wheels777

I take the car to Delta Sonic TouchLess Car Wash where your car is pushed through by the left rear wheel.
The rail that guides the car is on the left side. After a few times through the last two times the left front wheel gets a chip and the left rear wheel gets 2 scratches. (5 spoke wheels) So much for TouchLess. Not only did the car get touched it was damaged. I don't think the equipment is up to date to handle low profile tires.
Put in a claim and waiting to hear. (Anyone else with this issue?)

Next I try Laser Wash where only water and soap are sprayed on by oscillating jets of water and blown somewhat dry.
Come out and the car still has a dirt film on it.
They let me go through again at N/C. Still a dirt film.
(This wash will probably work in Spring , Summer and Fall, Winter NO WAY.

Today I pull my other cars out of my garage and Wash and Wax it myself. Turned out Great.
Not something I will be fond of doing long term though.

Suggestions?

gaazmon

unfortunitly, sometimes if you want things done right, you do it yourself.

on the topic at hand, i always just wash the thing myself. it's only our yukon xl denali that i don't want to do myself.

LawRens

^ This is about it.

There's only so much the touchless car wash will do to get your car clean, and we all know for sure that regular car wash drive throughs will leave your ride nothing short of swirl heaven.

I believe now's a good time to pick up a hobby in washing/detailing cars, if you have time that is. It's very fun if you want it to be, and you learn alot more than you would expect for just washing and maintaining car's paint/exterior.

vselva

Yup, we do it ourselves and it comes out beautiful and scratch-less every time.

jumper4000

I just let the rain do the job. Hassle-free, scratch-free, and FREE! lol.

C300Sport

I always wash at home but when it is just too cold or I am too busy, I take it by a spray it yourself car wash. It's quick, easy and good enough to knock the bugs, poop and leaves off and even some of the "dirt film" and brake dust.
I also use the Turtle Wax wax as you dry when I wash at home. On top of a good wax job, that stuff really helps the paint, glass, rubber and chrome shed dirt and grime pretty easy.

emilner

Aqua car wash in Huntington NY, always an awesome job.....

LawRens

In LA? You really trust that acid rain? :P

wheels777

I have the 5 spoke wheels and they're getting scratched by the wash rail. Not deeply but like 1/2 inch long through the clear coat and 2 inches above the rubber on the tire.

Are the AMG optional wheels painted or aluminum finished?

wheels777

Do you drive your 10 E550 in winter? Can't obviously tell by your nice garage floor.

emilner

I need to take a sig pic of my new S550, the E550 is gone. Yes, it is driven in winter, but the floor takes a beating. In the spring I will strip the wax and reapply. Next year I am going for clear garage floor mats...

RickP330

I'm going to have to check that one out Ed. I usually do it myself - unfortunatly that's only choice, but when I must I go to the "King of Clean" in Bohimea. They do a great job and from what I can tell I always get "clean" towels.

RickP

El Cid

No problems with past cars except when I had a black Saab. Black cars and car washes do not mix. Not only do you have to worry about the brushes or whatever they use, but also the low paid workers that dry them quickly with whatever rag they pick up.
Never had problems with any other colors I had.
Still handwashing my E350, but next winter or when the new wears off, who knows?
Car wash that I used until now uses large "strips" of cloth that drag over the car and move around.
Never had low profile tires, but I can see where they could be a problem with car washes using the conveyor belt system.
The Operator's Manual discusses automatic car washes, but I believe advises against "brushless" ones. A friend's brother in law sells chemicals to car washes and he says the ones used by brushless types in particular use very harsh chemicals. How else will they get the dirt off?

SkinnyVanilla

Car Wash??

+1 on the post above that said if you can't wash it yourself, do the spray-it-yourself type. Not the best wash, but clean enough until you can get your bucket and hose out. And your micro-fiber towels, and your de-ionized water (CR Spotless).