09-24-2010, 10:41 PM | #1 |
Drives: 2010 IOM 1LT M6 Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 10
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Brushless car wash in metro Detroit or Ann Arbor?
So I picked up my Camaro 3 weeks ago and live in an apartment, which makes it very difficult to wash my car properly very often. This will especially be a problem in the winter when I want to get a wash with underbody rinse at least once a week to get rid of the Michigan highway salt. I know of one brushless carwash in Ann Arbor at a gas station, and tried to make my car there, but the bottom scraped the guide rail so I didn't go through it.
I've seen a lot of posts of people taking their Camaros through touchless car washes, and was wondering if anyone knows of one that the Camaro fits through in metro Detroit or A2? I live in A2 but work in Southfield, so I drive near a large number of cities in Metro Detroit every day(Livonia, Canton, Novi, Farmington Hills, Southfield). I would greatly appreciate any help at finding a car wash that will be relatively safe on my car! Thanks so much! |
09-24-2010, 11:32 PM | #2 |
Drives: Not Enough Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 106
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I'm in the Southfield area myself (Lathrup Village) and know of nothing I think is OK to take a car through. Take into account touchless places will use harsher soaps and a higher dilution of them in order to clean without coming in contact with your car. One wash and you have no more protection on your ride. :(
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09-25-2010, 11:49 AM | #3 |
Drives: 2010 syngreen Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Plymouth Michigan
Posts: 48
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FORD ROAD^MERRIMAN $10 for a hand car wash.
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09-25-2010, 02:14 PM | #4 |
Drives: Not Enough Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 106
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Hand car wash? They use grit-guard inserts? What type of wash media do they use - microfiber/lambswool? Are the mitts fresh or used on car after car? What type of car wash shampoo do they use and at what dilution?
Yea... noone is touching my ride. |
09-25-2010, 09:28 PM | #5 | |
Drives: The shiny ones. Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: In the detail shop!
Posts: 5,979
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Quote:
Whats a grit-guard? Wash 'media'? Huh? We wash cars here, not media. HA! A clean mit for each car? Well la-dee-da!! Aren't you fancy!! Car wash? Um... well... its um... hell if I know? Dilution... yea, we dilute it with water. |
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09-26-2010, 07:27 PM | #6 | |
Drives: Not Enough Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 106
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Quote:
I agree |
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09-26-2010, 11:36 PM | #7 |
Detailing Connoisseur
Drives: 2010 Rally Yellow 2LT RS Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Lakewood, ca
Posts: 1,131
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__________________
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09-27-2010, 08:02 AM | #8 |
Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Mich
Posts: 4,482
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When you see how touchless car washes clean cars, you may not want use them much more on your nicer cars.
How can a touchless car wash system remove road grime, that if I used high pressure spray and soap will absolutely not come off? Answer - they use strong acids. Those acids if left on the car will eat away just about anything. One of the more noticeable problems is with clear coat being eaten off wheels behind wheel weights. A little bit of the car wash water will sit behind the wheel weight and over time it will dissolve the clear coat. GM has a bulletin describing all the damage that can be caused by touchless car wash acids. One way to tell if their acids are on the strong side. Look at the exit drive and road right in front of the car wash. If it is constantly getting pot holes, their acid dripping off cars is tearing up the asphalt. I had one near me that the road was rough as heck right out front of the wash, but they had installed a concrete exit drive. All other areas of their lot and entry drive was asphalt. They obviously know the acids dripping off the cars will tear up the pavement. |
09-27-2010, 12:29 PM | #9 |
Drives: 2010 syngreen Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Plymouth Michigan
Posts: 48
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You did not say that you wanted your car detailed. It is only a car .
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09-27-2010, 02:42 PM | #10 | |
Drives: Not Enough Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 106
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I don't. My car is ALWAYS in a state of "detailed"
Quote:
If you want to describe what is likely your second largest purchase ever as "just a car" then not only are you VERY far from what I believe to be the normal owner that frequents this section of the site, but your car is likely to look very heavily aged and suffer from even higher depreciation. Don't worry though - guys like me can help save your ride if you ever decide you want to treat yours better than an appliance. |
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09-28-2010, 04:29 PM | #11 | |
Drives: 2010 IOM 1LT M6 Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 10
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Quote:
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09-28-2010, 06:14 PM | #12 | |
Drives: Not Enough Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 106
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Quote:
I'll give you my advice as a fellow from the wolverine state. First off - you'll have to live with having a dirty car for the overwhelming majority of the time. No way around that. Even on nicer / warmer days, the dried up salt will be flung all over your ride. To clean her correctly, you'll need some "Gamma lids" for your 5 gallon buckets. Fill up your 2 five gallon buckets like for a normal wash, but put the water proof gamma lids on the buckets and head to the DIY bay on a nicer day. Spray the crap out of your car using the "rinse" water. Then do your two-bucket-method wash before rinsing again. Follow with your favorite microfiber drying towel and make sure you add on a spray sealant/wax to top up your protection, and you're all good to go |
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09-28-2010, 07:23 PM | #13 | |
Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Mich
Posts: 4,482
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Quote:
My Camaro get's parked for the winter, but I do the two bucket thing a couple times a month on my Silverado 4x4 when a warm day hits in the winter. Works great as long as it's above freezing. |
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09-28-2010, 08:13 PM | #14 | |
Drives: 2010 IOM 1LT M6 Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 10
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Quote:
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Tags |
ann arbor, automatic car wash, detroit, michigan |
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