Has anyone had wheel damage from the guide tracks at automatic car washes? I have the Track wheels.

Thanks.

 

I have an enthusiast and with the stock 17's everything was ok. However, I have since upgraded to Privat Fahren 18s with 275 in the rear so I am hesitant to try the automatic car wash again. I found a do it yourself one nearby and have been using that.

 

I wouldnt let an autowash touch my car, not worth the
risk of damaging the car. In anyway.

I use those do it yourself coin pay places. Bring my own soap, towels, and rags. Those high speed pressure hoses are great.

 

yeah, I have stock 17" on my Touring and they got a little scraped up. Left side, front wheel only. I wash my own car now.

 

if you really must, Id watch a car go in, check how it works. see what tolerances it has for width, and how much of the sidewall it touches.

 

Yes, I have the track wheels and they got damaged. It was the only time I have put my car through an automatic wash when I had knee surgery and couldn't do it myself. Luckily, my dealership had screwed up my rims just before that when they flipped them around for the tire feathering. They had them re-finished for free.

 

I am a Territory Manager for 7 "Touchless" washes in NM & CO. Watch someone else go through or have someone guide you a few times. If it is activated by you drive on a plate with rollers left and right. Stay to the far inside right of the plate. I have a Tour and used almost daily until installing CAI. No problems. I take note when cars with wide wheels use and assist them in getting on the plate inorder to avoid wheel damage, especially the outside of the left front.

 

i took it to the car wash once, after i heard the inside part of the rim hit the track... that was enough for me never to go to the car wash again...

 

First and only time, front drivers wheel, scratched from what appeared to be the spinning wheel scrubers. Dont take it through! Wheel scratches did come out after hours of compound and buffing.

 

...and we wonder why the resale for a used Z is so low?

 

How about the myth of the door handles being caught by those rollers and opening the door? I think a while back someone warned of this. I guess you could lock the car as it goes in.

 

never ever take it. you'll kill your wheels. not worth the risk.

 

I had to live with a black car for one year and I've read many many posts on how to wash your car. Avoid those automatic car washes. They just wash ur car with a lil soap and reclaimed water. And they don't dry your car as good either. The wax is a joke too. It's not worth the 7-8 bucks. I only use them if its an emergency, like if I spill gas on my car for overfilling on a very hot day. And when I do I only use the cheap wash. Also, touch-free is prolly better than those brushes. They don't wash as good but they won't give u swirl marks.

Hand wash when the sun is about to set works the best.
Don't use ur wash mit to get the brake dust off. All I need is a wet rag and the dust comes off easily.

I notice alot of "drying leaks" on this car. Where water drips from parts of the car after u finish drying it, like the mirrors and rear hatch. I'm not sure about the mirror, but for the hatch, just open it and dry the wet spots.

If u go to one of those do-it-yourself washes, make sure u dry it afterwards or else u just wasted all ur quarters. And avoid the brush they provide and also avoid the wax. The wax just adds a layer of "something" on ur car. And it's a waste of time.

DO NOT GO TO THOSE PLACES ALONE AT NIGHT.
Some dude got murdered at the one I used to go to. He went there alone at night and got stabbed and his car got jacked.