Carwash - South Bay

cacofonix · 10-07-2012, 11:14 AM

Hi Everyone,

What is the best carwash for an M3 in the SouthBay (Mountain View/Santa Clara/Palo Alto area)? Basically looking for a carwash that routinely services cars like M3s and other high end cars. Is some amount of detailing also part of the wash process?

I looked for this on the forum, without much luck.

Interestingly, I thought when I pick up my car from the dealer, it would be super clean and sparkling, which it was not ... It had water droplet marks etc. on it.

Thanks!

Jbook · 10-07-2012, 11:53 AM

http://www.yelp.com/biz/aj-auto-detailing-san-jose

Great staff, great service, amazing quality work. You will see tons of high-end cars there as well.

Mr. ///M3 RD · 10-07-2012, 11:59 AM

Do it yourself is the best wash

eclipsisNA · 10-07-2012, 12:02 PM

Would you be able to wash the car yourself? I never recommend taking a car to a wash, even if it's a hand wash. I've never come across a car wash that doesn't swirl paint.

smmmurf · 10-07-2012, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jbook

http://www.yelp.com/biz/aj-auto-detailing-san-jose

Great staff, great service, amazing quality work. You will see tons of high-end cars there as well.

Been going there for years on my daily drivers. Not bad for a wash. Took my m3 there once. not really great for finer work. always have swirls after, had to do paint correction myself to remove them. Your satisfaction with their work depends how discerning of a customer you are. EclipsisNA would have a FIT if they touched his car.

Sign up for their coupons for much better pricing ($40 for wash, interior, and wax)

cacofonix · 10-07-2012, 01:28 PM

Hmm, I live in an apartment complex, so I don't have a private garage etc. and there is no facility to wash cars myself (water hose etc.) So I would have to get it done from someplace.

Any carwash that does not swirl paint, or is able to restore the paint later?

Mr. ///M3 RD · 10-07-2012, 02:44 PM

We have the "Do It Yourself" car wash places, I'm sure you can find one too. You know what I mean ... You drive in to a bay wash your car then rinse and drive out to dry her.

GrussGott · 10-07-2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cacofonix

What is the best carwash for an M3 in the SouthBay (Mountain View/Santa Clara/Palo Alto area)?

Long story short, after lots of research here's your best option:
http://www.yelp.com/search?find_loc=...auto+detailing

Fernando Campos is the owner and he will work with directly. He's been doing this for almost 20 years and he takes care of you personally. (he's on vacation right now, but his manager is the same)

I used to live in the mid-west with a 3 car garage so I had the space and all the stuff: foam gun, two bucket system, PC, lake country pads, menzerna, etc I washed my car myself weekly and it would take about 2-3 hours.

Now, does Fernando do a better job than me? of course not

but truth is he does many things better than I do and he does it in a LOT less time. I'm VERY happy with his work.

He's located in a private country club community (Silver Creek) on the weekends and is in downtown SJ during the week. Believe me, he's used to working on nice cars. Some guys rotate driving 3+ cars and he'll wash them after each use!

I recommend the club just because it's a nice place to hang out if you want. You can sit right in front of your car and work with team as they do your car.

Course I used to do that ...

but now that I've been there I usually walk down the hill to starbucks. He'll do the whole pick up / drop off thing, but I just drive down to the club and hang.

I started out with a full polish since I'd done ED (and then trucked to CA) and now do detail washes. I was planning to do a full concours this summer but haven't gotten around to it yet.

It's probably a drive for you but very worth it for great customer service and careful work. BTW, I have no interest in his business whatsoever I'm just newly moved here and thrilled to have found his service.

PM me if you want more info.

UPDATE: looks like he has a Palo location! Didn't know that ...
Detail Only
Palo Alto Hills Golf & Country Club
3000 Alexis Dr.
Palo Alto, CA 94304
650.339.8538
Tue - Sat. 9 AM - 6 PM

cacofonix · 10-07-2012, 04:28 PM

This is awesome info. I am familiar with Silver Creek - since my friend used to live there! Will give it a shot and I'll PM you for more info!

Many Thanks!

GrussGott · 10-07-2012, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cacofonix

This is awesome info. I am familiar with Silver Creek - since my friend used to live there! Will give it a shot and I'll PM you for more info!

Many Thanks!

NP, maybe if we get enough of us we can get an M3 discount and have M3 days @ the club

10-07-2012, 11:14 AM	#1
cacofonix Private First Class 32 Rep 114 Posts Drives: 2013 Melbourne Red M3 E92 ZCP Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Carwash - South Bay - Which one is preferred? Hi Everyone, What is the best carwash for an M3 in the SouthBay (Mountain View/Santa Clara/Palo Alto area)? Basically looking for a carwash that routinely services cars like M3s and other high end cars. Is some amount of detailing also part of the wash process? I looked for this on the forum, without much luck. Interestingly, I thought when I pick up my car from the dealer, it would be super clean and sparkling, which it was not ... It had water droplet marks etc. on it. Thanks! Last edited by cacofonix; 10-07-2012 at 11:29 AM..
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10-07-2012, 11:53 AM	#2
Jbook Lieutenant Colonel 163 Rep 1,506 Posts Drives: '15 FO M4 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NorCal Bay Area iTrader: (23) Garage List 2011 BMW E90 M3 [9.44]	http://www.yelp.com/biz/aj-auto-detailing-san-jose Great staff, great service, amazing quality work. You will see tons of high-end cars there as well. __________________ Fire Orange F82 Built by Alekshop \| Pure Stage 2 Turbos \| Akrapovic Evolution and Downpipes \| ESS T-500 Performance ECU Software \| Evolution Racewerks Chargepipes \| Gruppe M CAI \| Awron Gauge w/ Valve Control \| KW Clubsport \| Brembo GT 380 F&R \| 19" BBS FI-R \| BMW Performance Seats, Aero, and Steering Wheel \| Vorsteiner Diffuser \| IND Cosmetics
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10-07-2012, 11:59 AM	#3
Mr. ///M3 RD Happy Camper 612 Rep 7,869 Posts Drives: C63 AMG & 280 SL on Weekends : Join Date: May 2010 Location: GTA, Ontario - Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 1969 Restored Merce ... [7.50] 2011 M3 Coupe TRADED [7.34] 1987 BMW 535is [1.00] Cars from the Past [6.50] The ///M3 Engine S65 [9.59]	Do it yourself is the best wash __________________ 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, now my C6.3 AMG with 487 HP does it too ---> Click here for some good stuff I found
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10-07-2012, 12:02 PM	#4
eclipsisNA Colonel 350 Rep 2,937 Posts Drives: 2013 Estoril 328i M Sport Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Beverly Hills, CA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2014 BMW 428i [7.76]	Would you be able to wash the car yourself? I never recommend taking a car to a wash, even if it's a hand wash. I've never come across a car wash that doesn't swirl paint.
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10-07-2012, 01:28 PM	#6
cacofonix Private First Class 32 Rep 114 Posts Drives: 2013 Melbourne Red M3 E92 ZCP Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Hmm, I live in an apartment complex, so I don't have a private garage etc. and there is no facility to wash cars myself (water hose etc.) So I would have to get it done from someplace. Any carwash that does not swirl paint, or is able to restore the paint later?
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10-07-2012, 02:44 PM	#7
Mr. ///M3 RD Happy Camper 612 Rep 7,869 Posts Drives: C63 AMG & 280 SL on Weekends : Join Date: May 2010 Location: GTA, Ontario - Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 1969 Restored Merce ... [7.50] 2011 M3 Coupe TRADED [7.34] 1987 BMW 535is [1.00] Cars from the Past [6.50] The ///M3 Engine S65 [9.59]	We have the "Do It Yourself" car wash places, I'm sure you can find one too. You know what I mean ... You drive in to a bay wash your car then rinse and drive out to dry her. __________________ 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, now my C6.3 AMG with 487 HP does it too ---> Click here for some good stuff I found
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10-07-2012, 04:28 PM	#9
cacofonix Private First Class 32 Rep 114 Posts Drives: 2013 Melbourne Red M3 E92 ZCP Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	This is awesome info. I am familiar with Silver Creek - since my friend used to live there! Will give it a shot and I'll PM you for more info! Many Thanks!
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