Will my car fall apart...

[big_treacle]

...if i put it through a car wash?

I don't normally use the things and I planned on never putting my Chim through one in case it knocked bits off or trashed the roof. However, I really want it to look shiny for Le Mans & I don't have the time to do it properly and this is the last resort.

[apache]

fcuk no! never use a car wash on a Tiv it even says so in the manual. Give it a handjob (oher) it only takes a minute or two

[big_treacle]

That's what I thought. Just wondered if anyone would come back and say that it's actually alright.
Problem is, I've got to do a 4 hour motorway drive late Thursday night which is bound to add filth to the car, then get the ferry 7am Friday leaving me with nearly zero time to make it shiny.

[beano500]

You could give it a sneaky flash at a jet wash.....

.....from a few hundred yards!

[big_treacle]

that might do it... guess i'd soon find out if it has any sneaky leaks!

[trefor]

When I'm touring Europe in the Chimaera I use local jetwashes - in France there are a chain with a blue elephant logo (I call it the elephant wash). I've used them many times and they're in most French towns. Just give the car a clean en-route to Le Mans.

Take a chamois leather with you for finishing off the windows.

T/.

[big_treacle]

Good plan.

Cheers guys, looks like I won't have to destroy my car with a car wash afterall!

Stew

[alex200mph]

Rinse the hood and windows off with the water from the hose filling stations stations provide to fill your radiator
then
Power wash the body work dont get the pressure washer near the hood and its seals though.

I seem to remember that the manual says its ok to power wash the body work.

Cheers
alex

[N17 TVR]

If you have time, put some Autoglum High Gloss polish on, let it glaze over and wipe off.

It will be shiny and any rain encountered on the way will bead and run off

Swiss Tony recommends it

[ATG]

normal car washes will scrath the plastic rear window to hell...

[big_treacle]

Think I'll have to use my well honed hand car washing skills (used to work in a BMW/Honda/Nissan dealership washing cars) to do a super fast job on the way to Le Mans rather than risk trashing the Chim' with a car wash.

[jev]

Apparantly the hoop & hard top arrangement was specifically designed to withstand a car wash.

Wouldn't recommend it though

Jev

[justinp]

You can come round to mine and wash it thursday if you like. I washed mine last sunday and left it at home this week, but my wife tells me it covered in dust

so i will be washing it in the dark!

cheers

JustinP

[big_treacle]

Justin, I could come over and then I'll give you 50p if you wash my car! lol.

[dannyboyo]

Only thing I've found in jet washes is to be careful not to blast too much water through the bonnet vents. Mine always ends up firing on 7 (or less!) cylinders for a while after a good jetting! They are good for an emergency clean though!!