History of BP Car Washes

This page takes a look at the history of BP Car Washes in New Zealand from the mid-90's to today. We'll take a look at which machines were installed, what brushes they have and how many of them are still in operation today. BP probabaly has one of the simplest histories of car washes in NZ, opting mostly for Washtec machines over the last 15-20 years.

BP Operates two brands - "BP Connect" is BP's premium brand, run directly by BP and is where most of their Car Washes are found. "BP 2go" is the brand used by franchise-run sites, often smaller and more rural sites. BP 2go sites often have slightly different washes from BP Connect sites.

## Ryko Ultraclean (Early 1990's)

Like pretty much everyone in New Zealand, BP installed 5-brush Ryko machines throughout the 1990's, which includes the Ryko Ultraclean. These machines were fitted with two-tone green brushes, with either a striped or checkered pattern. All of these were fitted with on-board Dryers. These were found at both "Connect" and "2go" locations (though it is unclear if these two brands were a thing at the time of installation). NONE of these machines are left at BP sites.

## Ryko Premier XL (Mid-Late 1990's)

BP switched to the new Ryko Premier XL, which is an updated version of the Ultraclean in the mid-late 90's. These machines used the same brushes as the Ultraclean's also. All of these were fitted with on-board Dryers. These were found at both "Connect" and "2go" locations (though it is unclear if these two brands were a thing at the time of installation). There is now only ONE of these left in operation.

## Ryko Excel (early 2000's???)

Sometime around the early 2000's-ish, one BP 2go site (in Kerikeri), installed a Ryko Excel. This was Ryko's new 3-brush machine designed for the European market. This car wash had a green frame with green & yellow striped brushes. This is the only example of a BP with a Ryko Excel I have found, and the machine has sadly been replace with a secondhand Washtec CK30.

## Istobal M12 (inherited from Mobil)

One BP 2go located in Pahiatua was originally a Mobil that BP purchased. That site originally had an Istobal M12 with Red & Blue swirly brushes. Sometime between 2010 and 2013, BP replaced it with a Ryko Premier XL, re-used from another BP site.

## Washtec CK30 (2000's)

Throughout the 2000's, BP's machine of choice was the Washtec CK30, a traditional 3-brush machine. These has 3-colour green, yellow & purple brushes, which were fairly standard for BP's worldwide during this time. There were two exceptions: One was a machine in Napier, with two-tone Blue brushes, and one in Cromwell with two-tone Green brushes. These were primarily purchased for BP Connect, but were also adopted by several BP 2go sites, some secondhand from Connect sites.

There BP 2go in Clive (Hastings) has the last remaining example of a BP-spec CK30.

## Washtec SoftCare Evo (mid-late 2000's)

The Evo is a modified version of the SoftCare which has the brushes configured the opposite way around from the standard model. These were all fitted with two-tone green striped brushes. Most of these a a bit old now, and therefore they are starting to be replaced. All examples of these were installed at BP "2 go" locations.

## Washtec SoftCare Pro Juno (mid 2000's-2016)

The SoftCare Juno is a somewhat odd machine, in that is has two top-brushes and two dryer's. The Juno was BP's next machine of choice. Some of the older ones were originally installed with the same brush colours as the CK30's and later re-brushed with the new two-tone green striped brushes. A few other units were installed much later, and had the striped brushes from new. All of these were installed at BP Connect sites.

One of these machines, found in Auckland, was installed with the "Chrono" design on the rear. This might have been changed to Silverlight by now as part of BP's Upgrade program (see lower down).

In 2020, BP began retrofitting these with the Silverlight design on the rear (see lower down for more).

## Washtec SoftCare Pro Classic (2008-2015)

The Washtec SoftCare is the most common type of Car wash at BP's in NZ. These machines are everywhere, and have been BP's most popular choice since 2008. These are always installed with two-tone green striped brushes, with the exception of a few units from 2013 which for some odd reason used the old green/yellow/purple brush pattern. These were all purchased for BP Connect Sites, with the Exception of BP 2go in Greymouth.

In 2020, BP began retrofitting these with the Silverlight design on the rear (see lower down for more) - though this is only at BP Connect branded sites.

Possible expirimental brush colours in Auckland installed in 2015, but replaced with usual stripes by 2017.
## Washtec SoftCare**2** Pro Classic (2015-2018)

From 2015 to 2018, BP installed the newer "2" Version of the Washtec Softcare. These new machines feature the new-style rotating dryer, which is what makes these machines different from the original SoftCare's. These were all purchased for BP Connect Sites, with the Exception of BP 2go in Napier.

In 2020, BP began retrofitting these with the Silverlight design on the rear (see lower down for more) - though this is only at BP Connect branded sites.

## Washtec SoftCare**2** Pro Juno (2015-2018)

From 2015 to 2018, BP installed the newer "2" Version of the Washtec Softcare Juno. These new machines feature the new-style rotating dryer, which is what makes these machines different from the original SoftCare's. Only a couple of these have been found, both at BP Connect sites.

In 2020, BP began retrofitting these with the Silverlight design on the rear.

## Washtec EasyWash (Inherited from Caltex)

BP 2go in Kaitaia was purchased from Caltex, who had recently installed this Washtec EasyWash, one of two they installed in the far north. It is a more budget Car Wash compared to the SoftCare. This car wash has two-tone blue striped brushes, typical of Washtec machines built for Caltex.

## Washtec SoftCare**2** Pro Touchless "Classic" (2015-17)

BP installed newer Washtec Softcare**2** Pro Touchless washes at some "2 go" locations. These are not actually "Touchless" as the name might suggest. Instead, they are combination washes capable of Brush, Touchless or Combination wash packages.

This version, the "classic" version, has the basic white frame and the standard lights on the back like a normal SoftCare. Three of these are known, located in Horotiu (north of Hamilton), Gisborne and Cromwell, all of which are "BP 2go" locations.

## Washtec SoftCare**2** Pro Touchless "SilverLight" (2018-Present)

These washes are the same as the one above, but have the premium "Silverlight" design on them, with a grey frame and LED Dot-Matrix instruction displays. They still use the same two-tone green striped brushes. All of these are found at "BP 2go" locations. One installed in Kerikeri is fitted with plain-black brushes instead of the usual green, and the frame is a lighter grey.

Currently, there are only a few of these, found in Papanui (Christchurch), New Plymouth and Palmerston North, as well the one in Keri Keri

## Silverlight Retrofit (2020)

In August 2020, BP began the process of modifying a large number of their existing Washtec SoftCare Pro and SoftCare Juno machines with the Silverlight design on the rear, whilst keeping the rest of the machine original. This process also includes the installation of an LED lightshow, a new wheel-brush and new foam applicator.

This upgrade has only been done at specific "BP Connect" Sites. Many older machines have been left out, as these are simply being replaced. Ones at "BP 2 Go" sites are not included.

## Istobal M'Start (2020)

BP, who have been using Washtec for all new washes for around 20 years now, selected the Istobal M'Start at their new Car Wash for their Pahiatua location, replacing a Ryko Premier XL. This is a "BP 2go" location, rather than a BP Connect, which might explain the unusual wash choice. The machine has a white frame with the traditional BP two-tone green striped brushes.

## Washtec SoftCare**2** Pro Classic (2021)

BP installed a non-combiwash, standard SoftCare**2** Pro softwash in 2021, but this time with a grey frame whilst still using the classic design. The only know example of one of these is at BP 2go Kaikoura, and it was installed in 2021. This being a "BP 2go" location, rather than a BP Connect, might explain the simpler design choice.

## Washtec SoftCare**2** Pro Silverlight (2022-Present)

BP began replacing a number of older machine sat their "Connect" sites in Januray 2022. These new machines are of the non-combiwash, standard SoftCare**2** Pro softwash, but this time with a grey frame and the Silverlight design. These machines do not offer FoamSensation, unlike their Combiwash counterparts. All of these are found at "BP Connect" locations.

## PDQ Laserwash 360 (Inherited from Caltex)

There is one BP 2go in Lower Hutt, Wellington, which has a PDQ Laserwash 360 touch-free car wash. This is because the site was purchased from Caltex in 2017, who has only recently installed the Laserwash. There was no point in replacing a 2-year-old machine, so BP kept it.