[drumslinger]

Does anyone remove the antenna before going through a car wash, as the manual says to. If not, have you had any problems/breakage?

I removed mine the first and only time (so far), but is it really necessary? My previous car had a similar "rubber duck" type antenna. I never removed it and never had a problem.

 

[pgarci01]

I believe the manual was referring to a machine car wash, which should be avoided always. Those machines will scratch up your paint real quick (especially dark colored cars) If you go to a hand car wash, there reason to take it off because excessive pressure won't be put on the antenna.

 

[drumslinger]

I was referring to automatic car washes (brushless ones). Why avoid them? There are two near me, and you always see Mercedes, Jaguars, Lexuses, etc., there.

 

[veasnalong]

Does anyone remove the antenna before going through a car wash, as the manual says to. If not, have you had any problems/breakage?

I removed mine the first and only time (so far), but is it really necessary? My previous car had a similar "rubber duck" type antenna. I never removed it and never had a problem.

if removed during car wash water will get it,, later on will show Rust stain it happen to mine just be aware of it.

 

[pgarci01]

I was referring to automatic car washes (brushless ones). Why avoid them? There are two near me, and you always see Mercedes, Jaguars, Lexuses, etc., there.

Car brand is not my focus here lol... I never ran my 1st car through an automatic car wash, and it was a 94 honda accord I got for 1000 bucks (crashed and I had to fix lol). I've always been told never to run your car through one, always go to a hand wash if possible. I went to one once and saw the difference immediately (friend threw up on my car and I had to run it through a 24 hr car wash asap). Even though they're brushless, nothing smacking your car at that velocity has positive effects on your car's clear coat. The swirl marks appear a lot faster if you run it through the machine. The car can come off the track and scratch up your rims or smack off your antenna. Those machines almost always miss spots also.

My car's black though, you know everything gets magnified when the car is black. If your car is a light color or even PMM it will not show as much. That's just me though I can't stand staring at all those swirl marks. I'm lucky enough to have many hand car washes around me, one only uses microfiber towels, another uses pressurized air, all to reduce the appearance of swirl marks. They are more expensive of course but the difference is noticeable. If it wasn't so cold out, I would wash the car myself. No one can wash my car better than me lol...

 

[veasnalong]

Car brand is not my focus here lol... I never ran my 1st car through an automatic car wash, and it was a 94 honda accord I got for 1000 bucks (crashed and I had to fix lol). I've always been told never to run your car through one, always go to a hand wash if possible. I went to one once and saw the difference immediately (friend threw up on my car and I had to run it through a 24 hr car wash asap). Even though they're brushless, nothing smacking your car at that velocity has positive effects on your car's clear coat. The swirl marks appear a lot faster if you run it through the machine. The car can come off the track and scratch up your rims or smack off your antenna. Those machines almost always miss spots also.

My car's black though, you know everything gets magnified when the car is black. If your car is a light color or even PMM it will not show as much. That's just me though I can't stand staring at all those swirl marks. I'm lucky enough to have many hand car washes around me, one only uses microfiber towels, another uses pressurized air, all to reduce the appearance of swirl marks. They are more expensive of course but the difference is noticeable. If it wasn't so cold out, I would wash the car myself. No one can wash my car better than me lol...

i agreeded only hand wash i have done.... the darn F*ker stole my Antenna at Best Buy parking lot on the rainny day cause water to get in and got some rust stain in it and took me a week to get new one from dealer.

 

[pgarci01]

wow that sucks man... Ppl will do anything to mess up a car if they're jealous enough, someone keyed my car the day (passenger side both doors)... If you have touch up paint apply some to the rust spot asap. I bought a turtle wax scratch repair kit and when the weather permits I will be applying it on my car. If I can remove this scratch and save 600 bucks it will be a Christmas miracle... I will be taking plenty of pics so if it works i'll post pics of the product so other ppl can buy it as well.