Mark Rogers Posted September 14, 2017 I've taken my NV3500 (standard roof) through automatic car washes on five occasions. These were at three different locations, including two trips through the automatic wash at the dealership where I bought the van. The people at each car wash told me the van would fit. On three occasions, the spinning brushes ended up folding the mirrors in for me. (I probably should have done that myself before entering the wash.) The clearances always look really tight, and I sometimes feel like the brushes are pushing the van side to side a bit, but everything always turned out okay until the last trip. The last car wash scraped some paint off the driver's side running board. A little black spray paint will fix it, but I think I'm done with automatic washes. It's time for me to invest in a lot of quarters for the wash-it-yourself places. 2 ASD Dad and andy_george reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ASD Dad Posted September 14, 2017 I use one of those extension brushes used for RV's to wash mine. That and a a folding step ladder that I use anyway for my rack and it makes somewhat quick work of washing the van. We use the brush on our camper so it works out all around. I barely fit before (tried once) but with my rack on there is zero chance! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mahu Posted September 14, 2017 (edited) what's with all this talk about quarters? Don't your self car washes take credit cards? Is that just a California thing? Never been to a self car wash that didn't take cards. Edited September 14, 2017 by mahu Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
justaf ireman Posted September 29, 2017 I use Aero Cosmetics Wash And Wax waterless car wash. 10 minutes to do the entire NV. Awesome product used by the aviation industry. You can find it at Amazon. Follow their instruction on their site and you won't have any issues. If your NV is heavily soiled, you'll still have to conventionally wash with water, but for in between it's perfect. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formula747 Posted October 9, 2017 (edited) As I was signing the papers on my new NV Passenger 3500 SL back in May 2017, the dealer had their new guy run the NV through their car wash. The car wash damaged about a 2-3 foot long section of the back passenger side roof. Apparently the dealer had the upgraded heavy duty lifts and such to handle NVs but they had not yet upgraded their car wash machine. Luckily, another NV was in route to the dealer (even the same color) and replaced the damaged NV within a week. I've been hesitant to run it through any automatic car wash. I'll keep using my ladder. :) Edited October 9, 2017 by formula747 3 MagicVan, ASD Dad and radin2son reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MagicVan Posted January 28, 2018 What do you mean by heavy duty lifts? This just happened to my van and wash station said if was not there fault? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mk1_62 Posted January 28, 2018 He's talking about the service lift for oil changes and tire rotation. What did the clearance on the car wash say? You'll have a case if with photo evidence of it being over 84". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MagicVan Posted January 29, 2018 He said the car wash damaged roof. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mk1_62 Posted January 29, 2018 Right, the lifts are in the service bays, but they hadn't redone the wash bays for the height of the NV. So the roof was damaged by the car wash. Did the car wash you took it to say it would fit? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MagicVan Posted January 29, 2018 Right, the lifts are in the service bays, but they hadn't redone the wash bays for the height of the NV. So the roof was damaged by the car wash. Did the car wash you took it to say it would fit? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MagicVan Posted January 29, 2018 The sign said 7ft max. My vsn measured 80 inches so 4” clear! Roof looks lije hail damage! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mk1_62 Posted January 29, 2018 Unless your van has been modified, it's 84"...which should still fit. I think the roofs looks terrible from the factory, the spot welds are very noticeable. It looks like they just said eff it, paint it and go. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MagicVan Posted January 29, 2018 Unless your van has been modified, it's 84"...which should still fit. I think the roofs looks terrible from the factory, the spot welds are very noticeable. It looks like they just said eff it, paint it and go. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MagicVan Posted January 29, 2018 No mods. Thank you for the info on stop welds, perhaps that is exactly what I’m seeing. This was the first time I have washed it. I suppose Nissan built them expecting roof racks would be put on them. Again, that you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ASD Dad Posted January 29, 2018 Mine measured 7'2" stock (86") as have a bunch on the other NV group. That's why many dont fit in a stock garage, they just barely dont clear. Our local hospital has a 7' max bar hanging down to warn you and I thought we were 7'. I hit that bar! I barely brushed it since I was going so slow since I figured we could hit it and it left long yellow streaks on my roof (bar was a PVC pipe painted yellow hanging down). Yellow came off with rubbing compound but I never attempted any 7' clearances again. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
