Well after all the rain here in Texas has passed and it is way too cold for me to go out and wash the Coupe, my GF and I decided to run it through Bubbles Car Wash. Its an automated system that has a track on the driverside to pull the car through.

We pull up to the and the guy lines us up, as we go on to the track we feel it rub the bottom of the car. Then it stops at the backwheel. We back up and the guys said he doesn't think it is going to work cause the car is too low. SO the returned our money and we went on our way to a regular car wash place.

Anyone else experience this problem with automated type car washes with the track system?

 

Frick that! I would never bring any of my cars to an automated car wash.

 

I know my car wouldn't fit... and I would never need to try.

Wash by hand or don't wash it at all.

 

^^^
werd

 

I sometimes take mine to the touchless car wash when I don't have time to wash it myself.

 

what exactly is a touchless car wash? isn't there something touching your car after the soap is applied. i never understood that.

 

Touchless is just a big spray arm that goes around your car and sprays water and soap on it and then a high pressure water blast to clean it off. And theres are big dryers at the end that blow all the water off

I use Touchless in the winters but hate them, id much rather wash my vehicles by hand, but cant when its -5 degrees out

 

Too cold ha!!

I replaced my rotors this morning and it was 25 degrees here in Austin. Just have to bundle up in layers and deal. I have to agree with 4DGS though, wash by hand or not at all.

 

i couldnt take my dads porsche in one of those car washes because his rear wheels were too wide to fit in the roller channel

 

Next time I am just going to wait and wash it by hand

 

First mistake was taking it somewhere to get it washed. Do it yourself

 

If you're going to use a car wash have them "Hand Wash" your G then you don't have issues with the tires fitting their ramps. Being there when they open everything should be clean....mitts/towels. Washing your own car in sub-zero weather can't be fun....
Gary

 

The car wash place I go to about once a week when the weather is good is an automated type deal. You go through the rollers, it sprays a bunch of crap on, they hand wash it, it rinses and blows most of the water off. Then you drive it around and they hand dry it, clean the windows, dress the tires, and you're on your way in about 10 minutes for $10. Although I used to go to another one on the other side of town, and when I had my 2002 VW GTI, it was so low that it actually half way ripped my rear bumper off. I had to make new rivet holes and take the front lip and rear kit off so it would clear properly. But havent had any problems in the G yet, stock height also.

 

I had the same problem. So now I have them just detail the inside and take it to the crackheads around the corner to do the outside. LOL

The same type of carwash rashed my rims on my 300.

 

Have any of you stuck your hand in a pail of water and washed your car by hand when it was around 32 degrees? Didnt think so. Not only are you hands frozen in seconds, being that cold out all you get is water streaks even if you wipe the car down with a dry microfiber. And youre in such a hurry to finish you might as well not even wash it.

25 degrees is nothing, try -10 on a daily basis sometimes

I agree there is nothing as good as a handwash, in the summer i wash my car twice a week but in winter it goes thru a touchless wash if I do end up taking it out of the garage if its decent out for a few days.

If you do go to a carwash that has the big cleaning mops that brush over your car, all its doing is grinding dirt into your clearcoat. Stick to touchless if you do use carwashes. USing ones with moving tires tracks is just asking for damage to your wheels or bumpers