will my bongo fit through the car wash?

hogggman · Post by **hogggman** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:21 am

hi,
can anyone tell me whether my auto free top 1998 v6 bongo will fit through my local car wash?it`s a few miles away,and i don`t know off hand what there maximum height is.it`s a`total`garage,if that helps!
thanks
jamie

B*Witched Blingo · Post by **B*Witched Blingo** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:26 am

Watch the rear mirror they snap off.. Garages won't pay for the damage.

I wouldn't personally. I feer the water being driven under the roof seals. Might just be me, but hey I am a woman after all.

daveblueozzie · Post by **daveblueozzie** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 9:26 am

DO NOT GO THROUGH

,UNLESS YOU DONT LIKE YOUR REVERSING MIRROR.

OTHERWISE OK AND LET IT SNAP IT OFF FOR YOU.

Post by **Bob** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:00 am

With the others on this, by the time you drive the few miles and go through you might as well have used a hose pipe, saved some money and your rear mirror.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:08 am

Don't do it!

H

David Edwards · Post by **David Edwards** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:09 am

People can only tell what they have done, I have used my local Tesco car wash for the four years I have owned my flat top bongo, I have never had a problem with any of the mirrors or anything else...IN FOUR YEARS.I would however check that all mirrors are okay and the rear one is properly tightened, a lot of the stories I read were about a friend of a friend etc who had damaged the car. There is only one real way to tell and that is to take the plunge and try it or just carry on and do it manually, whatever you decide one thing I can say, do not use a pressure washer such as a Kartcher on the bongo or you really will see some damage and probably quick removal of paint and decals. Whatever YOU decide good luck but I will continue to use my Tesco car wash. Happy motoring.

jaylee · Post by **jaylee** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 10:24 am

Don't forget the spoiler too, if you have one.

Personally, i wouldn't take any car through an auto car wash.
My partner & i once put her Micra through a local flick & dry.
Removed the bee sting aerial and followed the instructions...
Half way through the cycle while the rollers were round the back it felt like someone with a bit of strength lifted the back of the car & dropped it.
when we got out i replaced the aerial and discovered the rear spoiler had been displaced!!

Health & safety first.

apole · Post by **apole** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:54 pm

Hi,

I would say don't do it. I wouldn't put any car I cared about in a car wash, they don't do much for the paint.

Interesting article here:

http://www.clean-image.co.uk/articles/car_wash.htm

Andy

heatherpetch · Post by **heatherpetch** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:09 pm

Dont do it,bongo's should be washed with tlc by hand

coco bongo · Post by **coco bongo** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:15 pm

Noooooooooooooooo

Tis a shame i know but not worth the risk. I use the pressure wash near where i live, with hot brush and it comes up a treat.

If using the jet wash be careful of the decals, especially the Freetop ones.

Ozric · Post by **Ozric** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 2:31 pm

I took the advice of the forum and never took my Bongo through the car wash. Until, one day I saw a local Bongo at the Esso/tesco garage coming out all intact. I've since used the wash once.. It moved my reversing mirror a little.. but apart from that it was a grand job.

kawasaki kid · Post by **kawasaki kid** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:06 pm

Don`t Do It - there is a Bongo by where I live that belongs to a club member - who lost his rear mirror in a carwash and to add insult to injury when the mirror came off it damaged the freetop on his van - it`s not worth the risk.

Post by **mobilecat** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:28 pm

I take it to the lovely hand car wash near my son's school. £4 for a simple wash (although they take ages over it and do a good job). Can't say fairer than that - for an extra £1 they will wax it. I was really impressed that they dont charge any more for my bongo than for my panda although I used to get a mini valet for £12 so I would be suprised if they did for the bongo - mind you - I may try

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:36 pm

I'm by no means an expert in such matters, but, you may discover that the sensors that "read" the profile of the vehicle on the car wash can't "see" the rear view mirror on a freetop bongo,but may be able to see it on a bongolow version, hence how some mirrors remain intact,most don't.... I wouldn't risk it personally, but hey, its your money!

I find the brushes on car washes just a little harsh for my taste, the time saved popping it through the car wash would soon be taken up with all the polishing required later to remove the swirl marks!

I hand washed my bongo 3 times last week, bucket of hot water with lashings of autoglym car shampoo,3 buckets of warm to rinse, (not got a hosepipe

)with a nice chamois to finish off....

Post by **mobilecat** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 6:37 pm

I ached for days last time I washed the bongo - never again!