Car wash disaster!

jademonkey1981 · 10-14-2011, 02:54 PM

Hey guys,
Just wanted to share a story.
Went to an automatic car wash a few days ago. Yes I should have washed the car myself, but it was one of those days. The guy at the car wash waves at me to align my front left tire with the thingamajig.
I do so, and then I hear a loud pop. Both the guy nor I did not make much of it. Thought at the time that it could have just been that old machine rather than the car.
No warning signs were seen in the car as well ( eg low tire pressure). I drive on out of there, cruising along my way home, when close to my house I see the dreaded low tire pressure sign.

Pull into my house and hear a nice ".ffffsssssstttttttt....." from the left front tire on the side rather than the tread.
Called AAA and had to get the car towed to the dealership.

The worst thing was that I just picked up the car from its first service!!
$500 later I have learned my lesson....don't be lazy.

cheers

KTM505SX · 10-14-2011, 03:00 PM

Sorry to hear man..

Moral of this story issss...Don't cut corners.

I rather drive around in a dirty car then put my car through one of those auto car washes.

Don't even like taking the car to a regular car wash,DIY or expect less than stellar results.

JDy80 · 10-14-2011, 03:09 PM

Yikes, no auto washes or any wash with a rail unless they are really reputable. Where in NY are you?

ClutchThese · 10-14-2011, 03:18 PM

OUCH! That seriously sucks! At least it's something small like your tire. I was thinking you were going to say something hit your car and damaged a fender or whatever.

THE TECH · 10-14-2011, 03:39 PM

Sorry to hear about the damage. I would leave mine dirty a little longer before I would ever use an auto wash on it.

Mr. ///M3 RD · 10-14-2011, 03:40 PM

Sorry to hear this! File it away as the most expensive car was of your life.

My ///M never ever saw a car wash only my hands

Sean@PYSpeed.com · 10-14-2011, 03:41 PM

NEVER NEVER NEVER go to a car wash!

Leonardo629 · 10-14-2011, 03:43 PM

This is why I only go to those touchless car washes with no rails....

lve2xlr8 · 10-14-2011, 04:24 PM

My car has never not been washed by hand...

M3 Cab · 10-14-2011, 04:58 PM

No tire problem here - the rail destroyed my plastic underbody front middle & wheelwell cover. $350 later, but the car wash covered it. Another reason to wash it yourself.

mdosu · 10-14-2011, 05:18 PM

yeah, in my old car I learned the hard way with the rail autowashers, scratched my wheels.

I still use the touchless lasar ones for quick rinses.

mdosu · 10-14-2011, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lve2xlr8

My car has never not been washed by hand...

Don't do what Donnie Don't does

JohnnyRoaster · 10-14-2011, 05:20 PM

That stinks. Maybe you could get the car wash to cover the tire.

No car washer/scratcher for me. I just have to remember to tell the service department not to wash it.

prichards516 · 10-14-2011, 09:24 PM

i learned the hard way with my e46. Right before I traded it in to the dealers, I decided to run it through the car wash and give them a clean car. Previously i would always handwash but that day i too was "lazy". lol long story short my quarter panel had a huge dent in it from the jerk who was running the waxer.

Midwest X6 · 10-14-2011, 09:27 PM

Sorry to hear the tale OP...

I'd cut-off my left "you know what" before I'd run my M through a car wash

positiveions · 10-14-2011, 09:37 PM

yicckkess.

Stronghammer · 10-15-2011, 04:31 AM

I even passed twice in the last few weeks on the "free" carwash at the BMW dealership. No thanks.

FASTTOYS · 10-15-2011, 04:31 AM

Never keep it dirty sorry to hear about your M
+ look at all those dirty cars that go through a car wash. The rollers hold dirt then beat the F out of your car. I took my M5 though a high-end car wash my inside wheels got beat up and my front clear bra was all scratched. I leave my car dirty it drives me crazy or I go to a quick-wash and spray it down.

Many years ago I had a VW and drove it through a gas station wash. The main roller had an old style metal antenna stuck in its weave. When the main roller started beating the car I was trapped by a car behind me, after the wash the car looked like it had hail damage and i was surprised the front glass never broke. After that experience I said I would never use a gas station Car-Wash again.

knifegun · 10-15-2011, 11:02 AM

Never ever ever ever go to an automatic car wash if you care about your car. What are you thinking? Just let it be dirty!

10-14-2011, 02:54 PM	#1
jademonkey1981 Registered Drives: 2011 E90 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: NY Posts: 1 iTrader: (0)	Car wash disaster! Hey guys, Just wanted to share a story. Went to an automatic car wash a few days ago. Yes I should have washed the car myself, but it was one of those days. The guy at the car wash waves at me to align my front left tire with the thingamajig. I do so, and then I hear a loud pop. Both the guy nor I did not make much of it. Thought at the time that it could have just been that old machine rather than the car. No warning signs were seen in the car as well ( eg low tire pressure). I drive on out of there, cruising along my way home, when close to my house I see the dreaded low tire pressure sign. Pull into my house and hear a nice ".ffffsssssstttttttt....." from the left front tire on the side rather than the tread. Called AAA and had to get the car towed to the dealership. The worst thing was that I just picked up the car from its first service!! $500 later I have learned my lesson....don't be lazy. cheers
	Tweet

10-14-2011, 03:09 PM	#3
JDy80 Captain Drives: 2010 E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 717 iTrader: (0)	Yikes, no auto washes or any wash with a rail unless they are really reputable. Where in NY are you? __________________ 2003 Cobra -> 2010 BMW e90 M3 - Space Grey - Black on Carbon Leather Int. - BRILLIANT CAR!!

10-14-2011, 03:39 PM	#5
THE TECH BimmerPost Supporting Vendor Drives: BPMsport 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 11,884 iTrader: (39)	Sorry to hear about the damage. I would leave mine dirty a little longer before I would ever use an auto wash on it. __________________ Check us out on Facebook at BPMsportLabs

10-14-2011, 03:40 PM	#6
Mr. ///M3 RD Major General Drives: M3 Summer & C350 4MATIC Winter Join Date: May 2010 Location: GTA, Ontario - Canada Posts: 7,539 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 M3 Coupe e92 [3.00] 2011 Benz 350 4MATIC [1.00] 1967 Restored Merce ... [0.00] 1987 BMW 535is [0.50] Cars from the Past [1.50] The ///M3 Engine S65 [3.50]	Sorry to hear this! File it away as the most expensive car was of your life. My ///M never ever saw a car wash only my hands __________________ Cheers, Rolf-Dieter Life will take us to some interesting places, fortunately The ///M3 will too with a many of us know this very well ---> Click here for some good stuff I found

10-14-2011, 03:41 PM	#7
Sean@PYSpeed.com BimmerPost Supporting Vendor Drives: 2009 AW E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bay Area Posts: 9,126 iTrader: (22)	NEVER NEVER NEVER go to a car wash! __________________ Contact me for lowest prices! ARKYM \| RS TPMS & Spacer \| OEM Style Wheel \| VMR Wheel \| Avant Garde Wheel \| HRE Wheel \| BC Forged

10-14-2011, 03:00 PM	#2
KTM505SX Lieutenant Drives: 2011.5 E92 M3 6MT ZCP Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Valencia,CA Posts: 502 iTrader: (0)	Sorry to hear man.. Moral of this story issss...Don't cut corners. I rather drive around in a dirty car then put my car through one of those auto car washes. Don't even like taking the car to a regular car wash,DIY or expect less than stellar results.

10-14-2011, 03:18 PM	#4
ClutchThese Private Drives: 2008 BMW M3 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Amerikuh Posts: 72 iTrader: (0)	OUCH! That seriously sucks! At least it's something small like your tire. I was thinking you were going to say something hit your car and damaged a fender or whatever.

10-14-2011, 03:43 PM	#8
Leonardo629 Captain Drives: 2013 M3 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Walnut, CA Posts: 886 iTrader: (8)	This is why I only go to those touchless car washes with no rails....

10-14-2011, 04:24 PM	#9
lve2xlr8 Captain Drives: '11 e92 M3 MW ZCP DCT Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: OC Posts: 704 iTrader: (5)	My car has never not been washed by hand... __________________ '11 M3 '00 M5 - Sold '08 335i w/m3 conversion - Sold

10-14-2011, 04:58 PM	#10
M3 Cab New Member Drives: 2011.5 M3 Convertible Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 16 iTrader: (0)	No tire problem here - the rail destroyed my plastic underbody front middle & wheelwell cover. $350 later, but the car wash covered it. Another reason to wash it yourself.

10-14-2011, 05:18 PM	#11
mdosu Help! Can't decide btw MW & AW, 1st world problems Drives: 2008.99989 SSII E90 "Civic" Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 5,842 iTrader: (4)	yeah, in my old car I learned the hard way with the rail autowashers, scratched my wheels. I still use the touchless lasar ones for quick rinses. __________________ Yes, that's a xmas tree in my trunk

10-14-2011, 05:20 PM	#13
JohnnyRoaster Captain Drives: 09 Jerez Black M3 Sedan Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Outside Beantown Posts: 940 iTrader: (0)	That stinks. Maybe you could get the car wash to cover the tire. No car washer/scratcher for me. I just have to remember to tell the service department not to wash it. __________________

10-14-2011, 09:24 PM	#14
prichards516 Lieutenant Drives: e92 M3 zcp Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 454 iTrader: (2)	i learned the hard way with my e46. Right before I traded it in to the dealers, I decided to run it through the car wash and give them a clean car. Previously i would always handwash but that day i too was "lazy". lol long story short my quarter panel had a huge dent in it from the jerk who was running the waxer.

10-14-2011, 09:27 PM	#15
Midwest X6 Lieutenant Drives: 2013 X3 28xi Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Great Midwest Posts: 560 iTrader: (4)	Sorry to hear the tale OP... I'd cut-off my left "you know what" before I'd run my M through a car wash __________________ Current Ride: 2013\28xi\Deep Sea Blue\Oyster Nevada Leather\Fineline Sienna Trim\Sport Activity \Cold Weather\Premium\Comfort Access\Navigation\Panoramic Moon Roof\BMW Assist Previous Rides: E92 M3, E70 X5 35d, E71 X6 50i, E71 X6 35i, E46 M3 Cabriolet, E39 540i, E36 328i

10-14-2011, 09:37 PM	#16
positiveions Major General Drives: 09 MKV JETTA 2.5 & E90 M3 :) Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Verne, CA Posts: 8,823 iTrader: (1)	yicckkess. __________________

10-15-2011, 04:31 AM	#17
Stronghammer Lieutenant Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: May 2011 Location: south carolina Posts: 509 iTrader: (0)	I even passed twice in the last few weeks on the "free" carwash at the BMW dealership. No thanks. __________________ 2011 E92 M3 MR July 11 ED Sept 11 PCD Mods: ESS VT1, MS test pipes, 19 BBS CH-R, Eibach pro springs, Painted reflectors, carbon fiber grills, Painted side markers with dark tinted lenses, 30% tint, Arkym rear diffuser, Innotech axle back exhaust, Performance spoiler

10-15-2011, 04:31 AM	#18
FASTTOYS Second Lieutenant Drives: 12 Lotus/05 911S/2012 X3/12 VW Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: USA TEXAS Posts: 227 iTrader: (1)	Never keep it dirty sorry to hear about your M + look at all those dirty cars that go through a car wash. The rollers hold dirt then beat the F out of your car. I took my M5 though a high-end car wash my inside wheels got beat up and my front clear bra was all scratched. I leave my car dirty it drives me crazy or I go to a quick-wash and spray it down. Many years ago I had a VW and drove it through a gas station wash. The main roller had an old style metal antenna stuck in its weave. When the main roller started beating the car I was trapped by a car behind me, after the wash the car looked like it had hail damage and i was surprised the front glass never broke. After that experience I said I would never use a gas station Car-Wash again.

10-15-2011, 11:02 AM	#19
knifegun Major Drives: M3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Where the weather is always the same Posts: 1,067 iTrader: (0)	Never ever ever ever go to an automatic car wash if you care about your car. What are you thinking? Just let it be dirty!

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