Automated car was a no-no?

Any repetition of this disgraceful behaviour and the Mod Squad will come round and confiscate the XK.

I appreciate the difficulties but if it's the only option, clean is better than a build up of traffic film and worse. Unless you use a brushless wash, you just have to accept the clearcoat is going to suffer.

Graham

 

the other option is a mobile detailing company - have a few in our area but have not used them as I would rather wash/wax myself.

 

@Muddy, don't you have any Jet Wash outlets anywhere. You can take your sponges and stuff and really go to town.

But avoid those revolving sandpaper brush washes. Nothing worse than if you are the guy following me after an extensive off road rally session.

 

Well there is one of those, and I don't know why I didn't think of that myself. I was flustered with the fact that I can't seem to get the vehicle soaped and scrubbed in the 2 minutes of foam that it gives you, and totally missed the obvious answer to just bring my own bucket and sponge. I think I'll do that.

Or there's this guy in my neighborhood that offered to wash it for me "behind that building over there..." what?

I guess I just thought maybe the rotating brushes of the auto wash would leave micro scratches in my paint and dull the gloss. I'd love for it to last as long as possible. It's good to know, as Graham said, that clean of any kind is better than dirty as far as the finish is concerned.