W223 S-Class Car Wash Check List
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 893
Likes: 397
From: Hong Kong, China
2021 S450 4Matic
The wool comes off the sheep's back (Chinese idiom). Capitalism has the same say:- there is no free lunch.
A dealership is no charity and is a business which exists to make money. Whatever (good) service a dealership provides to its customers cost them money, which will be directly or indirectly redistributed back into the service cost, which, of course, will not be shown on the invoice as a separate item.
A dealership is no charity and is a business which exists to make money. Whatever (good) service a dealership provides to its customers cost them money, which will be directly or indirectly redistributed back into the service cost, which, of course, will not be shown on the invoice as a separate item.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 893
Likes: 397
From: Hong Kong, China
2021 S450 4Matic
But I wonder why it is not there now. It cannot be just an oversight or a deliberate act to save cost or an intended design (ie MB not expecting an S-class be taken through a car wash).
So far, I know only the GLS, GLE and GLA have the car wash mode. Maybe MB thinks the SUVs get off road often and thus more dirty and need to go through a car wash more? And so, for this reason and also due to chip shortage, the SUV model line gets all the chips first? Who knows?
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 516
Likes: 175
a
No, S-class does not have it (yet). Maybe it will be added in later years?
But I wonder why it is not there now. It cannot be just an oversight or a deliberate act to save cost or an intended design (ie MB not expecting an S-class be taken through a car wash).
So far, I know only the GLS, GLE and GLA have the car wash mode. Maybe MB thinks the SUVs get off road often and thus more dirty and need to go through a car wash more? And so, for this reason and also due to chip shortage, the SUV model line gets all the chips first? Who knows?
But I wonder why it is not there now. It cannot be just an oversight or a deliberate act to save cost or an intended design (ie MB not expecting an S-class be taken through a car wash).
So far, I know only the GLS, GLE and GLA have the car wash mode. Maybe MB thinks the SUVs get off road often and thus more dirty and need to go through a car wash more? And so, for this reason and also due to chip shortage, the SUV model line gets all the chips first? Who knows?
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45
Likes: 13
s550, gl450
Yes sir.
I purchase all my cars from Mercedes of Massapequa in New York. I currently have five cars, and their service is top shelf. I usually text my concierge in the morning and he will pick up my car and have it washed by hand, light detailed and bring her back. No fuss, all part of the car ownership.
I purchase all my cars from Mercedes of Massapequa in New York. I currently have five cars, and their service is top shelf. I usually text my concierge in the morning and he will pick up my car and have it washed by hand, light detailed and bring her back. No fuss, all part of the car ownership.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 72
Likes: 18
From: New York
2023 AMG EQS
Verdict
I’d like to take my 2022 S580 to a car wash. Has anyone with actual experience had a bad experience? Can I just drive up or are there actual steps I need to take? I don’t want my trunk to open, etc but I have to say I’m skeptic it will, even if I don’t take any measures to avoid that.
Also, should I be concerned for the well being of the star in front? It sticks out (never had that in my previous MBs) so was wondering if the machine would just rip it off…
Anyone with input based on experience - please let me know. Thanks.
Also, should I be concerned for the well being of the star in front? It sticks out (never had that in my previous MBs) so was wondering if the machine would just rip it off…
Anyone with input based on experience - please let me know. Thanks.
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Member
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 119
Likes: 31
2021 s580, 2025 genesis gv80
I’d like to take my 2022 S580 to a car wash. Has anyone with actual experience had a bad experience? Can I just drive up or are there actual steps I need to take? I don’t want my trunk to open, etc but I have to say I’m skeptic it will, even if I don’t take any measures to avoid that.
Also, should I be concerned for the well being of the star in front? It sticks out (never had that in my previous MBs) so was wondering if the machine would just rip it off…
Anyone with input based on experience - please let me know. Thanks.
Also, should I be concerned for the well being of the star in front? It sticks out (never had that in my previous MBs) so was wondering if the machine would just rip it off…
Anyone with input based on experience - please let me know. Thanks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,062
Likes: 4,565
From: Maryland
2024 S580
I’d like to take my 2022 S580 to a car wash. Has anyone with actual experience had a bad experience? Can I just drive up or are there actual steps I need to take? I don’t want my trunk to open, etc but I have to say I’m skeptic it will, even if I don’t take any measures to avoid that.
Also, should I be concerned for the well being of the star in front? It sticks out (never had that in my previous MBs) so was wondering if the machine would just rip it off…
Anyone with input based on experience - please let me know. Thanks.
Also, should I be concerned for the well being of the star in front? It sticks out (never had that in my previous MBs) so was wondering if the machine would just rip it off…
Anyone with input based on experience - please let me know. Thanks.
Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 196
Likes: 53
From: Pensacola
2018 S560 4Matic Anth Blue
The hood ornament on my 2018 S560 was getting knocked to the side by brushes at the local car wash. I had to get out and re-center it all the time and finally gave up out of concern that continued displacement might eventually damage it. I'm not sure what the swivel/pivot of the star is meant to withstand, so I changed washes. New wash is further away but pretty high end and leaves the star unmolested.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 893
Likes: 397
From: Hong Kong, China
2021 S450 4Matic
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 72
Likes: 18
From: New York
2023 AMG EQS
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 893
Likes: 397
From: Hong Kong, China
2021 S450 4Matic
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 893
Likes: 397
From: Hong Kong, China
2021 S450 4Matic
I was using the two terms (brushless vs touchless) with no distinction until you asked the question. So, I googled it and it seems there is a difference.
https://carwash808.express/faq-items...and-touchless/
https://carwash808.express/faq-items...and-touchless/
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,062
Likes: 4,565
From: Maryland
2024 S580
This is a brushless wash (all carwashes today are brushless) (note the car in it is a W221):
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,062
Likes: 4,565
From: Maryland
2024 S580
I'm not old enough to have ever been through one that actually had brushes lol, but the cloth ones clean really well. Spend some time to find a good one that cleans their equipment, sprays cars off well before they go through (this is HUGE) and uses good towels to dry and you'll be fine.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,222
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I'm not old enough to have ever been through one that actually had brushes lol, but the cloth ones clean really well. Spend some time to find a good one that cleans their equipment, sprays cars off well before they go through (this is HUGE) and uses good towels to dry and you'll be fine.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,062
Likes: 4,565
From: Maryland
2024 S580
Thanks for your reply. I appreciate those tips and recommendations. I personally hand wash my vehicle but if I am feeling lazy but the fact that modern automatic car wash improved a lot and damage to the vehicle is none or minimal, I might just use automatic car wash after all. You convinced me. I'm just worried that my local automatic car washes are not as high end as the ones in your area and still using old tech that might actually damage the paint.
I hand wash mine from time to time too
