Grand Rapids Automotive

A testament to their meticulousness, the auto experts at Southland Auto Wash spent a decade developing their signature tire protectant and polish, Tire Blaze. Though they'd tried Armor All or angrily shouting at tires to scare grime away, they envisioned a mechanically applied tire dressing that would function something like hand cream. With the help of Qual Chem, they finally cracked the code. After a treatment, tires look newer, with a glossy, almost wet appearance and a deep-black hue. They also resist rubber breakdown, cracking, and damage from road detritus.

Tire Blaze is only one service at Southland Auto Wash's five locations, but its history reflects the company's devoted attention to detail and insistence on top-shelf car care. These values, along with the wash's extensive water-conservation projects, earned the sudsatorium a nod as Grand Rapids Magazine's Best Car Wash. This should come as no surprise since the family-owned company—now in its third generation of car washers—has been detailing cars on increasingly advanced automated lines since 1950.

The staff at AutoClean scours cars, boats, motorcycles, and RVs with an extensive slate of detailing services. They tend to both interiors and exteriors, shampooing carpets, cleaning vents, shining tires, and hand-waxing to bring paint to a shine. For rides in need of a small sprucing rather than an entire detailing service, they also offer their treatments a la carte.

In 1950, a man named Ernest Ellis started a car wash in Grand Rapids. There were no motorized brushes or automated sprays back then; instead, cars would drive through the building as staffers positioned along the route used steam guns, wash tanks, and hand mitts to wipe away dirt and Dewey for President fliers from automotive exteriors. After a name change, a panoply of new locations, and many upgrades to what was often the most cutting-edge wash technology in the country, today's Southland Auto Wash maintains its high-tech approach to cleaning with automated wash tunnels, in-depth detailing, and luxurious extras including its own signature tire protectant. This passion for meticulous care, along with the wash's extensive water-conservation projects, earned the sudsatorium a nod as Grand Rapids Magazine's Best Car Wash for more than 14 years straight.

From a single shop in Sturgis, Michigan, Auto-Lab has grown into a full-service franchise that cares for cars' every nook and cranny. Each location's ASE-certified technicians keep autos flourishing with regular maintenance check-ups, helping identify and stave off problems before they metastacize. These experts peer into the dark abyss under the hood, employing high-tech diagnostic tools to identify and repair computerized engine issues, and keep tabs on brakes before they seize up and stop you just as you're about to break the sound barrier. In addition, they guarantee all services for 12 months or up to 12,000 miles.

The dual tunnels of Waterworks Car Wash invite sullied autos in for sudsy washes and detailing services, washing away dirt and salt stains with soft foam, then protecting them with wax. A team of technicians picks up where the tunnels leave off, vacuuming away cockpit-clogging dirt and trash. Packages pack roadster restoration into bundles featuring ascending levels of attention, while an à la carte menu helps auto owners extract single spots, condition leather accents, or shampoo seats sullied during their dog’s latest carpool.