I have a 2010 model that I've always hand washed until Friday. Was going out that evening and wanted a touchup so decided to run the car through the auto wash at the BP station.

Yesterday I noticed the tag was bent about halfway up from the bottom on one corner. It was pretty screwed up, bent to about a right angle from the rest of the tag affecting about one third of the tag. I even had the dealer tag frame over it and the wash just broke that off completely.

I've never really liked the way the tag mount is on this car with the bottom portion of the tag just kinda hanging out from the car like it does. Obviously, the big rolling deal that comes over the car from front to back caught on the bottom of the tag because it sits out from the car like it does.

Has anyone else experienced this? Just wondering if all automatic washes will cause this problem or just the one I was at.

Dave

 

I took mines in for service at a dealer and had the complimentary auto car wash service and had my license plate bent pretty bad also. I took something flat and bent it back to the right shape when I got home. I'll probably never do auto car wash again and just hand wash it.

 

I use touch-free drive thru washes from time to time. never had a problem with those.

 

Just say no to auto car washes. And touch free's will strip your wax/sealant.

 

I used to use touch free .... not since I installed the spoiler. Afraid the preasure and strong blowers at the end will loosen the double sided tape.

 

I use the touchless car washes but never the ones with rollers, they'll swirl the paint like crazy.

 

Look at 2nd video 1:27 --> belong to anyone here?
Videos

 

I just do it myself!

 

automatic swirl maker.

 

IMO I've never had any issues with the touch free automatic washes, but the owner of the one I go to is a friend of a friend, and I know the guy isn't using any acid based soaps either. So that is something to research IMO based on my limited knowledge, is the automated car wash using an acid based soap or cleanser of some sort.

 

Werd.

I wash my car myself. After attending a detailing class a while back and learning that I have been washing cars wrong for the past 9 years, I wash the G using quality products, quality towels, and quality care. I even use my shop vac blower to get the water off before I use my drying towels.

I know that's easier said than done, but once you get in the habit, it's not so bad.

 

Touchless car wash from day one, never had a problem. Couldn't care less about harsh detergents, they can't be worse that the s**t they spread on the roads every time it snows.

 

I had the same problem on my G35. I had just put a new frame on it too. It snapped the frame and bent the bottom left corner of the plate.
I asked the car wash people if they could do anything about it, and they said they don't cover anything that is not on the car as stock. That was the last time I used an auto wash though.

 

Interesting but I still wouldn't use it. I found out recently we have a law in my county that says we must wash our cars on the grass to prevent pollution flowing down the storm drains.

 

Talk about strict environmental law.