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Automatic car wash -- stock antenna / roof damage?

Decayed

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The clearcoat on my last car was trashed by the local brush and roller wash. My mav only ever got powerwashing by hand or touchless automatic wash. The paint was pristine two years out but had a bunch of dings through to the undercoat from road debris.

I can guarantee you that the paint on a mav WILL scratch from frequent automatic brush/roller washing.
 

Bob The Builder

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Those of us that live where the roads are sanded and salted in the winter would be well advised to stay away from car washes that use a brush during those winter months at least. It is just common sense, which is not so common anymore after reading some of the threads in this post. :whistle:
 

Ron Neal

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I am old and don't want to wash it myself so I take my Mav through one particular brush type car wash and had no issues for years with multiple cars and trucks but agree its always a gamble.

I know most here will disagree with me so save us all the ass whipping you want to give me and don't reply to this post. :)
 

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I don't know if we're supposed to post brand names on here so I'll just say we've taken both our trucks to a new airplane-themed car wash chain a few times now (not often enough to warrant joining their club) without any apparent damage to antennae or paint. We hand dry the vehicles afterward to take care of the water spots and get the door jambs. I know that hand washing is the most ideal, but we're old and lazy and have nosy neighbors.
 

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I don't know if we're supposed to post brand names on here so I'll just say we've taken both our trucks to a new airplane-themed car wash chain a few times now (not often enough to warrant joining their club) without any apparent damage to antennae or paint. We hand dry the vehicles afterward to take care of the water spots and get the door jambs. I know that hand washing is the most ideal, but we're old and lazy and have nosy neighbors.
👍
 

Bob The Builder

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I am old and don't want to wash it myself so I take my Mav through one particular brush type car wash and had no issues for years with multiple cars and trucks but agree its always a gamble.

I know most here will disagree with me so save us all the ass whipping you want to give me and don't reply to this post. :)
OK, I won't. :ROFLMAO:
 

NJBob

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I have been getting mine washed at a mechanical conveyer wash unlimited flat fee system since new (top Tier Wash) and have had no verifiable damage and my Area 51 paint looks great. I live in the desert southwest and our water is very hard so washing at home does more damage than the R.O. filtered water at the car wash. Everybody's experience is likely different.
I would doubt the carwash uses RO. Perhaps they do, but that water is most likely recycled. There they would probably use mechanical filters. Esp in a desert area they are most likely big on water conservation.
 
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Glen Baker LLC

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