Devastator187

This is my first time owning a Mercedes-Benz and I was told that it's best to wash the car yourself. My question, is it safe to run it in the machines or better to have it hand washed because of MB's delicate paint?

Thanks!

MBTex

Hand wash only for me. Not really an MB thing as much as a new car thing.

There is debate over whether to let your dealer wash the car as well. For me it isn't a problem because you can see them do it at my dealership and they hand wash everything. Apparently some dealers just take it to the Autowash down the road, big no no for me.

dynomite05

Hand wash for me also. It's kind of a "You want it done right, do it yoursef!" thing.

GPI

I agree! I only hand wash my car and I always request that my car not be washed when I drop it for service.

e1000

Hand wash is always going to be best. You can use better products and make sure whatever you're using is clean and free of any debris that might scratch your paint. The nano-paint used on these cars are meant to resist scratches however.

Hand washing is much easier now I live in a warm climate, but when I lived in Chicago, it just wasn't possible sometimes. I've put my car through automatic car washes a couple times, and I'm sure the dealer does too, but my finish still looks incredibly good.

ohlord

wash it 2 bucket method.Get some menzerna products from our detailing sponsor
www.DetailedImage.com and it will look like a show car
ohlord

benggolf

Yes, only hand wash will do for me.

joebenz

never ever run your car through the machines

oblu

Lease = machine.

If Buy
and Care Bout Car

then handwash

else

machine.

That help?

Derspeed

Me too. You never know what is in the towels at the dealership or any carwash for that matter.

Flame3g

hand wash only only only only. Become one with the car

e1000

I'd like to see you say that after you live in Chicago during the winter

angeloxnet

ya in the winter i have no choice but to wash it by machine cuz its too cold or it will freeze and u gotta do it cuz all that salt

mbrover06

eh, its a c-class, if our s550 goes to a car wash, so does the c350

franka2000

Well i dont own an s550, i want to make sure my c350 still look good after five years.
HAND WASH FOR ME, every week, for now

pgaduane

Have you lived in AZ through a summer yet...? You have to wash your car at 3:00 AM before it gets too flipping HOT.

e1000

yeah I was here last summer. I went from the freezer into the oven. This place is crazy. It's funny because people say they do things "religiously".. well, I hand wash my car every Sunday morning now.

mbrover06

If I kept my cars for 5 years or more, I think I probably would hand wash it every now and then.

Btw, I haven't seen to many silver c350's, yours is gorgeous!

franka2000

people are still afraid to pay that much money for a C-class, not realizing it's the best C-class ever!!

itcrashed

if you can, stick to hand washing.
automatic washes are likely to damage your paint because it's likely some dude went wheelin in their 4x4 and ran it thru the machine before you...there is likely some sort of debris that would scratch your paint. also, depending on the machine, you may end up scratching your rims lining up your car against the guide rails. too many risks if you ask me.

besides, washing your own car feels 20x more rewarding than having someone else do it.

narky

Besides the whole "keeps the paint fresh", "resale value" blah blah all those other valid, great reasons, I just enjoy washing my car.

And I wash it every Sunday morning/early afternoon too. It's like a ritual, and I actually look forward to my time alone with the car. I did the same when I bought a Nissan, which was $10,000 cheaper, and I'll probably do the same when I buy an M5, which is $60,000 more expensive.

You gotta think of it like this: Nobody else cares as much about your car as you do. If you don't care about your car too much (most normal people don't), go to a car wash. Faster and easier. But not as satisfying.

Rick Hunter

Hand wash, 2 bucket method. Will not have it any other way (unless in dire need).

Pissed me right off when I had my C in for the "First Service Visit Inspection" and the bungholes ran the car through their machine wash even after I had told them twice "NO WASH."

mac911

I hand wash, but I keep it down how often I have to wash by using the Meguiars Quick Detailers between washes. Really nice to see the car look clean more than one day.

e1000

It's also a good chance to look through the car. While washing you're up close to each body panel, the tires, suspension, etc.

soapy

I am biased because I own carwashes but why not take them through a touchless car wash. Nothing touches the paint but soap and water. The biggest problem with washing your car at home is that it should be done on the lawn and not the driveway. When you wash on the driveway were the water goes directly into the storm sewer that water runs right to the river or sea. Storm drains do not treat the water. Detergents are especialy hard on fish since it breaks down the protective coating on the fish skin. Only 5 parts per million will kill a fish and 1 ppm will kill the fish eggs. Right now drive way washing is the biggest scource of nonpoint pollution going into our waterways. If you do wash at home please do it on your lawn as the ground will help to neutralize detergent before it gets into the waterways. All the water at a professional carwash is treated at the treatment plant so no harm is done to the environment.