No carwashes. No valets. No parking garages.
That's why they invented the Prius (and car covers).

 

It is sad. Show car to mechanic, get an opinion, but it seems you`ll have to live with it now until clutch will be completely gone.

Clutch labor costs are in area of $1k, plus $560 for clutch kit - well, it`s al just money after all, do not take it too hard. As an advice - search around, there are car wash joints where you can drive in yourself and do it yourself. Or find touch-less car wash where you can drive your car through yourself.

On other part - man, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!?! Didn`t you see WHO works at those car washes? Gosh... I feel sorry for you, I truly do.

 

Search the detailing section or autopia.org for a product called ONR - Optimum No Rinse (or any waterless car wash). It's safer on the paint then normal washing drying and is suppose to save time and water. I have not tried it yet but will eventually, suppose to be awesome.

I had the window blown on my Miata a few months ago by a hand wash in my town, not going to him again.

 

I use Optimum No Rinse. It works great especially with drought here in CA. You just have to take time and use good technique.

 

There was also a CL 65 AMG, and an Audi R8 in there, I don't think they would take my car for a joy ride instead of theirs... I left the car only for about 40 minutes...

 

True... I have never seen a self serve car wash in a good neighborhood...

 

Thanks Danny, I know the place Never got my car washed there but the pizza is amazing! One of the best places in Miami! I didn't know that the owner was there to watch over the employees, that might be a good thing.

Thanks!

 

I left it for about 40 minutes or so... There were other high end luxury cars, I don't think they would especially take my car for a joy ride.

Trust me I don't know how they did it either... I just feel terrible about this. There were a couple of bumps in the car wash, if they didn't know how to drive they could have easily stopped the engine a couple of times and burn out the clutch trying to take it over the bumps...

 

I am going to get my mechanics opinions this week... I am going to the tracks next weekend, so maybe the clutch will be worn out enough to change it afterward...

Well, there aren't many self service car washes in Miami, and they are not so safe as Larry said. I can't take my car to a drive through car was, because I have coilovers on my car.

It was like 91 degrees yesterday, how am I supposed to wash my car in that weather? I would have to shower afterward and etc. It would easily take an hour and a half to do it... It constantly rains here, so your car gets all dirty in no time.

 

This doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
The cars essentially new and after the carwash suddenly the clutch has an issue?

Take it to tthe dealer for a thourough inspection and, if it's not a warrenty item, have them write up the problem and address it with the car wash owner.

Good luck

 

I`ve done my share of living in an apartment so I feel your pain. Still, car washes, no matter how fancy they look outside do employ lowest grade workforce. Trust those, as you quite correctly explained, bums - with $100K worth automobile is quite risky.

My opinion is - find a spot to wash you car yourself, it is nasty but, well, safer than to trust it to someone. As of chances to get robbed in Miami - it is legit fear, but, well, I bet you`ll find a solution.

I used to wash my car at apartment parking lot, in a shady corner just with a bucket of water. Worked for me. Or just let rain to work it out.

 

Sin911, as a fellow porsche owner, I feel for you... and as a car wash owner, I am puzzled. A car will be moved only once or twice during its time at a car wash (sometimes not at all depending on the type of car wash). So I'm confused on how this much damage could be done when only being moved a short distance in a parking lot. Not to mention that driving hundreds of cars of all types is part of a typical day at a wash. We had designated "movers" that we trusted to drive any and all cars on the property. Its very possible your car was moved/driven by a bad employee, but even if so, to burn through half a clutch while moving the car once or twice in a parkng lot is quite strange.

Were you onsite during the wash process? Or did you drop off the car and pick it up several hours later? This is key.

As with any other business, there are good car washes and bad ones. As a car enthusiast, I've designed, built and set-up my washes from that stand point.

 

I was told ones by sales manager at Porsche that he can burn down new clutch in 10 seconds - you just rev car to red line and very slowly depress it until it touches and keep it there.

As car had to be driven over speed bumps it is quite possible that that was exactly what happened - they got it stalled then revved heck out of it and rode on clutch. Why not?

 

A couple months ago I took my car to another Car Wash, to a car wash that I know. There is a guy who drives the car, "mover" as you called it. One of the guys who actually washes the car took it instead of the mover, the mover was busy with another customer. There was a tiny little ramp, and the idiot washer couldn't take the car up the ramp. He stopped the car twice!

I was inside the mall shopping, but I only took about 40 minutes...

Like you said there are good car washes and bad ones. At least what they can do is get a decent mover for god's sake...

 

Just like utkinpol said, apparently driving over the bumps are hard for low IQ monkeys...

I will take the car to the dealer first thing Monday morning. But what would writing up the problem do any good to me? Is the owner going to pay for the clutch, of course not. He will probably say the clutch was worn out before, and I am putting the blame on them... How can I prove this?