An automatic vehicle wash system (10) that includes a first, front overhead bridge (32) and a second, back overhead bridge (34) that combine to carry out a wash process on the vehicle. The first overhead bridge (32) is operable to perform a first wash cycle on the entire vehicle. The second overhead bridge is independently operable to perform a second wash cycle on the entire vehicle, where the first wash cycle is different from the second wash cycle. The first overhead bridge includes a side cleaning device (36) that performs a friction wash step on the vehicle during the first wash process. The second overhead bridge includes a top brush (64) that and a pair of high pressure spray manifolds. The movement of the first and second overhead bridges along the length of the vehicle are coordinated by a central controller (90) such that the first wash cycle and the second wash cycle can be completed simultaneously.