[Ronin76]

Hi Guys,

I wanted to ask those who have ceramic coated their cars, do you strictly hand wash your cars or do you also go to toughness car washes?

I ask because I spoke to a PPF installer and he stated that if I went to a touchless car wash he would not warranty the ceramic coating. He stated that their pH levels can be high and the chemicals used are abrasive that could damage the ceramic coating.

I was not aware of this so wanted to check with this community.

Thanks,

Kal

[DD99990]

I’ve had my G87 ceramic coated and will hand wash it only. I don’t think it’s worth taking it through any sort of mechanical car wash or hand car wash (on the side of the road in the uk we get a lot of) imo, just to be safe!

[ednir98]

Originally Posted by Ronin76

he stated that if I went to a toughness car wash he would not warranty the ceramic coating.

How would he EVER know you went through a car wash?

[Ronin76]

Originally Posted by ednir98

How would he EVER know you went through a car wash?

Good point and I meant “touchless”

[TheSiege]

A few thoughts and opinions here, FWIW- (my car is currently PPF'd and I've had ceramic on current and previous cars as well)

One worry for a mechanical wash as it relates to wraps, even if touchless, is that the high pressure water jets have the potential to get under and loosen the edges of the wrap. My wrap guy was worried about that...

When it comes to the coating, with any car wash I worry about what soap they are using. I generally assume most car washes use some cheap soap that may or may not (probably not) be coating friendly, and I worry that whatever they use would damage/strip the ceramic (maybe not all at once, but I figure their soaps are made to remove road gunk quickly for their "results", not to maintain your nice coating).

I've maintained my wraps with Gyeon washes/sprays (there are other good companies out there) and prior ceramic coatings have lasted a long time with proper care (washing using good soaps, spray sealant/touch up when done).

[Good 4 2 reasons]

Originally Posted by ednir98

How would he EVER know you went through a car wash?

Hand wash only.

When the ceramic coating wears away on the entire car in a quick period of time, they will know it was frequently run through touchless car washes. Some ceramic coatings have/call for maintenance sprays that would help maintain your coating, but if you are going through the effort to apply that, you are most likely hand washing anyway.

Touchless car washes "clean" by using acidic soaps that are neutralized in the rinse cycle with something alkaline. That short amount of dwell time will wear away at the ceramic coating, which should only be washed with pH neutral soaps.

[Ronin76]

Originally Posted by TheSiege

A few thoughts and opinions here, FWIW- (my car is currently PPF'd and I've had ceramic on current and previous cars as well)

One worry for a mechanical wash as it relates to wraps, even if touchless, is that the high pressure water jets have the potential to get under and loosen the edges of the wrap. My wrap guy was worried about that...

When it comes to the coating, with any car wash I worry about what soap they are using. I generally assume most car washes use some cheap soap that may or may not (probably not) be coating friendly, and I worry that whatever they use would damage/strip the ceramic (maybe not all at once, but I figure their soaps are made to remove road gunk quickly for their "results", not to maintain your nice coating).

I've maintained my wraps with Gyeon washes/sprays (there are other good companies out there) and prior ceramic coatings have lasted a long time with proper care (washing using good soaps, spray sealant/touch up when done).

Yeah, it sounds like the installer is spoke with was probably talking about the items you mentioned here. I makes sense.

[J-RO]

Stay away from all car washers

[fzr100098]

Hand wash, car wash soap only, microfiber everything

[Carefree]

Touchless? Hilarious 😂

Get a foam cannon and PH neutral soap. I use Adam’s but there are myriad choices.

[ScottyRyan2019]

Originally Posted by J-RO

Stay away from all car washers

My friend is a car washer. Should I stay away from him?

[Bumpinjeep]

Originally Posted by Carefree

Touchless? Hilarious 😂

Get a foam cannon and PH neutral soap. I use Adam’s but there are myriad choices.

Foam cannons only work so much on a car that has ceramic coating because the foam will literally slide off the car. It helps for sure, but not as much as a car that isn't coated. I use it and my car looks brand new even after a year and a half.

[Carefree]

Originally Posted by Bumpinjeep

Foam cannons only work so much on a car that has ceramic coating because the foam will literally slide off the car. It helps for sure, but not as much as a car that isn't coated. I use it and my car looks brand new even after a year and a half.

Mine is coated and I don’t have the sliding issue. The foam cannon cut my wash time by 50%.

YMMV

[SpaceGhost]

I ceramic my cars and usually ppf front bumper only. I will likely get alot of pearl clutching from fellow enthusiasts here but I take my cars to Tommys Express machine wash.

I have have never had any damage. My ceramic coating and ppf seem to hold up just fine. I use a spray on wipe off ceramic renewer twice yearly.

I just don't have the time or inclination to hand wash 3 cars on a regualr basis.

My 740, pending M2 and my truck are just common cars, not a 1938 Bugatti.

You have to see what works for you and your lifestyle. If you insist on mirror gloss and never a blemish under inspection from 2 inches away, hand wash with 2 bucket method etc. If you are less concerned, wash by hand when you can but still use a car wash when necessary/expedient.

[beren]

hand wash only.

[fzr100098]

Originally Posted by SpaceGhost

I don't have the time or inclination to hand wash 3 cars on a regualr basis.

"you can't handle the truth!" haha

[luckylingy]

I babied my Tanzanite Blue G82 (foam cannon followed by 2-bucket hand-wash -- never an automatic car wash). Paint looked flawless, especially after semiannual light correction and touch-up ceramic coat.

My X3M, on the other hand, is leased and Alpine White (the most forgiving color BMW offers). I gave it 2-3 layers of ceramic coating before it hit the road. But since then it's been through the automatic car wash 50' from my office ~100 times in its first 10 months. So far, there are no discernible blemishes whatsoever.

It probably helps that I'm among the first few vehicles through the tunnel on the mornings I wash it. But still, it's a testament to ceramic coatings' toughness that it holds up so well to such abuse.


Let the pearl-clutching begin ...

[J-RO]

Originally Posted by ScottyRyan2019

My friend is a car washer. Should I stay away from him?

Yes if he touches your car.

[Carefree]

Originally Posted by ScottyRyan2019

My friend is a car washer. Should I stay away from him?

Only while he’s working.

[motorknut]

I only use hand wash car services, and I used a no touch car wash a few times on my previous car (BMW paint). Noticed white etching marks only on the windscreen wiper arms (no clear coat) soon after. Like water marks. Couldn’t remove them myself, had the entire part replaced under warranty.

I never had this issue before and I couldn’t figure a possible cause till I thought of that Divortex no touch car wash. I can’t confirm it caused it, but I’ve never seen that sort of thing even with the cheapest car wash shops that use contact washing. Seems too harsh a product for coating longevity.

I never went back, never saw the problem again.

[techwhiz1]

+1

Hand wash only and use a ceramic coat friendly wax/spray regularly.

High pressure washes will lift PPF

[Whytar]

Hand wash only for me. I don't even cloth dry my cars. Blow dry only.