Car Wash?
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Super Member
Joined: Jul 2017
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2012 E550 Cabriolet 2011 VW Eos 1985 Pininfarina Spider
Car Wash?
Has anyone taken their cab through a touchless car wash and had any damage to the top? I recently purchased an E550 cab and hate all the crap that gets on it in the winter. Normally I would hand wash, but that gets difficult in the winter.
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From: SWFL
2023 BMW M340i, 2025 MB CLE53 AMG
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Nolensville,TN. USA
E 450 4matic cab MY22
I have run my cab through the touchless car wash probably three or four times in the course of a year. I see no evidence of damage and in fact the top looks much better than when I hand wash it. I think it is much better to have a touchless car wash than to leave all the "crap" that gets on a car during the winter. Street salt and sand, air pollution, dirty snow etc... I would not over do it but during the winter, sounds like a good idea to me.
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Joined: Feb 2018
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e400 cabriolet
I've done it several times without issue. Living in Massachusetts, it is a necessity sometimes, especially to get under carriage (winter s**t, road salt). Sorry, but I cannot accept any car, even a luxury car is so delicate, it cannot survive occasionally going through a touchless car wash.
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GLS450, AMG C43 Cabriolet
I use whatever brushless car wash there is (they're all brushless now). Been doing it a couple of times a month for 3 years at least.
My dealer runs them through a local car wash after service so I don't worry too much about it.
My dealer runs them through a local car wash after service so I don't worry too much about it.
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From: Greater Cleveland area
2019 Dune Silver Metallic E-450 Mercedes Cabriolet NEW Mercedes 2020 GLC300 graphite gray SUV
The important thing to remember is to defeat the auto trunk option with the foot. If you don't, the undercarriage sprays could falsely open your trunk as it's being washed. 
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Joined: Mar 2026
Posts: 28
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From: Michigan, U.S.A.
2018 C 300 Cabriolet
Jumping in here even though ours is a a205 C 300 Cabriolet. 
I read conflicting info, but do recognize the overall is to avoid. We will occassionally drive between our home and cottage in the summer. Being in Michigan, it will get hit by bugs. Unavoidable.
We have 1 good touch-less car wash near each home. Normally I go through it with our other vehicles upon arrival to clean off the travel related mess - dirt, dust, bugs, etc.. I had originally planned to do the same with this, but otherwise hand wash it. This would result in going through a touch-less car wash a few times a season April - Oct. Curious, has anyone ever had a problem doing this? I know the recommendation not to so as to help insurance seals, prevent leaks, etc… However, with limited use of a touch-LESS car wash, has anyone ever had an issue in rela life? Likewise, has anyone done this long term without issue (4-8 times max per year)?
Thanks everyone!
I read conflicting info, but do recognize the overall is to avoid. We will occassionally drive between our home and cottage in the summer. Being in Michigan, it will get hit by bugs. Unavoidable. We have 1 good touch-less car wash near each home. Normally I go through it with our other vehicles upon arrival to clean off the travel related mess - dirt, dust, bugs, etc.. I had originally planned to do the same with this, but otherwise hand wash it. This would result in going through a touch-less car wash a few times a season April - Oct. Curious, has anyone ever had a problem doing this? I know the recommendation not to so as to help insurance seals, prevent leaks, etc… However, with limited use of a touch-LESS car wash, has anyone ever had an issue in rela life? Likewise, has anyone done this long term without issue (4-8 times max per year)?
Thanks everyone!
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2013 c63 Magnuson SCed
Car wash owner here, I wouldn't. Touchless washes require high pressure and harsher/less diluted chemicals. I wouldn't trust the owner or the equipment to be perfect everytime, and even if perfection was attainable, the risk is too high.
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Joined: Jul 2008
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2015 E400
I've been taking my 2015 E400 Cab to the local car wash since I bought it in late 2018. During the winter months, I would go at least once a week, then less as the weather became warmer. However, I didn't really drive it much. Shortly after the pandemic, the local car wash was bought by a PE-backed owner and started pushing subscriptions and jacked up the individual prices quite a bit. I figured out that with a subscription giving me unlimited washes, I was actually saving money, almost 50%.
My subscription gives me:
My subscription gives me:
- Interior Vacuum
- Windows Cleaned
- Air Purge Dash, Console & Cupholders
- Wheel Cleaner
- Rain Repel
- Tire Shine
- Undercarriage Flush
- Clearcoat Protectant
- Foam Polish
- Spot-Free Rinse
- Soft Cloth & Foam Wash
