Place to self-wash the Z
 

So I just moved from a house over to an apartment in Irvine. I always hand-detail the Z and I just found out that the apartment complex doesn't have a communal space for washing your own car.

Although there are a lot of auto-washes, I'm looking for a place that I can bring a bucket and do it myself for a small fee. I found one down in Lake Forest but I'm wondering if anyone knows of something closer to the 405/55 junction.

There's a coin operated hand car wash place here: car wash - Google Maps

Thanks for the tip! I'll try it out today.

Hey brother, all coin ops have that "don't use a bucket" rule. At least the ones I've seen. I usually wash mine on base, or take it to Checkered Flag Auto in Irvine (Alton/E. Yale Loop) Check out their ratings. I know no one can do a better job at cleaning your own Z, but it's better than nothing.

To beat that you can usually go later in the evenings when no one else is washing their cars...I did it for 4 months until I moved into my house.

cervantez you get the wax or the polyseal paint protector

I used to live in an apartment and looked all over for a good place to wash... BEST location I found is in the Woodbridge Pines Apartment complex. Driving up 405 north, get off on Jeffrey, take a right. Go left on Alton and then right onto W Yale Loop. Turn left onto Birdsong and go to until the street dead ends. There is a driveway at the end of the street you go back on and voila!!! open area with hoses and fresh water to wash your car. I used to go there all the time and rarely saw anyone else. If you go in the morning or evening, it stays fairly shaded.

Haven't waxed it there yet. Only super wash.

OC is that you I see every morning going north up the 405 past the 22?

I think it is :tup:

Hook the hose up to the sink run it out the window, or sliding door, wash it in the complex, if you pay for your own water, that what i was about to do even though i didnt pay my own water....

You can use warm water then, if you get yelled at go somewhere else... but if you can put the hose out on to on of the roads your good...

OK, so I tried Al's Auto Spa 24 Hour place in Lake Forest (Lake Forest & Dimension) and was pretty happy. 5 bays and about $5 for 5 minutes + $1/2 minutes or so of of the sprayer. The sprayer gives you a power wash, soap, spot-free rinse, low-power water, etc, at the flick of a dial. I'm not sure about a "no bucket" rule but I was there for 3 hours doing a complete wash/wax detail with no problems (did a pre-wash with their soap then a follow-up hand wash with Meguier's). Lots of power with the water and they have an interior detailing set of bays as well. Clean area in a very safe neighborhood and I recommend it.

I'm so happy I found a place I could use. I've always taken care of my cars but when I moved to Irvine (in late December) I ended up using the "100% hand wash" on Alton & Jeffrey, which was a horrid mistake. They scratched my clear bra and consistently only half-cleaned the Z.

Waizz, it could be me. I used to live in Belmont Shore but moved to Irvine recently. I haven't been making the 405 drive in about 2 months, though. Where are you based? I'm always on the lookout for fellow Z's.

I see the same blue Z every morning on my drive from Redondo Bch to Irvine. I spotted you before so I just thought it was you. No worries! :tup: