Convertibles going through a car wash

[Mystic Slippers]

Just followed a BMW Z4 through a car wash,never seen a convertible go through a car wash.
I suppose they must be pretty watertight i cant imagine a MGF or similar going through one.
A boring sunday otherwise ,just thought it unusual.

[Cock Womble 7]

I wouldn't do it myself.

[Shaw Tarse]

Cock Womble 7 said:

I wouldn't do it myself.

It does depend on the convertible

[Cock Womble 7]

Shaw Tarse said:

Cock Womble 7 said:

I wouldn't do it myself.

It does depend on the convertible

True, although I suppose I could take some shower gel in with me.

Two birds, one stone and all that.

[wildcat45]

Me neither though I guess my MX5 would stand it. If I recall correctly the handbooks for the MG Fs and TF I had specifically told me not to carwash them.

Mind you after a bad experience with a car wash i 2002 with a Volvo where my car was damaged, I'd not use one anyway.

[billzeebub]

Don't even see the point financialy of doing this any more, when every car park has some East European gentlemen charging a fiver for a hand wash (though even then I always tell them to leave the hood)..I have just replaced the hood on mine due to the cretinous previous owner using a high-pressure hose on stitching!

[richard300]

billzeebub said:

Don't even see the point financialy of doing this any more, when every car park has some East European gentlemen charging a fiver for a hand wash (though even then I always tell them to leave the hood)..I have just replaced the hood on mine due to the cretinous previous owner using a high-pressure hose on stitching!

The thought of those guys in the car-parks, and how many times they probably drop their cloths, sponges, leathers on the floor and just pic them up full of grit, and how they probably apply as much tyre dressing to the wheels as they do the tyres, makes me cringe.

[fozzymandeus]

No way in hell mine'd go through a car wash.

It's really best if it doesnt rain on it, and ideally I'd like someone to invent an equivalent of that dry-shampoo stuff girls use on their hair sometimes so I could wash the car without any water at all.

[Eighteeteewhy]

Just asking for problems if you ask me, whatever the car. Saying that I wouldn't take any car through a car wash, not a "brush" one anyway.

[mat777]

A few years ago Dad borrowed a mid-2000's CLK convertible whilst its owner wanted our estate car to move house with. After a several hundred mile blat up the motorway in winter it was horrendously filthy so we took it to the carwash and it went though with absolutely no problems whatsoever. I remember at the time being amazed at how many layers the roof had, and how thick it was and how quiet and refined the car was inside. I guess that roof design has come on so much these days compared to the likes of kit cars and budget soft-tops that it has really ceased to be an issue for high end cars

[deltashad]

I jet washed the MGF last year, took all the waterproofing out of the fabric, don't do it unless you want to convert your convertible into a swimming pool.

[deltashad]

I fixed the porous roof by applying tent waterproofing spray. (cost a fiver for the bottle) Its now watertight again

[Shaw Tarse]

deltashad said:

I jet washed the MGF last year, took all the waterproofing out of the fabric, don't do it unless you want to convert your convertible into a swimming pool.

Can't you just reproof it?

[billzeebub]

richard300 said:

billzeebub said:

Don't even see the point financialy of doing this any more, when every car park has some East European gentlemen charging a fiver for a hand wash (though even then I always tell them to leave the hood)..I have just replaced the hood on mine due to the cretinous previous owner using a high-pressure hose on stitching!

The thought of those guys in the car-parks, and how many times they probably drop their cloths, sponges, leathers on the floor and just pic them up full of grit, and how they probably apply as much tyre dressing to the wheels as they do the tyres, makes me cringe.

Wasn't saying it was ideal, but I would go for this option every time over a machine wash. I only use them rarely when I haven't had time to clean a car and have date/meeting etc, and usually only the RR, as I just can't ever be bothered to clean that and most do not differentiate price wise between Corrado or RangeRover!

[j4ckos mate]

I always wash mine myself two bucket method

i work opposite an Iranian car wash, i watched him drag a sponge over the alloys of a car, then the very next car was a 456. nicely covered in van brake dust.

i always do it myself now, and id never use a car wash,

[romeogolf]

Never taken the SLK through an auto-wash, but take it to hand-wash places all the time. The ones in Tesco car parks do a really good job, better than I could (be bothered) to do myself!