Car Wash Damage, Any One Else Experience?

[HoustonCX5]

Today (against my better judgement) I took my car to Car Spa for a carwash and interior clean as it was dirty from a recent road trip. I got home and realized that one of the rear plastic wheel arches had been partially disconnected form the car. I was angry at the car wash for not pointing this out to me, but perhaps a little mad that it happened in the first place. I attempted to re-attach using the clips and was partially successful. Going to take it to the dealership tomorrow to see if they can snap it all back together. I fear I might need to order an entire new part as the arch was apparently bent backward and stretched the plastic a bit so it is deformed. Ive never had issues with car washes before, wondering if anyone else has?

 

[paris1]

I've never used a car wash in 50 years of driving. This is why.

 

[aelaan]

Unfortunately you are not the first one and certainly not the last one. Car wash places try to avoid any and all liability when one uses their facilities. I was my car myself and I detail it myself. For me it is not only great exercise, it gives me a feeling of accomplishment. I fear your wallet is the thing that gets hurt the most in these affairs and I wish you little expense and no further visible damage once it is repaired. The only way to avoid these nasty surprises is to fully inspect the car before accepting it back from the "Spa". Trust, these days, seems to cost a lot of hard earned money.

 

[SayNoToPistons]

Look at how an automatic car wash functions, and tell me if that was unexpected. Try walking through an automatic car wash and coming out uninjured.

 

[HoustonCX5]

I understand the benefits of hand washing vs automated car wash, but it just isn't possible living in downtown. I think there is a hand wash car wash nearby that I will check out from now on. Ugh.

 

[howlin4you]

Is there a touchless carwash you can use? I can appreciate not having a driveway and a hose and the limitations it places on you but yeah those car washes are generally a horrible idea. The touchless ones are a little better, I have no problem taking my vehicles through them if short on time.

 

[jeremy44]

I hand wash my car before it gets too cold, but during the winter time i use the touch less ones...gotta spray the salt off somehow (esp. underneath)

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Actually, I've had issues with the front plastic aches on both sides, at the very bottom clip near the front. A crack has developed on both sides twice. I made my own fix because I wasn't about to replace them again (Pocked a soldering iron through it and stuck a plastic rivet in)

 

[123373]

The first and last time I took my wife's cx5 through the auto car wash I lost the front roof rack trim piece. I had to order the set for 35 dollars and replace the drivers side. Never again.

 

[sweet]

Car wash once a week, this car and every car I've had....Never a problem.

 

[HoustonCX5]

Update: I took the car to the dealer and it turned out to be a $26 fix. There were some clips missing and they were able to use the original part and it looks like new. I still went back to the car wash (as the manager called me back), as he was extremely doubtful that his wash could have done that damage. He is going to pull the video footage (apparently they have cameras on both ends of the tunnel) and verify. At the end of the day, I've learned my lesson but I still want to prove that smug manager wrong in that his wash did indeed cause the damage.

 

[SayNoToPistons]

Update: I took the car to the dealer and it turned out to be a $26 fix. There were some clips missing and they were able to use the original part and it looks like new. I still went back to the car wash (as the manager called me back), as he was extremely doubtful that his wash could have done that damage. He is going to pull the video footage (apparently they have cameras on both ends of the tunnel) and verify. At the end of the day, I've learned my lesson but I still want to prove that smug manager wrong in that his wash did indeed cause the damage.

Manager is full of bulls***. I'm sure they've seen their fair share of damages cause by their equipment. As with any owner/worker of automatic car washes (minus the touch-less).


I wouldn't run a car through an automatic touch-less often either. The solvents used are VERY strong and will remove any protection such as sealant or waxes. There are safe no rinse wash formulas out there that require no more than two gallons of water and a couple of towels.

 

[Goguinness]

I have used Auto Bell car washes here in Charlotte once a month on 4 cars over a 12 year period with no damage or complaints, and no, I don't work for them.

 

[SayNoToPistons]

So how's the marring on your paint?