Car wash
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2011
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glk 350
Car wash
Hi, everyone, picked up the GLK two weeks ago, really love the car. Want to take it to the car wash, but the manual says don't use touchless car wash. I don't want to go to those car wash places with guiding rails (in fear of scratch the 20' wheel) as well. Wonder how you guys choose the car wash? Thanks a bunch,
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'13 GLK350 4matic,'10 C207,'15 GLA250,'07 Honda Odyssey, '18 GLE 43, '24 EQS 580
Hand wash your car and wash it properly! If you don't know how to properly handwash a car better start looking at detailing forums and follow the steps. I always find people to be lazy when they tend to bring their cars on a auto wash. Have a bonding session with your GLK that way you will appreciate it more and you will see if you have things like dings, chips, scratches that yo have to deal with quickly. If you don't have the time to do it just think of it as a good way to get a exercise.
Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 96
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From: Vancouver, BC
2010 GLK350 4matic and my favorite Vintage 1982 PK Ripper Looptail
I totally agree, wash your own car. I pay special attention to my mags, I love it when they are nice, clean & shinny. Although, I have to stand on the tires to wash the roof 
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From: Gulf Coast but not Florida
GLK350, SL63 AMG
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'13 GLK350 4matic,'10 C207,'15 GLA250,'07 Honda Odyssey, '18 GLE 43, '24 EQS 580
no ladder will even go near my glk....it will only take one mishap and you'll have a nasty ding or scratch from the ladder. The wheels acting as the step ladder is more than enough to reach to top of the roof unless you are less than 5 feet tall.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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'13 GLK350 4matic,'10 C207,'15 GLA250,'07 Honda Odyssey, '18 GLE 43, '24 EQS 580
as long as you are comfortable about someone washing your car with dirty and unrinsed mittens and you don't care about small swirl marks then you are okay. there are just people like me that goes GAGA even for a small hairline scratch on our cars
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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'13 GLK350 4matic,'10 C207,'15 GLA250,'07 Honda Odyssey, '18 GLE 43, '24 EQS 580
I have a better touchless car wash. I pay my kid brother in-law to wash my car for 5 bucks and it is not a "kid wash" I thought him the proper way to wash cars and he is good in doing it. Then I tell him that he will get a extra large slurpy if he vaccums and wipe the inside too and apply leather conditioner on the seats. Best thing about that is he likes what he is doing as he feels he is a grown-up kid and can sit on the drivers seat and play with the bottons and pretend he is driving and for me to watch and do nothing is priceless (except for the payment thing and slurpy).
MBWorld Fanatic!
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Nissan GT-R BE / '12 Ducati-1199 Panigale S / '12 C300-4M Loaded/GLK350-4M Loaded
Hi, everyone, picked up the GLK two weeks ago, really love the car. Want to take it to the car wash, but the manual says don't use touchless car wash. I don't want to go to those car wash places with guiding rails (in fear of scratch the 20' wheel) as well. Wonder how you guys choose the car wash? Thanks a bunch,
Please, if you must use an automated car-wash, then just use this instead!
It will work better.
Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 165
Likes: 10
Honda Pilot
Have you ever used a touchless car wash before? They work pretty well. Not everyone has the ability to hand wash their car due to apartment restrictions, time, etc. There's no need to bash everyone other's opinions because you disagree. I thought this forum was different...I guess not.
Last edited by koojo; Jul 8, 2011 at 06:08 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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Nissan GT-R BE / '12 Ducati-1199 Panigale S / '12 C300-4M Loaded/GLK350-4M Loaded
No bashing, just stating the facts.... I lived in a high rise apt for 20 years... and I was still able to wash my car! Where there is the will, there is a way!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Gulf Coast but not Florida
GLK350, SL63 AMG
I use stilts and trained lamas, not a ladder. Otherwise, use Hooters, an MP3 player or scaffolding.
Last edited by grane; Jul 8, 2011 at 06:43 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 565
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From: Indianapolis, IN
2008 C350
No need to rag on people who take their cars to the car wash. I'll wash my car in the summer, sure. But November-March, not a chance in hell I'm washing it myself when its 20 degrees outside. The hose would be frozen anyway.
Why does the manual advise against touch-less car washes? The high water pressure?
Why does the manual advise against touch-less car washes? The high water pressure?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
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Nissan GT-R BE / '12 Ducati-1199 Panigale S / '12 C300-4M Loaded/GLK350-4M Loaded
No need to rag on people who take their cars to the car wash. I'll wash my car in the summer, sure. But November-March, not a chance in hell I'm washing it myself when its 20 degrees outside. The hose would be frozen anyway.
Why does the manual advise against touch-less car washes? The high water pressure?
Why does the manual advise against touch-less car washes? The high water pressure?
Well if it's subfreezing you have no choice... well it depends where you live I guess. I was traveling to Zermatt Switzerland one year to ski and was glad to discover that they had wash-houses for your car. Warm places that once you pull in, the undercarriage is automatically rinsed down, then you proceed to hand wash the outer car yourself. Great idea for cold places.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: RICHMOND--BC
C63 507 (2014) GLK350(2011)
I spend 25 bucks per week for some japanese detailer in Richmond to hand wash my car....I was always good, they hand wahsed, hand dry, hand clean your rims very nice, save me a bunch of hassle!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
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'13 GLK350 4matic,'10 C207,'15 GLA250,'07 Honda Odyssey, '18 GLE 43, '24 EQS 580
Hey c63vancouver where is this hand car wash you are talking about? I better check it out. I need a helping hand to wash my run-around car.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: RICHMOND--BC
C63 507 (2014) GLK350(2011)
It's on #3 rd richmond besides the Superstore, there are two in that area, i like to go to the one which open by some japanese people they wash really well. I think the name is PitLane Car Wash. They do very good detailing too btw. !!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2011
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glk 350
No need to rag on people who take their cars to the car wash. I'll wash my car in the summer, sure. But November-March, not a chance in hell I'm washing it myself when its 20 degrees outside. The hose would be frozen anyway.
Why does the manual advise against touch-less car washes? The high water pressure?
Why does the manual advise against touch-less car washes? The high water pressure?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 272
'13 GLK350 4matic,'10 C207,'15 GLA250,'07 Honda Odyssey, '18 GLE 43, '24 EQS 580
MB is just protecting their *** about that note as they don't want people from complaining after 2-3 years that their car paint is fading or such. Still, I won't even dare bring the car on a auto wash just because I know it won't be cleaned properly. I can say though that bringing in your car on a autowash have some hazards...one time my van's rear viper got destroyed because it was lifted up by the forced air/water then the wiper got hit by the mechanical arm and it was in pieces after that.
imagine that happening with your GLK...I bet you will be swearing in German. I have seen people tapping the wipers on some car washes before it goes inside the tunnel.
