Advice please on washing.

Ray,
I am not familiar with a laser washer, but your method sounds OK, although I would worry about backing up or going forward while the wash is in motion. I would think tho that you can do OK with your pressure washer as the only part you won't be able to get to is the undercarriage shield which is anyway plastic.

 

I ran my 360 through a setup like that once and it made a mess of the engine bay because soapy water came down into the engine bay and didn't really get rinsed out.

 

Good to know. I will stick to paying my neighbor for hand washes

 

Hope your neighbour knows what he's doing.

Would hate to damage that paint.

 

Hand wash only for my 360.

Luckily we have a excellent all hand car wash here in Seattle and for $29.99 they also vacuum the interior and luggage compartment and they also clean the windows inside and out.

I would not suggest using pressure washer as it is too hard on the paint and it can spray / inject liquid inside the connectors and electric motors.

Dan

 

Its a car...get a bucket, some car soap and wash the dammed thing.

Of course I got "talked" to by a friend over the weekend because I have not washed my 360 since the last rain 3 weeks ago and I went to a car event with the car dirty.

But come on guys, its a CAR ! you rinse it, throw some soapy water on it, rinse it again and hit it with a Chamois (I use Griotts car drying towel, I like it) or drive it dry and its done, 10 mins. max. Wash it on the front lawn and you take care of 2 things at once, watering the lawn and getting the car clean.

 

I do that to my Honda Accord, but not on my 360.

Yes, some of us are anal about our cars and I am one of them.

I take very good care of my 360 as I paid really good hard earned money for it.

Dan

 

Ray,
Thanks for the description and link. Sounds like you've got a good plan.

Dan,
Good point. I am very careful with my power washer, I use the lowest-pressure nozzle (largest orifice), keep it a safe distance away and only use it where the mud gathers. But you are right, you can still do a lot of damage.

 

If you treated your kids this way, Health and Human Services would send an agent to your house to take your children into protective custody. Alas, there is no such agency to protect Ferraris.

...........".....went to a car event with the car dirty" ............. holy crap! What's the world coming to?

At the very least please post your VIN so it can be added to the list of cars NOBODY SHOULD EVER BUY!

 

Its all good, just trying to help.

Also, I heard some people using leaf blower to dry their car. I strongly discourage doing that. Leaf blower will suck dust and other foreign debris and guess where those things will go once its ingested? Straight to your car......

Dan

Dan

 

No! surely there is a better way with less pressure. You don't want to force salt deeper into the car's nooks and crannies. IMO

 

I've taken mine through Laser washes a lot, park it just outside the wash, towel dry everything,...including engine bay. It's fine, and works great. The chasis bath isn't hard pressure...just a rinse. Another option to get salt out of odd spots: Go drive it for an hour when it's pouring rain.

80% of Top Gear episodes we watch, it's pouring.

 

I did in my 360, I don't on my 430...it's more the grills on the outer edge of the rear window., but again, minimal soap and water get in there, just towel it off, and it's all good. You have the clean the bay periodically anyhow.

 

The soap used at "touchless or lazer washes" is brutal on clear coat. It is very strong soap and not good for your finish.

I use a leave blower all the time and have no idea what you are talking about as far as sucking up debris. It is not like are putting the leave blower on the ground and it certainly is not as bad as driving your car down the road behind another car.

 

Coolest undercarriage wash system I have seen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlq7m7PQ8bA

Modified A5 model waterbroom. Appears to do the trick.

 

Bravo, This looks great.