MX5 + hand car wash....

[Toaster Pilot]

Haven't washed my MX5 since buying it a few weeks ago, normally just take my old snotters to the local hand car wash but I'm a bit nervous.

Are they going to ruin the roof with their pressure washers / harsh chemicals / etc? It doesn't leak at the moment (impressive for a £1000 convertible) and I'd like to keep it that way.

[cheesesliceking]

roof is the least of your worries, wouldn't use a hand car wash for a new car ever. if you want to keep it looking nice get it done by a professional.

[Toaster Pilot]

It's 11 years old and cost £1000 so I'm not that precious over it, just don't want to bugger the roof

[thatdude]

Jet wash might push through seals or whaever...it'll find any weak points, thats for sure.

Can you not just quickly do it yourself, bucket of water, some car shampoo?

Else have a chat with them, ask them to be very careful. Then if they bugger it up, maybe you can get them to pay for it!

[DiscoSINGH]

thatdude said:

ask them to be very careful. Then if they bugger it up, maybe you can get them to pay for it!

Good luck with that. Most hand car wash sites clearly have notices displayed stating that they accept no responsibility for any damage caused or something similar.

[VeeDub Geezer]

My local hand car wash avoid the roof of my Golf cabriolet while cleaning it.

[shandyboy]

I'd be wary about soft-tops and pressure-washers, they don't really mix.

When I first got mine I took it to Mercedes/Smart for their "Saturday Car Wash Club" (probably as lame as it sounds but you got free coffee or cokes and could watch their Sony Bravia whilst waiting for the car to be cleaned for free) but I didn't take it again as they'd used a pressure-washer which had forced water through the seals and soaked the inside of the car (it didn't leak otherwise).

I suppose you could ask them to only clean the lower body sections but then you might as well do it yourself properly and know it's been done right - whenever I take the other half's car to a hand-wash it a) always costs more than it says, and b) always leaves dirty bits, tar spots, etc - definitely not as good as doing it yourself and putting some care and love into it. You can also make sure the rubber seals are cared for and keep it leak-free.

Go on, it deserves it!

[Alfa numeric]

Obviously I can't speak for all of them but the (one and only) time I've taken a convertible to one of these places they were very careful not to aim the jetwash at the roof or the seals.

[C.A.R.]

It's all b*llocks.

You can use a pressure washer on a soft top. You just don't treat it the same as you would a metal roof - ie. point blank range. They only warn you not to use one on a soft top because most people are as thick as pigsh*t and can't distintuish the risk.

I know it's fine, cos I've done it myself. Just take a couple of steps back with the washer and be careful around the seals.

[996TT02]

I don't jetwash mine but when I use a hose on it, I angle it so that the water is never directed at the roof/window seals, as you are guaranteed some ingress otherwise. With a jetwash it will be a washout, I just doubt people would be that stupid however.

I would make sure, whichever way you wash it and even if you don't, that the sill drain holes are always kept clear otherwise you will hear water sloshing about within them as you drive off after a wash or heavy rain, never a good thing to have a lot of in your sills.

[reefer]

Go on have a go ! Just done mine again for the second time this week. The MX5 has to be the quickest car to wash/polish I have ever had, under an hour start to finish, sun shining and radio on, finished by a blast through the lanes to replace the flies I have just washed off ! Happy days !