[svpworld]

Even though mine wasn't brand new when I got it a few months ago, I am extremely reluctant to use a roller type car wash for fear of scratching and cobwebbing. At the moment the body is in excellent condition and doesnt appear to have any fine roller scratches on it, but ... this winter weather is making going out on the drive with a bucket and sponge and the jet wash a dangerous idea (I dont want freezing water everywhere!).
So just wondering what your experiences are of roller car washes, especially with the big Insignia and would you or have you used them?

[afisher]

I have and my Sat Nav aerial stopped working immediately after it. It's going to the dealers to get fixed tomorrow.

[chris66]

I would never, ever, ever, ever.... (you get the idea) use one of these things. What a mess they make of your paintwork. wait till the suns on it and you see all the fine scratches, Orrible! Stick with the bucket, sponge and power wash to get it clean.

[kevinfourlegs]

I remember a few years ago that BMW had advised those that had a new one not to use a car wash. Those that had used a car wash experienced problems with their paintwork. I think the advisory period was about 12 months. After that they could use a car wash. Don't know if this applies to the Insignia? I use a car wash for my Omega A when I have problems, osteoarthritis, and can't bend down. Never had no problems with my paintwork and mine is nearly 18 years old.

What does Vauxhall say about using a car wash?

[2.0 vectra]

the way the paintwork is on newer cars i would no way put one through a car wash .
I have noticed that the paintwork on my vectra is a lot easier to damage/scratch etc. than the paintwork on my old 93 cavalier was .

[biffbangpow]

Do not,,,, i repeat


do not put your motors through a auto washer.:eek::eek::eek:

A bucket & Microfibre cloths all the way!!;);):D If you have a good wax coat on your cars the muck will come off easy enough.:)

AGREEED MITCH !!
two bucket method
or get a snow foam attachment , for your jetwasher !

[kevinfourlegs]

I sometimes don't have a lot of choice. If I didn't go through the car wash then mine would only be washed 4 times a year. It gets a waxing every 3 months. It nearly kills me. I can't always wash the car.

[Mk3hampton]

i pay immagrants

[Powerod]

I go to my local hand car wash in the winter months, they do a pukka job for a fiver. windows, tyre black and leathered too and I just sit in warmth of my car.

One thing I do watch out for is them dropping the sponge on the floor as it will pick the dirt up and scratch the paint work, so I have my beady eyes on them.

I would never take a motor to a machine car wash, dark colour cars suffer the worst.

[Victorbox]

Plenty of £5 hand car wash with jet washers going on around here - as long as the wash mit hasn't been dropped in the grit too many times! I can't believe automatic car washes still exist with so many people offering hand washes now.

[simonrh]

Our eastern european hand wash is ok but over time my previous front windscreen was scratched to hell with all the scratches following the direction of the silicone squeegee they use. (eg not the wipers or the window frost scraper)

[Rockh]

Tend not to use them unless I'm feeling very lazy. The insignia has yet to have the pleasure of one.

Don't mind hand washing in the winter, a pair of marigolds :) and lots of warm water.

I throw plenty of grit down after I've finished just so people don't slip on the path if it's icy.

[simonrh]

Our guys used our diesel heated pressure washer to defrost the yard when we ran out of grit last week. It got he snow melted long enough to move all our fork trucks but was like a mirror for the rest of the day.

[Toon]

I used one the other day :( Can't see any problems so far and i only went to that one because I really didn't have time for anything else. I normally get the local handwash place to do inside and out for a tenner but it means leaving it for an hour which I don't always have time for. Plus my four year old loved going through the brushes :)

[NovalutionGSi]

I'll tell you why to Not do the following!

As stated DO NOT USE
Auto Roller car washes
Jet Washes

Both scratch the hell out of you car, and after spending 5 figures on a brand new Siggy you dont want that happening.

And now, Hed this warning,

DO NOT USE THOSE HAND CAR WASHES EITHER!!!!!!

you know they can get your car REALLY shiney??? yeh?? well they use an acid that removes all dirt.....Brilliant, it also removes Tar and Bugs etc, Brilliant..... It also removes ALL Wax and polishes you have lovingly put on the car, NOT so Brilliant!
This i had from CraigSRi, who is a Valeter, just so happens one of his suppliers also supplies the local hand car washes with this Acid.

Alot of us on here like Mitch and Myself do know what we are talking about.
Wash with 2 buckets, one with your wash, the other for rincing the Wash mit, maybe a good idea to have a Grit garud too, use a Wash Mit as this takes in the Dirt into the Pile so it doesnt scratch, a sponge, the dirt sits on the surface, meaning you just scratch the hell out of your car! and use something like a Meguiar's Water Magnet to dry the car, not a shammy, as again, any dirt sits on the surface.

*Gets off Soap Box*

[simonrh]

Gents, found the perfect no contact solution to this issue.

There must be a downside to it but I can't find it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Frk2H-g3CQ

[afisher]

You go first and you can report back. You might not want to sit in the car while their doing it though.

[simonrh]

Just need to make sure they have added the correct quantity of car body shampoo first.

[kevinfourlegs]

As I am unable to view the link, can someone enlighten me as to what its about and what is the lesser car? Something fwd?

[chris66]

As I am unable to view the link, can someone enlighten me as to what its about and what is the lesser car? Something fwd?

Escort estate getting at least 20 tons of water dropped on it out of a very large digger bucket Kev. Not much left of the Escort

[kevinfourlegs]

Thanks Chris. I was right about the lesser car being fwd.

[chris66]

Thanks Chris. I was right about the lesser car being fwd.

It was an Escort estate so i'll let you off. lol:D

[Mk3hampton]

i like escorts :(

[2.0 vectra]

i like escorts :(

I liked the one i had on my MOT ramp this morning , drove it out & then swept the remains of the sills & rear chassis off the ramp :eek::eek:

[Mk3hampton]

I liked the one i had on my MOT ramp this morning , drove it out & then swept the remains of the sills & rear chassis off the ramp :eek::eek:

to be fair fella i bet you can do that with most vx's? ( i am a vauxhall man btw, just not a narrow minded one)

[2.0 vectra]

to be fair fella i bet you can do that with most vx's? ( i am a vauxhall man btw, just not a narrow minded one)

done 1 or 2 like that aye :D:eek::eek:

[biffbangpow]

its that big hammer you use :eek:(-

[2.0 vectra]

keeps the dangerous scrap off the roads , surprising how brutal a lightweight plastic hammer can be , lol

[Melbury]

In this weather since you dont want to turn your driveway into an ice rink it will be better to find the carwash that has the DIY bay where you can have a hot-wash and wax etc. It will do a reasonable job in about ten minutes, you have control but just need to be careful with the jet-wand thing.