Looking for good, "safe" brushless car wash in Bay area

e-FTW · Nov 14, 2015

First off, yes I know, I should hand wash this car. But, this is CA, water is at a premium. I rent a condo, and the ravenous HOA would spot me filling up two (2!) buckets of water from the common water tap in the garage and probably call in the SWAT unit. They have the lady that does the (yearly) landscaping out front come in with with her own two gallons of water...
I absolutely agree we need to save all the water we can. Let's just hope we get like five straight years of rain... So if I were hand washing, I would go rinse-less or some other very efficient method. But, sometimes, you just do not have the time, and need a quick wash in a pinch.

My thought was to find a good automated, touch-less car wash. Anywhere on the peninsula works. Farther can work too, as well. Who doesn't need a good reason to drive this car?

I have scoured Yelp reviews, and well, it varies greatly. Some scared me off because of damaged wheels by steel rails. Others complained that the wash was not great.
These forums provide some good tips on what to do with the car itself, like handling the retracting door handles. But no specific addresses.

Which of the robotic soulless washing enclosures would you trust your Tesla to?

Khatsalano · Nov 14, 2015

You can get the best of both worlds. Hand-wash without hassle by a pro. He does a lot of Teslas and you can tell him some random due named K on the forums sent you haha:

Luxury Detail - 102 Photos - Car Wash - San Carlos, CA - Reviews - Yelp

Just email Starsky for an appointment; pretty easy to get a spot any time.

- K

thimel · Nov 14, 2015

Eco Green Auto Clean in Redwood City does a good job. They hand wash using less than one cup of water.

e-FTW · Nov 15, 2015

OMG, you let people touch your car? ;-)
Thanks for the tips, will look them up.

I would like to have an automated one on my list as a backup, and when time is of the essence.

Gizmotoy · Nov 16, 2015

It's tough. Most of the automated washes uses brushes and rags. I had trouble finding more than a handful.

I've used the Chevron on Shoreline/Middlefield in Mountain View every other week or so for the past 2 years. It's not going to be winning any beauty awards, but it's touchless, has NO wheel guides, and is not expensive (I think I pay $8). If you fold your mirrors you can get to the code box without getting out of the car, but it only takes cash. I pay with credit inside before pulling up. There's parking at the exit for touching up the drying. For caked-on debris you'll need something else, but if it's usual Bay Area dust + maybe the (very) occasional dirty rainwater it works great.

Google Maps

Joseph Torbati · Nov 17, 2015

HI Hope this helps!

This is how my customers are doing under water restriction as well as my self.

e-FTW · Nov 17, 2015

Gizmotoy said:
It's tough. Most of the automated washes uses brushes and rags. I had trouble finding more than a handful.

I've used the Chevron on Shoreline/Middlefield in Mountain View every other week or so for the past 2 years. It's not going to be winning any beauty awards, but it's touchless, has NO wheel guides, and is not expensive (I think I pay $8). If you fold your mirrors you can get to the code box without getting out of the car, but it only takes cash. I pay with credit inside before pulling up. There's parking at the exit for touching up the drying. For caked-on debris you'll need something else, but if it's usual Bay Area dust + maybe the (very) occasional dirty rainwater it works great.

Google Maps

And that is feet from the Supercharger. Neat! Thanks!

- - - Updated - - -

Joseph Torbati said:
HI Hope this helps!

This is how my customers are doing under water restriction as well as my self.

Good stuff Joseph!

Khatsalano · Nov 21, 2015

thimel said:
Eco Green Auto Clean in Redwood City does a good job. They hand wash using less than one cup of water.

Do they require appointments? Any issues with swirls or other questionable practices like employees wearing exposed belt buckles or garments with metal buttons/zippers?

gg_got_a_tesla · Nov 21, 2015

Khatsalano said:
Do they require appointments? Any issues with swirls or other questionable practices like employees wearing exposed belt buckles or garments with metal buttons/zippers?

No to all of those. I've been using their services for over two years and love them. Tesla Menlo Park (when they were around) and the Ferrari dealership nearby all use their services. These guys do the onsite car washes at Googleplex.

I bought a bulk package - some 12 washes and a wax job for the price of 10 or some such - and they also have VIP membership with unlimited washes and priority service for $55 a month, I think.

BG121 · Nov 21, 2015

Gizmotoy said:
It's tough. Most of the automated washes uses brushes and rags. I had trouble finding more than a handful.

I've used the Chevron on Shoreline/Middlefield in Mountain View every other week or so for the past 2 years. It's not going to be winning any beauty awards, but it's touchless, has NO wheel guides, and is not expensive (I think I pay $8). If you fold your mirrors you can get to the code box without getting out of the car, but it only takes cash. I pay with credit inside before pulling up. There's parking at the exit for touching up the drying. For caked-on debris you'll need something else, but if it's usual Bay Area dust + maybe the (very) occasional dirty rainwater it works great.

Google Maps

Theres another chevron with the same car wash in Menlo Park on Willow just south of the Bayfront expressway

e-FTW · Nov 22, 2015

BG121 said:
Theres another chevron with the same car wash in Menlo Park on Willow just south of the Bayfront expressway

Good tip, thanks!

Khatsalano · Nov 22, 2015

gg_got_a_tesla said:
No to all of those. I've been using their services for over two years and love them. Tesla Menlo Park (when they were around) and the Ferrari dealership nearby all use their services. These guys do the onsite car washes at Googleplex.

I bought a bulk package - some 12 washes and a wax job for the price of 10 or some such - and they also have VIP membership with unlimited washes and priority service for $55 a month, I think.

GG, ok, you've convinced me. I'll give the Eco Green Auto Clean a try the next car wash or wax cycle. Redwood City is close enough it's not really a drive.

- K

FlatSix911 · Nov 22, 2015

Good information - thanks.

chunk_split · Jul 14, 2021

FWIW, the car wash in Menlo Park is no longer brushless (according to a review on Google Maps).

vincelio · Jan 3, 2022

Anyone know of any brushless car washes in the East Bay? This is a particularly difficult google search, and Yelp seems worthless when trying to force search the words "touchless" or "brushless".

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Looking for good, "safe" brushless car wash in Bay area

e-FTW

New electron smell

Khatsalano

Member

thimel

Member

e-FTW

New electron smell

Gizmotoy

Active Member

Joseph Torbati

Former Vendor

e-FTW

New electron smell

Khatsalano

Member

gg_got_a_tesla

Model S: VIN 65513, Model 3: VIN 1913

BG121

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e-FTW

New electron smell

Khatsalano

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FlatSix911

Porsche 918 Hybrid

chunk_split

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vincelio

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