Stierlin Auto Wash

I almost never wash my car anymore. Part laziness; and partly because my car is no longer new; and finally because I’m just not one of those people who has «sparkling, shiny car» at the top of their list. (It’s #47).
But sometimes even my low standards are breached; like when my car begins to look as if it has been abandoned by the side of a dusty road for the last three years (while also sitting under a tree with a dozen large birds suffering from dysentery.) It’s that condition (which I’ll call a «Look»), combined with the fact that I have an event coming up (where people will actually see or be in my car) that makes me feel the need to take action.
Enter Stierlin Auto Wash. All DIY. I don’t go here to get my car the cleanest it’s ever been; I do go here to get my car from about a «2» to a «9» on the clean scale. The best part? A mere $ 3 for 4.5 minutes. Fast; cheap; practical
The procedure:
– Step 1: Close the windows and pop up the windshield wipers;
– Step 2: Enter $ 3 cash and select «foam brush»;
– Step 3: Quickly foam-​brush the S#!& out of my car for about 1 – 2 minutes
– Step 4: Switch to high power rinse until time runs out (about 2.5 minutes); starting at the roof and hood and working down and back
In the end, I’ve spent only a few bucks and I haven’t used a ridiculous amount of water. I’ve also only used up a mere 5 minutes of my time. As for my car — it’s not pristine, but it looks great and is no longer embarrassing.
Is it possible to get my car cleaner than this? Absolutely. Add’l funds can be added for more wash time with more wash features; and vacuums outside the wash bays allow you to clean the inside as well. But in my experience, that last 10% of clean takes at least twice as long as the first 90%. Sort of like designing software (except software is never done).
Tips and Tricks:
– Bring dollar bills or quarters if you want the cheapest/​quickest option.
– Credit cards accepted, but is a minimum of $ 5 (about 8 minutes — still a good deal)
– Keep add’l bills handy in case extra time is needed; money can’t be added after the timer completes. Once that happens, you’ll need to pony up another $ 3 minimum to start up again.

I’m a regular at this self-​car wash location in Mountain View and haven’t had a complaint until today, when a white hair man who seemed to be collecting money from the coins and credit card machines started rushing me out of my car wash lane when I wasn’t done yet. I knew more cars were waiting in line, but every time I finish rinsing the car off, before I get to drying using the air drying system I usually use a towel first to quickly wipe down the surfaces, and then I swap the credit card again for a 7:30 minutes of air dryer.
Here’s an advice for you so you and your associates don’t keep making the same mistakes: learn some basic education about customer service and elementary courtesy, always approach customers with an smile and say hello first before you run your mouth, if your concern is to have people drying their cars in the vacuum area then you should ask them politely if they have already finished washing the cars instead of assuming such with authority. Give them the benefit of the doubt.
As I told you in person, the whole idea of your business model is to keep me happy so I can keep coming and referring your little location to friends, but most importantly, to keep me swiping the credit card or putting cash into the machines while I’m there so your business somehow stay profitable before the state of California runs out of water. Comprende?

I’ve been to many DIY car wash places but this one tops 5 stars. Reasons, as previous reviewers stated:
— Coin change machine is great. Bonus point that this is the only place where the change machine takes $ 20 notes also, which is great if you don’t have smaller change with you
— Brush is super soft and there is plenty of soap coming out of it
— Controls are easy to understand, timer is large enough to see from the other side of the car and it beeps at 1 min to warn you for top-​up.
— Water pressure is great
— Hoses are very long, no problems with scratching the side of the car with the short hoses
— Optional air dry is useful sometimes, even though i like to wipe my car with a microfiber towel instead
— Plenty of bays, not busy even on weekends
I will only come to this place from now on! I hope it stays in business for a long time!

Self car wash. Exactly what I was looking for. I have a brand new car and am afraid to go to automated washes. Hand washes and detailers are too expensive. Just wanted to do it myself.
Bring your own towel to dry your car afterwards. I even parked in the shade and waxed my car. Sandals are helpful too.
1. Takes credit card or cash or coins
2. $ 5 bucks gets you 7.5 minutes?
3. Timer shows you how much time you have left
4. Many soap/​wax/​rinse options to toggle through
5. Soft foam brush is also available (spray it down before using)
6. I went in the afternoon on a weekday, and only one other person was there. I didn’t check but I think there might be about 4 wash stations? I didn’t have to wait. No one waited for me.
7. If you squeeze the spray handle you get an additional blast of pressure power. Pretty sweet.
No complaints! I rushed to finish the whole job and it only cost me 5 bucks :)

This place is currently my favourite place to wash my car. Everything works fine, water has good pressure, foam works as well as the dryer. Time runs fast so be ready to have cash in your pocket in case you need more time otherwise the minimum is $ 3. Waiting time is none or just a few minutes.
Accepts coins, bills and credit card. It even has a machine to exchange bills for quarter coins.

giving self-​wash a try… own mistake of putting a $ 20 in the change machine…$ 20 worth of quarters!.. each bay full and cars lined up… taking a gamble and picking a line. timer starts the moment you start putting money in… high pressure soap is pretty much what will wash the car… the foam brush is so soft that it doesn’t really do anything, but put bubbles on the car… pretty much have to be very efficient and fast… start #2, #3 to soften up the grime with bubbles, #2 again, #4 to rinse and #7 to dry…$ 5 is cutting it really close… doing the job without splashing a little water on yourself or getting some foam on you is probably not going to happen… probably will never attempt a self-​wash again… rather just wash the car slow and easy at home…

On the coin wash scale vs every other place from san jose to fremont– ⁵⁄₅. As good as a wash at Lozanos? No. But a lot cheaper.
Compared to the other Mt View coin wash? A LOT better. Tons of foam from the brush. That’s what matters most doesn’t it?
They upgraded in early 2014 or so… takes credit cards also.
Definitely a place that put more into how well things work than ambiance.

For a self service car wash, this place had great water pressure. The brush is a lil soft so getting off tough bird droppings isn’t going to happen. With any self car wash you have to hustle, so you may miss a spot, but over all I was pleased.

I love this place, so reliable and cheap compared to other self washes, the quality and quantity is there. I mainly use # 2,3, and 4 b/​c that’s all you really need. Then finish off with the dryer if you got extra time.

I love this car wash place!!! I always come here on weekend and it is not very crowded. one best thing about here is that they take credit card!!! this is soo awesome, finally i dont have to worry about not having cash. and 5 dollars gives you 7 mins, which is more than enought really! thumbs up!!!

I’ve been to the rainbow car wash twice. After I went here, I will never be back to rainbow. 2 pros:
1. Use quaters than tokens. You don’t have to spend all you get.
2. The place is not as crowded as rainbow.

Been here a few times, no issues before but got robbed by the machine in Bay 2 tonight. The timer worked but nothing else did.
No phone number posted and the number listed is out of service.
Just my luck!

Came here a few times before to wash and it’s more or less the same as any other wash. However, this visit I tried vacuuming here for the first time and. it sucks, not literally unfortunately:/

Good exercise and better than paying $ 13.99 (cheapest nowadays with coupon)
$ 3 cash (or $ 5 credit card) for 4.5 minutes.
$ 1 for additional minute.
Much easier if you have two people working on it together.
Like the other reviewer said, skip #1 (pre wash)
#2 high pressure soap
#3 foam brush
#4 rinse
#3 spits out a lot of soap, so personally I would concentrate on #2 and #4.
If all stalls are taken, just wait a bit and one will free up, as mostly people don’t spend more than 5 – 10 minutes in the stall

AKA Stierlin Auto Wash. I paid $ 5 for 7 minutes of car washing. A little bit a labor and a second person helping press the buttons on the machine resulted in a cheap and quick car wash. I dried my car driving on the 101 or 85 freeway minutes away from the car wash.
The machine with buttons chooses what comes out of the nozzle such as water and its pressure. There are no worries getting the hose tangled. Plenty of room. Also, the machine activates the brush with car wash soap coming out. Be ready to scrub quickly.
Credit cards are accepted. I suggest paying cash. I also suggest wearing comfortable clothes, shorts, and shoes that are water resistant.
Vacuums are available. Quick waxing is available. There is a vending machine to buy scented items for the interiors.

Want to wash your car at Stierlin’s for cheap? Seeing how $ 3 gets you four and a half minutes of time with the machine, you’ve got to haul your butt like you’re on Double Dare and a Casio Keyboard is on the line.
It is possible to get your car all sparkly clean, but it’s best to be fast on your feet (or tag-​team with a friend), lest you want your ride all covered in soap with no water to wash it off. Those less adept are better off paying $ 5 for a car wash at the Shell station two blocks away.

I am from the east coast where this style car wash is the norm. Call me old fashioned, but I like cleaning my own car, and I like not paying $ 20 for someone else to do my job. This place was exactly what i was looking for. Loved it and will be back again soon.

Cost me $ 10 in tokens to get my SUV thru a quick vacuum, rinse, brush, rinse and «wax.»
Token dispenser doesn’t take the newly redesigned $ 5 bill (new $ 10 works).
At least the place is clean with no broken equipment or excessive signage. Vacuum is $ 1.50 but only lasts a few minutes.
Would be nice to see them offer credit card service like other coin op car washes, but I’m happy to have a clean car.

I just need to share a funny story about my one and only experience here. Place was empty on a Wed afternoon. Out of the 5 stalls, 2 were out of order. I finished washing my car and started to towel dry my car.
An older lady pulls up in her PT cruiser right behind my car — waiting for me. I go to her and say you don’t have to wait for me, there are other stalls free. She says two stalls are broken and the other two may not work, she wants my working stall, and then asks me to pull forward. I say I’m not done drying and and there are two empty stalls she could use. She sticks to her guns saying she wants my stall. I tell her, well I’m not moving until I’m done. She grunts and then calls me rude and selfish. Okaaay, like how am I rude and selfish when I take time to point out she could be washing her car right now instead of waiting for me? So when I’m done, I go to the vacuum area, she pulls up, and the whole time she’s giving me the stink eye.
Ahh…the people you meet at self-​service car washes…
O yea about the business: feels a little deserted (a «for sale» sign is visible), otherwise it’s very spacious, and close to the highway. There are 5 stalls, though 2 were out of order when I was there. You get $ 3 in tokens for a 4 minute cycle, but it took me two cycles working fast. There are spaces for 4 cars to vacuum at a time, $ 1.50 in quarters for 4 minutes.

My truck has never looked better and i have this car wash to thank for that.
i grab my spare change jar and sort all the quarters out before i go.
i spend $ 3 for the washing stage then another $ 3 for the rinse.
I usually bring a friend so they can operate the gun while i use my hand mitt or scrub brush on the wheels.
Not a once have i used the vacuums because i just take it back to my place for that.
This car wash is nice and i am glad it recycles the water.
Close to the freeway so you go fast to blow dry the vehicle!
:)