Car wash dented my side skirts

[Jerritt]

So for awhile now Ive noticed this annoying long dent down the full length of both my side skirts. I couldnt figure out what it was until I was at the car wash and noticed this hard plastic contraption that pops out towards the end of the wash and dents your shit. Im not exactly sure what it does but it looks like it is there soley for the purpose of denting Audi A4 sideskirts. Sons of Bitches!

If any of you also have these dents this is most likely where it is from. If any of you dont have these dents make sure you dont go to car washes that have the Audi SideSkirt Denter 3000.

[audipcanugo]

Guys stop washing your cars in automatic car washes!

All kidding aside, that sucks man...hate to see that. Throw some side blades on it to take the attention away...Or pick up some OEM Votex (Zubehor) sideskirts from ECS.

[name.goes.here]

Guys stop washing your cars in automatic car washes!

All kidding aside, that sucks man...hate to see that. Throw some side blades on it to take the attention away...Or pick up some OEM Votex (Zubehor) sideskirts from ECS.

+ 1 automatic car washes are the absolute worst.

[hotshot32890]

Yikes, sorry to see man. Do the wash your-self. Self service washes or driveway ftw.

[A3soban]

drive way all day. i never trust these car washes..

[jlaudio]

that car wash looks ancient

[Jerritt]

Hahah the place is actually pretty decent and modern except for that one rusted ass tank in the photo. That Audi SideSkirt Denter 3000 is made for B8's so it cant be older than 2009 smh. Its like 30degrees up here... driveway washes are out of the question for me. I might have to look into a do it yourself place.

Can any Brooklyn or Manhattan folk recommend a spot?

[fatboyj711]

Not sure about the Manhattan or Brooklyn, but there are a ton of hand wash trackless car washes in Bergen Co in Jersey. There are a few good ones in Englewood, NJ which is a mile or 2 from the GW Bridge.

[Jerritt]

Not sure about the Manhattan or Brooklyn, but there are a ton of hand wash trackless car washes in Bergen Co in Jersey. There are a few good ones in Englewood, NJ which is a mile or 2 from the GW Bridge.

Im about 18miles from the GW bridge...

[catch]

Holy! Thats a pretty serious dent

[b4a41point8t]

WHOA! that's not a "dent". A dent is what you get when a shopping car saunters over and gives you a love tap. That's a straight up ACCIDENT! I feel for you, and although I never take my car to auto washes (I've thought about it when feeling lazy), I will definitely never ever ever take it to them. I've gotten a few dents myself from the self serve washes when the hose hanging down from the ceiling bangs against your car as you wash it :( Lose lose apparently.

[dbX79]

I never use a automatic car wash on my Audi. I hand wash it myself or take it to the dealer. I've also been told the cloth arms in drive thru washes will streak up and ruin your paint job. No autowash for me!


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[B G 8er]

+1 I would never trust an auto car wash and likely not even the dealer! Even back in the day when I did take my car to an automatic car wash, the guys at the end where they wiped everything down would drop their rags on the ground then pick them up and keep using them! Plus they would wipe someones windows inside that smoked and it would streak my windows. If you take your car to an automatic car wash you are asking for trouble!

[BMWBig6]

What is the (real) purpose of that device anyway?

[staticuxo]

where in NY are you? check out ultra sonic car wash in bellrose.. it's low friendly and is driven by a conveyor belt. no curbed/scratched wheels, side skirts, etc. here's a few pics from other members:

[madhouse24]

I never use a automatic car wash on my Audi. I hand wash it myself or take it to the dealer. I've also been told the cloth arms in drive thru washes will streak up and ruin your paint job. No autowash for me!


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co-sign on this one ... I purposely do it myself, at the dealer's or look for a touchless car wash ...well worth the effort imo

[coolwater]

You can try the auto bath in Brooklyn.
Kinda pricey IMHO, but they do a good job. $20-$30.

I use this place by my job in inwood. 218st and Broadway 5 mins from GWB.
$12 full service and they do an OK job.
I usually have to go over the details myself (lower bumper, grille, little nooks)
You're not going to get the same detail to attention as a $30 wash...



-cW

[buzztt]

I never use a automatic car wash on my Audi. I hand wash it myself or take it to the dealer. I've also been told the cloth arms in drive thru washes will streak up and ruin your paint job. No autowash for me!


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the dealer can be as bad as a car wash, some of them are terrible, using the same bucket of 'soapy' water all day, wiping dirt and grit all over your paint, no thanks, find a good touchless wash, a wash bay or do it in your driveway

[audinepa]

Speak with owner possible equipment malfunction in which case they should be responsibile for damage.

[MonzaA5]

+ 1 automatic car washes are the absolute worst.

A touchless and railless automatic carwash is perfectly fine.

[Jerritt]

What is the (real) purpose of that device anyway?

I would love to know the answer to this also.. I can typically look at something and figure out what its intended purpose in life is but this thing has me puzzled.

I really need to get on this touchless wash thing fast. This was my first wash since getting my car back from the accident where my hood, front bumper, both fenders and my rear bumper are all brand new and I would like to keep it that way. I hate seeing those little cloth scratches and things in the paint detail. I had a black B7 before this one and that thing had a million little hairlike swirled scratches in it from poor car washing.

That conveyor belt one in Bellrose looks friendly. Im in south Brooklyn but I work in the city and drive all over the place so anywhere in BK or manhattan is good for me. My girl lives on 192nd so that spot on 218 isnt so far from her. Thanks for the advice. Im going to look into getting sideskirts put on but with that dent im not sure theyll sit right.

[Greg Nelson]

Wondering, is the dent on both sides and the car wash 'contraption' on both sides?
That portion of the body I believe is usually called the rocker panel.
Wouldn't bother trying to get the car wash to accept responsibility - they usually claim 'pre-existing condition' and deny claim
Take it to a PDR shop, see if they can pull the dent out.

[Jerritt]

Wondering, is the dent on both sides and the car wash 'contraption' on both sides?
That portion of the body I believe is usually called the rocker panel.
Wouldn't bother trying to get the car wash to accept responsibility - they usually claim 'pre-existing condition' and deny claim
Take it to a PDR shop, see if they can pull the dent out.

Yea its worse on the passenger side but the driver side has a nice scrape and slight dent the whole way down. The passenger side gets deep and noticeable at one point for a solid foot or two.

[Pared]

You're most likely right in thinking you'll have to get it fixed before side skirts. Glue or screw, the application layer is not level and it wouldn't look right.