Just got through putting on my Volk LE37's, gunmetal/polished lip. I would hand wash it myself but it's so damn cold in NY. Will a regular car wash be ok if I tell them not to spray anything on the wheels and if the wheel clearance isn't a problem. The only thing I'm worried about is the rotating brushes that clean the side of the car plus the wheels.

What does everyone else with aftermarket wheels do? Only handwash?

Oh, I will post pics real soon.

 

I would hand wash them only. My Volks have clear coated lips. The wire brushes will probably leave sratches.

 

I'm going to be so paranoid when I get my sf-challenges here. If they ever come .

 

I wouldve just waited b4 putting them on if that's your only car....stock wheels for
winter...

 

No way.. Never take your car period I think to a car wash... Just wash it yourself... I've seen I lot of cars come out from those place that are stock and came out with some problems... Especially on a dark colored car...

 

a definite no for me. the bristles will probably leave scratches all around your rim, and if your running low profile tires then your lips might be damaged by the guide rails. its just not worth the risk imo, you should take pride in cleaning your own car . if its too cold, consider getting all the dirt off with a hose and some soap and then hand drying in the garage.

 

exactly what jdbinspired mentioned. never take your car to a car wash unless it's a rental.

 

I live in an apartment and park in an underground garage, unfortunatley I don't have access to any garden hose.

 

besides the brushes you also have to worry about the movement track. the car wash i usually go to scuffed my rim one time when the track moved my car thru that Y shaped thing on the ground. the car wash said it wasnt their fault and it was in their disclaimer that anything that gets damaged is not their fault. but YMMV, i've gone there dozens of times without any problems b4 this

 

NEVER ask your car wash guys to clean your wheels other than towels !!!

REAL STORY: Our 1st SLK55 in the US with Amistad Type R rims got clear coating damage because the car wash guys in Newport Beach spread the Fxxx XXXXX on them - I don't even know what they spreaded

But, very lucky, it looks good now again

So to your question is NEVER EVER risk to take your car to car wash place with nice rims on

 

Anyone know the type of lip (anodized, chrome plated, etc..) on the Volk LE37's? I'd like to put some wax on it for protection but am worried about the outcome.

 

G-fanatic: volk lips are composed of anodized plating (similar to chrome), not polished. therefore, you SHOULD be using wax but not the other polishers (ie meguires mag/alu or any other alu. polish)

 

It's best to hand wash by yourself now...cuz you dont want others f-ing up your mods.....

 

Well i said to myself, i can't handwash the car every week so what the heck, I decided to take it to the car wash that i always go to. They have plastic covering the rails but there's a chance you can scratch the lip when entering. However, they promised me it should be ok. Well what do ya know, had my wheels on for only 2 days and on the front driver side there's a small scrap on the edge of the lip. Didn't notice it until I got home straight from the wash.

That's life i guess. Lesson learned....the hard way.

 

G-fanatic - that ding could've come from the car wash or it could've come from any piece of road debris that came flying along on the way home; you just never know.

And what is the deal with carwashes where you guys are? Don't you have brushless/no-touch washes? There's just about no place around here that still uses brushes.