Touch free car wash?
I was assuming you are the other person who suggested shell car wash and I I forgot that you are the priginal poster, my bad 
But yeah, I dont have any problem with any touch free car wash or putting my 9.5/275 rims (edit- not sure if there is standard track, so don't take my word for it) ...I'm more concern if you have lowered your car and have top secret/ nismo lips front bumper
But yeah, I dont have any problem with any touch free car wash or putting my 9.5/275 rims (edit- not sure if there is standard track, so don't take my word for it) ...I'm more concern if you have lowered your car and have top secret/ nismo lips front bumper
Originally Posted by Nickk6
Well like I said its touch free.
I've taken a loaner into a car wash to see what happens. Not a touch free, but a regular one, and it scratched the **** out of the rear fender. I took my Altima through one when I decided to sell it, scratched the **** out of it in the exact same place. So I would never use a wash that touches your car. I am getting mixed opinions or maybe confused reactions to my question.
I've taken a loaner into a car wash to see what happens. Not a touch free, but a regular one, and it scratched the **** out of the rear fender. I took my Altima through one when I decided to sell it, scratched the **** out of it in the exact same place. So I would never use a wash that touches your car. I am getting mixed opinions or maybe confused reactions to my question.
Last edited by Greatwars; Sep 18, 2006 at 06:13 PM.
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Originally Posted by Greatwars
I was assuming you are the other person who suggested shell car wash and I I forgot that you are the priginal poster, my bad
But yeah, I dont have any problem with any touch free car wash or putting my 9.5/275 rims ...I'm more concern if you have lowered your car and have top secret/ nismo lips front bumper
But yeah, I dont have any problem with any touch free car wash or putting my 9.5/275 rims ...I'm more concern if you have lowered your car and have top secret/ nismo lips front bumper
In that case, I don't know coz mine isn't lowered (even though I have top secret front bumper) ....
Originally Posted by Nickk6
Its a lowered sedan with the OEM front lip. Its on tein h-techs for the 350z. The touchless car wash is at a shell gas station, its one of those cheap oens you just sit there and let the machine pass over the car.
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Originally Posted by Nickk6
How safe are car washes that advertise touch free? I haven't had time to wash my car and I would just like to get some of the dust off. Will I escape scratch free, I've never used one. I've used a regular one with a loaner car and it scratched the hell out of the side and I hate those blowers that slam down on the car, does the touch free do this? 
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Good grief! This thread cracks me up.
Touchless = Only water touches your car
That means theres no way its gonna leave swirl marks or scratch your paint. I suppose its possible it could strip away a little wax if the water pressure was high enough, but thats just a fact of life. I use touch-less/free car washes when I don't have time to do it by hand. But, I MUCH prefer to do it by hand. Its rare that I find a touch-free wash that gets its done to my satisfaction.
I will say this though, in the winter time, they're great for getting all the snow, salt and muck off your ride when you're in a hurry.
This thread cracks me up.Touchless = Only water touches your car
That means theres no way its gonna leave swirl marks or scratch your paint. I suppose its possible it could strip away a little wax if the water pressure was high enough, but thats just a fact of life. I use touch-less/free car washes when I don't have time to do it by hand. But, I MUCH prefer to do it by hand. Its rare that I find a touch-free wash that gets its done to my satisfaction.
I will say this though, in the winter time, they're great for getting all the snow, salt and muck off your ride when you're in a hurry.
WRAH
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,708
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From: Columbus, OH (Area)
Originally Posted by Greatwars
Explain how I didn't read then smart guy. He was asking about the touchless car wash and I said I have no problem so far! (in case you didn't get it, it means I don't experience any swirl mark) and yes, I know the soap is the thing that may eat some of the paint! that's why I said about 'anti-flex' paint.
Some bodyshop don't use/don't sufficiently use 'anti-flex' paint for uretahane aftermarket body kit ... that plus the soap from most car wash would eat some of the paint like what u stated PLUS high pressure water (every touchless car wash have different pressure) would eventually peel off car's paint!
Some bodyshop don't use/don't sufficiently use 'anti-flex' paint for uretahane aftermarket body kit ... that plus the soap from most car wash would eat some of the paint like what u stated PLUS high pressure water (every touchless car wash have different pressure) would eventually peel off car's paint!
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From: South East Texas
Q50 Red Sport 400 RWD
Originally Posted by DirtySouth
Good grief! This thread cracks me up.
Touchless = Only water touches your car
That means theres no way its gonna leave swirl marks or scratch your paint. I suppose its possible it could strip away a little wax if the water pressure was high enough, but thats just a fact of life. I use touch-less/free car washes when I don't have time to do it by hand. But, I MUCH prefer to do it by hand. Its rare that I find a touch-free wash that gets its done to my satisfaction.
I will say this though, in the winter time, they're great for getting all the snow, salt and muck off your ride when you're in a hurry.
This thread cracks me up.Touchless = Only water touches your car
That means theres no way its gonna leave swirl marks or scratch your paint. I suppose its possible it could strip away a little wax if the water pressure was high enough, but thats just a fact of life. I use touch-less/free car washes when I don't have time to do it by hand. But, I MUCH prefer to do it by hand. Its rare that I find a touch-free wash that gets its done to my satisfaction.
I will say this though, in the winter time, they're great for getting all the snow, salt and muck off your ride when you're in a hurry.
Touch free is Bull ****................
If your refering to those car washes with the nylon
brushes at some of the gas stations they will mess
you G up big time. That's all they used to have
before the hand washes became popular. They leave
fine scratches down both sides of your car where the
brushes touch...........your better off with a high
pressure hose!!
brushes at some of the gas stations they will mess
you G up big time. That's all they used to have
before the hand washes became popular. They leave
fine scratches down both sides of your car where the
brushes touch...........your better off with a high
pressure hose!!
OK, I get it now and there was a misunderstanding 
... I guess your first response set me back a lil bit ….
... I guess your first response set me back a lil bit ….
Originally Posted by WRAH
***Come on guys READ the f*cking thing before you respond! ****
Originally Posted by WRAH
I gave you credit for reading the post....... I said "as stated above" meaning you! (Your post is right above mine) then you go off saying I said you didn't read, which I said you did..... But then you didn't read my post, or read it all that well that you went off, saying I did read it... That's what I mean....
I believe that the original poster is smart enough to differentiate a touch free car wash and nylon-brushed car was ... if he didn't, then I would surely be speechless
Originally Posted by gary c
If your refering to those car washes with the nylon
brushes at some of the gas stations they will mess
you G up big time. That's all they used to have
before the hand washes became popular. They leave
fine scratches down both sides of your car where the
brushes touch...........your better off with a high
pressure hose!!
brushes at some of the gas stations they will mess
you G up big time. That's all they used to have
before the hand washes became popular. They leave
fine scratches down both sides of your car where the
brushes touch...........your better off with a high
pressure hose!!
What I don't like about touch free car washes (such as the Laser line or Aqua jet found at mobil or BP gas stations) is that they recycle the water after each car wash use. So if the truck in front of you in line just came back from trailing/off roading in the mud/dirt, you'll be getting some of that dirt on your car as well through the recycled water (which isn't purified 100%).
Hmm... never tried those 2 touch free car wash ... all car wash I have used, as far as I concern, never used recycle water < the dirty water goes straightly into drainage> ... It would be suck if those car wash used recycle water though....
Originally Posted by Demonteverde
What I don't like about touch free car washes (such as the Laser line or Aqua jet found at mobil or BP gas stations) is that they recycle the water after each car wash use. So if the truck in front of you in line just came back from trailing/off roading in the mud/dirt, you'll be getting some of that dirt on your car as well through the recycled water (which isn't purified 100%).
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: St. Petersburg, FL
Yeah the touchless wont damage your paint, but it wont get all of the grime off either. Most people make the mistake of driving through the touchless and then hand drying their car. Since all the grime is not off, the drying with a towel results in swirls...
You should avoid any type of drive-through car wash, touchless or not. as MDE83 stated, they leave your car wet and its tempting to hand dry it, but the result will be you mashing the left-behind grime into your paint.
The justification that you want salt and snow etc to get off your car is, well not a very good one. The fact is that unless you are storing your car in a heated garage where all the salt/slush is melting every night, you really are better off waiting until spring to wash your car! The salt is only activated when it is wet and warm, thus parking your car outside, the salt is just sitting ontop of you (hopefully waxed) car and is doing no damage at all.
If you can stand to have a dirty-looking car in the winter, I would recommend you jsut leave it, and if you cannot, I would suggest going to a professional detailer in town, where they have a heated garage, and can properly wash and DRY your car fully.
FYI, I detailed cars for a living for approx 5 years, (not anymore) and I can tell you as long as you wax your car in the fall before the snow starts, you should make it out unscathed! Just be sure to use multiple mits in the spring, along with a high-pressure washer
The justification that you want salt and snow etc to get off your car is, well not a very good one. The fact is that unless you are storing your car in a heated garage where all the salt/slush is melting every night, you really are better off waiting until spring to wash your car! The salt is only activated when it is wet and warm, thus parking your car outside, the salt is just sitting ontop of you (hopefully waxed) car and is doing no damage at all.
If you can stand to have a dirty-looking car in the winter, I would recommend you jsut leave it, and if you cannot, I would suggest going to a professional detailer in town, where they have a heated garage, and can properly wash and DRY your car fully.
FYI, I detailed cars for a living for approx 5 years, (not anymore) and I can tell you as long as you wax your car in the fall before the snow starts, you should make it out unscathed! Just be sure to use multiple mits in the spring, along with a high-pressure washer
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 734
Likes: 1
From: Sunny CA
I know of two (same owner) in the Bay Area. One in Santa Clara the other in south San Jose. Called 'Tan's'. Only carwash I would trust my car to... They've been around for years and you see high end cars as well as custom jobs going through there. OK if you are in a bind.. otherwise rather do it myself.
Even some so-called 'hand wash' places are not that careful, and do not change sponges/cloths enough or keep them clean.
As much as they might care, they will never care about your car as much as you do.
Even some so-called 'hand wash' places are not that careful, and do not change sponges/cloths enough or keep them clean.
As much as they might care, they will never care about your car as much as you do.
Last edited by fortified; Sep 20, 2006 at 01:14 PM.