Touchless car wash questions

[digby]

As a new R8 owner and now wanting to get the salt off my car
1. Are touchless car washes ok?
2. Does the rear wheel width fit the conveyor width of the car wsh

thanks for any guidance
(Daytona Grey)

[SDR8]

You can look in your owners guide and it mentions that automated car washes are not recommended. I would think this would go for the touch less too. It is not really just the tire widths, my X5 has wider and I go thru some car washes with it (I have seen some other's wheels marked up by this), it is also the ground clearance. Besides that the air jets seem to blow water where you really do not want it.

I would look at the owners guide and make your own decision, but I will not use them. I will wash it myself or have a detailer hand wash it.

[mngolfer]

Read your owners manual. You cannot put the car into a track pulling car wash!! If you sit in a fixed position and the car wash spray goes around your car you should be okay. Be aware that the inside of the engine compartment steams over and leaves water spots all over the engine and CF if you do not immediately dry it off. A hand wash at an upscale car wash is better, but in my area they charge ~$33.

I just discovered my dealer will hand wash my car for free anytime I want a car wash.

[AnOutsider]

You can look in your owners guide and it mentions that automated car washes are not recommended. I would think this would go for the touch less too. It is not really just the tire widths, my X5 has wider and I go thru some car washes with it (I have seen some other's wheels marked up by this), it is also the ground clearance. Besides that the air jets seem to blow water where you really do not want it.

I would look at the owners guide and make your own decision, but I will not use them. I will wash it myself or have a detailer hand wash it.

I read the same, and so I never did, but these two posts have me itching to try it. I want to continue driving in the winter, but don't like the crud buildup, and I can't exactly wash it in my driveway

Clean? LOL!!!
...
I run it through Johnny's car wash over on Beechmont all the time.

Johnny's ... hm ... I was under the impression that Audi recommended against running the R8 through an automatic car wash. Clearly you have no problems, so that looks to be my winter solution.

[mngolfer]

Automated car washers ruined the wheels on my A8L. I would never take my R8 through the automated car wash.

[harrison]

I feel that if I ran my car through an automated /brushes, I would be sinning. BUT, I in live in sunny So.Cal. which helps. K fab won't use the automated once he moves to Az. (I bet). I wonder if R84ME uses an automated, he lives in Az.(HIHGlY doubt it).

[cavaret]

Before my car shows I have to get the Harrison detailing formula

[wedouglas]

Just use one of those manual car washes where you get a big powerful spray gun and pay with quarters. I used that several times in the winter to get the salt off. $5 is probably enough to spray it down well. I don't use their soap or other options -- just the water button.

[randombloke]

I have one of these which has been a godsend for me:

http://www.mobiwasher.co.uk/shop/product/v17/

just fill it up with filtered water (eg http://rinsepimp.co.uk/) and it won't water spot when it dries. no need to run out a hose and it can be kept wherever - ok, it's not a real pressure washer but its good enough for a quick blast over.

a full charge lasts about an hour.

on an related note, one of the best gadgets I've bought in ages is by the same company:

http://www.mobiwasher.co.uk/shop/product/powerpack/

I use it to power an air compressor, but the torch is pretty decent and a godsend in power cuts given it can run for something like 40 hours.

[gazza1]

Never ever used a car wash for the R8.

Mine is maintained and cleaned by a detailer on a bi weekly basis.If the need arises I use a Karcher High Pressure unit at home with a top end wash product.

I would think with the R8 you might have clearance issues with some of the tracks and or rails they use.Not only that... car washers down here are becoming more environmentally friendly? which means they use recycled water =other peoples fine particle dirt on your car.