Brushless car wash vs hand wash

[PeterNYC]

helllo all...I'm a new 2006 X3 owner (silver grey w/black, prem package, sirius + nav + DSP + aux, heated seats, chrome exhaust tips, servotronic) and i live in New York City....I don't have a drive way, a nice big garage, access to a hose, and i thus cannot hand wash my baby all the time.

Is it an absolute sin to run it through a brushless car wash? and if so, are there any recommended treatments (and treatments to avoid)?

I'll be able to do some interior detailing, but for the body and underside, i'll have to go the car wash route.

thanks in advance

[matt20043.0]

If you can find a place that will wash it by hand that would be best. Make sure you can watch them do it. Please do not put the X3 through an automatic car wash!!!!! Brushless car washes are just like washing your car with a high pressure hose. I guess some people do......just my opinion

[PeterNYC]

hmm welll i'll try Matt

[Aimster]

brushless is ok .. but it wont clean your X all the way.

The best way is to do it by hand with good materials.

[PeterNYC]

Aimster...you're definitely right....In a perfect world, i'd do that...I guess my question is, given the limits of city living, what is the best method for a brushless clean...is the wax treatment worth it, etc?

Of course, if i had the time and the space (i.e. a house in the suburbs, not an apt building, with the car parked in monthly garage that is $300 per month), I'd do it by hand, but I don't.

[SuaveX5]

what scares me about touch less car wash is that if the high pressure water didn’t take all the dirt off, when the guys wipe the car the dirt and the towel will be come like sand paper, plus you know that they don’t care about how clean the towel is.

[PeterNYC]

ya, i hear you suave

i wonder if there are others in my situation?

do you ONLY hand wash it yourself?

[LeMansX5]

Pete, Check out Splash car wash They wash by hand at some locations.

[SILENTx5]

Don't know where in nyc you're from but there's a place in Astoria, Queens that does a great job. It's decently priced and its hand washed. It's called Beverly Hills Auto Spa.

[PeterNYC]

thanks Silent X
i'm in Brooklyn, but not that far from Queens...I'll check it out