Commercial Car Washing Issues
02-13-17, 05:03 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Commercial Car Washing Issues
I've reached the point in my life where I rather bring my car to a commercial car wash than do it myself. I have been bringing my older ES and RX, both in Silver Lining Metallic to a local car wash and never noticed scratches or swirl marks in the last 10 years. I don't go often, and the local car wash says they use "soft foam and micro fiber washing materials". Just took delivery of a 2017 RX which was built in January 2017 (also Silver Lining Metallic), and I am wondering, despite what the manual says about the "self restoring coat", whether I need to wait X months for the paint to harden (like they used to say in the old days).
Also, the manual says to fold in the mirror which is obvious, but the manual also says to turn off the power back door. I couldn't find how to do this in the manual so I would be appreciative if someone could direct me to how to do this. I always ask the attendants to NOT open the rear door, but others down the line sometimes try to do this. So, is it possible to lock the rear door so it does not open with the exterior button in the back? All suggestions and comments would be appreciated.
Also, the manual says to fold in the mirror which is obvious, but the manual also says to turn off the power back door. I couldn't find how to do this in the manual so I would be appreciative if someone could direct me to how to do this. I always ask the attendants to NOT open the rear door, but others down the line sometimes try to do this. So, is it possible to lock the rear door so it does not open with the exterior button in the back? All suggestions and comments would be appreciated.
02-13-17, 05:29 PM
#2
Paint has already cured by the time you take delivery with nearly all modern automobiles. What do you mean by a "commercial" car wash? Automatic or hand? Most people on this sub-forum will advise against any type of automated car wash, but I'm personally ok with touchless, especially in the winter time here in Canada.
You can turn off the power back door in the driver's multi-information display using the menu controls on the steering wheel under the "gear" icon. The button on the rear door cannot be disabled, except by locking the doors.
You can turn off the power back door in the driver's multi-information display using the menu controls on the steering wheel under the "gear" icon. The button on the rear door cannot be disabled, except by locking the doors.
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sderman (02-13-17)
02-13-17, 05:56 PM
#3
Lexus Test Driver
I've reached the point in my life where I rather bring my car to a commercial car wash than do it myself. I have been bringing my older ES and RX, both in Silver Lining Metallic to a local car wash and never noticed scratches or swirl marks in the last 10 years. I don't go often, and the local car wash says they use "soft foam and micro fiber washing materials". Just took delivery of a 2017 RX which was built in January 2017 (also Silver Lining Metallic), and I am wondering, despite what the manual says about the "self restoring coat", whether I need to wait X months for the paint to harden (like they used to say in the old days).
Also, the manual says to fold in the mirror which is obvious, but the manual also says to turn off the power back door. I couldn't find how to do this in the manual so I would be appreciative if someone could direct me to how to do this. I always ask the attendants to NOT open the rear door, but others down the line sometimes try to do this. So, is it possible to lock the rear door so it does not open with the exterior button in the back? All suggestions and comments would be appreciated.
Also, the manual says to fold in the mirror which is obvious, but the manual also says to turn off the power back door. I couldn't find how to do this in the manual so I would be appreciative if someone could direct me to how to do this. I always ask the attendants to NOT open the rear door, but others down the line sometimes try to do this. So, is it possible to lock the rear door so it does not open with the exterior button in the back? All suggestions and comments would be appreciated.
This way you don't have to worry much.
02-13-17, 07:11 PM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
I feel ya. I run all my cars through a commercial soft cloth carwash now too. I found the best one I could find, all new, MF towels to dry, good spray off before the cars enter the wash which helps keep the wash media clean. Whether you see it or not though, there is marring from the carwash, especially down low on the paint. If you took a bright light (or even the light from your phone) and shine it down on the lower door panels...you will see it. Nothing polishing it out once a year won't keep in check. At this point...I just don't shine a light down there lol. If you have a dark colored car though it will look rough. My grey is perfect, as is your silver.
I love a clean car, but I don't have time to wash by hand anymore. Trip through the carwash, a spray sealant and the car looks great. My schedule is also such that having a detailer come wash it isn't convenient for me, and I can't wait for 30 minutes to take it to a shop to be washed.
I love a clean car, but I don't have time to wash by hand anymore. Trip through the carwash, a spray sealant and the car looks great. My schedule is also such that having a detailer come wash it isn't convenient for me, and I can't wait for 30 minutes to take it to a shop to be washed.
02-14-17, 07:11 AM
#5
I only use 'touch free' car washes on my RX. I've seen the damage the 'soft' cloth or spinning brushes can make. It takes 5 minutes to spray the car off in the winter or I just find a 'touch free' wash.
In fact, I don't even let Lexus wash my car. I place a 'Do Not Wash' note on the dash when I take my car in for service.
And after my experience with my '05, I've invested in a full hood protection film. I thought repainting my '05 hood to get rid of the stone chips was a good idea. The rust that appeared about a year later changed my mind. I didn't like the visible line with the clear bra so I had the entire hood (and bumper) covered.
In fact, I don't even let Lexus wash my car. I place a 'Do Not Wash' note on the dash when I take my car in for service.
And after my experience with my '05, I've invested in a full hood protection film. I thought repainting my '05 hood to get rid of the stone chips was a good idea. The rust that appeared about a year later changed my mind. I didn't like the visible line with the clear bra so I had the entire hood (and bumper) covered.
02-14-17, 07:25 AM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
Touch less washes don't get the car 100% clean though.
02-14-17, 08:06 AM
#7
Believe it or not, there is no "right" way to take care of your car... some people value convenience way more than a swirl free finish, so to them, taking it through a brush wash is the right way for them to clean their car.
It all comes down to what is most important for you.
If you are worried about superficial defects, then you absolutely cannot take it through a touch wash or any sort of full service wash where it will be wiped down. This will certainly create defects in the paint very quickly. A touchless wash or self-serve pressure wash followed by a rinseless or waterless wash is a quick and easy way to safely maintain your vehicle without having to spend 1+ hour washing it at home. However I personally love taking the time to wash my car (finding the time is challenging though).
If you simply want a clean car without having to do any work yourself, a full service wash is probably an OK choice for you.
It all comes down to what is most important for you.
If you are worried about superficial defects, then you absolutely cannot take it through a touch wash or any sort of full service wash where it will be wiped down. This will certainly create defects in the paint very quickly. A touchless wash or self-serve pressure wash followed by a rinseless or waterless wash is a quick and easy way to safely maintain your vehicle without having to spend 1+ hour washing it at home. However I personally love taking the time to wash my car (finding the time is challenging though).
If you simply want a clean car without having to do any work yourself, a full service wash is probably an OK choice for you.
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02-14-17, 09:03 AM
#8
Advanced
Thread Starter
Believe it or not, there is no "right" way to take care of your car... some people value convenience way more than a swirl free finish, so to them, taking it through a brush wash is the right way for them to clean their car.
It all comes down to what is most important for you.
If you are worried about superficial defects, then you absolutely cannot take it through a touch wash or any sort of full service wash where it will be wiped down. This will certainly create defects in the paint very quickly. A touchless wash or self-serve pressure wash followed by a rinseless or waterless wash is a quick and easy way to safely maintain your vehicle without having to spend 1+ hour washing it at home. However I personally love taking the time to wash my car (finding the time is challenging though).
If you simply want a clean car without having to do any work yourself, a full service wash is probably an OK choice for you.
It all comes down to what is most important for you.
If you are worried about superficial defects, then you absolutely cannot take it through a touch wash or any sort of full service wash where it will be wiped down. This will certainly create defects in the paint very quickly. A touchless wash or self-serve pressure wash followed by a rinseless or waterless wash is a quick and easy way to safely maintain your vehicle without having to spend 1+ hour washing it at home. However I personally love taking the time to wash my car (finding the time is challenging though).
If you simply want a clean car without having to do any work yourself, a full service wash is probably an OK choice for you.
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Doug007 (09-12-17)
02-15-17, 07:55 PM
#10
Yup, that's me. I love my Lexus cars for their reliability and refinement and I like how they look clean, but I am not so obsessed that I have to worry so much about the finish that I have to place additional products on them for protection. As I mentioned above, I have about 35 car-wash-years experience with my ES's and RX's (virtually all in Silver Lining Metallic) at our local (brushless, not touchless) car wash and don't remember ever experiencing an issue with the finish.
Some people care more about convenience, while others like me am **** about imperfections. To each their own.
Last edited by istarzan; 02-15-17 at 08:30 PM.
02-16-17, 05:33 AM
#11
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Thread Starter
02-17-17, 08:42 AM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
I always tried to hand wash myself. Don't trust others as it's not their car. They won't care about it like you do. I haven't had much free time in the past 3 years so hadn't hand washed it often. I'd rather not wash it at all than have the paint damaged by auto brush washes. When it gets too dirty during the winter, I use the touchless spray washes although I know it doesn't do a good job of cleaning. I'd rather that then marks all over.
I found the best quality commercial wash I could find that does the best job, they use lots of lubricating soap, spray the cars down well, spray soapy water into the rotating mitters to keep them lubricated, use MF towels to wipe down. Does it mar the car? Yeah...but the car always looks great, everybody comments on how clean and beautiful it is all the time, and I can spend 4-5 hours once a year and correct the paint below the belt line (thats were the swirls are, upper panels are fine) if I want to (I don't).
If I just drove the car around dirty because I didn't have time to wash it, I wouldn't enjoy it as much, and I would be preserving the paint for what? The next guy? He's going to run it through a carwash BTW.
Not knocking detailing or detailers at all. I enjoy detailing a lot, I just don't have time for it anymore. Hand washing is the best way, what I take issue with is the idea that people who do use carwashes or otherwise can't devote the time to having these things done in the best possible manner don't care about their cars.
02-17-17, 08:55 AM
#15
Lexus Test Driver
See, thats just not me. I used to be that way, but the car is a thing, and its a thing I I own and enjoy for a finite period of time. If I don't have time to hand wash it all the time, I still want it to be clean, beautiful and enjoyable vs dirty but without not easily seen surface imperfections. People see a filthy car on the road they don't comment on how swirl free it must be, its just filthy.
I found the best quality commercial wash I could find that does the best job, they use lots of lubricating soap, spray the cars down well, spray soapy water into the rotating mitters to keep them lubricated, use MF towels to wipe down. Does it mar the car? Yeah...but the car always looks great, everybody comments on how clean and beautiful it is all the time, and I can spend 4-5 hours once a year and correct the paint below the belt line (thats were the swirls are, upper panels are fine) if I want to (I don't).
If I just drove the car around dirty because I didn't have time to wash it, I wouldn't enjoy it as much, and I would be preserving the paint for what? The next guy? He's going to run it through a carwash BTW.
Not knocking detailing or detailers at all. I enjoy detailing a lot, I just don't have time for it anymore. Hand washing is the best way, what I take issue with is the idea that people who do use carwashes or otherwise can't devote the time to having these things done in the best possible manner don't care about their cars.
I found the best quality commercial wash I could find that does the best job, they use lots of lubricating soap, spray the cars down well, spray soapy water into the rotating mitters to keep them lubricated, use MF towels to wipe down. Does it mar the car? Yeah...but the car always looks great, everybody comments on how clean and beautiful it is all the time, and I can spend 4-5 hours once a year and correct the paint below the belt line (thats were the swirls are, upper panels are fine) if I want to (I don't).
If I just drove the car around dirty because I didn't have time to wash it, I wouldn't enjoy it as much, and I would be preserving the paint for what? The next guy? He's going to run it through a carwash BTW.
Not knocking detailing or detailers at all. I enjoy detailing a lot, I just don't have time for it anymore. Hand washing is the best way, what I take issue with is the idea that people who do use carwashes or otherwise can't devote the time to having these things done in the best possible manner don't care about their cars.