CH28Kid sent me this link to a carwash that's on the lot next to our MINI dealership. Judging by the number of MINIs in the video, its a safe bet that the dealership sends MINIs through to be cleaned. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjpRVU7GKGk[/ame] Is this safe or just a lot of hype? Whenever I go the dealership I actually put a sign on my dashboard specifying NOT to wash my car. I perfer to do it myself. Thots?
A good way to find out is to get one of their loaner cars and look at the finish. I bet the finish looks pretty swirled out!
Neither do I. Back when I had a Saturn, the service department washed it by hand and did a great job. The MINI dealer has a drive through, with spinning brushes, so no way do I want my car in there with the doughnut on the stubby. :nonod: Jim
Watching that video again I think it's a lot of hype. Better technique and tools no doubt, but still not the car a hand wash gives it. Speaking of which, yesterday when I washed Spike, the door panels at the bottom had so many contaminents that it felt rough even with lots of soap and lambs wool wash mit! :eek6: Poor Spike needs a clay and polish on the door panels sooo badly
People often fail to realize that the damage from a car wash can happen at any stage whether rinsing, soaping, or drying. Just because a person wipes a car down doesn't make it safe if he just wiped your wheels and then wipes your bonnet with the same towel. I have a client that has maintained his black M6 flawlessly for two years after I worked on it. He uses the local hand wash too. But he makes them use his towels, Prima products, and he watches them like an eagle to make sure they don't scratch his paint. Works for him lol. Ok just watched the video. Interesting promo video. I don't necessarily agree with it but it's nice to know they are trying to address the issues!
I used them in the winter time to get the salt and grime off, (particularly the wheel wells) and it worked fine. They actually have (had?) people working there do a walk around to make sure nothing will fall off, put plastic to protect the windshield wipers and when the wash was done, they took the plastic off. I was so impressed, I even tipped him a couple of bucks. I'm of the impression that, in a rush, they did a better job than most of those "hand wash" places. Once spring came around and the weather improved, I did a hand detail myself.
Anyone tried this? I like them and the car is always really clean + they wash a car with less than a quarter gallon of water. Pronto Wash