How am I damaging my car now? Car wash related.

[QuiverKiller]

First off, I'm on the Califonication end of the spectrum when it comes to car care. I don't have a garage and park the S4 on the street. I do, however, like to get it dusted off now and again at a really convenient drive through wash. It's one of those deals where you drive up and get out, then they vac, send it through the wash, then drive it out before a few people go over it in and out with rags. Costs about $9 plus tip and does a really nice job, amazing how the wheels come out so clean. As a comparison there is a local hand-job place that charges about double, takes at least 4 times as long as you usually have to leave it there, and doesn't come out as clean in the end. So what's the problem right?

Well, my car is lowered on H&R sports. I've probably been through that wash 3-4 times before they guy that writes the ticket brought it up. I said "oh no, it's fine, I've been here before". So I sent it through again. This time I watched more carefully as it traveled through the wash tunnel, picture the car wash in breaking bad were you can go inside and watch through windows as your car goes through the wash. What I noticed is that the rollers that catch your wheel to advance it forward travel back to the start of the wash underneath the car, and I think every time one went under it was hitting the underside of my car causing it to jump a little. As the car is pretty low, and I'm pretty old, it's tough to get a good look underneath at what it might be hitting and how damaging it is.

I should probably not go back but I'd like to figure out if this is really a problem.

[chet.rowles]

Hahaha, you said hand-job

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[MrFunk]

There are so many reasons and variables why I would never take my car to automated washes like that.

- dudes that drive it on the tracks will often miss-align the wheel and curb it on the metal guide
- lowered cars will scrape along the guides damaging undercariage
- chemicals they use will break down any wax you have and degrade clear
- brushes get dirt and sand in them and scratch/swirl your paint
- many places like that recycle water - especially out west where there are water restrictions. Means you are getting used dirty water blasted at your car.
... etc... etc.

I'd watch some youtube vids and master the art of rinceless washes.

[QuiverKiller]

Hahaha, you said hand-job

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I knew someone would get a kick out of that.

[mjames]

It probably has brushes that are scratching the hell out of your car. And your car is lowered, why on earth are you doing that!!! The OCD detail freak inside me is dying right now. Hand-wash only...

[sacandagaD]

From your post, you say "you don't have a garage, park on the street, the car is low, you're old, and you don't want to pay for a hand job", so I'd say buying two buckets,grit guards, chamois mitt and some Optimum No Rinse is out of the question.
Just keep doing what your doing.

[will13k7]

if you don't have the time or can't wash it yourself, your best bet is a touchless/handwash place, but still, your paint will get marred, you will see swirl marks collect over time, and your wheels might get nicked, depending on the track setup and employees moving your car. I send my b8 s4 through the handwash now, DGAF anymore (its getting old), the only thing that rubs is the small mud flap behind the front driver side wheel, my car isn't slammed though, but I don't have wheel well gaps.

[QuiverKiller]

From your post, you say "you don't have a garage, park on the street, the car is low, you're old, and you don't want to pay for a hand job", so I'd say buying two buckets,grit guards, chamois mitt and some Optimum No Rinse is out of the question.
Just keep doing what your doing.

I'd be happy to pay for a hand job, but it's not better. Car is dirtier and it takes way too long.

Still, no one has offered a thought on what it may be hitting on the underside of my car.

Again, I DGAF about my paint, but I do care that the car remains mechanically sound.

[whiped]

What would it be hitting?

Nothing, the bottom of the car is pretty flat and covered by a felt-like lining except for the exhaust.

Unless it scrapes everything it likely isn't an issue.

If you have bigger wheels they might get nicked up as others have stated.

[jwallace0988]

I'd be happy to pay for a hand job, but it's not better. Car is dirtier and it takes way too long.

Still, no one has offered a thought on what it may be hitting on the underside of my car.

Again, I DGAF about my paint, but I do care that the car remains mechanically sound.

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[nickskeeta]

I'd be happy to pay for a hand job, but it's not better. Car is dirtier and it takes way too long.

Still, no one has offered a thought on what it may be hitting on the underside of my car.

Again, I DGAF about my paint, but I do care that the car remains mechanically sound.

Lmao....i love this thread

In all seriousness, the only way to tell what it's hitting and if its serious is to simply take a look under the car lol. Try taking it to a local shop and have them put it on a lift real quick for ya

[Crucible35]

Don't take it to either of those places......they are totally going to fuck up your car. You DGAF about your paint? Really?
You need to take your car to one of those coin ops(if you don't have a garage) and do it yourself. Don't use the brushes there either.
....or use the waterless wash as suggested above. I use ONR....even add a cap-full to my regular 2 bucket wash.

BTW - there are touchless auto wash up here that have no rails......if you insist on taking it to an auto wash, you need to find one of these. Call them "Laser Wash" up here.

[MrFunk]

If you DGAF then do what you're doing. The car wash is not going to eff your car up mechanically. It's cosmetic damage it will do.