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01-08-2013, 12:20 PM | #1 |
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Z4 in automatic touchless car wash?
Hey everyone, who's taken their E89 through an automatic car wash?
I double checked the manual and it doesn't say to avoid touchless or other car washes, and another forum is suggesting the roof seals are fine in such a car wash http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=493043 Anyone have real world experience with this? I've been so busy with work I haven't had a chance to hand wash myself, and I trust the automatic touchless machines not to damage the paint much more than the random hand wash places here in San Diego. |
01-08-2013, 01:55 PM | #2 |
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Dealer did tell me not to go through touchless as the soap they use can be corrosive to the roof seals, I think that would happen if you use it excessively, I've only tried it once just to see if there were indeed any leaks from the water pressure. To my surprise, none at all! the roof and windows are sealed better than my last VW EOS.
I still wouldn't risk excessive touchless wash for the strong soap they use, but I find self-serve coin washes quite good during the winter, where hand wash is just too brave. random handwash places are sketchy imo. If i'm going to have the car hand washed it would be my own hands.
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01-08-2013, 01:58 PM | #3 |
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I did use a high pressure hose to clean my car and every time the roof seal leaked, so whenever doing that part would not aim the hose at it!!!!
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01-08-2013, 04:14 PM | #4 |
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I haven't had any leaks from the automatic touchless car washes and I use them fairly regularly.
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01-08-2013, 04:20 PM | #5 | |
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Quote:
Thanks for the heads up about the pressure washer |
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01-08-2013, 09:26 PM | #6 |
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How do you get scratches from touchless car wash?
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01-08-2013, 09:26 PM | #7 |
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01-10-2013, 11:20 AM | #9 |
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Been through one several times this winter. I don't like the soap, but it beats the hell outta me doing it in 35F and rainy weather. Never noticed a leak. As to the soap eating the seal??? if that happens, BMw better step up. That would be absurd.
Pretty soon I'll have my external hot water hose bib plumbed and I'll hand wash from them on out.
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01-11-2013, 01:43 AM | #10 |
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Thanks for the reassurance everyone! I took my Z into an automatic touchless car wash this evening and the came out with a dry exterior!
Unfortunately, I also came out with a decent amount of road grime still on the exterior so I'll have to follow up with a hand wash this weekend anyway. |
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01-11-2013, 03:11 AM | #11 |
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I would never take the Z4 through any automatic car wash, but that's just me. Too many things to go wrong in addition to just generally not doing a good job. I agree that folks that have to drive in winter climates have it tough in that regard, but I would think/hope there would be a reputable enclosed hand-wash place that would wash it for you for a reasonable price.
I live about 1,000 feet from a Laser Wash, and I've been tempted. But to me spending 60-90 minutes gently washing it myself is time well spent. |
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01-11-2013, 03:33 AM | #12 |
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I too always hand wash mine. Partly because the paintwork is immaculate and partly because you never know what angles some of that high pressure water is at... you're just one jet and one seal away from a very wet interior!
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01-11-2013, 06:52 AM | #13 |
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I found this quote in a car magazine and i think it applies to most enthusiasts: "I had a nightmare that I let somebody wash my car!...i woke up in cold sweat screaming"
it was an ad for car wash soap *i dont think everyone has an ability to do this but i personally prefer it
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01-11-2013, 09:44 AM | #14 |
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Hand wash of course is the best since one only uses recommended car wash materials as recommended by BMW.
As for the touch free or other car washes one never knows what effect the cleaning detergents they use has on your many retractable hardtop seals. Keep in mind that seal deterioration will only happen as time moves on. When I had my Z4 and did not have time to hand wash I used a self service car wash that has the high pressure nozzles and only used the "Rinse" to clean the car dirt off never the soap option.
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01-11-2013, 03:35 PM | #15 |
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I hear you guys on hand washing. I try to hand wash whenever possible so I am 100% sure the cleaning is done how I prefer. As I'm sure you all know sometimes other stuff has to get prioritized over cleaning the car by hand.
Interesting speculation on the soap corroding seals. My personal speculation is that is a little bit of marketing hype from soap companies combining with typical OCD enthusiast paranoia. I would love to see tech on how the soap compares with the everyday smog / pollutants our cars are subjected to regularly anyway. Now that I know the car's roof seals are tight enough for this particular car wash I'm going to stretch out my hand washes by maintaining the car at this touchless place. |
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01-14-2013, 07:44 AM | #17 |
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I think the main problem with the touchless systems is the soap they use. It will strip wax off your car and if left on the paint for an extended time it will cause spotting that is extremely difficult to remove. Some are worse than others.
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01-14-2013, 02:20 PM | #18 |
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I havent had any issues either
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11-25-2022, 11:30 AM | #20 |
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From personal experience, if I had to choose to use a commercial carwash, I'd rather use the brush ones. The touchless one has sprays that are more powerful and I think that's how I got a little leak somewhere but luckily it wasn't permanent. YMMV.
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11-25-2022, 03:02 PM | #21 |
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Here in New Hampshire, they plow, salt and sand all the roadway as soon as the snow starts falling in Winter. My car wash hose freezes in the garage in Winter, so I use both touchless, and full washes with under carrage rinse. You'd be surprised at how much sand falls from under the car. In Spring I get under with a good hose rinse for all that salt. I also have to watch if I park outside. Porcupines will lick the underside and knaw on hoses for the salt. My cars are always garaged, but not the truck. I chase those porkies off with a broom when I see them around the truck. I keep away from those quills. I also have to remove the front plate from my Z4. I have it mounted using the tow bolt on. Car washes my rip the plate off, or bend it.
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11-25-2022, 04:09 PM | #22 |
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I never use automatic car washes that use brushes. These ruin the paint fast.
Been to a touchless/ brushless automatic carwash once with the Z4 during almost 7 years of ownership. Mainly just to see how the roof would hold up. Mine at that one time held up fine. Zero leaks. But I have seen pictures where water was coming in from the ceiling between the seats at such a car wash. check this: https://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=560845 So that was the first thing that made me avoid automatic car washes. Second thing is that i think those carwashes dont do a proper job. Mainly they dont dry the car perfectly and you get waterspots on it. I mainly use 2 ways to wash my car: 1. Wash it myself or use self service carwash for that. I always have a bag with microfiber towels in the trunk. Once im done washing and rincing the car off i take 2 microfiber towels, make them damp and wipe/ dry the car over including door gaps, trunklid seals , inside gas cap door and other panel gaps. I check towel after each wipe ,if it got dirty, say you missed a spot when washing then flip it and change the side. Thats why i use 2 towels for drying the car. 1st on gets dirty i use the second one. Result is perfectly clean car with no watersports or anything. And you can use your own products like wheel cleaners at selfservice carwashes too if needed. Of cource this method is not ideal when your car is really dirty, its better if you do it more often and maintain cars cleanliness. And all selfservice carwashes are not equal. Some use better products like shampoos etc. and after the wash your car is actually clean and towel does stay clean when doing the drying. But i have come across a few selfservice washes where even if you take your time and be thorough it just doesnt fully clean the car and when you start drying your car with a towel it just gets dirty right away. So try to find a proper, newer selfservice carwash for that, where people running it dont use the cheapest products. Also it helps if you have ceramic coating or wax on the car to protect it. Ceramic coating does really protect the paint when drying it with the towel. Wax helps but you have to do it often and it doesnt protect as well. But IMO wax does give a better shine and look than ceramic coating. 2. If i dont have time or place to wash the car myself i take it to a handwash service. Theres one handwash place here that has a proper cafe for its customers. So i can just turn up, give my keys, go to the cafe,sit down, enjoy some coffee and do some work on my laptop. When car is done i get notified and can leave. Not the cheapest but i like the place, service is good, coffee is good and they do everything as i would, handdry the car, do door gaps and even wipe the dash and clean floormats. Almost as good as if i had gone and washed it myself. Last thing what i would say is dont rush with the cleaning of your car. Sometimes its better to just wait, keep it dirty and do it properly later than do it quickly in an automatic carwash with brushes or even wash it yourself in a rush. Take time, do it properly: your car will look spotless and paint lasts longer.
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Last edited by KennyP; 11-25-2022 at 04:18 PM.. |
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