Z through car washes

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

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kfull

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.

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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

DLSTR

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.

Attached Images

washAral.jpg (204.4 KB, 32 views)

kenchan

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.