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My SL550 is usually washed by hand.
However, this year it went through the touch-less car wash a few times and as a result the window trim was damaged.
Seems the chemicals in these car washes are extremely harsh!
My SL550 is usually washed by hand.
However, this year it went through the touch-less car wash a few times and as a result the window trim was damaged.
Seems the chemicals in these car washes are extremely harsh!
It will definitely wax off. Use a cleaner wax and a microfiber cloth and it will be gone!
My SL550 is usually washed by hand.
However, this year it went through the touch-less car wash a few times and as a result the window trim was damaged.
Seems the chemicals in these car washes are extremely harsh!
I had exactly the same thing happen! It polished out with no problems!
I had the same it comes off by just rubbing your fingers over it, its just a chemical residue, I dont use the car wash now, I get the wife to get the guys who do the hand wash at the shopping centre to do it while she shops
My SL550 is usually washed by hand.
However, this year it went through the touch-less car wash a few times and as a result the window trim was damaged.
Seems the chemicals in these car washes are extremely harsh!
Clay and polish did not entirely resolve this. I wiped on a layer of WD40 which helped a lot, but ultimately, my detailer was able to restore it. Living in NY, a hand wash is not always an option.
Lesson learned!
Though I hand wash my SL 90% of the time I have 6 vehicles and still work many 60 hour weeks even in semi-retirement so automatic car washes are a must sometimes.
Clay and polish did not entirely resolve this. I wiped on a layer of WD40 which helped a lot, but ultimately, my detailer was able to restore it. Living in NY, a hand wash is not always an option.
Lesson learned!
From what I have seen and experienced, what happened to your trim was caused by the pink and blue foam wax/shine that is often used in the higher tier/more expensive options. The basic wash/rinse/dry options without the waxes/shines and other additives are fine in a touch-less car wash.
From what I have seen and experienced, what happened to your trim was caused by the pink and blue foam wax/shine that is often used in the higher tier/more expensive options. The basic wash/rinse/dry options without the waxes/shines and other additives are fine in a touch-less car wash.
That is absolutely right I'm using only the wash/rinse/dry options by hand (no automatic) and never had any problem on all my cars.
Though I hand wash my SL 90% of the time I have 6 vehicles and still work many 60 hour weeks even in semi-retirement so automatic car washes are a must sometimes.
60 hours for semi retired?! How many were you working before retirement??
60 hours for semi retired?! How many were you working before retirement??
Unfortunately part of being in Agriculture with perishable products. Many years ago I had a tornado come through and flatten a 30,000 square foot section of a greenhouse and only had 5 weeks to rebuild before Poinsettia cuttings came in for the Fall crop. Reconstruction included concrete, frame, covering, end walls, electrical, water systems, heaters and cooling pads, benches. For that 5 week period I averaged 4 hours of sleep a night and we worked nights with portable lights. It was get it done or go out of business.
I currently do consultation over the Internet for crops worldwide analyzing soil, water and tissue samples. Also have 200+ Pecan trees on our home property. Currently working on hemp production for CBD oil manufacturing here in Texas.
Though we have a weekend place not to far away my wife and I joke that we have never taken a vacation in 39 years of marriage. One of the reasons I can pay cash for all my cars!
My two brothers and I agreed many years ago that we were not the brightest bulbs in the box but made up for it by being extremely hard workers.
I am 66 years old and still get up at 4:30 every morning. A habit I cannot seem to break!
PS- For the last 5 years of my father’s life, I took a 30 day technical course, and ran a hemodialysis machine for him 6 mornings a week. We would start at 4:00 am each morning so I could be at work by 7:30 am.
Last edited by Utopia Texas; 12-11-2019 at 09:44 AM.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Utopia’s story reminds me of that bumper sticker: “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” So many folks out there have no idea what it means to be a small business owner. I was for several decades and there truly were decades when I never took a vacation. My philosophy was that the business got everything it needed in the way of time, money and hands-on work. If there was something left over, that was for me.
SL550 Designo Crystal & Red Interior - SL55 Silver & Black Interior - E550
Originally Posted by Streamliner
Utopia’s story reminds me of that bumper sticker: “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” So many folks out there have no idea what it means to be a small business owner. I was for several decades and there truly were decades when I never took a vacation. My philosophy was that the business got everything it needed in the way of time, money and hands-on work. If there was something left over, that was for me.
I've been running small business for 20 years and you could not be more correct. You often find that you work the hardest and get paid the least. Let's not even talk about the mistakes you make along the way that cost you dearly. That said, I can't imagine ever working for someone else.
Utopia’s story reminds me of that bumper sticker: “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” So many folks out there have no idea what it means to be a small business owner. I was for several decades and there truly were decades when I never took a vacation. My philosophy was that the business got everything it needed in the way of time, money and hands-on work. If there was something left over, that was for me.
I can only imagine. I would be scared shirtless if I were trying to start a business.....so many rules, regs, guidelines, taxes, PC BS.........and then come the customers! Yikes!
Respect though.....you clearly were a successful business man
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by hyperion667
I can only imagine. I would be scared shirtless if I were trying to start a business.....so many rules, regs, guidelines, taxes, PC BS.........and then come the customers! Yikes!
When you have done it for so long, when you get out, you keep thinking of getting back in, in a small way, “just for fun.” But when you look into how truly INSANE the laws & regulations are these days, you decide to stay retired. “My don’t you look nice today!” Sexual harassment lawsuit! My personal opinion is that much of the world has truly lost their minds.
You think it is bad in a small business, wait to see how is it in a very large corporation ( politics, laws, regulation, fear of harassment, discrimination, lawsuits etc.). That was probably ok but the worst thing was to deal with completely incompetent people being there just because they knew how to make their bosses happy, don't want say the word everybody knows what I'm talking about.
I retired from of these corporations and, frankly ,forgot everything after 5 minutes being out.
2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Originally Posted by tx170754
You think it is bad in a small business, wait to see how is it in a very large corporation ( politics, laws, regulation, fear of harassment, discrimination, lawsuits etc.). That was probably ok but the worst thing was to deal with completely incompetent people being there just because they knew how to make their bosses happy, don't want say the word everybody knows what I'm talking about.
I retired from of these corporations and, frankly ,forgot everything after 5 minutes being out.
Actually, after the various starter jobs: delivery boy, gas station attendant, selling ladies shoes at a department store, I went to work for a large electronics corporation. It was all the corporate BS and the fact that I hated taking orders from some I thought to be idiots that pushed me to sell my home, my Porsche and mortgage my life away to buy a small, almost bankrupt business. Those were the good old days and I just loved it!
Streamliner,
On another subject I'm starting to think about getting a 2018 S560, my question for you is how do I know if the car has MBC ( Magic Body Control ) besides getting the build sheet, anything on the dash, console, etc.
Thanks