[Agent4834]

Personally, I hate the Automatic Car washes. They never seem to get the car clean, and i have seen some damage on paint from the dirty brushes. The brushes will have everything form the previous cars still on the surface on them. After see a Salty / Muddy truck with Mud up to it windows go though them, then putting my work VW bug though after, seeing all the scratches and swirls that it left i will never put my personal car in one.

The touchless ones al a little batter, but because the pressures nozzles can never change its angel of attack its always going to be dirty.

Its is crazy how good of results you can get at home with a hose, a bucket or two, some good car shampoo and a little time.

There are a lot of options out there to act as good sealant. The Turtle Wax "HYBRID SOLUTIONS PRO" Stuff is just amazing and not that expensive. Should be available world wide.

 

[Agent4834]

+1 for the two bucket method. Pretty simple and much nicer on paint.
OP might also research "clay barring" if they aren't familiar. Sometimes after washing you still have residue left on it and running a clay bar over the top (usually with soap as a lubricant) it can pick up a lot more.

I would only claybar if you are wiling to polish after, mostly on darker color paint. Using a simple All Purpose Cleaner, like Simple Green or Purple Power. Make sure it is safe for automotive paint. Dilute it down 4 parts water to 1 part cleaner. Let it sit for a min or two, then wash like normal will work really well for getting a lot of crud off without having to scrape it out with a claybar, or claymit.