So just how bad are full service carwashes?

cptspeed

I can wash and dry the Z in 15 minutes. If I did it in 10 it would still look better than a drive through. Come on just 15 min. Well worth the time.

bradz

this is what i do sometimes if i feel lazy lol. If i have time i wash and wash her real good for 3 hrs. max inside and out.

molamann

I just don't have the facility living in an apt and all.

cptspeed

When I used a diy car wash. I took a couple of wash mitts w/me. If its not too dirty you can just use the water, no soap.

simota1

there is a guy that posted a thread on how to wash his car in his apartment he said he uses a 3 gallon water sprayer he got at home depot if im not mistaken.....

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***TOP SECRET/POWERHOUSE AMUSE/ARC/DAYTONA RACING/VARIS/MINES/GANADOR/J-LINE/WORK EMOTION CR KAI/GT SPEC/CARBON SIGNAL/ZOOM ENGINEERING/ CARBON FIBER ELEMENT/STILLEN/***

dszombiex

Round what part do you live? Depending on where you are there are a few self wash facilities that are pretty good.

I went to a full service once because I got lazy and they scratched one of my wheels...

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Solus

I usually just get my bucket and soap and rags and wax etc go to the local manual car wash use their water to wet it down and rinse it off then use the bay to do all the other cleaning and leave

370Zsteve

This thread exists as an example of why silver is the best color. Hides the dirt like no other.

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SOLD MY Z MARCH 2018 - another Core OG moves on - new ride 2019 Z Corvette Grand Sport - no mods necessary but already have eyes on HFC and intakes LOL IT NEVER ENDS.

kannibul

As long as that also includes platinum, then I agree.

Platinum was my color of choice, but, they didn't have one, and couldn't locate one.

earwicker7

Since you're in LA, I thought I'd mention that there is a pretty good one in Glendale called California Hand Car Wash. It's the best car wash I've been to, and they offer a frequent flyer program that is a big money saver.

Are they perfect? No. Are they going to put scratches in your paint? Sure. Is it anything that you won't end up doing yourself unless you're perfect? Probably not. Nothing that occasional scratch removers/buffing can't take care of.

If I didn't live in an apartment complex, I'd wash my car all the time (I still do it myself occasionally, as I can do a better job than the car wash), but having to go to one of the places where you put the quarters in is a pain in the *** (try working on your car for an hour and then having someone twenty feet away get drizzle all over your back end--true story) if you want to keep your car clean.

As a word of warning, do everything you can to avoid Magnolia Car Wash in Burbank. They are flat out the worst one I have ever been to; they did a carpet shampoo (in my old car, thankfully) and didn't vacuum the shampoo out, just threw the floor covers on top and hoped I wouldn't notice. I did, and brought it back the next morning... I had to fight to get them to vacuum it out. They said "Just keep the windows down for a while!" Another time, I went there out of desparation (needed the car washed pronto and at the time hadn't discovered the place in Glendale) and they failed to remove almost 2 square feet of wax; when I pointed this out, the washer gave me some serious stink eye. I eventually figured out that they are severely pressured to upsell services and get the cars in and out as fast as possible regardless of quality.

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2009 Magnetic Black 370Z with Touring, Sports and Navigation Packages--Fast Intentions CBE with 12" Resonators/Carbon Fiber Mufflers and LTH--Stillen G3 Cold Air Intakes, Underdrive Pulley and Grounding Kit--Uprev Tune

earwicker7

According to the owner's manual it will.

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2009 Magnetic Black 370Z with Touring, Sports and Navigation Packages--Fast Intentions CBE with 12" Resonators/Carbon Fiber Mufflers and LTH--Stillen G3 Cold Air Intakes, Underdrive Pulley and Grounding Kit--Uprev Tune