Sorry if this is a repost but I did a quick search and didn't find info immediately, and my computer here at work is way too slow to delve into it further...

I read somewhere on this board that people were having their valve stems ripped off, mirrors bent, all kinds of horrors from going through an automatic car wash. It's starting to turn cold here in MI, and I can no longer hand wash it as we've packed up our hose. So what's the final word on those automatic car washes? I'm worried the touchless ones won't take off the mud that's caked on my car since I took that unpaved "shortcut." And are the brushes at those Do-It-Yourself washes soft enough? Much obliged...

 

Here is a thread discussing mechanical washes, do-it-yourself places, and hand washing. There are a lot of opinions on the matter, so it's really up to you to decide what you want to do. The general concensus is that you should avoid mechanical washes if at all possible. DIY places are okay, but most people agree that you shouldn't use the brushes at these places, and some say you should bring your own car wash concentrate. I live in SE Michigan, like you, and I'm sure I'm going to end up using a mechanical wash at least a few times during the winter--especially if this January is anything like last January in which we never rose above 30 degrees F!

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...rcial+car+wash

 

Johnny - best place around you for mechanical would be a JAX.. kind of expensive but IMO does less damage than one of those $4 places..

I will be sticking to the DIY places with my wash mitt as often as I can this winter!

 

Thanks fellas, that was the thread that caught my eye earlier this week that I couldn't find. Good tips in it. I wonder, what does the dealer use? They must have an automatic, and they wash my car without any troubles that I can see every time I have it in there (Cook Mazda, Farmington). If it's a paint issue, I wouldn't know.

As an aside, since both you guys are in SE MI, have you switched over to winter tires yet. I did last weekend, and lo and behold we get 65 deg days like today. Nice.

 

I won't get into a long story here but I went from doing it myself to using the Mr. Clean system. No towels! Works like a champ and I highly suggest!

 

Johnny, I would say the dealer hand washes your car. *Most dealers I have been to/friends worked at have a seperate garage area where they detail cars for new deliveries. Usually there is enough room in there for a few cars, so they just bring it in if there is room and do a spray and wash.

As for the do-it-yourselves, agree a LOT with buckeye, it si essentially up to you, and the thread linked has good info.

 

The DIY places work great. Just bring your own equipment. I dont trust there brushes. And bring a shamey!

 

Agreed. Also, do this late in the evening or early in the morning. The owners of these businesses get kinda angry if you try the handwash during peak hours.

- Irish

 

Kind of hard to do that in Michigan when its 20 below zero

 

I know Suburban (NEVER GO THERE) has their own car wash that sucks.. dont know about any other Mazda dealerships. Fairlane Ford uses a wash on Michigan just East of Greenfield.

No winter tires for me.. I have a 3 mile drive to work and it's all major roads so they will all be salted.. If it's too bad outside I'll take my roomates Ranger

 

Yea I remember seeing your car there. They finally change out the stereo? I'll try Jax or a touchless, I just can't see myself out there in the open-air DIY in the dead of winter.

FYI to everyone, Discount Tire was great when I changed to my winter tires. If you buy through them, not only were the tires fairly cheap, but they include lifetime rotation, balancing, mounting, everything you need every season when you swap tires. Sorry for sounding like a commercial but I'm very impressed.

 

What exactly is Jax? I use this place on Michigan Avenue in Wayne (it's on my way home from work) called Jack's Car Wash. It's $10 for the full exterior wash, but it does an awesome job.

I haven't yet switched over to my winter tires and wheels. I remember last year that we didn't get any real snow accumulation until after Xmas (though I was out of town for Thanksgiving... can't remember if we got any then). I'm going to hold off as long as I can since I've heard that the winter tires wear quickly on dry pavement. I'm sure we'll have snow in the forecast within the next 2-3 weeks though.

So Johnny, you got 18" winter tires to put on your stock wheels? That's cool that Discount Tire covers mounting and balancing for the life of the tires. I had no idea. It makes me wonder if I should have done the same thing--I could have saved $600 or so! Oh well, it'll be convenient for me to swap out my own wheels and tires whenever I want.

Detroit_RX8: did you have the car last winter??? If not, I think you might be in for a bit of shock when you find out just how bad the stock tires are in the snow and ice. Last year, I had a second car to drive for winter, so I didn't get winter tires. Our neighborhood never had salt put down on the streets, so even when the main roads were perfectly clear and dry, our neighborhood roads were snow and ice covered. Well, one day I decided to try to take the RX-8 since I figured the only challenge would be to make it out of neighborhood, which is probably only 1000 feet and one turn from my house. It was a huge mistake. I backed the car out of the driveway, and that was as far as I made it. The car was stuck on perfectly level ground. Rocking back and forth only dug a deeper rut under the tire. I had to wait for some kids on their way to school to help push the car back into the garage!

I'm not sure what your living arrangements are, but if you have to traverse ANY streets that will be snow/ice-covered, I would strongly urge you to consider winter tires. Even if it's a 1/4-mile stretch of roads, it's too risky in my opinion. I'm just trying to give you a heads-up so you don't end up wrecking your baby.

 

I'm pretty sure that Cook Mazda does have an automatic car wash...I thought I remembered seeing it around the back by the Porsche section of the the dealership.

There is a Jax Car Wash on southbound Telegraph between 12 mile and 696. Its usually pretty busy, and the employees seem pretty thorough.