[wmcforum]

I took the Berlingo to the car wash yesterday, the automated one where a couple of nice chaps jet wash you first.

They were running an offer £2 for wash 1. Bargain. As I was inching along inside feeling proud of my cut price wash I noticed wash 1 was illuminated on the display only basic was below this (same automated wash but no pre was) however there was about 8 options above wash 1 culminating in a super HD something or other. I wondered if anyone can tell me if there is any real advantage in moving up the wash gauge or is it just a waste of money.
I only get it cleaned as it rests under a tree full of birds that eat dark berries.

In the swishing drying process it ripped off the rear windscreen wiper which I managed to retrieve and no harm done, lots of shouting at me for entering the car wash but hey ho.

Topic

[Noel]

I usually get mine hand washed by the lads in an old garage forecort at the end of the village, its £5 but that includes a free air freshner. Looks brand new for a few hours.

[mitch]

i still manage to do mine myself just about, need radox and a lie down afterwards though.

i have used the guys outside dobbies once, and to be fair they did a decent job they even opened both doors and did the inside sills. £6 for a small car.

[Winston]

About 10 years ago I lived quite close to a big fancy automated machine, I tried it a few times, every 6 months they would another option it seemed, HD wash, Super HD wash, Ultra HD wash lol

I saw absolutely no difference moving from the £3 to £8, I only used it a handful of times as it was more handy location wise than it was good,

You can’t beat a bit of hands on elbow grease for cleaning a car to a decent level, jet washing only takes off so much

Now I’m not able to clean my car myself these days

One thing to watch out for with your £5 eatern European or Asian car washes apart from the obvious swirls in your paintwork it will ultimately leave, is the ones that used acid to “clean” your alloys, this ovetime will corrode your brake callipers and wheel hubs, whilst it’s not terminal it can make the affected area look awful especially if you have nice big alloys

If you need to use them and aren’t bothered too much with the paint swirls just ask them what the spray on the wheels and if it’s the acid wash stuff go somewhere else or tell them not to bother with it

[Craig]

I don’t use car washes as in the past got scratches doing so. I get a guy to valet mine every few months.

[Winston]

I’m lucky one of my best friends is mobile valeter/detailer

So that’s what I use, although I’ve been caught short the odd time or been dive bombed by seagulls a few times and nipped into those forecourt 5r washes

[Shaine]

When we had our BMW 1 series a couple years back we were entitled to a free monthly wash at the dealership. I never used it as I like to take care of my own cars (the car is for my son) but I thought that was a nice idea?

[Mike]

I get mine washed by beautiful ladies from Russia £6

[joss]

I use the Eastern block hand car was just down the road. I have used these guys over the last 3 years. They guys never change as they are well looked after. Over the years I have got them to stop using sponges for the paint work. Now they use the lambswool mits.  Same with the wheel was. got them to change to no acid base.

I always tip well  and enjoy the crack with them. £6.00 for my BMW x2 that includes glass inside all door jams and sills including rear hatch.

Joss
Current car: BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In metallic Portimão Blue. 04:10:2025
Previous car:Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.

[smoggy]

As to the actual clean no not really Ive never noticed much difference it definately makes a difference to how long it stays clean for.

The super HD £11 thing has some nice hydrophobic action going on taking that nasty dirt infused rain away from the vehicle. A life saver if a black car 🙂

Motability wise due to lease length you wouldnt really notice the benefits but if it was a private car and your keeping it for 10 year you would see the beneift from the occassional top of the rung clean especially if a slaty muddy area as it usually includes undercarriage clean and protection

[Winston]

A few weeks before I was due to collect my car I got in touch a local company who are fantastic valeters/detailers etc

If you look on their website they seem to get the lambos and ferraris ( can’t imagine there are loads about here ) aswell as the top spec German marques etc

They do normal valets for every day average cars aswell, so there is no snobbery from their end

I’ve used them a few times over the years for mini valets etc

Anyways as I had went for the nice Oryx white on the new car which has a pearl finish I enquired about their ceramic protection service for new cars

This was their reply.. ?

By the way I’m not tight by any means but needless to say I wasnt tempted to go for this lol

I’d be lucky if I spent 800 beans in cleaning the car over the 3 years of having it ?

If I had a G wagon or Urus and the cash to blow then yes… Alas this is not the case ?

……………………………………..

Thanks for your enquiry.

Our Opti-Coat Pro ceramic coating package is ideal for new cars.

This package includes:

Detail wash.
Paintwork clay barred.
Paintwork machine polished.
Opti Coat Pro applied to paintwork and wheels.
Optiseal applied to paintwork and wheels.
5 year Opti-Coat warranty.
First maintenance wash free of charge with demo on how to maintain your coating.

The coating protects against:

• Oxidation
• Bird droppings
• Hard water spots
• Hot brake dust
• Harsh chemicals

And much more.

The cost of this package for your car is £800.

Please let me know if you would like to proceed with a booking or if you have any further questions please

[Mike 700]

Just over the ‘Prince of Wales Bridge’  (Second Severn Crossing) ,at Magor Services, in Gods own country there is a brushless car wash -it just uses water spays and an air dryer, just the thing for newish paintwork.

Not cheap, usually about £9 or £10 I think, but worth it to protect the expensive metallic or premium paint job ?

Free travel over the bridge these days.

[Winston]

All bridges are free in Scotland ???????

Even to those poor unfortunate fellow who Don’t have a blue badge ?

[joss]

These guys are local to me and offer a great service at a cost. If I owned my car It would be worth having done.

Have a look at their website. They work on some awesome cars.

Joss
Current car: BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In metallic Portimão Blue. 04:10:2025
Previous car:Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.

[Macca]

I pay £2.50 at the local IMO, which was fully refurbished a year ago. Its never caused any damage to any of the cars we’ve had.

I use Turtlewax ICE every now and then for a great hassle free shine.

Never needed anything else.

Simples.

[vinalspin]

Older cars that were painted in cellulose especially solid colours used to get scratches from the rollers in car washes but the paint used on modern cars doesn’t suffer the same fate as most cars are painted with water based paints that aren’t very tough it’s the lacquer top coats that are applied to even solid colours that give them an incredibly tough surface and easily able to withstand going through a car wash on a regular basis.

[martino]

sounds great

[Author]

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