Awesome carwash on Cedarcrest Blvd. @ the Shell station!

[Subie_sleeper]

Just an FYI for any Lehigh Valley members.
The Shell station that just re-opened on Cedarcrest has a kick-ass new carwash. It's got high pressure jets AND rotating brushes.
They're on a gantry that moves front to back while your car sits still. The brushes do a neat little offset thing so they don't leave the typical dirty spot in the middle of the back & front bumpers too!
I don't wash the Baja nearly as much as I should & this thing took off a TON of grime that our "Touchless" wash at work left behind.
I USED to go to the tunnel wash on 309, but for the same clean it's more money & I usually give the attendants a tip.......12 - 14 bucks a pop for a wash + tip.
There are 6, 8 & 10 dollar washes at this new spot. I've just been doing the 8 dollar wash lately.
I think there's also a discount if you fill up there too. (They have 93 octane w/10% ethanol though)
Anyway, check it out if you're feeling lazy & want (IMHO) the best auto carwash around for us Lehigh Valley folks.

[Elliott18t]

I like the selfwash in ft washington. you can give your car a quick rub down with highpressure soap/foaming brush(really soft)/high pressure rinse for only $2.50 if you are quick enough. Sometimes you may have to fork over some more quarters if it takes too long, which still isnt that bad.

[Subie_sleeper]

I like the fact that I can roll in and roll out without dealing with the foam & pressure washer deal. I really think this bay gets closer to hand washed clean than any other one I've ever used.


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[Oakes]

Scratch and wash!

Touchless doesnt get as much grime off, but those brushes, with everyone elses dirt will leave you plenty more defects in your paint!

I understand the lack of time, but its been proven, by me and many other professional detailers. That it is better to leave your car dirty, with the exception of bird droppings and water stains, then to wash it improperly.

Just my opinion, and not to discourage anyone from going to the car wash cause for some people its the only option. However, there are tons of better more rewarding and longer lasting alternatives.

[Honest_Bob]

Yeah, I wont run my car through anything but a touch less.

[Subie_sleeper]

Nick, I actually took a video of one of the installers trucks going through. The brushes themselves get sprayed clean too as the wash runs. I won't disagree with the fact that old style brush washes are gonna scratch, this one might start to if it's not maintained properly. I'm gonna upload the vid to YouTube & post the link. Tell me what you think once it's up. ;)


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[jpalamar]

Originally Posted by Oakes

Scratch and wash!

Touchless doesnt get as much grime off, but those brushes, with everyone elses dirt will leave you plenty more defects in your paint!

I understand the lack of time, but its been proven, by me and many other professional detailers. That it is better to leave your car dirty, with the exception of bird droppings and water stains, then to wash it improperly.

Just my opinion, and not to discourage anyone from going to the car wash cause for some people its the only option. However, there are tons of better more rewarding and longer lasting alternatives.

Detail my car for free or it goes to the auto wash Can you life with yourself if you let me do it????!!!?? Just messing. I agree though. It is only decent because its new... soon it will suck like the rest of them. Nothing is like washing at home.

[Subie_sleeper]

I think the high pressure jets that spray on the brush assembly will help keep them clean though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwPTc_04FiA

I know that a hand wash, claybar, buff & hand applied sealer/wax is best. This setup does the job I want it to do though. If & when it gets visibly scratched up I know if a vendor here @ TST who'll be able to bring the finish back from the dead!

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[Oakes]

Checked out the vid!

Being new, it will definitely out do most car washes. The down side to those similar style car washes - we have one in the same complex as my shop - is that the sensors on them do default and eventually go bad or miscalculate and dent the car. I just find it weird they didn't make it big enough to the brushes dont hit the walls, but could have been all they had to work with.

The problem with those style washes is that they usually dont do enough to really rinse the car pre-brushing, which allows the brushes to move around the dirt thats still on the paint which ultimately scratches and mars it. Its just simply part of the process with automate car washes, definitely helps that it self cleans though.

Which TST vendor were you going to hit up??

Either way, not to take away from the car wash itself, it all comes down to time and money with maintaining the car and there are different options for everyone.

[Subie_sleeper]

That vendor would be you!
I thought you'd pick up on the clearance there it washes the windows too! The guy said that if the area in the bay was 6" less they would have had to rebuild. This unit is a retrofit. The self cleaning brushes make a big difference (for now) I plan to see how well they maintain it. Let's face it, a coin-op/credit card UNATTENDED wash with BRUSHES could spell lawsuits like crazy if it starts to degrade & damage cars.


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[Oakes]

True on the lawsuits, but they definitely require maintenance. I see car washes come and go as a result, yet I stick to my 2 or 3 bucket method and a free morning or afternoon just to wash haha. I dont think any vehicle I've owned, with the exception of the Fusion being covered in bird droppings (literally carpet bombed) minutes before I was leaving for a week, have been through one intentionally.

PS. I'm no longer a vendor here haha, however, I appreciate the acknowledgment!

Definitely enjoy the wash while you can!

[turboman808]

Brushes are gonna damage your paint especially when they get used non stop and never cleaned. Touchless is like dipping your car in an acid bath. My old neighbor used to wash his BMW several times a week at a touchless. The clear came off the car after a few years.

2 bucket with sheep skin or those chanile mitts from poorboys. Rinse with purified water if possible or leaf blower.

[Subie_sleeper]

Nick, I wasn't aware you dropped vendor status. Either way, once my wheels get done @ LPC I think I'm going to have you work your magic on the Baja.
Turboman, I know that brushes will scratch. This specific wash has high pressure jets that continually blast the brushes as they spin. I know there are purists here who'll never run their car through. I just wanted to make people aware of this particular place because it has what seems to be a new safeguard to keep the dirt & debris from collecting in the brushes.


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[1hightoy]

No need for car wash places , so much better in my own driveway...

[Oakes]

I'd be more than happy to do that beast, what color are you getting the wheels in?

[mitsuboost30]

telling us about a rotating brush car wash = fail!
let me just thro some dirt on ur car rub it around then spray it off..

[Subie_sleeper]

Originally Posted by mitsuboost30

telling us about a rotating brush car wash = fail!
let me just thro some dirt on ur car rub it around then spray it off..

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Read the whole thread man. The brushes have high pressure water jets that keep them clean while it's running & the keep going for a while after the wash. If you don't want to try it, don't try it. I have been through it several times with no noticeable damage. If they don't maintain it & the it starts to look ratty I'll stop using it. Until then, it's a quick inexpensive way to get the car cleaned. To each his/her own.

[Subie_sleeper]

Originally Posted by Oakes

I'd be more than happy to do that beast, what color are you getting the wheels in?

The wheels are going to be ink black, or something similar & two of the twelve spokes (Ultraleggeras have 6 groups of two spokes) are getting color matched to the factory paint. I'd have you dye the black plastic panels back to black and fix some boo boos in the paint too. :-)



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[got_tint?]

There is one in Belmawr NJ as well. They are pretty cool.

[Oakes]

Originally Posted by Subie_sleeper

The wheels are going to be ink black, or something similar & two of the twelve spokes (Ultraleggeras have 6 groups of two spokes) are getting color matched to the factory paint. I'd have you dye the black plastic panels back to black and fix some boo boos in the paint too. :-)



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that sounds pretty sweet actually! I also love the Ultraleggeras, good choice I can do all that for you, just give me a heads up when youre ready.