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[F4celess]

Do I or don't I ?

Specifically, are the panels and general exterior of the SMART ForFour resilient to the pounding/blasting from these jet wash / hand car wash places?

The rear quarter plexiglass windows could be a weak point - I will tell them not to aim at those with the jet washes just to be on the safe side!. But the rest of the car should be ok? Or good reasons NOT to use them?

Related, plus will ask now (as a "n00b") to get this out of the way, are the panels on the ForFour "painted" like a regular car, or the 'plastic' panels are coloured and wont scratch the same way? Perhaps onto the Tridion is painted?

Any feedback appreciated !

[El Tel]

IF you have the solid black polycarb roof (not transparent!) take care on this with the jetwash. It is actually 100's of layers of ultrafine plastic, and a strong jetwash can get under one of these layers and peel it back..That's the only useful advice I can offer on this one.

[Problemchild]

always take mine to the polish

then i wax it myself

JJ

[F4celess]

always take mine to the polish

then i wax it myself

JJ

^  That's good enough for me!

Great advice on the roof too, yes, need to be careful with that also!
Similar to a regular vehicle Wrap - dont want a strong jetwash hitting the edges of the wrap as it'll help peel the vinyl back or at least start the process. Hmmm, they aren't likely to take all these Do's and Dont's!

However would like to get the roof vinyl wrapped in a 3M carbon fibre at some point anyway.

[Ocracoke]

I have to hand wash mine, all the panels are wrapped and while I know my wife has taken it to a hand wash place at the local Tesco before, I get nervous.

[CrazyG]

The point that El Tel makes about the roof and quarter panels
is correct...
The 454 body panels are made of GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic),
they are a lot more flexible than the steel body panels of a 'mainstream'
mass produced vehicle, which makes them prone to damage by excessive
pressure that some use for jet washing.  Most are operated by non UK
nationals, and no 'real' training is given to them, so one car is like any
other to them.
Most if not all of the jet wash operators appear to love getting 'up close
and personal' to the cars they clean...intent on blasting off every little
bit of dirt or marks that they see...like tar or slight scuffs, so the actual
area the water 'impacts' on is small and put under far too much pressure
which can and will distort and damage GRP panels !

So....my advice if you do take it to a hand wash establishment that uses
jet washers, is to tell the person 'waving the wand' to stand back further
than they would to metal bodied cars...even explaining why.
OK..so they may not comprehend exactly, and if such is the case then
find someone there who can explain it to them. I did, and they treat
my cars with 'respect' when I turn up and want any of my Smarts done.

Jet washers are supposed to be used initially to wet down and loosen
any surface dirt...not ingrained grime. THAT stuff should be removed
by the other 'attendants' with the sponges and soapy cleaner they use.
The spray off after washes off all the soapy stuff...
It is not to be used to try to 'etch' off any ingrained dirt that the soft
sponges and cleaning solution haven't managed to shift...ok.
Ingrained blemishes/marks/tar etc require removal by clay barring and
or by the use of a mild cutting compound akin to T-Cut.

So...from a general point of view...jet washes are a weekly rinse off,
whereas a proper clean you either do yourself, or...you entrust to a
reputable detailer once every 6 months or so, ok. The stuff they use
will really clean your car...and the waxes/polish they use should suffice
to keep your car clean and shiny for 6 months or so...with a wash down
in between to shift the surface dirt off the polished surface underneath. 

As for the GRP panels....and what colour they are/were originally...
the base colouring of the material is a matt black of sorts. They are
then sprayed with an primer, undercoat, topcoat and finally sealed
with a coat of lacquer....just like all the other cars on the road.

[F4celess]

On a previous car where I had panels wrapped, it also ended jet washes for good. Hand wash then only.

Fantastic feedback CrazyG, has answered my question plus more!

Have changed my mind about this. Will use a jet wash myself just to hose the car down and remove debris, at a safe distance (avoiding roof / rear quarter windows). Then at home will hand wash the car myself.

The detailing every 6 months or so I'd appreciate that too. Is there a list of recommended Detailing outfits on the site somewhere?

[CrazyG]

No list of 'recommended' detailers.....yet.

If there is enough 'feedback' (or PM's to me with info/details) then I'll
open a thread with a list. I'm guessing the big issue with Detailers is
the cost as it can take them a whole day if they do the complete car,
but having said that it depends on what or how far you want them to
go with it. If you have an idea or a 'budget' figure to work to then it's
best to ask and see what deal if any you can come to.

To start the ball rolling :-
'Ultimate Car Detailing'...01923-510329. They do Lambo's, Ferrari's, etc etc..
(Location - in the same Industrial Park as S2smarts..Vale Industrial Park,
                  Watford,WD18 9QP).

[steddie eddie]

G'day,  I have washed my forfour 2 times in the more than 4 years ive had it, she is parked on the road in front of my house but she does not seem to get dirty.
Greetings,
Eddie.