Automatic Car Washes

[10,500RPM]

Please stop using these friggin things.
My uncle gave me his work car for a machine polish in May because he planned to sell it and it had never been polished. It left looking something like this (I cleaned the (waterbased) polish splatter off after these were taken, I didn't want to miss the setting sun )

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...m/DSC01153.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...m/DSC01144.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...m/DSC01145.jpg

He took it away to get the bumpers painted (they should be removed before they are painted so overspray/ bodyshop holograms weren't an issue) and it was supposed to come back the next week for trim dressing and a few finishing touches before I took the pictures and advertised it.
This week he phoned me and said that he wasn't going to bother getting the bumpers painted but wanted the interior cleaned and a quick wash. This is what it looks like now

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...-11-2010-2.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...-11-2010-1.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...30-11-2010.jpg

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...-11-2010-3.jpg

The car hasn't done many miles (7/8k) but he (proudly) told me that he took it to the car wash at least once every two weeks. Guess what I'm doing tomorrow

[springbok]

Car washes are satan incarnate!!

Absolute horror.

[K9d]

Due to work and other issues I haven't been able to clean my car for a week, but I would rather it was dirty than use one of those hateful places.

Can't be bothered hand washing the 159.

(Made no difference on the resale value of the Brera
all that preening and care.)

Into the Total station car wash with "softer bristles" it goes...

Jet pre wash, after wash wetwax, dry: job done.

With the occasional visits to Elephant Bleu for a good
blast at the wheels or particularly stubborn bird poop
or mosquito guts.

[twissler]

I'd refuse to work on his car if he insists on using them. You put all the hard work in to get it looking pristine and all he has to do is give it a hand wash every couple of weeks or so.

[10,500RPM]

Originally Posted by Nev

Can't be bothered hand washing the 159.

Luckily for you most people don't noice any defects unless they're proper scratches. I just thought that this thread may save a few new paintjobs. There isn't much point in us pushing people to clay their cars if they're gonna feed it through these buggers (and they all have "soft bristles" stuck on their signs )

Originally Posted by twissler

I'd refuse to work on his car if he insists on using them. You put all the hard work in to get it looking pristine and all he has to do is give it a hand wash every couple of weeks or so.

I have gave him a good talking too, he didn't notice the marks until I pointed it out to him. The car would normally go months between washes so he honestly didn't realise what he was doing. Gtechniq P1 made light work of the defects

[GTA_Nigel]

Originally Posted by Nev

Can't be bothered hand washing the 159.

(Made no difference on the resale value of the Brera
all that preening and care.)

Into the Total station car wash with "softer bristles" it goes...

Jet pre wash, after wash wetwax, dry: job done.

With the occasional visits to Elephant Bleu for a good
blast at the wheels or particularly stubborn bird poop
or mosquito guts.

Just shows you don't really love her like you did the Brera

... and the Brera has way less painted surface area to clean too.