Car wash tearing of bumpers?

I went in for my 6 month service yesterday and when it was ready it was not washed. They asked when I got there and I said yes.
But it wasn't done so I asked why and thy said it was because the car wash would tear the bumpers off.
They didn't do my 2nd gen either as it had roof bars.
This dealership has Toyota design so I assume Toyota car wash.
Have you gotten washed ?

 

Never have had it washed during service and never been asked if I want it washed...and they have a "wash rack" crew. I guess it is just for lot vehicles waiting to be sold. I didn't buy from them, so it may be a courtesy provided to those that did, during service visits.

 

I would never let a dealership wash a vehicle of mine. I do a 2 bucket wash and hand dry with a towel specially made for drying on both of my vehicles and have told the dealership to not wash my vehicles.

I've seen the damage dealer washes do to a car finish, might as well go to the drive through wash were every bit of grit and debris is stuck in the brushed to scratch your paint.

 

never do I or will I go through a carwash or let the dealer run my vehicle through their carwash - I always do mine at home the ole' fashion way. I will go to the carwash bay in the winter and use the no-touch spray to knock the crap off the undercarriage and wheel wells. Long ago I learned the hard way. Went through the carwash with my truck and the machine came off the rail - smashing the side of my truck in. Posted sign on the bay entrance said "not liable for damage" and that was that. Luckly my insurance company got it fixed. Your truck. Your call. FWIT I use Adams carwash / finish / drying products.

 

I take my truck through a car wash quite often. Pay for the monthly membership and have never had anything fall off my truck.

 

Probably depends a lot on the type of carwash. Old fashioned spinning brushes vs touchless, etc.

 

Taking a modern vehicle through one of those old fashioned spinning brush car washes seems like a really bad idea. I would expect they scratch the heck out of clear coat. Only kind of auto carwash I would use is the ones that only spray the car and doesn't use any kind of brushes. I don't want anything touching my paint except my microfiber wash mitt from a clean bucket.

 

Any dealership, outside of Lexus, that offers a wash usually has the old fashioned, paint destroying brush kind....

 

Yep my Toyota dealer washed my spotless truck when I went in for the radio knob under warranty...I kept chill but was kinda pissed, especially when I went around to the passenger side and saw the running board end cap was gone from the rear pass side. Pair of end caps is $75. I wonder if they knock off a couple of mirror cams they might catch a clue...nah. I have a subscription to a local new high tech wash and it will flip a mirror on my old car every time...not taking the Tundra through as too many people lose the under mirror cams just falling off already...these things are made out of Legos ha ha

 

Mine goes through a car wash once a week, monthly deal. Never had a problem. I do the two bucket thing for the mustang but the tundra is a daily driver dirt bike hauler truck so I don’t much care.

 

Me too.

 

Took mine through at 5k miles. Not a good job. The guy told me the Tundras are "too big" for the Toyota dealer car washes.

 

Shit mine has so many dents from careless assholes I don't even care anymore.

 

My entire passenger side looks like I park next to an active land mine field.
80% from my employer's parking lot, 15% from assholes in store parking lots, 5% from assholes that don't put up their grocery carts..

Surprisingly for some reason the driver's side looks ok after 10 years...

Who the fuck has time to hand wash their vehicles year around?
I work 65 hours a week for God's sake..

 

My truck will NEVER enter an automatic car wash .

 

No kidding! I was just thinking the same thing....any free time I do manage to find is NOT spent rubbing on my truck....heh

 

I've got a monthly subscription to a local chain of automatic carwashes and I run through at least once per week. I've been doing this for nearly a year now and my paint still looks fantastic.

 

Disturbing LOL

 

Fist problem is even considering going thru an automatic car wash. Those things absolutely damage the paint. Nothing you will notice once or twice, but they to make fine scratches and over time take a toll. Only thing worse than an auto wash is washing the vehicle with a brush.

Found this out the hard way with my 4th gen 4runner.

You are better off letting it be dirty for a bit until you can do a proper hand wash.

 

LOL. I'll be out of the truck and on to something else long before I am bothered by fine scratches in the clear. If it bothers me that much, it's nothing a polish won't take care of.

 

I have all the equipment to wash my cars at home. It takes me like 3 to 4 hours to detail my cars inside and out. The Tundra is a big bitch at that.

 

I live on a dirt/gravel road so everything I ride or drive is either dusty or muddy the minute I leave the house. Yet I'd still never take it thru one of those old school bush equipped car washes. The local creek crossing for the under carriage and the power washer are much less damaging to it.

 

How is a touchless auto wash was any more damaging than cleaning the car at a coin car wash??

 

well that made me laugh, eventually all the dirt bike trips will take its toll, folks leaning over the bed with gear on, trees and branches etc….eventualy it wont matter either, being flat white will help as did silver in my 08.

 

This isn't about whether you like car washes or not. Toyota spec dealership design so the car wash should fit all their vehicles.
My 08 went through a few times then they said the roof bars eliminated that. OK maybe there was a problem . My new one I removed the bars so they wouldn't have an excuse. I don't buy that they would spec something that would damage the bumpers.
I am not the guy that is going to drag out the hose in below zero weather to wash my truck EVER!!