Laser wash?
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From: New York
C230k coupe
Laser wash?
What do you guys think of laser wash? Do the type of soap they are using ok? Any regular goers? It's pretty common in where I live -western NY- and it seems like a good alternative to hand wash considering it's touchless and there's no one at the end waiting to scratch the paint with a dirty towel.
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From: Earth
GLB 250 4matic
i am also from southern california, land of carwashes! and i've never heard of laser washes 
most advances and breakthrus of carwash technology has occurred in SoCal.
i just think its kind of funny that your replies were qualified by saying your from SoCal as if people should know.
was i like that when i lived there? probably 
most advances and breakthrus of carwash technology has occurred in SoCal.i just think its kind of funny that your replies were qualified by saying your from SoCal as if people should know.
was i like that when i lived there? probably
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From: CT
Impossible! An auto trend starting in Western NY and not in SoCal?
How could this be? Some new trend for autos and not originating in SoCal? Laser wash must be some marketing trick.
(working my way out of junior status)
(working my way out of junior status)
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From: New York
C230k coupe
Sorry for the confusion guys.. That must be a NY thing. But here it is: http://www.pdqinc.com/laserwash-4000/index.shtml
Well, appearently not many people has experienced it
Well, appearently not many people has experienced it
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From: Toronto, Ontario Canada
2002 C240 Classic - Orion Blue Beast!!
I think he is referring to a regular touchless car wash, except it dries the car with hot blowing air. We have many of these here in Toronto. They're all owned and operated by various gas stations. Nothing new or spectacular. I don't know where the laser part comes in. As for the wash solution, well nobody knows for sure what's in it. But it must be very acidic if it can eat dirt off of the car without the aid of a brush. You may not get swirls from going through one, but you may strip all your wax/sealant off.
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From: Orlando, FL
2002 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor Sports Coupe
LaserWash is so popular in Florida, I noticed that MOBIL has even private labeled it in some new gas stations ("Mobil Laserwash 4000").
All it is is a touchless car wash that uses a laser to see where you car is.
I've used them for over five years, they work fine. But the soap is pretty strong stuff as the jet-powered-water stream, so it does tend to strip off my car's wax. I mostly use it when lazy and I know I will be re-waxing soon. No harm otherwise.
Rick
All it is is a touchless car wash that uses a laser to see where you car is.
I've used them for over five years, they work fine. But the soap is pretty strong stuff as the jet-powered-water stream, so it does tend to strip off my car's wax. I mostly use it when lazy and I know I will be re-waxing soon. No harm otherwise.
Rick
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From: Sri Lanka
laser wash
When I had my car washed by the dealer the other day, he just ran it through their car wash and I believe it is the same touch-less car wash that someone mentioned earlier. So i'm assuming if the dealer is using it, would it be ok for us to use it..... or would you say that the dealer is just trying to get all the cars out as quickly as they come in.....
anyone else know what their dealers use....
anyone else know what their dealers use....
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From: bucks county
black on black 2k2-230k auto/c1/c5/c7/k2c/COMAND/TELEAID/Stage II HIDS
the large dealerships by me use touchless types.... i wonder just how abraizive that soap is???
greg
ps someone should send a sample of laser wash car fluid to the wax guys, see how it treats all the waxes
greg
ps someone should send a sample of laser wash car fluid to the wax guys, see how it treats all the waxes
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From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
Greg, you allude to a very good point. Soaps used in car washes more often than not tend to be very alkaline. This means that these soaps will strip off wax and polish. You may ask why would car washes use such a soap ? The answer is simple. Alkaline soaps not only remove wax, but remove tar and grease easily as well. I would be very interested to see some impartial website (Like Waxtest.Com) perform a test like this.
For myself, I try to set aside some time every weekend to hand wash my car. I'm too **** to let anyone else touch it.
For myself, I try to set aside some time every weekend to hand wash my car. I'm too **** to let anyone else touch it.
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From: Toronto, Ontario Canada
2002 C240 Classic - Orion Blue Beast!!
Originally posted by awiner
Greg, you allude to a very good point. Soaps used in car washes more often than not tend to be very alkaline. This means that these soaps will strip off wax and polish. You may ask why would car washes use such a soap ? The answer is simple. Alkaline soaps not only remove wax, but remove tar and grease easily as well. I would be very interested to see some impartial website (Like Waxtest.Com) perform a test like this.
For myself, I try to set aside some time every weekend to hand wash my car. I'm too **** to let anyone else touch it.
Greg, you allude to a very good point. Soaps used in car washes more often than not tend to be very alkaline. This means that these soaps will strip off wax and polish. You may ask why would car washes use such a soap ? The answer is simple. Alkaline soaps not only remove wax, but remove tar and grease easily as well. I would be very interested to see some impartial website (Like Waxtest.Com) perform a test like this.
For myself, I try to set aside some time every weekend to hand wash my car. I'm too **** to let anyone else touch it.
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From: bucks county
black on black 2k2-230k auto/c1/c5/c7/k2c/COMAND/TELEAID/Stage II HIDS
keenan mercedes in doyelstown.
very ncie folks over there, since they are a smaller dealership they seemed to value my dollar a lot more then mb of princeton
greg
edit| service through keenan as well. service manager sends out a flatbead with a 240 or m loaner and loads your car on it, and takes it back to doyelstown
i dont think i could be more pleased.
very ncie folks over there, since they are a smaller dealership they seemed to value my dollar a lot more then mb of princeton
greg
edit| service through keenan as well. service manager sends out a flatbead with a 240 or m loaner and loads your car on it, and takes it back to doyelstown
i dont think i could be more pleased.
Last edited by greg230; Nov 13, 2001 at 09:42 PM.
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From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
David N., I'm glad to see there are more people that are as **** as I am. I regularly read your posts regarding detailing and do indeed think I have met my match....
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
The theory behind touchless car washes is that since nothing touches your car then it can't damage or create swirls in the paint. To force the dirt off the car with concentrated high water pressure you are actually forcing the abrasive dirt particles against your car at high pressure. I would never use the full pressure of my garden hose let alone a high pressure power washer on my car. I have a high pressure power washer but I use it to remove paint from my house or fence before repainting it or cleaning my driveway. I prefer a high quality hand wash to the touchless ones or I'ld rather do it myself.
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From: Houston,TX-moving to The Woodlands,TX SOON!!!
Toyota Tacoma & Lexus IS250
Hi pressure = not recommended
Lazerwash uses hi pressure water/soap to wash the car...(which doesn't work if the car is dirty from being driven in the rain)
Anyway from an auto-paint guy I know....he says never use high pressure to wash your car....handwash it only !!
Anyway from an auto-paint guy I know....he says never use high pressure to wash your car....handwash it only !!
