Tom P.

Ok... I know to some it is a no-no to put a Benz through an auto car wash but if one wanted to, what's the skinny on towing a 4Matic through such a beast using its conveyor system. I am talking about an upscale car wash facility, not your run-of-the-mill auto wash at the local service station.

I think I read in the owner's manual that a 4Matic should not be towed due to potential harm to the transfer case. Does this apply to auto car washes? How about the hood ornament... sturdy enough to survive? What position should the ignition be in when being pulled through the wash?

I have been using a stationary touchless wash facility but the main car wash in town also cleans the inside of the car (windows, mats etc.) for about the same price, which is a nice touch. But it does tow (pull) the car through and it is not touchless (rotating brushes etc.)

omg its nate

I used to have a unlimited stationary touchless wash and then I would dry it will a few towels what did not get dried. Worked well.

Get a flat badge to be safe.

iJimpanzee

Since it's touchless.. I don't see a problem with a flat badge. *shrug*

bdgdl08

I've taken my car through many car washes and the badge will be fine, even if it's not touch-less. As far as the 4matic goes, the no tow rule applies to a tow truck with the front lifted with just the rear wheels spinning. As long as all four wheels are turning at the same speed (like in the car wash you're talking about). Your car should be running, and the shifter should be in neutral. Don't worry about it so much!

MW_ATL

Mine has been through quite a few car washes. Not my favorite way to clean it up, but occasionally I need to clean it up quickly and don't have the time to do it myself (or I just feel lazy). I would believe that you are going to be good with all four wheels on the ground. It is not like it will be towed for miles. Your hood ornament will be just fine, most likely. Had a 190 that went through quite a few with out a problem.

The only thing that I have noticed: I firmly believe, looking at my car and other cars I am familiar with, that the non-touchless car washes are a major contributor to the fogging/hazing of headlights. It is just my observations, but it seems to me that the brushes are rough on the coatings on the headlights and maybe the coating is significantly less resistant to the wear than the paint. However, that takes time to become an issue, and if it does, you can have them refinished reasonably.

tc1728

I never understood this topic. Its just a car wash and its just a car, All my cars have gone through car washes, touchless or not. I get the car a full clay/detail once a year and it always look great afterwards. If you are worried about everything little scratch or swirl mark, you may as well not drive IMO. TC

LILBENZ230

I can't stand to wash my car by hand. I HATE HATE HATE it. The BMW and Benz go through full-touch car washes as their only means of being cleaned on the outside. The standing hood emblem will survive - it can be pushed fully back or sideways and will pop back in place with some manipulation. It'll be just fine.

phister

I enjoy washing my car by hand. I've only gone through a touchless once since I had my car and it was an ok job, it really didnt clean the lower parts of the door and the side skirts. I just prefer to be picky and do my detailing myself. But as the others say, as long as you have all the wheels rotating you should be ok, just put the car into neutral when you go through it.

timmynabenz

just make sure its touchless.

the badge will be fine, 100% and as long as your car is in neutral its fine

Tom P.

Ok... just got back from the car wash. At this particular car wash, you don't stay in the car so that is why I was asking about the key position. Before entering the wash, the attendants remove and wash the floor mats and vacuum the interior. They drive the car to the starting blocks and then it gets pulled through via a conveyor. Everything went fine except for the star hood ornament. When I saw the car exit at the other end of the wash bay, the hood ornament was bent flat down (forward) and at an angle. Yikes! To my relief, the attendant just snapped it back into place. At the end of the wash, they wipe down the interior and do the inside of the windows as well as clean an dry the inside of the door frames. It came out really clean... better than I do it by hand.

That hood ornament makes me nervous, though. In my mind, I can see it getting ripped from the hood by that humongous roller brush than runs over the top surfaces of the car, getting caught in the rotating brush and beating the hell out of the car with it.

Can the hood ornament be easily removed before taking it to the auto car wash to alleviate my fears next time?

Thanks to all that have replied.

dynomite05

You want something done right, you have to do it yourself. I love washing my car. Not only can you clean it to your standards, but you also get to know every detail of your car.

gregoire4

^^^what do you do in February??

dynomite05

Wash it in my garage

LILBENZ230

Hand washing is overrated. Touchless car washes are useless. You have to go through one with things that physically touch the car if it is going to actually be clean. The one I use does a fantastic job.

The hood ornament isn't going anywhere. It is meant to be that flexible. If you are so inclined, you can bend it all the way back by hand before entering the car wash. My car goes through one of those about once a week and has for two years with the standing star that gets bent all out of shape every time but always pops back into place.

MarCedeS

I don’t issues at the carwash…