different places. My car is going to be covered with sand by the time I can get home from wanding it at the closest car wash about 20 miles away.

My point is that waterless washes are not necessarily an appropriate option, especially as you specifically mentioned "winter". It's a big world, and in much of it winter is icy cold with all sorts of abrasive stuff on the roads and temperature conditions that would make using a hose dangerous or impossible.

[hlothery]

Other than the event which I described above with the mud chunks, my cars have been as dirty as any others after several days of rain and daily driving. Still, the emoluents in the waterless wash lift the dirt off without scratching or swirl marks, and it works flawlessly. You may have to use several cloths. When I first tried it on my Porsche, I was also skeptical. I was talked into it by members of a similar Porsche board. It is awesome. Water is not as good an emoluent as the waterless wash is, and you must use a sponge or other device to get that grit off. It is more abrasive than a microfiber cloth and waterless wash. Science makes the world better ( I practiced medicine for 37 years). Give this a try, and you might change your mind (as I did). As I said, YMMV. Some will never be convinced and will never try it. I no longer waste my time with water and a sponge.

[BoxKing]

Originally Posted by mstevens

I don't think that only the OP can respond to posts.



Why? I enjoy practicing medicine. It's fun and pays well. I don't see how that's related to the fact that New Hampshire roads are covered in grit this time of year.



Exactly my point.



Or on-roading in some parts of the country.



You crack me up! "Garden hose" in the middle of winter!



Sure. Pretty much what I said. But then the overall process is hardly "waterless", is it?

"Local" means different things in different places. My car is going to be covered with sand by the time I can get home from wanding it at the closest car wash about 20 miles away.

My point is that waterless washes are not necessarily an appropriate option, especially as you specifically mentioned "winter". It's a big world, and in much of it winter is icy cold with all sorts of abrasive stuff on the roads and temperature conditions that would make using a hose dangerous or impossible.

The jabs at you were for the goof - I wasn't telling you to submit resumes bc the roads near you are crap- hell they're all terrible on the upper Eastern Seaboard.

In summary- water less washes are very underrated, most people don't even know this exists, and thats why they ask questions like the OP. Does this mean that its completely water less... well some ppl have their own practices, and deviate from the script. Whichever season, this method works great, and is a safe way (when done correctly) to quickly detail your car.

[Mr. Big]

Originally Posted by BoxKing

In summary- water less washes are very underrated, most people don't even know this exists, and thats why they ask questions like the OP.

Yep, didn't know about waterless washes... I might give it a try. My townhouse association frowns upon washing with water. All good info here. Thanks everyone.

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by mstevens

The paint on my wife's X3's has remained perfect over years of using the jiggly cloth carwashes.

Despite what you think, this is false, depending on your definition of perfect. If you're trying to say it doesn't have swirls, it does.

[mstevens]

Originally Posted by smithf80

Despite what you think, this is false, depending on your definition of perfect.

Despite what you think, this is true, depending on your definition of perfect.

Originally Posted by smithf80

If you're trying to say it doesn't have swirls, it does.

I'm not trying to say that.

So... you a big fan of using waterless wash on sand-covered cars?

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by mstevens

Despite what you think, this is true, depending on your definition of perfect.



I'm not trying to say that.

So... you a big fan of using waterless wash on sand-covered cars?

If it has swirls then its not perfect, don't go thinking otherwise. Anyone who says they have perfect paint, but will admit that its swirled, just looks silly and is incorrect.

I don't use Waterless Wash at all. I wash my car once a week in the warmer months and in the winter the place that did my clear bra washes it for me by hand or if my hose isn't frozen I just find a warm day in the winter to properly wash it myself, like yesterday.

[1uscalumni]

I guess you all could hook a garden house up to inside house faucet.I remember my brother did this to fill his water bed in his apartment. If the outside hose bib isn't an option.