car wash safety

[cindymoon]

Has anyone ever taken their beetle into a car wash? I'd like to do that for when I don't have the time to clean by hand. I'm just wondering if its safe to drive through one with that antenna sticking out on top? Any way to lower it? Would it break off?

Thanks for any help!

[from Margaritaville...]

You should unscrew the mast of your antenna before allowing it through the car wash. Personally, I would rather drive around with 5# of dirt spread on my car and wait until I had time to remove it by hand rather than scratch up the finish in an automated car wash. Those whirling brushes have plenty of dirt on them from all the previous cars...

[diddlebug]

My antenna on my 2000 New Beetle screws off....i always take it off before running it through an automatic wash...

a good rule is never to use a automatic wash that touches your car....my dad owns a auto paint and body repair center and we see cars all the time that get damaged due to a automatic wash that actually touches the car...if one of these washes hurts your car, your pretty much out of luck due to a disclaimer that is posted somewhere which most people don't see that says "washing your car here is at your own risk" or some jib-jab like that...if you want one that does actually touch the car it's best to go to a place like Tender Touch if you have one there were it goes through and you watch behind a window and it is dryed off and vaccummed out by people that work there...i've went there before when i was really really sick and didn't feel like vaccuming it out or anything....although it can be pricey....

if i was you i would unscrew my atenna (if you can) and take it to a touchless automatic...that's what i do in the winter time.....also some automatic car washes have a little thing for your wheel to go up on so the wash knows your car is pulled up in the correct place....some have little rails that your tire goes between....check and make sure they aren't taller than the new beetle, considering it so low and the oil pan is even lower and easily damaged (i knocked mine off on a pothole the second day i had it)....i scratched up my front bumper on one of those rail things....just be more careful that me...lol...it usually takes me a few times to learn my lesson

happy cleaning

hope this helps

[digitalputty]

You can use an automatic car wash ... just not the ones with brushes. EVIL! And ... when pulling in ... watch your wheels!

[Mortville]

I've used one called Lazerwash, or something like that. They claim that it takes a scan of your car whaen you pull in so that it knows the exact shape of your car. It's a touchless pressure wash that does the trick in the winter time, or when you have no time.

[NoTop 2]

We wash our beetle in the garage here . The garage has water , floor drain and tunes !

But we can tell ya a little story . Last year we stopped at a self serve car wash to wash a 96 Buick Roadmaster that did not have a mark on it . We were on a road trip and it got dirty .

Anyways we used the foam brush and someone before us must have gotten sand on it and the complete car was sratched Bad !

Say no to foam brushes ! That car wash cost us $$$$ It was in a body shop for 2 weeks !

Nothing like doing it yourself . Also watch out for hard water spots . Keep 'em wet and dry them doing windows , and mirrors first .

As a owner of 3 show cars I know alot about detailing .

Hope we helped ...

[NBTurboFreak]

I will generaly go to a wand car wash to help get the heavy stuff off and pressuring down my IC to get all the dirt off. Then I come home, in the shade, and get a bucket of water, my sponge, and a drying towel and hand wash one panel at a time. It takes a little time but it is the personal touch. Next I detail, wax, and do the wheels and tires, then go to work on the interior and motor. Takes me about 4 good hours on a weekend. In the end I can stand back and admire how my car looks again.

[WNAB911]

I run mine through the local car wash every week. I have never had a problem and have even won a trophy for best "daily driver" at a show on a Saturday morning after running it through the car wash on Friday night!

I think you just have to be careful about where you go and how they maintain their equipment.

[dunno513]

I personally never use the "old style carwashes" The new touchless washes are a thing of beauty, but you have to stick with the newer ones with the high tech washers. Older ones just don't do the trick. I have yet to see a gas station with a good touchless.

As for great touchless washes, Blackdog in NH seem to be the bomb. Also if you are on Manchester St in Concord, just past VIP there is a wash set back off of the road. Best I have used yet and it's only 6 bucks for the basic wash.