So I've had my car for 3wks and never got around to washing it until today. I thought I would check out the free one at the dealer (Fields - Glencoe).
WTF? machine? yes thats right im lazy but soon I will wash it myself.
Anyway, the car came out clean but my back license plate was halfway ripped off.
I just bent it back into shape, but I now have second thoughts on going to their brokeazz car wash again.

-sorry no pics

 

I see that you have Black Obisidian. Have you ever looked at your car in direct sunlight? I'm sure you have tons of swirl marks. That should be another reason why you shouldn't take your car to the dealer and have them wash it for you.

-twantrd

 

From what I saw afterwards, it looked okay. I'll probably inspect it more in the sun tomorrow.

 

If you are happy with the dealer wash bay, then that's great! Usually, from what I see, it's a horrible wash. Why? Because of these reasons:

1. They use 1 huge scrub which they don't clean after a pass from one panel.
2. They wash from top to bottom, side to side, and from bottom to top. You would NEVER wash it this way. Most of the dirt/grime is located on the bottom portion of the car and when you scrub it to the top portion, you create swirl marks and small hairline scratches.
3. They don't use the 2 bucket system.
4. They use the same huge scrub car after car.

They are more reasons but I think you get the idea. Perhaps it's just me, but I'm really **** when it comes to my car and I absolutely hate seeing swirl marks.

-twantrd

 

hahaha. that happened to me before too. some stupid VW Beetle got in front of me and his radiator or radiator hose blew and got coolant all over my car.
pulled off the freeway when i saw a gas station and ran it through the wash. luckily, it didn't do any damage to the paint.

 

Never machine wash your black Sedan. Learn from the mistake i made when i first got my G. Clueless and naive i was i know have swirl marks on the car. In the process of looking for a really good detailer.

 

I'd have to err on the side of saying never machine wash either. If you can find a solid "hand wash" then that's a different story (though I always recommend DIY), but machine washes are generally large dirty masses of brushes, recycles water, improper drying, etc... And as we all know, improper washing leads to this!

http://gtaindetail.com/pics/g35071406/c.jpg

http://gtaindetail.com/pics/04g35c050706/photo.jpg

http://gtaindetail.com/pics/04g35c042506/photo2.jpg

 

^ouch that machine wash really did a number on your car. :-(

I didn't notice any swirl marks this morning, however it looks like shiz again because it rained last night. Nasty film all over

 

the only cure for us machine wash fools is a new paint job i beleive. or you get extremely lucky and fine urself a veteran detailer.

 

aaaaaa...i havent put my car thru a car wash since the 90's... between the scratching over power of the brushing...anf for most the rocks that stick to the brush after the huge f150 went thru with mudd b4 u...so sad...

brushless all the way or hand wash her...treat her like ur baby...

jus my 2 cents

 

Those aren't mine. I detailed them.

Where are you located? You shouldn't need a new paint job. Check my website for afters on those cars I linked above; any good detailer should be able to remove that kind of marring.

 

so you think the touch-free (laserwash, etc) are ok?

anyone else, is touch-free a safe alternative when you need a quick wash?

 

If you need a quick wash then yes, do touchless. I still try to avoid them because the large majority use recycled water and the blowers are never able to get the car totally dry.

 

hehe.... there's one around my college that has (almost) no time limit on it, just a sensor indicating that the car is still underneath it...... i took my car there once and thought it was strange that there was no indication of how much time i had left, so before i left completely, i backed up, and went through the blower a again