Yes, you can take a Range Rover through a car wash, but you must take specific precautions to avoid costly damage. The safest choice is always a touchless (or "brushless") automatic car wash. These facilities use high-pressure water and detergents instead of physical brushes, which eliminates the risk of scratching the paint or damaging exterior components. Before entering any automatic wash, you must manually disable features that can be harmed by the machinery.
First, switch the vehicle's air suspension to its lowest or "access" height setting if available. This prevents the system from automatically trying to raise the car if it misinterprets the car wash rollers as an obstacle. Always manually fold in the side mirrors using the button on the door panel. Finally, turn off the automatic windshield wipers and rain-sensing features to prevent them from activating unnecessarily. While modern Range Rovers have a high water resistance rating (typically up to 900mm wading depth), this is for slow, steady water pressure, not the high-intensity jets of a car wash which can force water past seals over time.
For a comparison of car wash types suitable for a Range Rover, see the table below.
| Car Wash Type | Risk Level | Key Considerations for Range Rover |
|---|
| Touchless Automatic | Low | Safest option; no contact with brushes. Still, disable wipers/suspension. |
| Hand Wash | Very Low | The ideal method. Allows for careful cleaning of complex body lines. |
| Soft-Cloth Automatic | Medium | Softer materials but still risk scratching glossy black trim and paint. |
| Tunnel Wash with Brushes | High | Avoid; stiff brushes can swirl paint and potentially damage roof antennas. |
| DIY Pressure Wash | Low | Gives you full control. Use a wide-angle tip and maintain a safe distance. |
The most recommended method is a professional hand wash. This ensures the luxury finish, large alloy wheels, and intricate details are cleaned properly without risk. Regularly going through abrasive automatic washes will lead to micro-scratches (swirl marks) that diminish the vehicle's appearance and value.
