Well, I officially did it!

[Jman136]

So, I took my car to the local car wash that uses the rails to push the car through through the wash and if scratched my front drivers side wheel. It's not too bad, just on the lip of it. I did manage to ask to manager on duty if I was safe to go through the wash. He looked at my vehicle and stated it would be fine. Yeah, not! Long story short, the owner will be contacting me this afternoon in regards to repairing my rim.

So, lesson learned! For those of you that have run your car through, how do you do it without messing up your rims? This is a newer car wash with the latest equipment. It is also lined in yellow plastic. I would have thought I had enough side wall, but I guess not. Here I come PDQ soft touch car wash.

I'm so bummed, but it's my own fault.

 

[ColoradoDriver]

So, I took my car to the local car wash that uses the rails to push the car through through the wash and if scratched my front drivers side wheel. It's not too bad, just on the lip of it. I did manage to ask to manager on duty if I was safe to go through the wash. He looked at my vehicle and stated it would be fine. Yeah, not! Long story short, the owner will be contacting me this afternoon in regards to repairing my rim.

So, lesson learned! For those of you that have run your car through, how do you do it without messing up your rims? This is a newer car wash with the latest equipment. It is also lined in yellow plastic. I would have thought I had enough side wall, but I guess not. Here I come PDQ soft touch car wash.

I'm so bummed, but it's my own fault.

By newest equipment, does that also mean it has those god awful spinning brushes?

I stopped using these kinds of car-washes. For one reason or another they always made me nervous or disappointed me.

 

[mazdadude]

Yes I would stay far away from any car wash that makes you put your wheel in a track and pulls the car through automatically... These can damage rims, pull off trim pieces, bend antennas, scratch paint, etc.. Just way to many chances for damage.

I also stay away from "self-serve" washes that have a bubble brush to scratch up everything.

I only use the "touchless" washes where you drive the car into the stall, and the machines move around the car, NOTHING ever touches the car except water and soap. In addition, if you have a good coat of wax/protectant on the vehicle, the touchless washes work even better.

 

[banjos-n-beer]

I agree with Mazda dude. Only use one where you drive in, park, and the machine moves around your car. Nothing touches your car except soap and water.

 

[freys]

You guys do know that those touchless can be far worse? Think of it like this they recycle the water and fine pieces of sand/dirt get through if the water is old you are sand blasting your car.

 

[banjos-n-beer]

You guys do know that those touchless can be far worse? Think of it like this they recycle the water and fine pieces of sand/dirt get through if the water is old you are sand blasting your car.

Certainly possible. But I used them for 2 Maine winters and my CX5 still looked nearly new when I traded it in. Now rock chips on the hood are a different story....

 

[ColoradoDriver]

Certainly possible. But I used them for 2 Maine winters and my CX5 still looked nearly new when I traded it in. Now rock chips on the hood are a different story....

Yep, mine is horribly covered in rock-chips LOL!

 

[mazdadude]

You guys do know that those touchless can be far worse? Think of it like this they recycle the water and fine pieces of sand/dirt get through if the water is old you are sand blasting your car.

Yes they recycle the water. However they also FILTER the water to prevent pieces of sand/dirt from clogging their spray nozzles.

 

[Conrad 16.5]

For me the only time any of my cars see the car wash is during the cold weather months (otherwise I wash em at home). Illinois is VERY generous with the salt on the roads, so much so that they turn white with the stuff. I'll take the salty car in to the manual bay when it's above freezing and do a rinse only, no soap.

 

[Jman136]

Yep, mine is horribly covered in rock-chips LOL!

Is the Cx-5 proned to paint chips?

I haven't looked in the manual, but is the the paint soft? Does it say not use friction based Car washes? I haven't checked the manual...yeah, I know!

 

[ColoradoDriver]

Is the Cx-5 proned to paint chips?

I haven't looked in the manual, but is the the paint soft? Does it say not use friction based Car washes? I haven't checked the manual...yeah, I know!

I don't know other people's experiences, but I don't have any hood protection (clear bra, film, or whatever) and after 4 1/2 years almost of owning this, and many roadtrips later, I do have quite a few rock-chips in the hood.

As for the paint, I'm not sure that's it's soft so much as it is thin. In fact, I'd argue it's a hard paint as I could not do much by hand for swirl removal.

 

[banjos-n-beer]

Is the Cx-5 proned to paint chips?

I haven't looked in the manual, but is the the paint soft? Does it say not use friction based Car washes? I haven't checked the manual...yeah, I know!

I agree with Colorado that "thin" is probably a better adjective. You'll get a ton of chips on the front end, but none of mine were down to the bare metal (thus no rust spots). I didn't bother trying to touch them up. Its kinda hard to get a good match with the paint pens due to all the metallic flakes in Mazda's paint.

 

[ColoradoDriver]

I agree with Colorado that "thin" is probably a better adjective. You'll get a ton of chips on the front end, but none of mine were down to the bare metal (thus no rust spots). I didn't bother trying to touch them up. Its kinda hard to get a good match with the paint pens due to all the metallic flakes in Mazda's paint.

I have a paint pen from Mazda that is supposed to be my Jet Black Mica. Guess I'll find out here shortly as I do plan to try touching up the hood.

Edit: Or maybe it's just Jet Black and no Mica. Guess I should go re-read the pen.

 

[banjos-n-beer]

I have a paint pen from Mazda that is supposed to be my Jet Black Mica. Guess I'll find out here shortly as I do plan to try touching up the hood.

Edit: Or maybe it's just Jet Black and no Mica. Guess I should go re-read the pen.

Test it out on some paper first. I had a 2014 jet black mica 3 HB. The paint pen paint was basically dark grey (mostly flakes). But I did try it, and it was very noticeable. As cheesy as it sounds, I then went over the pen paint with a black sharpie and it looked a little bit better. Some colors might match better, but I have no idea.

 

[Jman136]

Test it out on some paper first. I had a 2014 jet black mica 3 HB. The paint pen paint was basically dark grey (mostly flakes). But I did try it, and it was very noticeable. As cheesy as it sounds, I then went over the pen paint with a black sharpie and it looked a little bit better. Some colors might match better, but I have no idea.

Yikes. If I get some touch-up paint made at a body shop would that match better, or will it still stand out due to the flakes in it?

Do any of you have some pictures of all your rock chips? I'm debating if I should get a clear bra - probably..

 

[banjos-n-beer]

I don't know. When I was picking up the paint pen some dude was hanging around the parts counter. He saw me test the pen, question whether it was the right one, and even offered to come out and look at my car.

Turns out he own a local detailing and repair business. Said Mazdas paint can be tough to match because of x, y and z. He was the one who suggested the sharpie.

If you can afford a clear bra or wrap, and are really concerned about chips, you might wanna go that route. I don't have my Sonic silver CX5 anymore so I can't provide any pics of the chips on the front end.

 

[ColoradoDriver]

Test it out on some paper first. I had a 2014 jet black mica 3 HB. The paint pen paint was basically dark grey (mostly flakes). But I did try it, and it was very noticeable. As cheesy as it sounds, I then went over the pen paint with a black sharpie and it looked a little bit better. Some colors might match better, but I have no idea.

Hmm, good to know. Thanks.

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