Wintertime car washing?

[sandy08]

I just purchased my 1994 325 convertible last summer so this is my first Indiana winter with a soft-top. I hand washed it all summer long but now that winter is here with the sub-freezing temperatures I obviously can't do that. However, I also know that automatic carwashes are a definate no-no with the soft-top and probably not that great on hard-tops either.

So my question is, how do you keep your baby clean during the winter months? I would also like to find a way to flush the underside to get all the roadsalt off as well. I don't have the luxury of parking it for the winter.

Any suggestions?

[sandy08]

So nobody cleans their car in the winter?

[xzozo]

Not to sound sarcastic but, in NY we have "self wash" car washes. Its a bay you pull into which has a soap dispensing wand, a high pressure wand, and a scrubbing brush wand. Thats where I wash my convertible . Im able to use the high pressure wand to clean the undercarriage.

[sandy08]

xzozo, Thanks for the reply and I didn't take it as sarcastic. However, even in Indiana we have "self washes" (now I'm being sarcastic) but I never really felt that you can get a real good under carriage flush from them.

I bought my 94 out of Chicago where there's also lots of road salt and grunge during the winter. I've noticed a lot of corrosion on the underside and I attribute that to not getting that grunge off. I figured since it is a convertible it never got a good "under body flush" that a drive thru carwash can give.

I did check with Mikes Carwash (I'm not sure if this is just a local chain) and they said they can program their equipment for convertibles. They would make it so the upper air blowers wouldn't hurt the top and the same with the washers. I'm still not totally convinced but they were very confident and reassuring.

[Mark E M]

SandyO Mike's car wash is real good at what they do... Would recomend them, there equiptment washes the under carrage very well. Though it won't help what rust is there now. This next summer get the car undercoated as best as you can to prolong the life of your car, and good luck. Later... Mark

[Skycity_BMW]

Hey Sandy

Just becareful of the DME flooding problem with the 3 series when going thru a carwash.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/tech...DME-Repair.htm

[sandy08]

Thanks for the heads up. I read the article you pointed to and fortunately my car was built Oct. 1994 so it shouldn't be a problem based on the following quote from the article:

"On E36 BMWs manufactured prior to July of 1994, there is a design problem with the car that has caused a lot of problems with the main DME computer."

However, frying your electronics from a carwash sounds a little bit expensive to me. Thanks for the warning.