Z through car washes

alcheng · 01-18-2012, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

like i was telling alcheng a while ago, i prefer girls with clean underwear.

salt on the chassis is what we are trying to clean off, not so much the appearance of the paint. it's about preservation in the salt/snow belt states in the winter.

True!!

That's why I only drive the Z when the road is all clean.

But it is really hard to get the salt out of the car without going through drive-thru, right?

Z_Girl · 01-18-2012, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikkolai

if I did not want to wash it myself, I just pay extra to get it hand washed.

kenchan · 01-18-2012, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alcheng

True!!

That's why I only drive the Z when the road is all clean.

But it is really hard to get the salt out of the car without going through drive-thru, right?

not really. you can put your car on a ramp and just wash the undercarriage with a lawn sprinkler. let it run for 15-20min, then do the other end. some MINI folks were doing it and it is a very effective way to clean the bottom actually without splashing water in your face.

will be doing the same on my G in Spring.

onzedge · 01-18-2012, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

not really. you can put your car on a ramp and just wash the undercarriage with a lawn sprinkler. let it run for 15-20min, then do the other end. some MINI folks were doing it and it is a very effective way to clean the bottom actually without splashing water in your face.

will be doing the same on my G in Spring.

Morning, Mr. Kenchan!

kenchan · 01-18-2012, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onzedge

Morning, Mr. Kenchan!

hello, mr. onzedge!

alcheng · 01-18-2012, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

not really. you can put your car on a ramp and just wash the undercarriage with a lawn sprinkler. let it run for 15-20min, then do the other end. some MINI folks were doing it and it is a very effective way to clean the bottom actually without splashing water in your face.

will be doing the same on my G in Spring.

can't do that in here, because we turn off the pipe in the garage and empty it for winter, otherwise the water in the pipe will become ice and break the pipe, and big trouble will happen.

kenchan · 01-18-2012, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alcheng

can't do that in here, because we turn off the pipe in the garage and empty it for winter, otherwise the water in the pipe will become ice and break the pipe, and big trouble will happen.

in the Spring.... water freezes here in the USA too starting 32F.

alcheng · 01-18-2012, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

in the Spring.... water freezes here in the USA too starting 32F.

LOL, I think we have something in common: hate that number.

Rockcrawler · 01-26-2012, 05:34 PM

guys, I was in the car wash equipment industry..... touchless uses more aggressive chemicals.... over time, overly done, tough on your clearcoat, polycarbonate headlight lenses and lesser plastic trim pieces. The right "friction eqipment" does a respectable job and is endorsed by the majors and the german luxury majors. It uses sope, water and friction, like washing your hands, or a hand wash of your car.

So, do what you want, but don't be lulled into thinking touch free is good for ur baby.

mjg · 01-26-2012, 06:54 PM

No car wash for Z! I Did it with my G35 coupe, had so many swirls... went to one place, and they cleaned it well, but over time, always going to get swirl marks. I rather leave filth on my car then have someone scrape the car up...

Nismo_Mike89 · 05-22-2013, 12:16 PM

With all the advice guess ill be hand washing. My only problem my nismo is so LOW it cant even get up the driveway

nmjaxx9 · 05-22-2013, 12:23 PM

Ride on airbags you'll have plenty of clearance then.

Tazicon · 05-22-2013, 12:31 PM

I run mine through a touchless car wash all the time.

I have done every car I owned that way even my G that I had to be oh so careful with the paint.

critical · 05-22-2013, 03:31 PM

will never run my Z through a car wash, nor will I let a hand wash place or a dealership touch it.

been spending the last few weeks fixing years of swirl marks. looking great so far

JARblue · 05-22-2013, 03:42 PM

I will trust an occasional touchless wash (maybe 4 times total in the 2 years of ownership) when she gets really dirty and I don't have the time to hand wash. I never hand dry the car after the touchless because I don't trust that it's actually clean enough to run a towel over the paint.

I would never consider letting someone else hand wash the Z unless I know them personally and have seen their car wash habits in action. The hand wash places around here cost $50+ for the basic service and are guaranteed to swirl your paint from what I've seen. Their hand drying procedure is horrific, typically using the same small towel ($hitty, regular cotton towel - not even microfiber) for the entire car, folding it over maybe once if you're lucky

01-26-2012, 06:54 PM	#55 (permalink)
mjg Base Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: nyc Posts: 243 Drives: 13' GT 500 Rep Power: 15	No car wash for Z! I Did it with my G35 coupe, had so many swirls... went to one place, and they cleaned it well, but over time, always going to get swirl marks. I rather leave filth on my car then have someone scrape the car up... Last edited by mjg; 01-26-2012 at 07:03 PM.

05-22-2013, 12:31 PM	#58 (permalink)
Tazicon Track Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Vegas Baby! Posts: 773 Drives: German/British cars Rep Power: 14	I run mine through a touchless car wash all the time. I have done every car I owned that way even my G that I had to be oh so careful with the paint. fonzo179 likes this.

05-22-2013, 03:42 PM	#60 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 43 Posts: 36,449 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684440	I will trust an occasional touchless wash (maybe 4 times total in the 2 years of ownership) when she gets really dirty and I don't have the time to hand wash. I never hand dry the car after the touchless because I don't trust that it's actually clean enough to run a towel over the paint. I would never consider letting someone else hand wash the Z unless I know them personally and have seen their car wash habits in action. The hand wash places around here cost $50+ for the basic service and are guaranteed to swirl your paint from what I've seen. Their hand drying procedure is horrific, typically using the same small towel ($hitty, regular cotton towel - not even microfiber) for the entire car, folding it over maybe once if you're lucky __________________ 2011 370Z 6MT Sport Gun Metallic \| ARC \| CJM \| Ecutek \| FI \| Fujimura \| R2C \| SPL \| Stillen \| TWM \| Z1 \| ZSpeed \|

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01-26-2012, 05:34 PM	#54 (permalink)
Rockcrawler Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 141 Drives: 09 6MT, tr, spt, nv Rep Power: 13	guys, I was in the car wash equipment industry..... touchless uses more aggressive chemicals.... over time, overly done, tough on your clearcoat, polycarbonate headlight lenses and lesser plastic trim pieces. The right "friction eqipment" does a respectable job and is endorsed by the majors and the german luxury majors. It uses sope, water and friction, like washing your hands, or a hand wash of your car. So, do what you want, but don't be lulled into thinking touch free is good for ur baby.

05-22-2013, 12:16 PM	#56 (permalink)
Nismo_Mike89 Base Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Panama City Beach Posts: 4 Drives: Nissan370Z Nismo 11' Rep Power: 12	With all the advice guess ill be hand washing. My only problem my nismo is so LOW it cant even get up the driveway

05-22-2013, 12:23 PM	#57 (permalink)
nmjaxx9 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Middletown, Ct Posts: 5,853 Drives: 2011 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 25	Ride on airbags you'll have plenty of clearance then.

05-22-2013, 03:31 PM	#59 (permalink)
critical A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Washington Posts: 1,252 Drives: 09' 370z 7AT Rep Power: 15	will never run my Z through a car wash, nor will I let a hand wash place or a dealership touch it. been spending the last few weeks fixing years of swirl marks. looking great so far