Sam's Club Touchless Car Wash??

[wolverine_man]

Does anyone have experience using the Sam's Club touchless car wash? My local sam's club in Grand Rapids opened a dual bay car wash not too long ago and I am interested in the touchless booth. The cost is $6 which is about what I pay to do it at the coin wash by hand. From what I could research, I believe they are using a Belanger Vector Rapid Wash touchless system. I am not interested in the other soft cloth side, as those do nothing but scratch your car. I used to love Delta Sonic when I lived in Syracuse, NY, which was also touchless.

 

[NCZ13]

touchless wash is better than having the salt and grime build up.

Im sure its fine, your car might not be as clean as it should be, but its certainly better than letting it build up.

 

[wolverine_man]

Thanks for the words of advice. I just hate the dirth of options during the winter time for car washes here in Michigan. Usually, I go to a coin op and just spray soap and rinse, which doesn't do that great of a job. I also sometimes use the soapy brush but only after I spray it off really well using the wand on high power rinse. Even then I'm still paranoid about scratches so i only end up blotting with the brush, which again doesn't do a great job. I always spray the underside of my car and dry off the door jams.

 

[ThrillRide]

Touchless is going to be better than going to a regular tunnel wash. No touch > than dirty brushes, chamois, and towels. At the same time touchless washes just can't get your car completely clean.
BUT...most all car washes, touchless or otherwise, use a very acidic soap in order to try to remove bugs and debris. In turn this strips any wax you have on the car and it also remove protection from your rubber and plastic and susepts them to early degradation.
Probably not what you want to hear, but I would go near any car wash with a car I care about. Need a winter washing option check out Optimum No Rinsh Wash & Shine. Or some other no rinse product.

 

[soccom2005]

hey wolv, how was it? i really dont like auto carwashhes but due tot this temperature i was forced to use the one at patterson, kinda expensive so i though it might be good... i would try the touchless if it worked good for you

 

[br289165]

I'm in MI too, they probably don't use thousands of tons of salt in Texas so a rinse is a must to get in the crevices and wash out the salt, salt will eat these bodies up.

Touchless is going to be better than going to a regular tunnel wash. No touch > than dirty brushes, chamois, and towels. At the same time touchless washes just can't get your car completely clean.
BUT...most all car washes, touchless or otherwise, use a very acidic soap in order to try to remove bugs and debris. In turn this strips any wax you have on the car and it also remove protection from your rubber and plastic and susepts them to early degradation.
Probably not what you want to hear, but I would go near any car wash with a car I care about. Need a winter washing option check out Optimum No Rinsh Wash & Shine. Or some other no rinse product.

 

[martispeed]

Lately michigan people are just popping up, its kinda cool haha cuz theres usualy not too many of us

 

[ThrillRide]

I'm in MI too, they probably don't use thousands of tons of salt in Texas so a rinse is a must to get in the crevices and wash out the salt, salt will eat these bodies up.

I'm guessing you are refering to the no rinse wash formula i was refering to? Its not that the car doesn't get wet. You are still washing it, all cracks and crevices as well. You just aren't wasting the water of a rinse step and you can wash in the warmth of your garage.

 

[br289165]

Is that an MP3 in your sig pic? I'm wonderin how many 2001 Mp3's were made?

Lately michigan people are just popping up, its kinda cool haha cuz theres usualy not too many of us

 

[br289165]

Cool not familiar with it.
=ThrillRide;4385151]I'm guessing you are refering to the no rinse wash formula i was refering to? Its not that the car doesn't get wet. You are still washing it, all cracks and crevices as well. You just aren't wasting the water of a rinse step and you can wash in the warmth of your garage.[/quote]

 

[wolverine_man]

hey wolv, how was it? i really dont like auto carwashhes but due tot this temperature i was forced to use the one at patterson, kinda expensive so i though it might be good... i would try the touchless if it worked good for you

Wow, I haven't checked this thread in a long time. The car wash was good. Got it pretty clean, except for the rims. Probably going to be my new winter wash method. Now that the weather is nice, I'm able to sneak off to coin op washes with my bucket and Meguiar's NXT wash. (glare) I just use the spray wand on low setting to wet my car and rinse it off. I use my microfiber or sheepskin mitt and leave the brushes be.

 

[martispeed]

Is that an MP3 in your sig pic? I'm wonderin how many 2001 Mp3's were made?

Sorry i didnt answer, but yea it is a MP3. I think there were 1500 made, if i remember correctly it was 1000 blue and 500 yellow.