I was looking at those and wondering if they worked. It's like a real soft squeegee right? And you just wipe the water off and it doesn't leave a film? I might try that. Thanks.

 

Well, some of us do go to the automatic car wash place. The kind that does NOT touch the car at all. My buddy with a new 2005 has been taking his there since new, no problems nor glass etchings, etc. as mentioned in a prior comment.

However, I can relate to a couple of problems as a result of taking my convertible thru there this week. First of all, my '01 has aged enough that the top has shrunk a little and the rubber gasketing around the top and door windows will seep inside during the high powered sprays during the wash. But the biggest problem I have had twice now and may not go back is that same high powered spray........Zapps my front turn signal bulbs. Maybe shutting the motor off during the wash cycles would prevent this as the bulbs would not be on as they are when the ignition is on.

Anyway, Thru somewhat of a struggle, I have found a (short-cut) method of replacing the blown bulbs. Reading the Service Manual has you removing the corner panel, etc. to access the socket which I started to do (without the car on a lift) and it is a real pain in the a**.

What I found was that you can stick your hand into the (brake air tunnel hole) and push the rubber ducting down out of the way. Then with some bad language and maybe a few beers, you can finally manage to "unlatch" the bulb socket and pull it out of the lamp assm. There is enough slack in the wiring harness for you to pull the socket outside the bumper opening and remove and replace the bulb. Now, paying attention to the "orientation" of the ridges on the socket base, (Plus a few more beers), and some luck....you can finally manage to correctly align the bulb/socket back into the lamp assm. and get it to "lock" back in place.[sm=alcoholic.gif]

 

Or don't use the automated washes and you wont have to change the bulb at all.