Detailing & Automotive Care Use this forum to discuss detailing, cleaning and automotive care to maintain the beauty in your Mercedes-Benz.

Snow????!!!!

Old Nov 26, 2002 | 02:08 PM
  #1  
Sue's Avatar
Sue
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia area
2003 CLK430 cab
Question Snow????!!!!

I pick up my new CLK430 cab tonight (black/oyster) and they are calling for up to 6 inches of snow!
Of course I want to drive it and show it off Thansgiving...
so what should I do to keep this car clean?
Are soft Car Washes OK? When, and if, do you think I need to wax (considering I am entering the winter season)?

I've read so much about black cars and am thouroughly confused.
Thanks
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2002 | 09:15 AM
  #2  
a.brewer's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
I'm not sure there's a good answer. Failing response from the really knowledgable folks here, I'll give you my two cents worth.

I'd drive my car and enjoy it, show it off, do everything a car was made to do SNOW or no!

But, I'd give it the full Dawn/Z5/ZFX/Z2 treatment first; and use that touchless wash ONLY when it was freezing out and I couldn't hand-wash it. And I'd use only the simplest, least aggressive wash they have--so as not to wash off my Zaino--even if I had to run the car through twice to get it clean. And I'd plan on Dawn/claying/Zaino in the spring as soon as the weather broke.

I'm interested to hear what AlBoston has to say...I know he has similar weather to cope with as you.

Benzes are made to drive first; but take care of her!
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2002 | 05:13 PM
  #3  
Sue's Avatar
Sue
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia area
2003 CLK430 cab
Thanks for the response.
I just Emailed a Zaino rep so I hope to get the products soon.

Question: If I use a touchless car wash, do i let them towel dry afterwards?
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2002 | 05:55 PM
  #4  
Kar don's Avatar
MBWorld Fanatic!
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,640
Likes: 11
From: GMT -8 hours
Mercedes-Benz
hmmm i usually bring it to the touchless wash (doing it myself) using very obtuse angles spraying the car, never spray perpendicular to the painted surface. Also I would not towel dry unless u washed it with a mitt. The soap @ the car wash rarely gets the dirt off the car. I focus mainly on the undercarriage and wheel wells. I personally try to avoid these places, my cars never look good during the winter.
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2002 | 10:07 PM
  #5  
a.brewer's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Thank goodness I don't live up north anymore!

I just realized what you are thinking about as "Touchless CarWash" is different than the Laserwash(R) at my Chevron dealer, which is what I had in mind. I was figuring you would just "drive-in" and wash, then "drive-dry" the car and let it go at that.

But the old-fashioned, full-service carwash you have is a whole different kettle of fish: observe, next time you're by there, how those guys with those cheap terry towels rub in circles (swirl the paint), move from wheelwell to rims to glass to paint surface (Ouch!) and generally violate every rule of careful drying technique. I guess you could ask them not to touch the car after it goes through the line...and "drive-dry" it.

And Al's talking about another kind of washing altogether: what I do all the time, the coin-operated wand self-serve kind, with the low pressure spray rinse before and after mitt-washing with Z7--and what I'm assuming it will be way too cold for you to do very often until spring.
Reply
Old Nov 27, 2002 | 10:37 PM
  #6  
Sue's Avatar
Sue
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia area
2003 CLK430 cab
Wink

a.brewer -
You are exactly right...I was referring to the "automatic touchless wash" and cringed at the thought of having 3 guys ascend on my new baby with towels in hand!

If I must bite the bullet, I will go to the self-wash instead.

I'm praying for an early spring!
Reply
Old Nov 28, 2002 | 12:51 AM
  #7  
a.brewer's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
I wash by hand in my garage when I HAVE to...that's an option too.

Good luck!
Reply

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:
You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:56 AM.

story-0
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)

Slideshow: Not every Mercedes design becomes timeless, some feel stuck in the era they came from.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:09:07


VIEW MORE
story-1
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun

Slideshow: Yes, Mercedes built manual cars, and some of them are far more interesting than you'd expect.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-02 12:36:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren

Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 11:19:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

Slideshow: Before curves took over, Mercedes mastered the art of the straight line, and some of those shapes still look right today.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-25 12:05:49


VIEW MORE
story-4
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction

Slideshow: The 190E Evolution II shows how a homologation necessity became a six-figure collector icon.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-22 17:53:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know

Slideshow: Mercedes is turning one of its core nameplates electric, and the details show just how serious this shift is.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:58:06


VIEW MORE
story-6
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know

Slideshow: Faster charging, longer range, and a controversial steer-by-wire system define the latest evolution of Mercedes-Benz EQS.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-15 10:35:34


VIEW MORE
story-7
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve

Slideshow: These overlooked Mercedes-Benz models never got the spotlight, but they quietly delivered more than most remember.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-13 19:35:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping

Slideshow: A well-used 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300D with more than one million miles is now looking for a new owner, and it still appears ready for more.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-10 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used

Slideshow: From bulletproof sedans to surprisingly tough SUVs, these Mercedes models proved that the three-pointed star can go the distance.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-08 09:55:49


VIEW MORE