hey guys, i went to a local carwash lately that i've never been to, and just thought i'd try it out because i was in a rush anyways. After the wash i noticed that my alloy wheels looked really, 'streaky' and cloudy the next day, as if paint came off? i also had some blue 'd1 spec' lightweight lug nuts on my car which again i noticed they now look 'baby blue' and patchy. any idea why this happened or how i can fix it? the guys at the car wash wouldn't admit it was their fault!

I've had some wheel-cleaning stuff that can make paint look cloudy if you leave it to dry on the paint, although it tells you not to do this in the instructions! Was it a machine or a hand-wash?

Also, they don't need to 'admit it' for it to actually be their fault, but you proving it is another thing. Of all the cleaning chemicals you use on your car regularly and all the things they come into contact with on everyday roads, you may have a difficult job with that

Do be aware that if the car wash has a sign stating that they are not responsible for anything whatsoever that goes on in their facility that this is just bullshit.

If you have motoring-legal cover as an addition to your insurance policy you could start there. I imagine all you're looking for is the cost of a wheel-respray and some new nuts so they may just pay out rather than employ a solicitor to contest the issue.

If not, try Citizen's Advice.

Good luck either way, there's nothing worse than someone else damaging your car, especially when you're actually paying them to make it look better.

Aye strong tfr or acid based wheel cleaners can do this. One of the perils of using these dodgy £5 hand wash places.

if you left car wash without point on your allloys then you have no chance at all.

if you come to them next day, all they can say is : you drive away from us with everything ok and you didnt complain.

yea, it was starting to get dark when i got the car washed so didn't really notice. I've never seemed to have this problem before at other car washes before. i never thought anything used at those car washes could be that strong!

It's all about quick cleaning so often you find these places use strong tfrs on the body (which can easily stain plastics and chrome) and acidic based wheel cleaners.

Strong tfr will strip also strip wax, so its probably only best used if you are planning on a new layer of wax.

Whilst strong wheel cleaners may be fine on most cars, some delicate finishes can suffer from staining or worse.

Invest in some safe citrus pre-wash or even snow foam/lance, wash with a quality shampoo/mitt and use something like diluted Valet Pro Bilberry on your wheels. You can then control what goes on your car and how well you treat it.

More often than not it is better to leave it unwashed than pay for cheap hand wash.

ohh that would be payback wouldn't it?

This doesn't surprise me. That's what you get for paying someone else wash your car.

im a car valeter and wash cars day in day out. ive had wheels go streaky before especially on vxr wheels e.t.c (i work for vauxhall) i get over this prob by waxing the wheels after with normal polish. it normally gets all the streaks off. as for your nuts. i think u may need new ones.

if u left without pointing n e thing out then u will be hard pushed to ge tthem 2 admit 2 it im affraid