Pmurray633

Just curious how many of you take your car to the dealer for a car wash?

ScottNJ

Never, always hand wash. The dealer uses the same dirty rags they wash all of the other cars with. The rags pick up dirt from other cars and swirl/scratch the paint. I just got a 5 series bmw and they scratched the hell out of the paint from prepping it.

snakeslayer

Mine told me something about free wash Fridays or something like that when I bought the car, but it's not a hand wash, but an automatic system. No way Jose, those things are murder on paint.

mbuster25

Not me. I'll pass on that Scratch wash.
I even put in my own sign in the car stating "NO CARWASH" in two languages.

MinnBobber

I never have the dealer wash it, even had them skip that
when new. I probably spent 40+ hours detailing my new E
and want it to stay that way.

Pmurray633

I feel like an idiot. It's not free wash Fridays. It's free wash daily if you decided to wait everyday.

K-A

Is this who I think it is? Nice seeing you 'round these parts bud.

ScottNJ

Haha yes it is, I've read a few of your posts on here before, I spend more time on the fest though because its way more active.

El Cid

Usually hand wash, but have let dealer do it a couple of times when it was really dirty. No problems, but not as good as when I do it.

Cyber GS

Never!

Even when it goes in for service I remind my SA not to have it washed and put a sign on the
dash that says DO NOT WASH in big letters..

hyperion667

one of my favorites! LOL!

when ever I'm there and they ask me I say, "oh, no thanx, I have enough swirl marks"

C280 Sport

I usually just do it myself. I keep my W212 in NY and it needs to warm up so until then I just rinse it off with the sprayer. I never use those machine ones but I hear the touchfree ones are not bad. Anyone ever use those? I am very skeptical of them.

greasykid

Touchfree washes can use harmful chemicals & excessive water pressure. When I can't wash it myself I take my E350 to the .25 do it yourself coin wash. So far my best alternative.

TIP When you doityourself make sure you use the 2 bucket method. Do not reuse the same dirty water. Only CLEAN! Also wash with HIGH QUALITY microfiber mitt. No Walmart.

Mbenz260e

Had mine 15 months and mostly hand washed, dealer wash 3 times including delivery. Really don't like doing the dealer wash but my car is white so swirls won't be too bad and can't stand the salt after a while. My wife has a darker color which we do put the machine more often that being said...

Robbie k

The only way I do it is rinse then foam with a foam gun. Then car 2 bucket wash with grit guards 2 high quality mitts one for the top of the car one for the bottom and rinse the car off. Then sheet the water off which I call walking the water off the car basically drying the car with water now this will not work if ur paint is jack up. Then dry with an electric leaf blower not an gas don't want to put the contamination's back on the car. In the winters which I hate here being from Austin. I go to the coin up just to wash the salt and sand off the car never touch the paint until I can do a proper wash. I might be over the top but the time I spent fixing the mess the last owner did I do not want to put that back on to the paint.. I will never buy a used black car again only new

Robbie k

going to have to use that one love it



Even when it goes in for service I remind my SA not to have it washed and put a sign on the
dash that says DO NOT WASH in big letters..[/QUOTE]

blackbullit

[/QUOTE]

I do this every time I bring my E in for service

Big sign on dash and another on windshield "Do Not Wash"

The SA still asks me if I want no wash!!!

Robbie k

Some peolpe will never understand

I do this every time I bring my E in for service

Big sign on dash and another on windshield "Do Not Wash"

The SA still asks me if I want no wash!!![/QUOTE]

Helmar

I've used touch free washes on my 2008 Lexus LS600hL exclusively 2-3 times a month since it was new.

I also have it detailed (they use a clay bar) twice a year.

Still the same deep lustrous shine on the paint with no swirl marks.

I plan on keeping up the same regimine with my 2014 E550 when I get it in September.

HBH

instantfob

Dealer carwash = Jet wash and brushes
I am better off leaving it in the rain.

Nice to see other bimmerfest members here as well.