Car Wash Question

[SwampNut]

Depending on how many Rivians they see, you may also need to show them how to use the card to make it move. There are pictures on the keycard, but not everyone interprets them the same way.

I have a printed copy of the relevant manual page for any service at a non-Rivian location.

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[KBabione]

I have a printed copy of the relevant manual page for any service at a non-Rivian location.

That's a great idea - We have a fob and usually remember to grab it when we're going on a trip where I need to (gulp) turn my ride over to someone else like a parking garage attendant in NYC. A printed copy of the keycard instructions will now be in my car today in case I forget the fob.

 

[ebellinder2]

Avoid the car wash all together...those things are HELL on the finish and Rivian isn't known for the best paint in the industry.

Fully agree, I only use the auto touchless bays where you stay in the vehicle too many really expensive glued parts on a Rivian that can be damaged by brushes , and I would never trust a car wash attendant to operate my vehicle

 

[SwampNut]

I keep a card and the instructions at the bottom of the center console. I'm ultra forgetful about details like grabbing a fob or card.

 

[SwampNut]

Fully agree, I only use the auto touchless bays where you stay in the vehicle too many really expensive glued parts on a Rivian that can be damaged by brushes , and I would never trust a car wash attendant to operate my vehicle

Name one expensive glued part that can be damaged by brushes.

 

[KBabione]

Fully agree, I only use the auto touchless bays where you stay in the vehicle too many really expensive glued parts on a Rivian that can be damaged by brushes , and I would never trust a car wash attendant to operate my vehicle

I've been taking our R1S through a high-end ($25/wash if you don't have the monthly) soft-touch car wash at least once a week since we bought in August 2023 and haven't had any problems. One time I thought they had scratched the top of the black trim on the rear lift gate but they went back through the photos (they do a complete 360 video of your car entering AND exiting). He was able to show me that the scratches weren't there on two previous washes and that they were already there when I pulled in the time I noticed them as I wiped Rosey off with a soft cloth. It was a "gift" from a garage in NYC...

 

[SwampNut]

I've been taking our R1S through a high-end ($25/wash if you don't have the monthly) soft-touch car wash at least once a week since we bought in August 2023 and haven't had any problems. One time I thought they had scratched the top of the black trim on the rear lift gate but they went back through the photos (they do a complete 360 video of your car entering AND exiting). He was able to show me that the scratches weren't there on two previous washes and that they were already there when I pulled in the time I noticed them as I wiped Rosey off with a soft cloth. It was a "gift" from a garage in NYC...

Most of my neighbors and nearby friends have the monthly pass for the local drive-through wash, and take Teslas, Rivians, and many other vehicles through it. Some with PPF, some without, some with vinyl business wraps, and with logos, and some with old paint. Clearly, we should have all sorts of damage, according to the fear-mongering here.

 

[Rade]

Avoid the car wash all together...those things are HELL on the finish and Rivian isn't known for the best paint in the industry.

Ah-yup! I use a local "touch-less" car wash that uses water jets to clean everything, and that works just fine to get the normal road dirt off. I pull in, the sprayers move around the truck. Nothing physically slapping the vehicle. And then I use a clean cloth to dry it off once back in the driveway.

 

[SwampNut]

Ah-yup! I use a local "touch-less" car wash that uses water jets to clean everything, and that works just fine to get the normal road dirt off. I pull in, the sprayers move around the truck. Nothing physically slapping the vehicle. And then I use a clean cloth to dry it off once back in the driveway.

Ironically, I've had a touchless wash blow the logo right off one car because of the ultra-high pressure getting under it, and damage the clear on a wheel on another car. I won't use one any more.

 

[KBabione]

Ah-yup! I use a local "touch-less" car wash that uses water jets to clean everything, and that works just fine to get the normal road dirt off. I pull in, the sprayers move around the truck. Nothing physically slapping the vehicle. And then I use a clean cloth to dry it off once back in the driveway.

As @SwampNut mentioned, you need to be careful with touchless washes (or using your own power washer). The Rivian Manual explains:

Some commercial touchless units exceed the 1,100 psi max.

 

[norivian]

Been taking my S to auto carwash (at least once sometimes more per week) since I bought more than a year ago now.

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