My experience....... (archive)

Pick a very high end car wash and talk to the manager first to get his experience on other cars with lager wheels/low profile tires. This should not be a problem if you drive the car into the track YOURSELF very slowly. The mistake I first made was having the carwash guy drive it into the track as they do it at this carwash I use. If they drive too fast and are not straight on they can and will chip the wheel. This happens on the "Y" shaped part that funnels your tires onto the track. Your car should be OK when on the track. The problem is getting on the track initially. Slow and steady. I now drive my car on myself now and then get out - after paying $100 each to fix a ding on each of the two left wheels. Since then I have used this carwash every week for over a year with absolutely no problem, but I always drive it onto the track. If you are a little off from straight on it is OK as the tires stick out from the rims a little - if you drive on the track very slowly. It is when you drive on fast that the tire gets pushed in and the wheels chip if you are off a little.

Andy
'00 Dinan 540i with OEM M5 wheels

I have a good auto car wash that I have always taken all my cars to, including Jags and BMWs. I prefer to wash by hand, but ther are times I can't. I have never had any problems with this car wash in the 20 years I have been going there, and their equipment is continually upgraded and well maintained.

Will the low-profile wheels get hurt or scratched in the tracks? This is my only concern other than increased swirling on the dark paint, which I think I can overcome with frequent waxing and care.

Have you ever taken your M5 to an auto car wash that pushes it down a track through the wash? Thanks.

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