Barry45RPM

Do car wash attendants know how to keep the vehicle in Neutral when it is equipped w/ KGo and they drive the vehicle into the tunnel, shut it off and exit the vehicle?

If not, doesn't the vehicle automatically go into Park locking the wheels?

I've read the manual and its confusing to me as well, since there is no mechanical linkage between the shifter and the transmission, but there is a pre-programmed electronic gear selector switch which has been programmed to go into Park.

What do you guys do? (I have never, and do not hand wash any cars.)

greasykid

My new ML manual has a section on what to do to go thru a car wash.

Strafzettel

I got confused too when I read that the start button should be taken out for the car wash. I have been to 2 different car washes so far and everything worked fine with the key sitting in the center console.
I once saw at the car wash an e-class where the car wash guy got out and the car started rolling off but he was quick enough to get back in and put it in P. I don't think that can happen with a 2014 or 2015 ML because as soon as I open the door, the transmission goes into P and when the Hold feature is active, the parking brake activates as well.

Nanook

Yes they know how..

schorert1

Your car washes down there must be in better shape than those in the northeast...I'll be damned if I'd ever put a car through an automated car wash.

hand washing takes all of ten minutes....

Barry45RPM

They are. (Former Long Islander) This is a huge new car market. Many vehicles get washed twice a week to keep the year 'round salt air mist off them. I use those 10 minutes elsewhere.

schorert1

My CPO arrived from Dallas looking very pristine, much better than similar vehicles from the northeast. I polished, waxed and sealed and was surprised to still be able to make out swirls in the finish. Whoever had it must have driven it through a carwash twice a week. In the spring I'll go at it with a more aggressive polish.
White is a good color for this, doesn't show swirls. I love the black car, when it's clean...doubt I'll ever buy another.

Barry45RPM

Black is classy as a tuxedo, but shows absolutely everything.

DUTCH

As the owner of an Obsidian Black Metallic G500 that I take off road, I can only agree with this statement 1000%. Can you say "pin stripes"?

schorert1

Well, a G looks best with sh*t all over it.

rtw_travel

Maybe consider a clay bar first. A clay bar will remove all wax, swirls and embedded dirt from the paint. Then you can start again with a quality wax on clean paint. After I used a clay bar and then waxed my BMW with Zaino, it was so polished and smooth that the towel would slide off the hood.

schorert1

Use of a clay bar is kind of implied when polishing/waxing.
A clay bar does not remove swirls. It is only to remove impurities still stuck to the surface after washing. While it does make for a smoother feeling finish, it doesn't cut the surface to remove swirls, nor does it necessarily remove wax.

Chemical Guys uses a numbering system for their polishes from 32 to 40 and beyond with grits from 1000 to 4500. I used a very light cut, too light I guess, and will go down to a 36, then a 38, then a 40, then glaze/sealant/wax detailer. I made the mistake of thinking my paint was "good" instead of "moderate". (and really the car looked( and looks) very good).
Do NOT start wasting time at the CG youtube channel...it gets very expensive and time consuming very quickly.