Soft top in car wash

allensiu · 01-06-2009, 03:29 PM

I have a Z4 with soft top. Can I possibly take it through an automatic car wash ? If so, touchless ones, or those with soft cloth?

It gets too cold here in Canada, so hand wash is out of the question.

enfield · 01-06-2009, 04:07 PM

I used to take my roaster through Sunoco's touchless carwash with no problems.

BlackSapphireZ · 01-07-2009, 12:12 AM

this isn't 1950's

i take mine through soft touch car wash all the time when its cold

marcus1701 · 01-07-2009, 01:34 AM

Noo...never take it inside any automatic carwash. I admit to have done it before but its not good for the fabric. When you clean the top you're supposed to clean in the direction of the weave. It should say in the manual to only hand wash it. It says that for my TT.

oldtimer · 01-08-2009, 02:44 PM

Take it from someone who experienced it. sometime back I got my wife a 330ci be being lazy she kept taking the car through the auto car wash without me knowing it. About a year later the top started to leak. So I started to do some investigation when I found evidence of her taking it through a auto car wash. I Did some fast talking it was replaced through the warranty. It will damage the top eventually. Not a good way to keep the top clean.

155MPH · 01-08-2009, 03:00 PM

Guess you should buy a hard top?

pemco · 01-08-2009, 04:28 PM

I have taken my car to the carwash every week for over 20 months, so far no problems. The car is tight, no leaks. Fabric does not seem to have any adverse effects. It's a cpo so if there is a problem I'm sure BMW will stand by their product

caseysc · 01-08-2009, 05:31 PM

I would suggest a touch less car wash for the top as well as the body. Think about it, or read my post on Bimmerforum.

karmasabish · 01-08-2009, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caseysc

I would suggest a touch less car wash for the top as well as the body. Think about it, or read my post on Bimmerforum.

link?

caseysc · 01-08-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karmasabish

link?

Sorry, it was not my post but I submitted several responses. Here it is...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1149365

pvr · 01-09-2009, 05:00 AM

The dealer washed my previous Z once against my instructions, and had to replace the entire roof after this result:

Mikewarlover · 01-09-2009, 10:10 AM

it doesnt look that bad in the pic

aerobod · 01-10-2009, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikewarlover

it doesnt look that bad in the pic

Unless it was originally black

Mikewarlover · 01-11-2009, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerobod

Unless it was originally black

wasupdu · 01-11-2009, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikewarlover

it doesnt look that bad in the pic

I understand how most people say this, but BMW owners are typically a unique breed (myself included). Most Bimmer owners are fairly particular about their cars and I'm sure the top posted above is VERY noticeable to the owner and the occasional enthusiast. That being said, I've taken my Z4 through automatic washes about 5-10 times throughout the last 3 years in a pinch and I haven't had any adverse effects yet. I take very good care of the top, but the wheels are what I'm most worried about. I ALWAYS make sure to go through washes that DO NOT have the wheel tracks that guide you through. I've had wheel damage on my 5er that resulted in about $900 in damage to the wheels that the Holiday gas station (local midwest US company) car wash ultimately paid for. I will go to Holiday gas stations whenever possible since they so willingly accepted blame for the damage, but I will never go through their car washes with the wheel tracks. Thankfully, there's a Holiday wash that I can take my 5er through during the winter months without the wheel tracks....plus, it does a GREAT job.

Mikewarlover · 01-11-2009, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wasupdu

I understand how most people say this, but BMW owners are typically a unique breed (myself included). Most Bimmer owners are fairly particular about their cars and I'm sure the top posted above is VERY noticeable to the owner and the occasional enthusiast. That being said, I've taken my Z4 through automatic washes about 5-10 times throughout the last 3 years in a pinch and I haven't had any adverse effects yet. I take very good care of the top, but the wheels are what I'm most worried about. I ALWAYS make sure to go through washes that DO NOT have the wheel tracks that guide you through. I've had wheel damage on my 5er that resulted in about $900 in damage to the wheels that the Holiday gas station (local midwest US company) car wash ultimately paid for. I will go to Holiday gas stations whenever possible since they so willingly accepted blame for the damage, but I will never go through their car washes with the wheel tracks. Thankfully, there's a Holiday wash that I can take my 5er through during the winter months without the wheel tracks....plus, it does a GREAT job.

That is very true i guess if that roof is on my car i would be pretty crazy as well and try to ask bmw to replace it. However dealerships now days can fix and replace nothing for u. Going through all the trouble is really annoying for me. One of the big reason i trade my e92 was because the saddle brown seat was getting dark after 33k km and it is starting to crack. So i am picky as well...

thread killer · 01-11-2009, 05:19 PM

dont bitch to BMW if you go thru the quarter car wash and you get water leaks while doing it. they dont like pressure washers.

01-06-2009, 03:29 PM	#1
allensiu Registered 3 Rep 2 Posts Drives: Z4 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada iTrader: (0)	Soft top in car wash I have a Z4 with soft top. Can I possibly take it through an automatic car wash ? If so, touchless ones, or those with soft cloth? It gets too cold here in Canada, so hand wash is out of the question.
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01-06-2009, 04:07 PM	#2
enfield Civilian 79 Rep 970 Posts Drives: Jaguar F-Type V8 S Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	I used to take my roaster through Sunoco's touchless carwash with no problems.
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01-07-2009, 12:12 AM	#3
BlackSapphireZ Major 99 Rep 1,191 Posts Drives: 22 GLE 53 Coupe Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ladson, SC iTrader: (0)	this isn't 1950's i take mine through soft touch car wash all the time when its cold __________________ 2022 GLE 53 Coupe
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01-07-2009, 01:34 AM	#4
marcus1701 up all night 1 Rep 113 Posts Drives: 3.0si, alpine white, auto, nav Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Orinda, CA iTrader: (0)	Noo...never take it inside any automatic carwash. I admit to have done it before but its not good for the fabric. When you clean the top you're supposed to clean in the direction of the weave. It should say in the manual to only hand wash it. It says that for my TT. __________________ 02 Silver Audi TT 225 Roadster, APR Stage 2+ ,ECS underdrive Pulleys, S-Line Bumpers, APR Exhaust, APR Silicone Hoses, APR FMIC, Suntek 50% tint, 08 White Subaru Forester 03 Mineral Grey Ford ZX2 DIU Car- American Pride
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01-08-2009, 02:44 PM	#5
oldtimer Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2005 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: lexington Park, MD iTrader: (0)	Take it from someone who experienced it. sometime back I got my wife a 330ci be being lazy she kept taking the car through the auto car wash without me knowing it. About a year later the top started to leak. So I started to do some investigation when I found evidence of her taking it through a auto car wash. I Did some fast talking it was replaced through the warranty. It will damage the top eventually. Not a good way to keep the top clean.
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01-08-2009, 03:00 PM	#6
155MPH Major 61 Rep 1,379 Posts Drives: E89 Z4 sDrive28i M Performance Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Jersey Shore iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW xDrive430i ... [0.00] 2014 BMW Z4 sDrive2 ... [5.00]	Guess you should buy a hard top?
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01-08-2009, 04:28 PM	#7
pemco ADMIRAL 3 Rep 33 Posts Drives: 2004 Z4 2.5 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Pedro iTrader: (0)	I have taken my car to the carwash every week for over 20 months, so far no problems. The car is tight, no leaks. Fabric does not seem to have any adverse effects. It's a cpo so if there is a problem I'm sure BMW will stand by their product
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01-08-2009, 05:31 PM	#8
caseysc Second Lieutenant 9 Rep 274 Posts Drives: 2010 128i Conv. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Aiken, SC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 Z4 2.5i [8.00]	I would suggest a touch less car wash for the top as well as the body. Think about it, or read my post on Bimmerforum.
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01-09-2009, 05:00 AM	#11
pvr Private 17 Rep 95 Posts Drives: F85 X5M Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	The dealer washed my previous Z once against my instructions, and had to replace the entire roof after this result:
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01-09-2009, 10:10 AM	#12
Mikewarlover Major 40 Rep 1,165 Posts Drives: white Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Richmond BC iTrader: (0)	it doesnt look that bad in the pic
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01-11-2009, 05:19 PM	#17
thread killer Banned 14 Rep 472 Posts Drives: faster then your car Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: pulling away iTrader: (3)	dont bitch to BMW if you go thru the quarter car wash and you get water leaks while doing it. they dont like pressure washers.
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