Mach-E at the Car Wash - Best Practices

[ARK]

When I get my Mach-E, I want to make sure I keep the paint looking as good as it can for as long as possible. I hope to keep my MME for a very long time, a decade if I can. I’ve seen mentioned on this forum a few times about people doing things they shouldn’t when it comes to washing their cars. I’ve also seen mentioned a few times that different car manufacturers use different types of paint.

To that end, are there any ‘dos and don’t’s’ that we think would apply to taking the MME to a car wash? I usually get one of the cheap wax packages (and armorall for the wheels) - would this be wise based on peoples’ experiences with the paint Ford uses? My MME will be Rapid Red, which is a metallic color.

I am the original owner of 2006 vista blue mustang, and while the paint has held up quite well, I think it maybe doesn’t quite shine like it used to after a trip to the car wash.

Sponsored

 

[ChasingCoral]

Start here:
https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/touchless-car-wash-membership.1157/

 

[DanCoon]

Well, if you're willing to put in the extra money, I'd recommend the Ceramic Pro paint protectant. Cost me about $1500 to do the whole exterior, wheels included on my 2014 Blue Candy Ford Focus Titanium. My car still looks brand new at nearly 200k and I still get a lot of compliments on the paint. You'll never need a wax and you can run it through any cheap car wash you want without worrying about it. In fact, you really won't need a car wash unless you've got it caked in mud or salt... just hose it off or wipe it with a rag and everything will fall off.

 

[Dkuhnke]

Like Daniel in Elk Grove, CA, I am planning on getting a ceramic coating, between dealer prep and delivery. From a ceramic specialist in Oshawa, ON for $1200 CAD for 3yr guarantee, $1700 for 5yr guarantee. Will depend on how much is left in the bank.

 

[ARK]

Thanks @DanCoon and @Dkuhnke, I did not know ceramic paint protection was a thing. That sounds like. Great suggestion. In your experience, does the car look any different, perhaps something unusual or off about it with this clear ceramic coating on it?

Would you say it deals well with door dings, or would it look weird at the spot if the vehicle was dinged with this coat on it? I’d also guess if I was ever in a fender bender they could just redo, e.g., the bumper without having to redo the whole car?

 

[Dkuhnke]

Thanks @DanCoon and @Dkuhnke, I did not know ceramic paint protection was a thing. That sounds like. Great suggestion. In your experience, does the car look any different, perhaps something unusual or off about it with this clear ceramic coating on it?

Would you say it deals well with door dings, or would it look weird at the spot if the vehicle was dinged with this coat on it? I’d also guess if I was ever in a fender bender they could just redo, e.g., the bumper without having to redo the whole car?

Here's the link to the company that will work on mine, Oshawa, ON CAN
https://www.amarispremium.ca/ceramicx2
It provides some good information and really glossy pictures of their work (also private planes).

 

[DanCoon]

When I had it done, it looked like the paint was freshly waxed, maybe a bit shinier looking than a wax job. I forgot to mention that it prevents your car from getting mineral spots on it too, which is a big plus for me since my car is parked on the street and gets sprayed by my sprinklers every few days.

I tested this coating myself by taking my car key and digging into the paint with the full weight of my body... and didn't even leave a scratch on it. It's well worth the money. I would imagine if you got into a fender bender then recoating the one panel would be fine. You really can't tell there's anything extra on the car, except for the very glossy shine. This product also beads water better than wax.

I don't think dealers apply this product. Everything I've seen coming from a dealership with their paint projection isn't nearly as good as this stuff. Like Dkuhnke said above, you'll need to find a shop that applies it. In my area there's only one last time I checked.

Here's a link to the product website: https://ceramicpro.com/ceramic-coating-for-cars-ceramic-pro/

Oh and about the dings... I only have a minor quarter sized dent in one of my door panels since this the application, and there was no paint damage. The only thing you notice is light warping around it, which is what you would see anyways if there was no paint protection. I haven't gotten around to pushing it out since I'm expecting the Mach E this Spring.

 

[PeeCee]

From what I was told a long time ago, and is not a trusted source, is that usually paint will thin because of sun and because of the soap you use on your car. I've owned 2 cars my whole life and every time I washed my cars, I made sure to not use soap to wash them (just used water and scrubbed), and I'd make sure to have a waxing done 1-2 times a year on my cars. Both car's colors were perfect after 8 and 10 years of ownership.

So for me, I plan on doing the same thing with the MachE.

You can see my Lancer (before I sold it back in August), 10 years I owned it, never had it repainted, same paint as original when I got it. Never washed it with soap, only times the dealer did, I made sure to have it waxed again right after.

 

[stroszek]

Hand wash only with the two bucket or rinseless wash methods.

 

[Stang68]

Hand wash only with the two bucket or rinseless wash methods.

Agree with this. The less you touch the car the better. I use an electric blower to dry the car.
Do not take your car to an automatic car wash if you care about the paint.

And do not mistake ceramic coating as a shield for your car. It will scratch, dent, and ding like any other car. Ceramic coating really just make the surface less prone to dirt and allows water to bead up much better.

If you want actual protection on the car, then you’ll want something like Xpel, a paint protection film. That will protect from dings and scratches.
I have Xpel on my Stinger with a ceramic coating on top.
When I wash the car I finish it off with Bead Maker for an extra slick shine.

 

[x petro]

You may not need or want to go through the expense of a detailer installed ceramic coating to get a protection that looks and performs just as well. I've been researching the current state of the art paint protection products available over the counter for customer application and all reviews I can find on YouTube tout the Hybrid Solutions Pro line of products from Turtle Wax. These are new ceramic and graphene infused products released in the past year with Flex Wax and Seal N Shine being the best performing. I recently used the Seal N Shine product after prepping the paint using a clay bar and am very impressed with the shine, water beading and longevity showing no degradation after many washes. It is also a very simple product to apply. I plan to clay bar to prep the surface and use one of these products when my MME arrives (1/18 scheduled build week). You can find YouTube reviews of these products and more by searching for Apex Detail or Pan the Organizer videos. Good luck!

 

[ARK]

Agree with this. The less you touch the car the better. I use an electric blower to dry the car.
Do not take your car to an automatic car wash if you care about the paint.

And do not mistake ceramic coating as a shield for your car. It will scratch, dent, and ding like any other car. Ceramic coating really just make the surface less prone to dirt and allows water to bead up much better.

If you want actual protection on the car, then you’ll want something like Xpel, a paint protection film. That will protect from dings and scratches.
I have Xpel on my Stinger with a ceramic coating on top.
When I wash the car I finish it off with Bead Maker for an extra slick shine.
View attachment 11477

Problem with hand wash, @stroszek and @Stang68, is that requires a lot of time and energy to do over the years instead of just going to the car wash, something that I think I will not be very good at keeping up over the long term.

I like the idea of a ceramic coat, or just avoiding ordering certain treatments at the car wash that are particularly corrosive if there is such a thing, because it is essentially effortless.

 

[OttawaGuy]

I have owned 9 cars in my life and never have runned one through a carwash

Always done it manually... Mild car soap, water and sham to remove water beds. Oh and never under direct sunlight.

Twice a year I claybar and wax... Always had perfect paint on my cars

Carwash .. Unless you can't do otherwise should be avoided... The brush ones leave marks and the touchless use soap so chemically powerful that it will damage your paint over time...


I will be doing a ceramic paint protection, but nothing professional, the prices are too high. Will do it on my own!!!!


Btw just washed my truck even if it's below freezing point... Gotta have it looking good

 

[jhalkias]

I tested this coating myself by taking my car key and digging into the paint with the full weight of my body... and didn't even leave a scratch on it. It's well worth the money. I would imagine if you got into a fender bender then recoating the one panel would be fine. You really can't tell there's anything extra on the car, except for the very glossy shine. This product also beads water better than wax.

I don't believe a mere ceramic coating would protect your car from "keying". That seems too good to be true.

I am hand washing, and applying one of the new graphene coatings myself twice a year after clay baring. I don't have the money for a professional job or Xpel after buying this most expensive car I have ever bought.

Read up on the thread that @ChasingCoral pointed out. Lots of discussion there.

 

[stroszek]

Here’s my plan:

Ask dealer not to wash the car, use iron x to get rail dust etc out and wash the car thoroughly, top off with sealant. Apply UV protectant to the interior.

At earliest opportunity, clay bar + polish the paint then ceramic coat the exterior (maybe including glass? Not sure yet).

Rinseless maintenance washes once or twice a month. Maintain ceramic coating with the top off spray they have every six months.

Repeat ceramic coating step when necessary (2-3 years maybe).

Sponsored