Car Wash / Winter Care

[djpfine]

This is my first winter in the Boston area, and I wanted to know what others here do to keep their cars in top shape and minimize the damage of salt.

1) Are there any decent hand wash places in the Boston area that are open on Saturdays? I work long hours M-F so Sat is my only free day to get a wash.

2) What do people do to minimize the damage of salt? Any special products or techniques / things to watch out for?

[Sam 330ci]

buy a beater is really the only thing I think . . . :(

[Kevin E21]

Try one of those touchless car washes. Usually they have an undercarriage wash if you get the 9 dollar wash. It sprays up from the floor and you drive over it.

There is one on Rt. 1 south in Saugus after taco bell, at the express oil change place.

[PixMan]

Myself, one of my BMW's *IS* my winter beater, and I want to keep it clean too. Alas, without my own garage I can't them as clean as I'd like. I do keep a hose at the ready, and anytime the temperature rises above 34F of so, I'm washing them both.

One mistake I made with my GTO was to run it through car washes, both the "touchless" and old-fashioned machine type. The high pressure wash never really got it clean, though it looked OK. I made the gross error of assuming it was clean enough to dry it off with microfiber towels. BIG mistake. The black paint was all scratched, but I'm unsure if I got more damage from the towels or from the machine's big wet felts.

You're smart to want a hand wash, but even those have to be VERY careful with paint in "no swirls" condition. I got a small 1100psi pressure washer to take the nastiest stuff off, then use clean soap with a soft, often-rinsed wash mitt.

But, most of the time in winter, like right now, it's just too cold to wash them so I look at the dirt and lament not living in the south.

[Kevin E21]

You make a good point Pixman, but nothing can beat the undercarriage wash from the touchless washes, unless ofcoarse you can put your car on a lift and do it yourself.

I know I have seen some hand wash places around, that is atleast better than your own driveway because you are atleast inside a drive-thru area when washing.

I know there is some up and down Rte. 1, just take a ride and you're bound to see one.

[SmellyGreek]

You make a good point Pixman, but nothing can beat the undercarriage wash from the touchless washes, unless ofcoarse you can put your car on a lift and do it yourself.

I know I have seen some hand wash places around, that is atleast better than your own driveway because you are atleast inside a drive-thru area when washing.

I know there is some up and down Rte. 1, just take a ride and you're bound to see one.

I put my M on a lift last thursday, and the salt only accumulates on the edges of the underbody, not in the middle where the exhaust is (thank god). I sprayed the underside of the car with a hose for about 10 minutes, it got a vast majority of the salt off. I'll just continue to do the same every 2 weeks or so.

[Bolidoendiablad]

This is my first winter in the Boston area, and I wanted to know what others here do to keep their cars in top shape and minimize the damage of salt.

1) Are there any decent hand wash places in the Boston area that are open on Saturdays? I work long hours M-F so Sat is my only free day to get a wash.

2) What do people do to minimize the damage of salt? Any special products
or techniques / things to watch out for?

I found a hand wash place at the Atrium Mall's garage a couple weeks ago.
I left the car, went upstairs for shopping and after half an hour my baby was there all shiney....:redspot

I'm planning to go back this Saturday, sometime in the afternoon ( I have to work until 1PM )
There's a guy there, Ryan, he's in charge and he seems a nice guy. I think we should go there and talk to him: see if we can get a free car wash after 4 regular washes, for all bf'ers....:D

They have a website...something like DRdetailing.com or something like that; and they take appointments too!
Anyone going this Sat????

[savage217]

I work at a car wash. I usually wash it in the bay during the nice months but when the salts on the road I get 2 car washes a week with undercarriage washes. Thankfully I get them for free. I would just go through a car wash once or twice a week and get an undercarraige wash.

[mysticm3]

I get my cars detailed once a month and do the touchless car washes to keep the salt off.

[525iT_Feen]

Where in Boston are you located?

I rinse mine off at home all the time and use the scrub a dub carwash in mattapan also. They do a really good job. I never dry it off though, because i dont trust the salt being gone.

I use the JP DIY wash alot too, i Just rinse the foam brush out with the high pressure one for atleast a minute first too.

[mysticm3]

I avoid the hand wash or washes that touch the vehicle this time of year. You end up with scratches and paint swirles...

[djpfine]

I'm in the Seaport district. Found a pretty good place in Brighton called A-Z auto. They do a hand wash + jams for $19. Not bad. As suggested, I'll probably hit up one of those auto wash places for an undercarriage wash. I hope I won't have any problems getting a lowered car onto any lift required for that.

[VenomRS4]

Man, I want to wash my car soo bad. Its soooo dirty. But every time I do in the winter...my locks freeze :(

[525iT_Feen]

I avoid the hand wash or washes that touch the vehicle this time of year. You end up with scratches and paint swirles...

I try to avoid them also but the drive through washes dont catch everything.

[Kevin E21]

Haha, I just realized I think I can get a discount on a detail at work, but it's still mad expensive.

[Bolidoendiablad]

Haha, I just realized I think I can get a discount on a detail at work, but it's still mad expensive.


So ...you got the job a Peabody??

[Bolidoendiablad]

I'm in the Seaport district. Found a pretty good place in Brighton called A-Z auto. They do a hand wash + jams for $19. Not bad. As suggested, I'll probably hit up one of those auto wash places for an undercarriage wash. I hope I won't have any problems getting a lowered car onto any lift required for that.

Where is that A-Z place exactly in brighton? I'm 10 min from there and I'd like to see if they're better than Dr detailing....

[Kevin E21]

So ...you got the job a Peabody??

Yup.

[djpfine]

Where is that A-Z place exactly in brighton? I'm 10 min from there and I'd like to see if they're better than Dr detailing....

http://www.a-zautocenter.com/index-3.html

it's on Comm Ave. Let me know what you think.

[///Montizzle]

Im in IL here but i can relate. They salt RIDICULOUS here its really gay. But i hit up the Touchless auto washes twice a week to get the undercarriage sprayed. It works pretty well, and they do a really good job

[BMWSportXXX]

This is my first winter in the Boston area, and I wanted to know what others here do to keep their cars in top shape and minimize the damage of salt.

1) Are there any decent hand wash places in the Boston area that are open on Saturdays? I work long hours M-F so Sat is my only free day to get a wash.

2) What do people do to minimize the damage of salt? Any special products or techniques / things to watch out for?

I agree, somebody on here said get a beater car, best option. I always go touchless. Less damage to the paint, plus you get the undercarriage sprayed. Do not wash car if it is below freezing! Ever hear of touching your tounge to the flag pole in winter? Same effect. Also if you can get garage space it helps alot! You don't have to use all sorts of crazy tools to clean the snow off your car. Your Bimmer will thank you for it. One other note if you have any bare metal showing try and get it covered with touch up paint or something because the salt loves bare metal. Keep it waxed, it helps protect the paint from everything.

[bird67]

Though it seems counterintuitive, don't use a heated garage. Every time you bring your frost- and salt-encrusted vehicle into a heated garage, it melts and gives the salt another chance to attack your car. You are much better off leaving your car - and the chemicals encrusting it - below freezing every night.

[Bolidoendiablad]

http://www.a-zautocenter.com/index-3.html

it's on Comm Ave. Let me know what you think.

I called them a couple of times but they were busy enough to take mine. I ended up going to drdetailingcarwash and get the car done.
I'll definetely give them a try one of these days.Thank you.