Hi there!

What should I do with my Aerial whilst going through a car wash?

I tried to remove it, but it wouldn't come off, just made it move up and down.

Cheers,

jsstevo

What should I do with my Aerial whilst going through a car wash?

Leave it and get your buckets out

Leave it and get your buckets out

And save your paint

Car wash???????

Are you mad?

There isn't a hosepipe ban anymore you know.

A car wash???

Never used one since my white van man days

Unscrew the aerial and push if down so it's flat against the roof and tighten it back up to keep it in that position.

It stops the ch@v pikey's from nicking it!

car wash will destroy the paint....loads here will agree!

And use 2 buckets. One to rinse the sponge/wash mitt out after you have rubbed it over the paint

Hi there!

What should I do with my Aerial whilst going through a car wash?

I tried to remove it, but it wouldn't come off, just made it move up and down.

Cheers,

jsstevo

ATTENTION:

I washed my Octy only once in automatic car wash. I unscrewed antenna and laid it back, as it doesn't come out. When I got out, antenna was broken, holding together only by rubber surrounding. Now I have to change it, but still haven't because I only listen CD and never the radio. To change it, I have to brake the safety ball inside antenna support, so the whip will go out. After that I can screw simple VAG antenna in but it will never be theft free again. Or, I can go to dealer to change whole the assembly.

So, if you go to automatic car wash, lay antenna back and stick it with adhesive tape to the back glass, that's the only way. By the way, other guys are right about destroying the paint.

I leave mine up, no problems to date....paint all seems to be there too.

Dan

Unscrew the antenna, push it in and than pull it out (whilst holding the antennabase to the roof --> danger of denting the roof!). When it doesn't come out the first time, try it again.

It worked with mine, took it out and grinded the anti-theft ring away. So I can always remove the aerial before getting the car washed.

UPDATE!!!

I few Polish guys have set up a hand car wash near my house so they cleaned it for me. 3 guys spending 20 minutes on it for a Fiver! Included washing, waxing, drying, tyre treatment and all seals cleaned.

My brother had his Astra SRI washed at one of those polish places and they scratched the f**k out of it.

Some are good, some are bad. At least car washes are consistently cr@p.

the mistake you guys are making, other than using an auto car wash in the first place, is to leave the aerial in situ- do not unscrew it or loosen it, leave it in upright position, its very flexible and will bend with the brush going over it. Dont worry it wont break, well not in my case anyway, have often used auto washes due to needing to keep car clean so often for my job as a taxi. Never had problem whilst leaving the aerial up on any of the cars that I have had since 2001. Just be brave and leave it up - your more likely to do damage if you unsrew/loosen the aerial.

the mistake you guys are making, other than using an auto car wash in the first place, is to leave the aerial in situ- do not unscrew it or loosen it, leave it in upright position, its very flexible and will bend with the brush going over it. Dont worry it wont break, well not in my case anyway, have often used auto washes due to needing to keep car clean so often for my job as a taxi. Never had problem whilst leaving the aerial up on any of the cars that I have had since 2001. Just be brave and leave it up - your more likely to do damage if you unsrew/loosen the aerial.

Agreed!