OK to take new car thru car wash?

1741 Views 6 Replies 6 Participants Last post by dmyles, Jan 25, 2002

jrubin

Discussion Starter · Jan 25, 2002

I seem to remember hearing that it's not a good idea to wash a new car becasue of damage to the paint finish. Anybody know if this is really true?
(My 2000mi MDX is really dirty...)

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I would not use one with spinning brushes, as they can scratch the finish -- new or old. A touch-free would be the safest if you have one nearby, but they don't get ALL of the dirt off -- just most of it. I've used one with "undulating cloth strips," which worked well.

MDXs definitely look better clean and shiny!

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TheWorm

· #3 · Jan 25, 2002

That '30 days for the paint to cure' deal no longer applies to new cars (generally still does for aftermarket repaints, tho).

An automatic carwash will scratch a brand-new-off-the-lot MDX just the same as a year-old one.

If you're gonna do an automatic carwash rather than wash by hand yourself, be sure and do a touchless or hand-only to save yourself from scratches, esp if your MDX is one of the darker colors.

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Fireblade6

· #4 · Jan 25, 2002

jrubin said:
I seem to remember hearing that it's not a good idea to wash a new car becasue of damage to the paint finish. Anybody know if this is really true?
(My 2000mi MDX is really dirty...)

HELL NO!!! I wouldn't let ANYONE touch the paint surface of my MDX with a ten foot pole.

Wash and detail your MDX yourself. If you pay "car wash" prices to get your MDX at your local gas station or car wash places...YOu will end up with an MDX full or "Spider-web"

Professional cleaning and detailing...from the people who really really take good care of your vehicle run anyware from 99.00 to 500.00 per session. Do it yourself..there is a better satisfaction by seeing it clean from your own labor.

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jrubin

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 25, 2002

P.S. I live in Wisconsin

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-=Ice-T=-

· #6 · Jan 25, 2002

Uh oh...I just recently too my car through a local gas station automatic car wash. It had brushes and everything. Should I worry about any damage? Should I go get it professionally coated now?

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dmyles

· #7 · Jan 25, 2002

For those of us NOT in Ca or FL............

I hear ya...I live in upstate NY so as far as I'm concerned, #1) spending 2 hours washing, waxing, etc. is absurd right now because as soon as it's clean, it'll be dirty again (with all the salt and crap on the roads). You'd wouldn't get to enjoy the satisfaction of your labor for too long (1/2 day if you're lucky). #2) it's too freakin' cold to be handwashing. But I don't like my MDX dirty either AND I don't want to take it through any carwash (even softcloth), mainly because i'm afraid of the antenna getting ripped off.

So what I'm doing is making frequent stops at those 24/7 coin operated deals that have the high pressure hoses, etc. I pass one on my way to work. I've been averaging about 2-3x per week--- which sounds like a lot, but it's only about $2 each time and takes me less than 5 minutes. No, the X isn't absolutely perfect when I'm done, but it looks great for now and this process keeps the salt off. Once the weather gets better, I'll retreat back to the hand-detailing on Saturday mornings, but for now that amount of effort gets wasted.

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OK to take new car thru car wash?

jrubin

frostyra

TheWorm

Fireblade6

jrubin

-=Ice-T=-

dmyles

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