Jump to content
jaymanfifty

Automated Car Washes - regular roof NV

Recommended Posts

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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 by mahu

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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 by formula747

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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".

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.  

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...