Can't put a 350z through a machine car wash?
 

Hey all,

So here is my adventures with the Z from today. First off, I am located in Northern New Jersey where we have a ton of salt on the road. So much salt that when I run my fingers across the paint, a complete layer of salt comes off. I've never seen so much salt in my life and it just hurts to see my Z just stay covered in salt. I am one who is 100% against machine car washes. I just think that it's not a proper way to wash your car and will do damage. However, I was desperate. The hose was frozen and I had no other choice. So I go to the car wash where I see an extremely long line. I decided to wait it out for a total of 43 minutes. Once it was finally my turn, I pulled up and stepped out. The employee immediately demands for me to get out of line. I asked, "Why?" His response was that my car was too low to the ground and did not have enough clearance... Now I have a regular ride height, and zero mods to this car. It's stock. I was rather surprised when I was refused a car wash. Anyone else have this encounter?

Also, it sucks that I forced an entire line of 8 cars all bumper to bumper, to back up due to me having no room to back up to get out of line. Poor guys/gals.

Anyways, that's my annoying story of the day. No car wash was accomplished and now I have the hose de-thawing in the garage and hopefully will be ready for tomorrow morning.

:suicide:
Thanks for reading,
Justin

get you some onr, and wash it in your garage. two buckets... wash mit, waffle towel and microfiber towel.....
http://www.detailedimage.com/Search?q=onr

This is exactly what I need for the bitter cold winter! Thanks a lot man!

What happen is that automatic car wash usually has a rail that pulls your car through. Usually it's a gamble they didn't want to take. I heard a guy told me a bumper got dented because it was low.

The z can be too low for SOME of the machine car washes. I don't use them very often but I have scraped lightly on some of the machinery in them while pulling out before, though not always.

stuff is awesome... make it really slick and shine. get the onr, grit guards, waffle towel, rethickulus towel, wash mit, and 2 five gallon buckets.... you are good to go

nope put my z through automatic car wash before and it was fine

Take it to a DIY car wash, that no rinse stuff wont be enough to get the underside/wheel wells and all the other nooks that the salt will find. Not to mention a pre rinse to loosen and remove the top salt, unless you just want to grind that salt into the paint.

Just wait until Sunday. Looks like it will be warm enough to use a hose. At least here in NY.

I always use machine sadly there isn't enough self service I'm always fine and plus I have free car washed for life

I saw vette at the car wash today. Fairly low and he made it fine from a height standpoint. He didn't fair so well with his rims as the rear were to wide for the track and got scratched up pretty bad.

no car wash place around that offer handwash?

I know SQualz. I'm beyond excited. :thumbup:

I use a touchless car wash during the winter. The type where you drive yourself into the bay, no rails or magic carpets. When you enter, a strong spray cleans the under body/wheel wells. Then you proceed to a point and a sign tells you when to stop. Once stopped, the machine goes around and around your car, it does a total of 3 soap cycles and then 3 rinse cycles. Then on the way out, you drive your car under powerful blow dryers for up to 70 second.

This is the only car wash I use all winter. Sometimes I will go to a coin-op just to spray out the wheels/wheel wells and excess salt off the car...but that doesn't really clean. I don't lay hands on the paint of my car during the winter...I've learned from my mistakes!

I use one like this when I'm in a hurry or need underbody. Otherwise I break out the power washer and do everything by hand in the driveway.

I went to one that drags your car through the tunnel once. I was in line behind a C6 Vette so I figured I was good. Got up to the tunnel, the thing grabbed my wheel and pulled me forward and then I felt a bump and I drug along the top of the inner guide rail all the way through the wash. Luckily it was smooth and wet so it didn't do any damage.

I use a new one near my house which doesn't use machines and the car runs on a conveyor belt. I never had a clearance issue with rails, but I'm going low and getting new wheels next month so I'm done with those days.

Even on my current setup they always warned me they might scratch my wheels or destroy my exhaust on the metal tracks. Belt/microfiber hand wash is the way to go. Had a Ferrari on the belt in front of me the other day so he had the right idea. In the same boat, and my Z is black so it's completely covered in salt...I want to get it washed but they say more snow in a few days :suicide:

I've run my 350z through a few automatic car washes without having any problems.

Never have or will. I miss the easy way out sometimes.
bc ZR.

Ditto I can't imagine the issues that would come about. That said saw a Z3 in one today.

if it were me, i would run by a spray off place before using the ONR, we dont use salt on the roads here so i guess i am lucky