Z through car washes

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

kfull · 05-22-2013, 03:54 PM

I ran it through a touch less car wash once. There were different levels of cleaning you could choose so being me I chose the highest one with the clear coat protectant. There was some leftover white residue left inbetween some of the panels of the car and between the seam on outside mirrors that runs around the outside of the plastic housing. I always wash my car by hand but only did touch less one time because it was towards the end of winter and drive during the winter so I didn't wanna freeze my hands off. I would do it again if I had to, but I would just choose the lower level of cleaning with basically just soap and water being sprayed on.

DLSTR · 05-23-2013, 03:10 AM

Here the car washes are advanced. You see anything and everything at them. My local Aral station has nice wash that is typical of Germany -
You drive in, set the brake etc and walk out.
The machine moves around the car and they have a nice rotary brush that cleans the wheels etc. Cleans under the chassis in winter.

I use it 20% of the time and hand wash the other other 80%.

Zero issues. Even my neighbor takes his R8 there. No worries here at least.

kenchan · 05-22-2013, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

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

it's better to carry some QD and wipe, or wipe as your dry wax, or even better, waterless carwash spray when you're done autowashing the car cause there's still a lot of crap left on the paint.

alcheng · 05-22-2013, 11:05 PM

I want to quote that post but I think I will hold the horse on this one....

CSGLEON · 05-22-2013, 11:25 PM

I have ran my 2012 silver through a touch less several times and it does a pretty good job. I haven't noticed any damage? I get them for free and it's a quick high pressure spray that seems to do the job and a blower at the end that you can fully take your time on blowing it dry! I have read the manual about chems that are harsh but I use the soap and water option. No complaints yet..... No damage I can see after about 20 washes so far? Looks better then when i pulled it out of the dealers lot.. So guess when I notice something like spots I will complain? So far so good! I don't have 3 hours in my busy life to go and detail the Z every week. Seems ok to me....

critical · 05-23-2013, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CSGLEON

I have ran my 2012 silver through a touch less several times and it does a pretty good job. I haven't noticed any damage? I get them for free and it's a quick high pressure spray that seems to do the job and a blower at the end that you can fully take your time on blowing it dry! I have read the manual about chems that are harsh but I use the soap and water option. No complaints yet..... No damage I can see after about 20 washes so far? Looks better then when i pulled it out of the dealers lot.. So guess when I notice something like spots I will complain? So far so good! I don't have 3 hours in my busy life to go and detail the Z every week. Seems ok to me....

It's harder to see swirl marks on the silver but you should check for them.

This is the state I got my Z in. Still fixing the paint.

Before/After

onzedge · 05-23-2013, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by critical

It's harder to see swirl marks on the silver but you should check for them.

This is the state I got my Z in. Still fixing the paint.

Before/After

What is your process?

critical · 05-23-2013, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onzedge

What is your process?

Used junkman's:

Junkman's "How to Completely Repair Your Paint Damage - The Videos!

Washing
Claying
Cutting
Polishing
Waxing

2xtreme1 · 05-23-2013, 12:43 PM

Hell no!!!!

Tazicon · 05-23-2013, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2xtreme1

Hell no!!!!

What are you afraid you might ruin your Rolls Royce?

05-22-2013, 12:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tazicon Track Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Vegas Baby! Posts: 773 Drives: German/British cars Rep Power: 16	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	#5 (permalink)
JARblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Age: 45 Posts: 36,450 Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3 Rep Power: 2684442	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 \|

05-22-2013, 03:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
kfull Track Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 909 Drives: A lot Rep Power: 16	I ran it through a touch less car wash once. There were different levels of cleaning you could choose so being me I chose the highest one with the clear coat protectant. There was some leftover white residue left inbetween some of the panels of the car and between the seam on outside mirrors that runs around the outside of the plastic housing. I always wash my car by hand but only did touch less one time because it was towards the end of winter and drive during the winter so I didn't wanna freeze my hands off. I would do it again if I had to, but I would just choose the lower level of cleaning with basically just soap and water being sprayed on. __________________ 2012 GM 6MT sports package \| FI non res cf exhaust \| K&N Drop Ins \| Viper 3303 security system w/ tilt sensor \| GTR start button \| 35% rear 45% side window tint \| Michelin PSS

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Houston: Car washes	windex	Texas	2	03-18-2011 10:09 AM
Do you take your car though automatic car washes?	Pushing_Tin	The Lounge (Off Topic)	14	01-30-2009 03:22 AM

05-22-2013, 12:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
Nismo_Mike89 Base Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Panama City Beach Posts: 4 Drives: Nissan370Z Nismo 11' Rep Power: 14	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	#2 (permalink)
nmjaxx9 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Middletown, Ct Posts: 5,853 Drives: 2011 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 27	Ride on airbags you'll have plenty of clearance then.

05-22-2013, 03:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
critical A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Washington Posts: 1,252 Drives: 09' 370z 7AT Rep Power: 17	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

05-22-2013, 11:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
alcheng A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Toronto Posts: 28,894 Drives: 2011 ZR PW w/Clutch Rep Power: 418354	I want to quote that post but I think I will hold the horse on this one....

05-22-2013, 11:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
CSGLEON Base Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: austin Posts: 92 Drives: 12 370z silver Rep Power: 14	I have ran my 2012 silver through a touch less several times and it does a pretty good job. I haven't noticed any damage? I get them for free and it's a quick high pressure spray that seems to do the job and a blower at the end that you can fully take your time on blowing it dry! I have read the manual about chems that are harsh but I use the soap and water option. No complaints yet..... No damage I can see after about 20 washes so far? Looks better then when i pulled it out of the dealers lot.. So guess when I notice something like spots I will complain? So far so good! I don't have 3 hours in my busy life to go and detail the Z every week. Seems ok to me....

05-23-2013, 12:43 PM	#14 (permalink)
2xtreme1 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Eastvale, California Age: 33 Posts: 494 Drives: 11' 370Z 7 A/T Sport Rep Power: 15	Hell no!!!!