Went down to the jet wash at the petrol station this morning and there's 2 bays. I was only rinsing the shed load of dust off that has built up with the dry weather. My car has a ceramic coating so it's very easy to just rinse it off and then a quick blast down the road means the water beads up and runs off leaving the car dry and clean enough until I clean it properly.

However, a guy rocked up in the next bay in an Audi Q2 in a sort of ocean blue colour. He promptly got out, put some coins in the machine and went straight for the foam brush on dry paintwork!

I was cringing at the thought of all those scratches going into the paintwork from the inevitable grit hiding in the bristles.  LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

2BM all the time. 
Hung like Einstein, smart as a horse.

Hi,
as Shiggsy says ^

and a microfibre to dry it off, its just as quick and easy

 .
my first ever FL2 and I did keep it longer than most other cars!
But its now gone way up Norf

I think it's a generational thing when it comes to washing cars. I always do my own and take pride in it. but my Son will always take his to a car wash for some nice Eastern European chaps to do it. For most folk nowadays a car is just a means of getting from A to B and nothing else, they also get treated like mobile dustbins and I often wonder if that is a reflection of their home  2007 TD4 XS The work horse that earns its up keep
2013 SD4 HSE The posh one for towing the caravan
1973 Triumph Stag I bought in 2009 and restored.

No easy is going to the local carwash, handing your keys over and going into the cafe for a coffee, bacon buttie and read the paper. When you come out it's done, you have no idea where the scratches are because you didn't get up close and personal with the paintwork, so in your mind the bodywork is absolutely perfect.

That's despite driving through a hawthorn bush a month before.

Works for me, I can guarantee the week after washing any of my cars I am on the hunt for a replacement, and will not be happy until the old "wreck" has gone. Banned by SWMBO from washing my car - can of course wash hers any time I get the urge. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

I used to like getting my FL2 and then the Evoque filthy dirty rotten and caked in mud. A. because it suited them and B because having gotten used to the mess, it was a nice surprise to see what’s underneath! They were both black so a sod to clean and only got washed every couple of months. They were also used as dog carriers. The new dog-free metallic grey A3, or as the wife calls it, Princess, gets a wash nearly every other week. The Golf is now the mobile dog basket! Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

I just DON'T wash my FL2 !!

Yes they look better dirty and with modern paint finishes they don't need to be cared for.


my son has twin boys, now 13, they have a car wash round. Does that make them the TwinBM ???

Never understand people who don't wash their cars or have pride in them. They cost enough and its not a big job. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

As the weather got a bit better I decided my car needed a clean.

I use the local automatic Tesco Car Wash and have the top prewash. wash and shine program, complete with a quick squirt underneath.

To get the best results I normally do a quick clean of the wheels and the lower edges (sides, front and back).

The result is shown below, and I feel for a 7 year old car, it scrubs up well.

Click image to enlarge

I hardly ever wash the car. Usually before we go away, while we are away if the red dust gets too bad, & when we return. Dirt & dust everywhere.

When I pull off trim panels to upgrade something, I clean behind them while at it. You will be shocked at the amount of dust.


 Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

I love washing cars, I pick up all sorts of info about the condition of various bits and pieces of the car. Caked on mud sticks like heck, retains moisture, promotes corrosion and wear, prevents components being seen properly and invariably falls in my eyes when I'm under the car.

I don't need street cred, I know what my car does and where it goes.

At least those are all reasons I've built up in my head. I just enjoy it. MY11 SD4 SE Auto

It is amazing the crap that comes out if you stick the end of the hose over the plastic wheel arch liners. Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

Bobupndown wrote:

Never understand people who don't wash their cars or have pride in them. They cost enough and its not a big job.

Andy, you forgot the air line used to blow
all the moisture out of the shut lines and crevasses.
Dave DAVE.