BMW 1 Series Coupe Forum / 1 Series Convertible Forum (1M / tii / 135i / 128i / Coupe / Cabrio / Hatchback) (BMW E82 E88 128i 130i 135i)
 





 

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      04-07-2012, 09:27 AM   #1
Ronnie Sikh
Private First Class
Ronnie Sikh's Avatar
United_States
24
Rep
115
Posts

Drives: BMW 128i
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boston

iTrader: (0)

Red face Any Bad experiences with TOUCHLESS Car Washes?

Ok I know this should be in the Washing and Detailing section but it wouldn't get as much notice there, so for the sake of attention purposes I put it here (sorry lol)

But I just got my 128 a few weeks ago and washed it once about 2 weeks ago (its white). When i washed it I noticed that some dirt wash lightly still well stuck on the door about half way down ...it wasn't like noticeable but a foggy dirt residue (came off after i scrubbed it harder)

figured this time i would go to a touch less wash....any bad experiences with those? I usually prefer to wash it myself but i work two jobs and have too much going on to give it those nice long detailed washes myself....

im def staying away from regular car washes just thought touch less would be safe and keep my baby mint =D
__________________
Cool story bro....Tell it again....
Appreciate 0
      04-07-2012, 09:52 AM   #2
ken1137
Brigadier General
ken1137's Avatar
United_States
89
Rep
3,732
Posts

Drives: BMW S1000XR
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Gilbert, AZ

iTrader: (7)

Garage List
2009 e90 335i  [6.40]
Yeah, I went through a touchless wash that had a high pressure wash. Long story short...moisture got into the drivers side headlight and killed my adaptive light. My gasket was old and did not seal properly, but BMW replaced the headlight so I was lucky. I now go to a touch less wash that is not high pressure, rinse with my pressure washer at home (from Home Depot) and then follow that up with Meguiars Quick Detail. I also have my car detailed twice per year. GL.
__________________

BMWCCA member
Appreciate 0
      04-08-2012, 08:25 AM   #3
ksparks
Private First Class
3
Rep
140
Posts

Drives: 2010 135i
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Brooklyn

iTrader: (0)

pop for the extra few dollars and get a hand car wash, you are working 2 jobs and all
Appreciate 0
      04-08-2012, 08:42 AM   #4
ZIPNBYE
Let's save military ranks for those who earn it!
ZIPNBYE's Avatar
Canada
45
Rep
1,161
Posts

Drives: ...on the Ragged Edge
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada

iTrader: (6)

Garage List
Speaking with a detailing guy about touchless, the chemicals used are so harsh, they're quite bad for your plastic, rubber, and other soft surfaces, and they'll strip the wax off your car. Avoid at all cost.
__________________
Richard
2013 BMW M3 Individual -- Fire Orange (sold)
2013 BMW X1 xDrive35i M-Sport -- Valencia Orange (sold)
2011 BMW 1-series M Coupe (#205/220) -- Valencia Orange (sold)
2009 BMW 135i M-Sport Coupe -- Space Grey (sold)
Appreciate 1
Olgeezer1173.00
      04-08-2012, 04:04 PM   #5
bmw1racer
bimmerphile, technogeek
bmw1racer's Avatar
United_States
998
Rep
3,784
Posts

Drives: 2012 E82 6MT Sport
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
It's sacrilege to do anything else but wash your car yourself, IMO.
__________________
Appreciate 1
Olgeezer1173.00
      04-08-2012, 04:34 PM   #6
BrokenVert
Resident Kerbalnaut
BrokenVert's Avatar
United_States
477
Rep
10,703
Posts

Drives: Topless Brute/Hybrid Boogaloo
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Fahrvergnügen/NY

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by bmw3racer View Post
It's sacrilege to do anything else but wash your car yourself, IMO.
yeah but when its -10 in syracuse and I need to get the salt off of my car at 3pm in the dark with 5 feet of snow on the ground with a 40 mph wind im not going to wash it myself.
__________________

Appreciate 0
      04-08-2012, 04:42 PM   #7
Greenkirby21
Vrooom :)
Greenkirby21's Avatar
United_States
313
Rep
2,602
Posts

Drives: C7 Stringray
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dream Land

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by BrokenVert View Post
yeah but when its -10 in syracuse and I need to get the salt off of my car at 3pm in the dark with 5 feet of snow on the ground with a 40 mph wind im not going to wash it myself.
here in texas we are in a drought so we arent even allowed to use a water hose : <
__________________
2014 C7 Corvette Stringray - Laguna Blue - NPP Exhaust - Competition Seats
Appreciate 0
      04-08-2012, 09:24 PM   #8
bmw1racer
bimmerphile, technogeek
bmw1racer's Avatar
United_States
998
Rep
3,784
Posts

Drives: 2012 E82 6MT Sport
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrokenVert View Post
yeah but when its -10 in syracuse and I need to get the salt off of my car at 3pm in the dark with 5 feet of snow on the ground with a 40 mph wind im not going to wash it myself.
That's illogical, since wherever you get it washed, it'll get dirty/salty once you drive it home... And would any car washes be open with those weather conditions?
__________________
Appreciate 0
      04-08-2012, 09:29 PM   #9
ken1137
Brigadier General
ken1137's Avatar
United_States
89
Rep
3,732
Posts

Drives: BMW S1000XR
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Gilbert, AZ

iTrader: (7)

Garage List
2009 e90 335i  [6.40]
Quote:
Originally Posted by bmw3racer View Post
That's illogical, since wherever you get it washed, it'll get dirty/salty once you drive it home... And would any car washes be open with those weather conditions?
Well, when it is 20-35 F it is still too cold to hand wash your car. Let alone the fact that all my hoses are stored in the shed for Winter. Yes, car washes are open so I do a quick detail aftwerwards in my garage with heaters Spring, Summer, and Fall are for hand washing.
__________________

BMWCCA member
Appreciate 0
      04-08-2012, 10:20 PM   #10
Golden3ye
Lieutenant
Golden3ye's Avatar
497
Rep
568
Posts

Drives: 2020 BMW M2 CS
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Missouri

iTrader: (0)

I use the power wand car washes from time to time, not very often since I discovered Optimum No Rinse, but sometimes I need to head up to the car wash to blast off some stubborn bugs. What I really need to do is get some sort of product designed to get the bugs off that way I dont need to blast my paint with high power water to remove them.

Havent had my car during winter, I dont know what I will do when it is 10 degrees out and my car is covered in salt and road sludge. Gonna get a propane heater for the garage I guess
__________________
2020 M2 CS | Black Saphire Metallic | DCT / CCB

SOLD:
2012 135i | Le Mans | 6MT
1986 535i | Cirrus Blue Metallic | 5MT
Appreciate 0
      04-09-2012, 03:27 AM   #11
BrokenVert
Resident Kerbalnaut
BrokenVert's Avatar
United_States
477
Rep
10,703
Posts

Drives: Topless Brute/Hybrid Boogaloo
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Fahrvergnügen/NY

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by bmw3racer View Post
That's illogical, since wherever you get it washed, it'll get dirty/salty once you drive it home... And would any car washes be open with those weather conditions?
you've obviously never lived in a snowy place
__________________

Appreciate 0
      04-09-2012, 06:10 AM   #12
Section147
Good To Be Alive!
Section147's Avatar
United_States
13
Rep
617
Posts

Drives: Lotsa Stuff
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: The North Coast

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
What would be illogical would be to allow layer upon layer of winter's deposits to accumulate on your finish, just
as it would to not wash you car for weeks to remove whatever it is that stockpiles on your paint there in SoCal...
Appreciate 0
      04-09-2012, 08:37 AM   #13
bmw1racer
bimmerphile, technogeek
bmw1racer's Avatar
United_States
998
Rep
3,784
Posts

Drives: 2012 E82 6MT Sport
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrokenVert View Post
you've obviously never lived in a snowy place
You're right.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      04-09-2012, 09:09 AM   #14
BrokenVert
Resident Kerbalnaut
BrokenVert's Avatar
United_States
477
Rep
10,703
Posts

Drives: Topless Brute/Hybrid Boogaloo
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Fahrvergnügen/NY

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by bmw3racer View Post
You're right.
I can tell. If you had youd know that you always get the salt off, you dont let it cake up
__________________

Appreciate 0
      04-09-2012, 09:13 AM   #15
doublevanosrc
Loves his G20
doublevanosrc's Avatar
265
Rep
2,508
Posts

Drives: 2020 330ix M sport
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Austin. Tx

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2013 BMW  [0.00]
Go to one of those places where you put in quarters and you wash it yourself. I've had only one issue with touchless carwashes in the past, most of the time the car has to be lined up and put on a rail type system. Since our cars has low profile tires the rim might get small scratches on them.
__________________

2020 330ix-Msport
Past-
2013 135i
2011 135i
Appreciate 0
      04-09-2012, 09:24 AM   #16
Dackelone
European Editor
Dackelone's Avatar
Germany
10511
Rep
22,992
Posts

Drives: N54 e82
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Bayern, Germany

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ZIPNBYE View Post
Speaking with a detailing guy about touchless, the chemicals used are so harsh, they're quite bad for your plastic, rubber, and other soft surfaces, and they'll strip the wax off your car. Avoid at all cost.

^ +1. Not to mention the chemicals will do wonders to your shadowline trim(IF your car has M-sport). I always go to a self service wash bay with a high pressure hose. I bring my bucket(& soap) and in ten minutes I am done. Then just a simply wipe down is needed.
Appreciate 0
      04-09-2012, 10:55 AM   #17
J0E
Year One of the 1
4
Rep
87
Posts

Drives: 135i 6MT 'vert
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Denver

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dackelone View Post
^ +1. Not to mention the chemicals will do wonders to your shadowline trim(IF your car has M-sport). I always go to a self service wash bay with a high pressure hose. I bring my bucket(& soap) and in ten minutes I am done. Then just a simply wipe down is needed.
I've always hand washed all of my cars until this one... now I do this same thing. High pressure wash, use my own bucket and mitt, and use spot free rinse...

I thought I was pretty good at washing cars after doing it countless times on a weekly basis until I got my first black car... Spot free rinse is my best friend...
Appreciate 0
      04-10-2012, 09:47 AM   #18
Ronnie Sikh
Private First Class
Ronnie Sikh's Avatar
United_States
24
Rep
115
Posts

Drives: BMW 128i
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boston

iTrader: (0)

yeah i think ill use self service bays instead of my driveway, well until i get a better pressure washer for my car and better detailing tools....i don't want to damage my car with any thing from a tocuhless wash
__________________
Cool story bro....Tell it again....
Appreciate 0
      04-10-2012, 10:50 AM   #19
Dackelone
European Editor
Dackelone's Avatar
Germany
10511
Rep
22,992
Posts

Drives: N54 e82
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Bayern, Germany

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronnie Sikh View Post
yeah i think ill use self service bays instead of my driveway, well until i get a better pressure washer for my car and better detailing tools....i don't want to damage my car with any thing from a tocuhless wash

You might also want to try the No Rinse Wash stuff out. I was really blown away with how well it works. I use it mainly in the winter months though.
Appreciate 0
      04-27-2012, 01:19 PM   #20
1911A145
Captain
1911A145's Avatar
34
Rep
770
Posts

Drives: 135i
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Port Saint Lucie, FL

iTrader: (4)

I dont use them unless the car is just stupid dirty and has been at least 3 weeks between washed and I can find zero time to hand wash. Still, 10 bucks for a self service touchless wash sucks because it gets the majority off the car but the wheels and paint still end up with a thin coat and dirt or grim. I hate to use them and have tried several different places and always get the top one around 10 bucks or so.
Appreciate 0
      02-13-2023, 05:35 AM   #21
cjb762
Major
Germany
1220
Rep
1,221
Posts

Drives: 2013 135is, MG 6MT
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Stuttgart

iTrader: (1)

I would kind of be surprised if the chemicals were actually harsh enough to do any damage to the paint, especially considering how fast they are washed off.

I use Bilt Hamber Touchless, which has ph of about 12, as a pre-wash and have never had any issues. Sometimes during the winter, I just fill up a pump sprayer with 5% Touchless and pre-treat the car at a self service bay, then pressure wash it off. It is crazy how much crap it gets off all by itself.

Forensic Detailing Channel on youtube has a few really good videos on it.



He also has a video showing how paint sealants (wax, ceramic, etc) aren't really affected by a high alkaline wash.

Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:43 AM.




1addicts
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST