News (2022)

A new year brings a new page for Latest news! All news for the year 2022 will be here. If you have any news you want to contribute, leave a comment in the section at the bottom of the page!

## New page for 2023

As always, we're moving to a new news page for 2023:

Click here to see!

## BP adds wash to Waipapa

BP has added a Car Wash to their site in Waipapa, as part of the process of changing it from BP 2go to BP Connect, The new wash features both a self-service bay and an automatic machine from Washtec. The new machine is a typical BP Grey SoftCare 2pro. From the streetview it looks as thought it might have silver panels behind the brushes, indicating a 2pro Combiwash, though this would be out of character for a BP Connect, who tpyical use the standard 2pro. The streetview, despite modern quality, simply is not close enough or in the right light to be absolutely sure.

(26/12/2022)

## Tracer for Tauranga

Thanks to a friend of mine, it has been confirmed that the Laserwash M5 at Mobil Chapel St Tauranga has been upgraded with a brand new Istobal Tracer Touchless System. This is the second Tracer to be installed by Mobil. The new wash has all the standard features of the Tracer, including Infinite Mousse.

(9/12/2022)

## Secondhand Laserwash for TJ's

TJ's Car Wash in Manuwera, Auckland has upgraded its touchless wash, replacing the old Washworld High-Velocity with a secondhand PDQ Laserwash 360 classic. The upgrade sees the replacement of the last remaining High Velocity in NZ (out of only 3 that operated here), making the type now extinct in New Zealand. The centre also operates a brush-wash, which was upgraded back in 2016 with an Istobal M'Nex 28, which remains in service.

(25/11/2022)

## M'Nex 22 for Mobil Sunset

Mobil Sunset in Rotorua is one of the latest sites to retire it's old Ryko UltraClean in favour of a new Istobal M'Nex 22. This latest upgrade alarmingly leaves us with just 3 Ultraclean's left in operation (Mobil Manuwera, Mobil Bulls and Mobil Taradale). The Sunset machine was one that did not have its original two-tone blue brushes, instead operating with Red & Blue brushes, re-cycled from a Premier XL. The new M'Nex 22 is a typical Mobil machine, with dark-blue brushes.

A partial video of the new machine has been posted to YouTube by Australia-based Jonathan's Car Wash Adventures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2ez4TulHu0

(13/11/2022)

## Johnsonville Upgrade Complete!

The wash replacement at BP Connect Johnsonville (which I reported on awhile ago) is now completed. The original 2010 SoftCare has now been replaced with a brand new Washtec SoftCare2 Pro with a grey Silverlight frame, two-tone green brushes and light show. Interestingly, the wash bay has received a new new home for the wash pumps, controller, etc. at the front of the wash bay, replacing the old one on the side.

(12/11/2022)

## Black WashTec for BP KeriKeri

BP Kerikeri has received a brand new WashTec SoftCare2 Pro Combiwash, which is fitted with plain black brushes. This is unusual, as BPs normally use striped green brushes. The new wash features a dark-grey frame with the Silverlight design on the rear. The site is a BP 2go site, hence it is fitted with a Combiwash. The wash replaces an old CK30, which itself was a secondhand install to replace a Ryko Excel.

(27/10/2022)

## New Wash Centre for Kaitaia

The small far-north town of Kaitaia has received a brand new car wash centre, in the form of Star Wash Kaitaia. This new centre is an Istobal Wash Facility, featuring an Istobal M'Start automatic wash with Red & Blue brushes. The new centre opened today (27/10/2022), and will be providing competition with the BP 2go up the road (formerly Caltex), which until now was the only automatic car wash in Kaitaia - a WashTec EasyWash, installed by previous-operator Caltex.

(27/10/2022)

## Z Glen Innes upgrade now on Streetview!

Another of the 8 Istobal M'Nex 32 upgrades announced by Z Energy last year has appeared on Streetview! This one is Z Glen Innes, in Auckland. The new M'Nex 32 replaces a classic WashTec SoftCare Pro.

(9/10/2022)

## Mobil introduces Istobal Tracer at Highland Park!

Since the mid-2000s, Mobil has used PDQ as it's supplier for Touchless washes (with the exception of one Mark VII system in 2013). But this may well have now changed, with Mobil Highland Park (East Auckland) receiving a brand new Istobal Tracer system, replacing their old Laserwash M5. The move might not be a major suprise, as Mobil has used Istobal to supply their brush washes since 2015 (using the M'Nex 22). It will be interesting going forward to see if Mobil continues to use the Tracer for future Touchless installations.

(9/10/2022)

## Secondhand Wash for BP Connect Paraparaumu

This particular BP seems to often find itself dumped with secondhand washes. The previous wash, was a secondhand 1st-generation SoftCare Pro (replacing a CK30). Now the same has happened again, with the site receiving a Secondhand SoftCare Pro, but retrofitted with the UltraClean package. You can tell this machine isn't new, as it is white instead of grey and has the old-style dryer. However it is still newer than the machine that was here before it. Sadly, this means the the extremely rare Green, yellow & Purple brushes are now gone in favour of the standard Green Stripes.

(3/10/2022)

## Mobil Paraparaumu Complete

Mobil has completed the refurbishments to their Paraparaumu site, marking the end of Wellington's last Ryko Premier XL. The brand new car wash - an Istobal M'Nex 22 - is now fully operational.

(3/10/2022)

## Remutaka site now officially Z

Z has now completed the process of changing the former Caltex Remutaka into a Z Energy station. Z Energy currently holds ownership of the Caltex brand in New Zealand, but the sites themselves are usually franchise owned & operated. However when the owner of the Remutaka site decided to exit, Z took full control of the site and ran it themselves, which is why Z made the decision of install the new Istobal Tracer Car Wash in July 2021. Following on from this, Z decided to fully transition the site to a Z-branded station in 2022.

(2/10/2022)

## Waitomo Petone wash now open!

Waitomo's latest Car Wash, located in Petone, is now open! The new wash is Waitomo's thrid, and is a brand new PDQ Laserwash 360plus, the same type of wash operated their other two sites.

(2/10/2022)

## BP Johnsonville Next!

The next BP Connect to recieve an upgrade to a new Grey Washtec SoftCare2 Pro is BP Johnsonville in Wellington, for which work is currently underway. The site first operated a CK30, before upgrading to a SoftCare Pro in 2010, making it the oldest BP Wash in Wellington before it's new replacement.

(1/10/2022)

## BP Ashburton Upgraded

Another BP Connect has received a brand new Grey Washtec SoftCare2 Pro, as seen with other recent BP Connect Installations. This time, the site in question is Ashburton. The site is actually a former BP 2go, and hence originally had a Washtec SoftCare Evo. The site changed over to a BP Connect around 2017-18, hence the new wash is to BP Connect specifications. Photo: WashtecSoftCareJunoGuy

(1/10/2022)

## New NPD opens in Sydenham - Brougham Street

NPD have opened their latest full-service petrol station at Brougham Street in Sydenham, Christchurch, with a brand new Car Wash. It should be of no surprise that the wash is a basic Istobal M'Nex 22 soft-wash with plain dark-blue brushes, as has been installed at all NPD's that operate a car wash.

(1/9/2022)

## BP Porirua Upgrade complete

To follow on from the post below, the Car Wash upgrade at BP Porirua is now complete and the brand new Grey Washtec SoftCare2 Pro Silverlight has entered service.

(27/8/2022)

## Upgrade Underway at BP Porirua

Work has begun to replace the 2011 Washtec SoftCare Pro at BP Porirua. The old machine is still in the process of being removed, with the new wash yet to be delivered. The new wash is a typical Grey Washtec SoftCare2 Pro, as seen with other recent BP Installations. The outgoing wash was installed in 2011 to replace a Washtec CK30.

(13/8/2022)

## Another new BP Wash - Rolleston

Another new Washtec SoftCare2 Pro Silverlight has been installed at BP Rolleston, Canterbury. This replaces a classic SoftCare Pro from the around 2011-2012, which itself replaced a CK30. This new wash is identical to the one installed at Rosedale (see below) in Auckland recently. This news comes courtesy of a contact of mine based in Christchurch, Washtec SoftCare Juno Guy.

(30/7/2022)

## SoftCare2 Pro for BP Rosedale

A Washtec SoftCare2 Pro Silverlight has been installed at BP Rosedale, Auckland - this replaces a SoftCare Pro from circa 2011-12. This is a softwash-only (not a combiwash) with a grey frame, silverlight design and Green striped brushes, just like the one installed in Wellington in January. The machine features BP's "Ultra" wash design, with super foam, wheel wash and lights show, however it does not feature a foam curtain (FoamSensation/FoamTastic), and does not offer a high-pressure wash.

(29/7/2022)

## Caltex Grey Lynn Demolished

We can now confirm that Caltex Grey Lynn has closed & been demolished. Thankfully, the machine has survived, being re-used at the nearby Caltex western Springs to replace their old Laserwash 4000! It was installed first at Grey Lynn in 2012 as a replacement for a Ryko Monarch II Touchless, and is the only SoftCare Pro in Caltex's fleet to use Red & Green brushes.

(27/7/2022)

## 2021: Caltex Sandringham becomes Z

Here's a piece of news we missed last year - Z Energy has taken over the Sandringham Petrol Station from Caltex in Auckland. They have retained they existing wash, which is a Washtec SoftCare2 Pro Combiwash from around circa. 2016, with blue striped brushes. This site originally operated a Laserwash 4000 before the Washtec was installed.

(27/7/2022)

## EasyWash for Constellation

Caltex has replaced the wash at it's Constellation Drive location, with a brand new WashTec Easywash (Black brushes?) replacing a Washtec CK30 with blue striped brushes. The original wash here was a Mark VII Merchandiser touchless, and the CK30 as secondhand.

(26/7/2022)

## Z Royal Oak M'Nex 32 Upgrade now on Streetview

With some new Streetview from 2022 starting to slowly pop-up, we can see one of the 8 Istobal M'Nex 32s that Z Energy recently installed at some of their locations, one of these being Z Royal Oak, Auckland. This machine is identical to the one installed in Lower Hutt in December 2021. This replaced a Washtec SoftCare Evo.

(21/7/2022)

## Re-Cycled Washtec for Western Springs

Caltex has replaced it's last Laserwash 4000! The Western Springs site was the last Caltex to operate one of these, but alas it has now gone. A Washtec SoftCare has been installed to replace it. Unfortunately, the position and style of the wash bay makes it very hard to see exactly what model has been installed. Thankfully, a friend of mine visited the site and his photos confirm that this machine is re-cycled from the nearby Grey Lynn location that was recently demolished. The unique Red & Green brushes make this obvious.

(21/7/2022, Updated 9/8/2022)

## New wash Facility for Glen Eden

A brand new Istobal Wash facility is being built at Caltex Glen Eden, Auckland. I'm yet to find out exactly what it will be called, but as it lacks any form of Caltex branding, I'm assuming this is going to be a privately run wash centre, and not a Caltex-run wash. The new wash facility has an Istobal M'Start with Orange, Blue & black brushes.

This replaces Caltex's own wash at the site, which was a secondhand Washworld High velocity touchless, installed to replace a PDQ Laserwash 4000 a few years prior.

(21/7/2022)

## M'Nex 22 for Mobil Paraparaumu - Goodbye Wellington's last Premier XL

Wellington's LAST Ryko Premier XL is gone! As expected, the renovation of the site at Mobil Paraparaumu means an upgrade for the wash, which is currently being replaced with a brand new Istobal M'Nex 22 with dark blue brushes, as has been used at many Mobil locations nationwide. The upgrade also includes a full renovation of the wash bay with the outside painted white.

[18/7/2022]

## Laserwash 360plus for Waitomo Petone

Waitomo will soon be opening their newest Car Wash at their recently opened site in Petone, Wellington. As with their other car washes, the new wash is a PDQ Laserwash 360plus, with LaserGlow LED lighting. The wash has just been installed, but the wash bay is still being completed, with the windows still to be installed and signage applied. This is a fantastic location to open a new car wash, with the only competitor being the Mobil, which has an awful machine anyway (Ryko Emotion 3). this newest wash will bring competition to the area, as well the regions first Touchless wash and will be of benefit to the nearby Communities of the Seaview area, who have no local washes of their own, and rely on washes in Lower Hutt.

[16/7/2022]

## Caltex Rimutaka to become Z

I can now confirm that in the coming weeks, Caltex Rimutaka in Upper Hutt will be transitioning to a Z Energy station. Z Energy currently holds ownership of the Caltex brand in New Zealand, but the sites themselves are usually franchise owned & operated. However when the owner of the Rimutaka site decided to exit, Z took full control of the site and ran it themselves, which is why Z made the decision of install the new Istobal Tracer Car Wash in July 2021.

We look forward to seeing the revamped and renovated station in coming months!

(25/6/2022)

## Wash Zone opens in Pukekohe with Istobal M'Start

A new Istobal Wash facility opened in Pukekohe back in December 2021, with myself just having recently discovered it on Google. The site, called "Wash Zone" features an Istobal M'Start with a blue & white frame and Yellow & Purple striped brushes (a colour combo I really like). The brand new facility is located right accross the road from Z, making wonder if the construction of this was a factor in deciding to select Pukekohe to recieve of of their 8 new new Istobal M'Nex 32?

(6/6/2022)

## Z Albany M'Nex 32 Upgrade now on Streetview

With some new Streetview from 2022 starting to slowly pop-up, we can see one of the 8 Istobal M'Nex 32s that Z Energy recently installed at some of their locations, one of these being Z Albany, Auckland. This machine is identical to the one installed in Lower Hutt in December 2021. This replaced a Washtec SoftCare Pro.

(6/6/2022)

## Splash'n'Dash opens site at Challenge Halswell with new Laserwash

Splash'n'Dash has opened a new miniature site at the Challenge Halswell Petrol station, with a brand new PDQ Laserwash 360plus, just like the one they recently installed another of their sites. Although located at a Petrol station, the wash is to be operated by Splash'n'Dash and carry their branding, not Challenge.

No photos available yet.

[30/5//2022]

## The Wash Club opens with new Washtec SoftLine2

New Zealand's fourth conveyor system, called "The Wash Club", has opened in the Hamilton town of Te Rapa. The system is first conveyor wash in NZ to use European-made equipment, featuring a Washtec Softline2 system. The wash has black brushes, grey drying-brushes and FoamTastic.

The other three tunnel washes in NZ all use American equipment, with Auckland's Rub-a-Dub Valet wash using Belenger Equipment, and Tunnel Wash's two Christchurch sites both using Motor City wash Works Equipment.

(15/5/2022)

## Splash'n'Dash adds Auto wash to other site with Laserwash 360plus

We recently talked about the recent renovation of the Washtec SoftCare Evo at the Site Splash'N'Dash took over from Canterbury Car & Dog wash, but what many people don't know is that they have operated another location within Christchurch for many years now, but this site has never had an automatic wash. This is now changing, however, as this over site, located at the corner of Blenheim Road and Clarence Street is receiving a brand new PDQ Laserwash 360plus Touchless System. This new wash comes equipped with LaserGlow, OverGlow and Swing-Air Dryers.

[20/4/2022, updated 14/5/2022]

## Re-Brush for Splash'n'Dash

Splash'n'Dash Car Wash operates a Washtec SoftCare Evo at the site they took-over from Canterbury car & Dog Wash. The machine is a Mobil-spec machine, suggesting it came secondhand from one of Mobil's locations (possibly a site that closed down?). The machine has therefore had plain blue brushes from new. However, recently the old brushes have been replaced with second-hand Orange & Dark Blue brushes from one of Z-Energy's machines. After extensive cropping and zooming of the photo sent to me by a friend of mine, you can make out the colours on the replacement brushes.

Update (1/4/2022) - Splash'n'Dash have added new photos on their Facebook page of the re-brushed machine.

(29/3/2022)

## New Conveyor system opening in Hamilton

New Zealand's fourth conveyor system, called "The Wash Club", will open soon the the Hamilton town of Te Rapa. The system will be the first conveyor wash in NZ to use European-made equipment, featuring a Washtec Softline2 system. We're not yet sure what colour the brushes will be, but Green is a very prominent colour in the company's branding, so that is a possible option. The opening of another conveyor wash is always exciting news for a country with so few. We can only hope that they continue to become popular and more open over the coming years!

The other three tunnel washes in NZ all use American equipment, with Auckland's Rub-a-Dub Valet wash using Belenger Equipment, and Tunnel Wash's two Christchurch sites both using Motor City wash Works Equipment.

(23/3/2022)

## Last Ryko Excel Replaced???

Mobil Wairoa has been home to the last remaining Ryko Excel in New Zealand, however a post on the Facebook page of the petrol station in question suggests that the machine was actually replaced back in August of 2021. We cannot confirm what this new machine is, but I note that fairly high prices ($25 for the top-wash) are in place, perhaps suggesting this may be some kind of Combiwash instead of the kids of SoftWash or Touchless washes Mobil usually buy. Unless a photo is produced in the meantime, the only way we'll know for sure is the next time Google does a streetview update.

The loss of the last Excel is of course sad news, leaving only the small handful of Ryko Emotion 3's (Newer Version of the Excel) that were installed by Mobil from 2013-15.

(19/3/2022)

## M'Start for Richmond

An Istobal Wash Facility has been under construction in the Nelson town of Richmond for nearly two years. We're unsure why the site has had so many delays, but it appears works has recently resumed, with equipment finally being installed. The automatic wash is an Istobal M'Start with Red & Blue brushes, with a very interesting brush pattern. I look forward to hearing more developments and hopefully the site will soon be open!

(7/3/2022)

## Another wash for Wellington!

I wouldn't expect a Caltex to replace a 2012 Laserwash 360, but that is exactly what is happening at Caltex Upper Hutt. The machine was installed in 2012 to replace a Ryko Monarch II. The new wash is another PDQ Laserwash, this time a brand new 360plus. The new machine, aside from being an updated version of the old one also features the LaserGlow coloured lighting system as well as Swing-Air Synchronized Motion Dryers.

(7/3/2022)

## Glow worm Cave headed for Welly!

Waitomo are currently building a brand new site on the edge of Petone, Lower Hutt, which appears to also be getting a Car Wash. Waitomo are known for using the name "Glow Worm Cave" on their car washes, a nod to the infamous Glow Worm caves locate din the town of Waitomo on the North Island. The introduction of a wash here will see Waitomo re-introduce competition to the Car Wash market in Petone, where currently only Mobil has a wash (and not a very good one either), since Shell (now Z) closed theirs down in the mid-late 2000s. Waitomo have thus far only ever used the PDQ Laserwash 360plus at their washes, having first installed the type in 2020 with the opening of their first ever car wash. We can't say for sure that this site will have one, but it is highly likely.

(5/3/2022)

## Washworld announces new system - Razor Double Barrel

US-based car wash manufacturer Washworld, best known for their "Razor" touchless system have announced a new version of the popular system called the "Razor double Barrel". The system combines two wash-arms into the single L-shaped wash arm, creating, one high pressure and one low pressure, to intensely maximize the wash cars recieve. The Double Barrel is an option for the existing razor product, and could potentially be a retrofit option. A small handful of Razor's operate in NZ at private car wash centres, and it is possible that this model could one day make its way here.

(2/3/2022)

## Another CK30 loss unconfirmed...

According to a source online, the Washtec CK30 car wash system at Caltex Constellation Drive has recently been replaced with a brand new Washtec EasyWash. At this stage, there are no photos, but we are hoping Google will take new streetview this year allowing us to confirm this.

(13/2/2022)

## Next batch of new Z Energy Car Washes confirmed, plus one relocation:

As we revealed last year, Z energy purchase 8 Istobal M'Nex 32 machines, of which the first two were completed in December at Z Palm beach (Tauranga) and Z Vic Corner (Lower Hutt, Wellington). Thanks to my source at Z energy, I am now able to confirm the remaining 6 locations that are set to recieve the new M'Nex 32 machines. The locations are:

* Z Glen Innes | Auckland | Replacing Washtec SoftCare Pro
* Z Pukete | Te Rapa, Hamilton | replacing Washtec SoftCare Pro
* Z Valley | Kaikourai, Dunedin | replacing Washtec SoftCare Pro
* Z Royal Oak | Auckland | replacing Washtec SoftCare Evo
* Z Pukekohe | Auckland | replacing Washtec SoftCare Evo
* Z Albany | Auckland | replacing Washtec SoftCare Pro

The new washes are expected to be installed by the end of March, with some having already started.

In addition to these new machines, the Evo currently at Z Royal Oak, which is only 4.5 years old, will be relocated to Z Stratford, replacing a 15-year-old Evo. Stratford is a fairly small town with only one car wash that doesn't see too much over use, which is probabaly why they've decided against using a brand new machine there.

(2/2/2022).

## New Washtec for BP Kaikoura

New streetview shows that the old Washtec CK30 at BP Kaikoura, on the South Island (and the only automated car wash in the town) has been replaced with a Washtec SoftCare2 Pro.

Unlike other new BP machines, this one does not feature the "silverlight" design, and instead features the classic design, but still uses a grey frame like many new BP washes, which is why i suspect this to still be a new machine, rather than secondhand, but perhaps given this is not one of BP's premium sites, a more basic wash was selected. If the news of the recent replacement of the BP Kerikeri machine is true, it will mean that just 3 CK30s remain in Service in New Zealand - BP Clive, BP Kaikoura and two Caltex's in Auckland.

(27/1/2022)

## Kerikeri Upgraded?

A source on photo-sharing website Flickr says that the Washtec CK30 at BP Kerikeri has been replaced with a Washtec SoftCare 2pro of some kind (possibly Combiwash?). The source of this info is apparantly Washtec's NZ Distributor, Car Kleen NZ who installs the machines for BP. If this is the case, then it will mean that with the recent replacement of the BP Kaikoura machine, just 3 CK30s remain in service in New Zealand - BP Clive, BP Kaikoura and two Caltex's in Auckland.

(27/1/2022)

## New Washtec for BP Roadmaster

Wellington's only SoftCare Juno is no-more following a snap replacement of the system at BP Roadmaster, Central Wellington, this week. BP have selected a Standard Washtec SoftCare2 Pro softwash, but unlike previous examples this one has the chassis in grey with the silverlight rear design. The machine features BP's "Ultra" wash design, with super foam, wheel wash and lights show, however it does not feature a foam curtain (FoamSensation/FoamTastic), and does not offer a high-pressure wash. This is a surprise, given the majority of recent BP installs have been for the Combiwash models, but I suspect the high-volume of vehicles that use the Roadmaster wash may mean that the longer-length wash cycle on a Combiwash may have been inappropriate for this site, thus a softwash-only model was installed. The machine features standard BP two-tone green brushes.

The Juno that this replaced was installed in 2012, as a replacement for an even older Juno machine. Despite being only from 2012 and having also received the Ultra Wash retrofit in September 2020, the Juno was unreliable for an extended period with frequent breakdowns, likely being the reason for this sudden upgrade.

(15/1/2022)