winter/snow/salt.. how often should you wash your car?
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From: Markham, Ontario
2003 C230 Coupe
winter/snow/salt.. how often should you wash your car?
hey guys, i was wondering, during the winter season with all the slush and salt, how often do you guys wash your cars? do you go through machine touchless or the coin washes or at home? .. i bought my car used.. the last owner went through the damn machines and now i got swirles around my entire car.. going to get new paint job in the spring.. -$2000 if im lucky 
unless anyone knows where to get a good paint job with a decent price in markham/toronto area
unless anyone knows where to get a good paint job with a decent price in markham/toronto area
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From: Nuevo México
2005 C230K Sport Sedan, 6 speed manual
I have always heard the recommendation of washing your car once per week. I realize this is not always practical with sub-zero temperatures. The most important part of a car wash in a salt environment is washing the underside of the car. Any car is more likely to rust from the inside and the underside.
I terms of repainting your car, please don't make your decision based on price. Normally, you get what you pay for, and a cheap paint job will often devalue your car. Poor surface preparation, poor quality paint, and poor finishing are often pitfalls of a cheap paint job. You may consider having your car professionally polished first, to see if it can take out the swirl marks. Certainly better than repainting.
I terms of repainting your car, please don't make your decision based on price. Normally, you get what you pay for, and a cheap paint job will often devalue your car. Poor surface preparation, poor quality paint, and poor finishing are often pitfalls of a cheap paint job. You may consider having your car professionally polished first, to see if it can take out the swirl marks. Certainly better than repainting.
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From: San Jose, Bay Area
2002 C230 coupe , NOt THE AVATAR!!
i thought swirl came from just washing w/o waxing the car??
waxing could do the help a lot
as $2000 for new paint job??
it would loook cheap
try using Meguiar NXT was and some Paint renewer wax
waxing could do the help a lot
as $2000 for new paint job??
it would loook cheap
try using Meguiar NXT was and some Paint renewer wax
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From: Northern CA
'02 C230 Sport Coupe
Just use a mild polishing compound and follow up with a good waxing and it should look good again.
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From: Honolulu and Missouri
2002 Mercedes C320 Sport Sedan, Lexus Rx300, Dodge 2500 Cummins
i wash mine every few days. I use a craftsman powerwasher on the widest spray on low pressure. I spray out the underside all the wheel wells etc. I try to wax it every 6 weeks or so.
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From: Long Island, NY
C3Twon AWD Jumpofffff
when i was upstate in Oswego i would just use those coin pressure washes n just spray my car down really good esp under the car, muffler etc. i also went to those touchless ones but those gave me some swirls but atleast those washes do the under body with high pressure. i'm thinking if its too cold now i'm on the island i'll just take it somewhere good.
yea you need to use some FMJ to protect that paint and the swirls you can buff out or get the car detailed.
as far as a new paint job i dk... most decent paint jobs are 5000 and up to look somewhat good for the whole car. just have the car detailed and see how it looks than maybe just paint the hood and front bumper. a good place can match the color pretty good.
yea you need to use some FMJ to protect that paint and the swirls you can buff out or get the car detailed.
as far as a new paint job i dk... most decent paint jobs are 5000 and up to look somewhat good for the whole car. just have the car detailed and see how it looks than maybe just paint the hood and front bumper. a good place can match the color pretty good.
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From: Jakarta
1996 MB E320 & 2010 Nissan Elgrand
You should get the care full detailed next spring and try to find a really good detailing place. I'm pretty sure 80-90% of your swirls will be gone and then save up for the repaint in the future 
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From: Markham, Ontario
2003 C230 Coupe
cools really glad to hear that haha i dont know how good a carbon fibre hood will look on my car.. i still want to keep it sort of classy... if i do, do you think it will look "rice"?
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From: Markham, Ontario
2003 C230 Coupe
nope not yet.. i never have a camera with me during the day for some reason.. i really should.. cf hood i dont know.. if i wanted to get a cf hood where would i go? u got any pics of a c230 or 320 with a cf hood?
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From: Long Island, New York
'05 C230SS 6MT, 1966 Triumph TR4a IRS, Shelby Cobra 427 Supercharged
Just to let you know... Almost every car wash recycles water... So just keep in mind that in the winter you might be washing the road salt off your car with salt water...
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From: Toronto, Ontario
'15 C400, 03' C240, '79 240D
From what I heard those touchless car-wash places use some very harsh soap to clean your car so using them repeatedly might damage your paint <- dunno how true that is - maybe someone can comment.
And along the lines of keeping the rust and salt off your cars, what does anyone think about rustproofing? Should I get it done and is it too late in the season?
Thanks
And along the lines of keeping the rust and salt off your cars, what does anyone think about rustproofing? Should I get it done and is it too late in the season?
Thanks
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From: Jakarta
1996 MB E320 & 2010 Nissan Elgrand
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From: Jakarta
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ive claybarred my car once and that was the end of it
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From: Long Island, NY
C3Twon AWD Jumpofffff
same here... i think i'm just gonna wait untill my car gets really bad and just take it somewhere i mean worst comes to worst i'll just get it detailed in the spring i guess.... i dont see any of those coin operated power washes by me though i know they have em everywhere upstate
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From: Long Island, New York
'05 C230SS 6MT, 1966 Triumph TR4a IRS, Shelby Cobra 427 Supercharged
same here... i think i'm just gonna wait untill my car gets really bad and just take it somewhere i mean worst comes to worst i'll just get it detailed in the spring i guess.... i dont see any of those coin operated power washes by me though i know they have em everywhere upstate
