Advertise on fullfatrr.com »

Home > Maintenance & Mods (L322) > Touchless Car wash ?
Post Reply  Down to end
Page 1 of 1
Print this entire topic · 
steves025uk



Member Since: 24 Oct 2012
Location: London
Posts: 52

United Kingdom 2007 Range Rover Vogue SE TDV8 Santorini Black
Touchless Car wash ?

I drove past a Shell garage in Esher and noticed it had a touchless car wash.
has anybody used one ?
I remember years ago having a gleaming White XJ6 and putting it through a brush car wash frequently.
Eventually the primer started to show through !! I haven't been in an automatic car wash since.

Post #227020 4th Dec 2013 8:08pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
mzplcg



Member Since: 26 May 2010
Location: Warwickshire. England. The Commonwealth.
Posts: 4029

United Kingdom 2014 Range Rover Vogue SE SDV8 Corris Grey

It's a very subjective thing. On one hand it's a lot better than a rotary brush swirl-o-matic thing. On the other, the water jet pressure is so high it sends the grit and dirt across the paint with such force it may as well be called a light sandblasting.

The best way by far is a low pressure foam gun, left to soak for 5 minutes. This softens and lifts a lot of the dirt. Follow up with a pressure washer using as wide a spray as possible, at an angle to the surface. try not to embed the dirt in the paint surface.

I follow this routine religiously. Once done I then use the 2 bucket method and several lambswool wash mitts to do the last bit, rinsed off afterwards with an open hose end (no nozzle). I use a waffle weave towel to dry it, not a chamois.

A bit of a faff yes, but way less long term paint damage than any other method I know of.

Post #227052 4th Dec 2013 9:13pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
steves025uk



Member Since: 24 Oct 2012
Location: London
Posts: 52

United Kingdom 2007 Range Rover Vogue SE TDV8 Santorini Black

I tried the brushless Shell car wash yesterday.
It soaks the car in soap and water several times gently to rinse off the dirt.
It then applies the wash detergent, rinses hard and then the wax, again rinsing at high pressure, it uses the round brushes for the wheels and then blow dry.
The only thing that doesn't work well is the blow dry, the back window streamed water and there is quite a lot of water marks.
The other concern is the time it takes, probably ten minutes for the £9.99 premium wash, also waiting for the two cars in front, 1/2 hour total I suppose.
I will try it again with the £6.99 job, that doesn't wash underneath etc.

Post #227782 9th Dec 2013 11:51am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
RR2008HSE



Member Since: 06 Jan 2013
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 2932

Canada 2008 Range Rover HSE 4.4 V8 Java Black

The advice I've seen, and I think it's good. If you live in an area with winter grime and temperatures too low to make doing it yourself viable, a touchless is okay for when you can't clean it yourself. If you can do it yourself, so much the better.

Post #227970 10th Dec 2013 1:05am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
stan
Site Moderator


Member Since: 13 Jul 2010
Location: a moderate moderated moderator moderating moderately in moderation
Posts: 35274

United Kingdom 

i have a personnel touchless car wash, trouble is because i dont touch it its still dirty... Mr. Green ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Post #228000 10th Dec 2013 10:23am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
steves025uk



Member Since: 24 Oct 2012
Location: London
Posts: 52

United Kingdom 2007 Range Rover Vogue SE TDV8 Santorini Black

Another issue with the touchless wash is that the wax process coats the windscreen.
The damp screen last night would not clear with the wipers, the wipers had to be left on to drive safely.
I will attack it today with something ?

Post #228254 11th Dec 2013 8:46am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
DMRR



Member Since: 14 Apr 2010
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 2027

South Africa 2009 Range Rover Westminster TDV8 Stornoway Grey

Doesn't putting the heated screen on help with clearing the wax off? Land Rover Addict
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Previous
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
2009 5.0V8SC Autobiography
2006 4.2V8SC Autobiography
2004 4.4V8 Vogue

Post #228273 11th Dec 2013 9:27am
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Reply with quote
XXXAngelXXX



Member Since: 25 Mar 2007
Location: Stuttgart
Posts: 4994

Germany 2013 Range Rover Vogue SE 5.0 SC V8 Havana

Pay attention to touchless car wash - a study here in the fatherland showed that 75% are faulty i.e. to much water pressure etc.... Confused All my spelling errorz are belong to me!

2023 FFRR L460
2021 AM new Vantage

Post #228337 11th Dec 2013 12:41pm
View user's profile Send private message View poster's gallery Post Reply
Post Reply  Back to top
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT

Jump to  
Previous Topic | Next Topic >
Posting Rules
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum



Site Copyright © 2006-2024 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
fullfatrr.com RSS Feed - All Forums


Switch to Mobile site