Car Wash Horror Stories

[Henno196]

Just popped out to a generic petrol station car wash, usually the Eastern Europeans do a great job.

I was sat behind the car in front that was being done and saw one guy use the chami leather cloth, put it down on a dusty concrete floor then pick it up and start using again. Safe to say I left before my car was covered in small swirly scratches all over come my turn. Close call for me but it got me thinking; what is the worse car wash you've ever had and what if any, was the damage?

When I was younger I went through an automated drive through car wash and the mechanism tore my rear wiper off.

Edited by Henno196 on Tuesday 11th April 17:30

Edited by Henno196 on Tuesday 11th April 17:31

[Henno196]

irfan1712 said:

Henno196 said:

Just popped out to a generic petrol station car wash, usually the Eastern Europeans do a great job.

Safe to say I left before my car was covered in small swirly scratches all over come my turn.

If this was a concern then you shouldn't be considering these hand car washes full stop, regardless of how 'good' they are!

Great for the masses who want their car free of dirt so they can see what colour it is again. Not so great if your a bit of a perfectionist or even less than that, just care about swirls and marks and random scratches appearing after every wash, and also the nasty TFR and over aggressive wheel cleaner that seems to eat through wheel finishes. Think about the wash mitts that were used on the twenty cars and vans before you which were probably absolutely hanging.

i'd rather leave my car get filthy and do it myself once a month even two properly, rather than take it to a hand car wash weekly to let it get hammered.

It's only a 118d, I haven't washed it in 3K miles (the 3 months I've owned it)! I used to wash my own cars when I owned old VW's but all my cleaning gear got left behind when I moved out.