Re: What do you think about using an automatic car wash to clean salt and grime off a 740i after the snow storms?

["Gary Derian" <gderian@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rinse first with plain water (don't forget the bottom, suspension, wheel
wells, etc.) then use soapy water.  The soap lubricates and reduces
scratches.  I wash my cars often in the garage but I have a drain, not all
garages do.  A brushless car wash is supposed to be good but how do you know
what the previous car left on the felt strips?

Gary Derian <gderian@domain.elided>

> My 95 740i is coated in salt and grime from the last few weeks of snow and
> mess here in Maryland.  Lots of snow, as your all know.  It's too cold to
> use the hose to clean the mess off as it's frozen, so I sometimes in years
> past just bring it in the garage where it's warmer than 33 degrees
(putting
> the 911 in the driveway for an hour) in the winter and clean it down with
> warm water from a cleaning mit,  then towel it dry with old tee shirts (my
> favorite lint free method).  BUT, I was thinking this morning that this
> could rub into the paint alot of grit and grime, and taking it to one of
> those brush free car washes may not be the worst idea.  Anyone have any
> opinions on this?  Are these big automatic car washes ok to use?  The
owner
> said his brushless wash is harmless to my car and alot of Benz and Porsche
> owners have been trusting their cars to him for years!   I just had the
car
> waxed 2 months ago, and hate to think that the harsh detergents they use
> would really mess with the car.
> Steve Robinson
> 95 740i parking in the driveway now and having to scrape off major amounts
> of snow and ice for the first time ever!
> 88 911 safe in the garage
> 95 540i the new fiancee's car, safe in the garage...urghhhh

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