How often do you wash your car in the winter?
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From: St. Paul, MN
2011 E550 4Matic
How often do you wash your car in the winter?
So as it starts getting colder here in MN, i started thinking about winter car care. My past 2 cars were POS Toyota hand me downs from my parents that i don't think i cleaned once during winter. But now with the C....Ill want to do more to maintain it. MN uses a ton of sand and salt on the winter roads, how bad is this for the bodywork? Should i get a car wash every month? more often? less? Any other winter tips?
Thanks!
Thanks!
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From: Long Island, New York
2013 C300 Sport Black Darth V3.0
I try to do once a week year round with a fresh coat of wax once a month weather permitting but winters here on LI are a lot less severe than in MN.
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From: Bochum / GERMANY
2006 S203 C280 T
Well, "taking a bath more often than I do" sounds like you take a shower every 2 weeks? 
Because washing the car more often (in a car wash) will ruin your paint quite fast. The preferred method is to wash it by hand (2-bucket method with grid-guard), but that takes some more time and you need the equipment.
So, washing it in the winter every 2 weeks should be OK, depending on the weather conditions.
Because washing the car more often (in a car wash) will ruin your paint quite fast. The preferred method is to wash it by hand (2-bucket method with grid-guard), but that takes some more time and you need the equipment.
So, washing it in the winter every 2 weeks should be OK, depending on the weather conditions.
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From: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
2012 C300 4Matic Sport, AMG package
Back to 6 years ago, just one week after I got my brand new Lexus ES330, I went to a softcloth car wash（yes automatic). The next day my friend told me to check it out under the sunlight, then I saw tons of fine lines and circles on the paint. It's the biggest mistake I've ever made. I always use touchfree car wash after that.
Last edited by imbane; Oct 27, 2011 at 12:46 PM.
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From: Long Island, New York
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Automatic car washes will scratch the finish and cause swirlies, they should be avoided. And my local AD has unlimited free car washes. I have never used it as it is a machine wash I even stress to the SA not to wash my car when I bring it in for service.
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From: St. Paul, MN
2011 E550 4Matic
Can anyone comment then on the quality of Holiday's 'touchless' wash? They are the only place near me that has a unlimited pass that ive found so far. The place that sells the 9 pack for $100 is all hand wash but given how messy it gets here, id prob want to go more then 9 times through the winter....
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From: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
2012 C300 4Matic Sport, AMG package
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GLK 250
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From: Gulf Coast but not Florida
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The automatic undercarriage washes are lacking.
Get a pair of plastic ramps at Pep Boys or wherever and spray the underside with the low pressure self wash hose. I do it once a month year round. Make sure you do the inside of the wheels to they collect a lot of crap and this is specifically mentioned in my OMs!
Get a pair of plastic ramps at Pep Boys or wherever and spray the underside with the low pressure self wash hose. I do it once a month year round. Make sure you do the inside of the wheels to they collect a lot of crap and this is specifically mentioned in my OMs!
Last edited by grane; Oct 27, 2011 at 02:48 PM.
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From: St. Paul, MN
2011 E550 4Matic
Thats what im particularly worried about. I dont mind the body being a bit dirty, it will get messy every day in a MN winter, but the salt and sand getting under the car worries me....on a 90s toyota...who gives a F, but on a Merc......
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w204 C300
I just go to a self serve (hot water so it doesnt freeze) and use the spray gun. I hose the whole car down and pay attention to the undercarriage more then ususual. If it gets abnormally warm out I go outside bunddled up and use the hose from the heated garage and do it quick.
