Very good point on the carwash issue. I never thought about that. Given the fact that the X6 is wider than the X5 (which is already pretty big), I have to wonder if there will be problems with going through commercial car washes. The laser washes probably won't be a problem since they measure the length and width of the vehicle before starting. But for the washes with the tracks and cloth mechanicals, I just wonder...

I like rastagurl's wheels too, but too much surface area to show brake dust on.
Don't you have any hand car wash place around you? I have 2 close to me and one without the tracks. More and more hand car wash places are opening these days. Good business for those unemployed.

Believe it or not, there are no hand car wash places anywhere near where we live in northern Virginia. Either laser wash or mechanical washes with rails. The Sonic wash near where we live does a very good job, but has rails. I hope that with the 19" rims and higher profile tires instead of the 20" performance tires for my X6 should be OK with the rails. I'm going to have my dealer put on the Simoniz Glass Coat which should help if I decide to do the laser washes. Everyone I've met who has had this new Simoniz product put on their cars seems to be very pleased. Anyone else had any experience with Glass Coat?

I currently have the same size tires and wheels on my X5 and it fits in the tracks at the car wash. I had no problem with the 19" staggered set up either, which had 285 rears.

Many thanks for this info!

When I was desperate for a clean car, I tried only two "mechanical" car washes. Both times my car's rear tires (315's) could not get into their tracks. One was in Leesburg, VA? and the other was in Nyack, NY. So now, I 'hunt' for hand car wash establishments where ever I go outside of my 'home' area (sometimes driving for a long while, just for it.)

My point exactly. I don't have anything close by and I'm anal about my car being clean. I do the car wash twice a week. The one I go to does a really good job. The brushes are made out of that blue fabric/rubber kind of stuff. No swirls.

I think that the Sonic car wash near us uses the soft fabric brushes. I've spoken with customers with black cars who get their vehicles washed there often, and they all told me that there was no problem with scratches. I always carry clean towels with me to wipe down the vehicle after the wash since I can't know if the towels the guys are using are really clean. Also had some good luck if there is not a lot of dirt going through a laser wash without any brushes.

BTW, does anyone know of something I can put on my wheels that will help keep off the brake dust?

Exactly! Also sometime you get scratches from rings or watches those guys wear.

Right on. I have two sets of gloves I always carry with me in my vehicle. One pair is for when I put fuel in, and the second is only for when I have to wipe down the exterior after a wash. Also carry some throw away, one use towels to clean the wheels.