At the car wash...

[W8MM]

coin operated car wash

Frost on my parka?

 

[bonnie]

Legitimate questions are one thing. Threads that take a legitimate question, assume the worst, cause all sorts of churn over nothing ... not so good.

On an off chance I might find real info online, here's a possible explanation that is true for ALL cars of this type:

One of the most common damages blamed on car washes is scratched paint. According to Jacob Scalici, a Philadelphian who writes about sports cars, the brushes used in a car wash are hard on paint and clear coat.

 

[W8MM]

Legitimate questions are one thing. Threads that take a legitimate question, assume the worst, cause all sorts of churn over nothing ... not so good.

On an off chance I might find real info online, here's a possible explanation that is true for ALL cars of this type:

One of the most common damages blamed on car washes is scratched paint. According to Jacob Scalici, a Philadelphian who writes about sports cars, the brushes used in a car wash are hard on paint and clear coat.

If they are talking about polyethylene strips like seen on cheerleaders' pompoms, I agree. However, most modern "brush-type" car washes use wide strips of a felt-like material that have never harmed one of my cars.

 

[bonnie]

If they are talking about polyethylene strips like seen on cheerleaders' pompoms, I agree. However, most modern "brush-type" car washes use wide strips of a felt-like material that has never harmed one of my cars.

The local car wash here has those big giant rotating brushes that come from above and both sides. I shudder to think of it.

 

[W8MM]

The local car wash here has those big giant rotating brushes that come from above and both sides. I shudder to think of it.

You can come and inspect my Bentley Arnage and admire it's flawless paint. I only use the felt-strip car wash on it. It's a 2009.

 

[bonnie]

So you're already dealing with the whole 'no brushes' issue. I'm sure it's a beautiful car.

(Can I borrow it?)

 

[W8MM]

So you're already dealing with the whole 'no brushes' issue. I'm sure it's a beautiful car.

(Can I borrow it?)

The only remaining "no brushes" issue is if Tesla believes that some exterior parts might get separated from the vehicle by being snagged or yanked by the "brushes". I'd like a little more clarity on the "why" of the prohibition.

 

[Doug_G]

Damn...what kind of car wash do you go to!?!? :wink:

I think it's a case of, what kind of wash does Tesla's lawyers go to?

 

[bonnie]

Some of those brushes are stiff scrub brushes! They can scratch any car. Even if a manufacturer was mum on the subject of how to wash a car I owned, I'd never take it through one of those.

(And we're now approaching 50 posts on this topic alone.)

 

[Andrew Wolfe]

I will admit that I have never taken my totally carbon fibre Carrera GT through one, mostly on ground clearance issues.

Suddenly, the model S sounds like a sensibly-priced car....:tongue:

 

[Tommy]

For those that have had a chance to attend the Get Amped Tour and saw the finish in person will appreciate Tesla's advice on washing the car; it is a beautiful painted car that has as flawless a finish I have seen on a factory car. The gloss and shine is superb and I have no doubt that an automated brush would seriously mar the finish, it is that highly polished.

Thank Tesla that they are giving us "fair warning" about proper care for this highly refined paint finish; left to our own devices, no doubt we would muck it up in the name of convenience i.e. using the automatic car wash.

 

[Robert.Boston]

Exactly, @Tommy. This is lawyer-speak in the warranty. They're telling us that if we take the car through a car-wash, other than touchless, that we can't try to claim resulting damage under the warranty.

Two reactions:
1. I've never seen any warranty extended to flawless paint
2. If a carwash destroys part of my car, I would pursue a claim against the carwash, not against the car manufacturer.

 

[spatterso911]

You can come and inspect my Bentley Arnage and admire it's flawless paint. I only use the felt-strip car wash on it. It's a 2009.

So you're already dealing with the whole 'no brushes' issue. I'm sure it's a beautiful car.

(Can I borrow it?)

I sometimes travel to Ohio...

Can I borrow it too?? If not that, perhaps the GT ??? Pweeeeeze??

 

[W8MM]

I sometimes travel to Ohio...

Can I borrow it too?? If not that, perhaps the GT ??? Pweeeeeze??

Since your screen name ends in 911, perhaps you'd prefer the 911 GT3 RS 4.0?

 

[artsci]

If you really prize the finish on a car you would never take it to an automated car wash of any kind, brushless or otherwise. A careful hand wash is the only way to go.

 

[spatterso911]

Since your screen name ends in 911, perhaps you'd prefer the 911 GT3 RS 4.0?

Ummm yeah!

 

[W8MM]

Ummm yeah!

Drive your Model S out this way and I'll give you a 70A/240V charge and a turn at the wheel!

 

[Bradleybang]

For those that do wash your own car(s), a benefit I never thought of with my roadster is that I now have a radio with no limit on the battery. If I am washing the roadster, other cars or putzing around in garage I can listen to music thru the roadster stereo without worries of draining the battery.

Before the roadster, I have drained a couple car batteries and thus needing to jump.

 

[Todd Burch]

For those that do wash your own car(s), a benefit I never thought of with my roadster is that I now have a radio with no limit on the battery.

A bit off topic but related to this quote, I ride a ferry almost every day to work. It will be nice to play the radio, surf the web, and have the A/C going in the summer and not worry about something like that. Now--in my ICE--I sit there and cook in the heat since engines are not supposed to be running on the ferry. The Model S will make the 15 minute ride much more pleasant.

 

[MikeK]

Nice!