Carwash for 650i convertible

cdog2964 · 06-02-2022, 01:10 PM

I have a 2014 650i convertible and i wanted to get some input on using a automatic car wash vs. hand washing. I know hand washing is always better, but am i doing damage to my top by using a carwash? Its mainly the dryers im worried about.
Thoughts?

Opie55 · 06-02-2022, 02:28 PM

It depends. It's been decades since I have been to a drive through car wash. Are you talking about the touchless kind or the kind where spinning rags touch the car? I would never do the a latter kind because of the damage to the paint more so than the top. Basically, I would never take my car through any car wash where anything in the washing or drying cycle touches the car. Period.

The real issue with convertible tops is that the fabric can be irreversibly damaged in a second with the water from a high-pressure wand, even when at a do-it-yourself carwash. Never ever point those at the top from anything less than a foot away. As for a drive through carwash, I'd need to see how the water is sprayed at the top. But I'd personally never take my car through one.

CardinalFlyer · 06-02-2022, 06:30 PM

I haven't been through a car wash with mine and wouldn't consider it. That top is is both a benefit and vulnerability. Hand wash only for my 2014 convertible. I want to maintain the benefit part.

LA640WS · 06-03-2022, 01:38 AM

I take all three verts through the wash at chevron touchless as a last resort. The pressure from the sprayers is a beast on the fabric. This is of course if you'd already applied 303 Fabric Guard and cleaner. I've tried all 5 price points, and they all leave some type of residue. More visible on the black car than the white ones, but spotty nevertheless. Price of owning any vert Cheers

Opie55 · 06-03-2022, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LA640WS

I take all three verts through the wash at chevron touchless as a last resort. The pressure from the sprayers is a beast on the fabric. This is of course if you'd already applied 303 Fabric Guard and cleaner. I've tried all 5 price points, and they all leave some type of residue. More visible on the black car than the white ones, but spotty nevertheless. Price of owning any vert Cheers

Can't say I understand much of this post. 5 price points of what? Spotty residue on what? It seems like you are saying on the paint since you say black is worse than white. Then you say that's a price of owning a convertible, but what does spotty paint have to do with it being a convertible?

cdog2964 · 06-03-2022, 07:42 AM

so it sounds like if i have to use a car wash use a touchless. Which i will because its a daily driver for me so it does get dirty a lot. It has 27k miles and my goal is to get it to 60k then dump it, but in that time i would rather not get wet from a leaky roof...
thanks for the comments.

JBF650 · 06-05-2022, 07:00 PM

...look as an absolute last resort I might use but even then.... no, come to think of it... nope I never would, I'd get home and put the hose to the car myself if bird poo or something like that hit the fabric top. I have a lovely 96 R129 SL 500 and like all my cars they are always handwashed. The fabric top on my merc is in great condition for its age and i assume its much like any other quality fabric soft top as those on our bimmers. A good quality car shampoo massaged with a sponge mitt into the top and rinsed well with a hose is absolutely fine. There is absolutely no need to hit the fabric tops with high pressure gurnies, or as Opie suggests stand a few feet back if you use these types of hoses.
Its a NO, don't use automatic carwashes for any car you care about, the brushes, whirling sponges and the like are full of sand and crap from other peoples cars, its then rubbed all over yours and the the harsh detergents used are no good for the paint work.
If you cannot handwash your car go to a good handwash/detail/valet place and pay the money, plenty of them about. None will do as good a job as you will on your own car but they are the only option I would use if I need to have my car valeted quickly.

06-02-2022, 01:10 PM	#1
cdog2964 Private First Class 11 Rep 101 Posts Drives: 650i Xdrve Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	Carwash for 650i convertible I have a 2014 650i convertible and i wanted to get some input on using a automatic car wash vs. hand washing. I know hand washing is always better, but am i doing damage to my top by using a carwash? Its mainly the dryers im worried about. Thoughts?
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06-02-2022, 02:28 PM	#2
Opie55 Colonel 1195 Rep 2,908 Posts Drives: '15 650i Convertible Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: US iTrader: (0)	It depends. It's been decades since I have been to a drive through car wash. Are you talking about the touchless kind or the kind where spinning rags touch the car? I would never do the a latter kind because of the damage to the paint more so than the top. Basically, I would never take my car through any car wash where anything in the washing or drying cycle touches the car. Period. The real issue with convertible tops is that the fabric can be irreversibly damaged in a second with the water from a high-pressure wand, even when at a do-it-yourself carwash. Never ever point those at the top from anything less than a foot away. As for a drive through carwash, I'd need to see how the water is sprayed at the top. But I'd personally never take my car through one.
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06-02-2022, 06:30 PM	#3
CardinalFlyer Enlisted Member 6 Rep 31 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW 650i Convertible Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Central Florida iTrader: (0)	I haven't been through a car wash with mine and wouldn't consider it. That top is is both a benefit and vulnerability. Hand wash only for my 2014 convertible. I want to maintain the benefit part.
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06-03-2022, 01:38 AM	#4
LA640WS Private 32 Rep 69 Posts Drives: Vert 640, Merc SL63 R232 Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: 90267 iTrader: (0)	Chevron touchless carwash I take all three verts through the wash at chevron touchless as a last resort. The pressure from the sprayers is a beast on the fabric. This is of course if you'd already applied 303 Fabric Guard and cleaner. I've tried all 5 price points, and they all leave some type of residue. More visible on the black car than the white ones, but spotty nevertheless. Price of owning any vert Cheers
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06-03-2022, 07:42 AM	#6
cdog2964 Private First Class 11 Rep 101 Posts Drives: 650i Xdrve Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	so it sounds like if i have to use a car wash use a touchless. Which i will because its a daily driver for me so it does get dirty a lot. It has 27k miles and my goal is to get it to 60k then dump it, but in that time i would rather not get wet from a leaky roof... thanks for the comments.
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06-05-2022, 07:00 PM	#7
JBF650 Second Lieutenant 116 Rep 248 Posts Drives: 2015 F13 LCI 650i Coupe Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Sydney Australia iTrader: (0)	...look as an absolute last resort I might use but even then.... no, come to think of it... nope I never would, I'd get home and put the hose to the car myself if bird poo or something like that hit the fabric top. I have a lovely 96 R129 SL 500 and like all my cars they are always handwashed. The fabric top on my merc is in great condition for its age and i assume its much like any other quality fabric soft top as those on our bimmers. A good quality car shampoo massaged with a sponge mitt into the top and rinsed well with a hose is absolutely fine. There is absolutely no need to hit the fabric tops with high pressure gurnies, or as Opie suggests stand a few feet back if you use these types of hoses. Its a NO, don't use automatic carwashes for any car you care about, the brushes, whirling sponges and the like are full of sand and crap from other peoples cars, its then rubbed all over yours and the the harsh detergents used are no good for the paint work. If you cannot handwash your car go to a good handwash/detail/valet place and pay the money, plenty of them about. None will do as good a job as you will on your own car but they are the only option I would use if I need to have my car valeted quickly.
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