do you let the dealer wash your 55 during service appointments?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: NYC
2006 E55, 2007 R350
do you let the dealer wash your 55 during service appointments?
Did my first annual DMV inspection and 1 year Service A today on my 06' E55(MB of Manhattan), the car went in spotless, the car came out a ton worse than going in.... water marks all over the windshield/windows, lube cream or something brown on the driver side door (2 straight lines, freaked me out at first as it looks like a scratch), water spots all over the body. Didn't see any actual body damage, so I drove home, did a quick detailing job, and called it the day.
So do you guys have better or worse experience at your dealer (can't imagine to be much worse than mine)? I have learned my lesson.... won't let them touch my car again with their fancy "hand wash"
So do you guys have better or worse experience at your dealer (can't imagine to be much worse than mine)? I have learned my lesson.... won't let them touch my car again with their fancy "hand wash"
Last edited by sac73; Mar 13, 2007 at 10:18 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 943
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, New york
2004 S55 AMG
I go to MB of manhattan also and they do wash the car but they do a good job. The car always has the plastic on the seats and they remove them infront of me. The only problem I have is if I want something installed. The SA always says he needs to ask the tech and will get back to me, which he doesn't.
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From: Seattle, WA
'09 911 C4S
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,087
Likes: 1
From: Central FL
2006 E55
Nobody washes my car except me or my Detailer (usually him). Ever see the goons that drive customer cars around the dealership lot?
I am going to make a placard too, that's brilliant.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,330
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From: Seattle, WA
'09 911 C4S
I'm very careful with who touches my car but I'm still getting tiny swirls on the Mocha Black paint. I think it's time to find Kar_Don and ask him get some Zaino on my car.
Someone on the W203 forums taught me about the placard technique. I really hate those water marks so I'm pretty **** about not letting the dealer wash my car.
Someone on the W203 forums taught me about the placard technique. I really hate those water marks so I'm pretty **** about not letting the dealer wash my car.
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: NYC
2006 E55, 2007 R350
I go to MB of manhattan also and they do wash the car but they do a good job. The car always has the plastic on the seats and they remove them infront of me. The only problem I have is if I want something installed. The SA always says he needs to ask the tech and will get back to me, which he doesn't.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: NYC
2006 E55, 2007 R350
I'm very careful with who touches my car but I'm still getting tiny swirls on the Mocha Black paint. I think it's time to find Kar_Don and ask him get some Zaino on my car.
Someone on the W203 forums taught me about the placard technique. I really hate those water marks so I'm pretty **** about not letting the dealer wash my car.
Someone on the W203 forums taught me about the placard technique. I really hate those water marks so I'm pretty **** about not letting the dealer wash my car.
Thanks for the brillant placard idea! I will definitely do that next time. I have tiny swirls on my obsidian black paint too.... I have been the only person who washed my car since I got it so far, so obviously that's my fault, but a black car is definitely a tough color to main perfect paint job. Too bad that Premier Group isn't on the east coast or I would have them wrap my entire car with film so I won't have to worry about things like that anymore.... been following your car's recent event and hope you will get back your baby in great shape soon!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,330
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From: Seattle, WA
'09 911 C4S
Kevin,
Thanks for the brillant placard idea! I will definitely do that next time. I have tiny swirls on my obsidian black paint too.... I have been the only person who washed my car since I got it so far, so obviously that's my fault, but a black car is definitely a tough color to main perfect paint job. Too bad that Premier Group isn't on the east coast or I would have them wrap my entire car with film so I won't have to worry about things like that anymore.... been following your car's recent event and hope you will get back your baby in great shape soon!!
Thanks for the brillant placard idea! I will definitely do that next time. I have tiny swirls on my obsidian black paint too.... I have been the only person who washed my car since I got it so far, so obviously that's my fault, but a black car is definitely a tough color to main perfect paint job. Too bad that Premier Group isn't on the east coast or I would have them wrap my entire car with film so I won't have to worry about things like that anymore.... been following your car's recent event and hope you will get back your baby in great shape soon!!
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 943
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, New york
2004 S55 AMG
plastic on the seats?? there was nothing on my seat, no paper floor mats, zippo. the little cone with numbers on it leaves dirty circle marks on my windshield, interior wasn't vacuumed (maybe that's not part of the service), and I just shook my head and drove away. Maybe you are a better customer than me so you get the special treatment!
Make sure that when you take it in you tell the SA to have the guys take care of your baby. Don't be a di*k about saying it. After that it come back with the plastic and stuff.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 953
Likes: 2
2004 E55
I used to have them wash it when it was stock. But after I got CCW wheels they washed and ruined the finish after I told them about the wheels. All of the wheels had to be polished. So now I don't have any Dealers wash it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,642
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From: Caribbean/Florida/Colorado
E-ZGO 53hp., 1999 E 430 sport, 2004 E 55, 2008 Tahoe LTZ on 24"s
Never Let The Dealer Wash Your Car
Sorry I am a bit past neat freak
Torquey55
A deionizer is a good thing for salts mostly, and unless it is a dual bed the minerals remain. I have found that a high quality water softener serves to provide spot free air dry on a black car. Location Citrus county FL on a 200Ft well (read really hard water H2O+14). Don't know how far that would be from you. The link below is the one I use, but others can be found that are not as expensive.
http://www.kinetico.com/Kinetico/EN/...+Series+2040c/
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,087
Likes: 1
From: Central FL
2006 E55
This is the Deionizer similar to what my Detailer uses. It's the shnit, absolutely no waterspots whatsoever.
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...opnav=&browse=
A little pricey...
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...opnav=&browse=
A little pricey...
Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 161
Likes: 1
From: San Francisco
2007 cls 63 030
Would you guys recommend a good coat of wax on our cars or do you stay away from it. If the answer is yes, I would love to know what the best brand out there would be. I have a very young black car and am looking to keep it shining and clean with as little swirl as possible.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 536
Likes: 35
From: Seattle
2105 S63 Full Carbon - 2018 GTR
Just got my car back last week from the dealer after a new TC and Radiator. Came home and detailed it to find all kinds of scratches on it
I called the SA and took it in. I'm dropping it off on Monday to have their detail shop take care of all of their F'ups!
I've always asked them not to wash it and this time I went against my better judgement. lesson learned! I'm laminating my "please do not wash" card tonight!
I called the SA and took it in. I'm dropping it off on Monday to have their detail shop take care of all of their F'ups!I've always asked them not to wash it and this time I went against my better judgement. lesson learned! I'm laminating my "please do not wash" card tonight!
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 527
Likes: 1
From: Indianapolis, IN
2012 JDM
I am reminded of a complaint that I made about my local MB stealer in a previous post...
"...My only complaint would be that they would have ran the car through their on-site carwash if I wouldn't have lucked out and caught them when it was in line. I say complaint because I had just spent the weekend before completely detailing the car. Their 2minute wash would've just left water spots all over my recently detailed car..."
So, to answer your question, NO!
Yes a good coat of wax is a great idea to protect the clear coat and keep the car shining. Just be sure that the car is absolutely clean when you apply it and don't wax (or wash) in direct sunlight. Also, be sure the terry cloth that you use to "buff" out the wax is completely clean and do not set it on anything where it might pick up any tiny rocks. Seems obvious but one microscopic rock will scratch your car to helll. I like Zymol the best as far as brands go. They have really expensive stuff, but the "Cleaner wax" works great. Smells good too. It's a light blue color. You can get it at Wal-Mart, etc.
Oh and I think I read somewhere to NOT use fabric softner on towels that you will be drying/buffing your car with. (Not sure where I read that)
"...My only complaint would be that they would have ran the car through their on-site carwash if I wouldn't have lucked out and caught them when it was in line. I say complaint because I had just spent the weekend before completely detailing the car. Their 2minute wash would've just left water spots all over my recently detailed car..."
So, to answer your question, NO!
joemoney415 Would you guys recommend a good coat of wax on our cars or do you stay away from it. If the answer is yes, I would love to know what the best brand out there would be. I have a very young black car and am looking to keep it shining and clean with as little swirl as possible.
Oh and I think I read somewhere to NOT use fabric softner on towels that you will be drying/buffing your car with. (Not sure where I read that)
Last edited by J 2OOI; Mar 14, 2007 at 05:41 PM. Reason: additional info
? yea its not a pretty site!!
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 613
Likes: 3
From: Newport Coast, CA
makes your daughter horny
Werd, add me to the HELLLL NO club haha..
The dealer (fletcher jones) destroyed the paint on my old C Class - swirls and scratches everywhere. They would wash it regardless if I pleaded with them not to, nothing worked.
You guys are way too kind with the laminated placards. I wrote with blue tape all over my E with large 3 foot letters on everyside that say "no wash". Hopefully they get a little negative publicity out of it.
The dealer (fletcher jones) destroyed the paint on my old C Class - swirls and scratches everywhere. They would wash it regardless if I pleaded with them not to, nothing worked.
You guys are way too kind with the laminated placards. I wrote with blue tape all over my E with large 3 foot letters on everyside that say "no wash". Hopefully they get a little negative publicity out of it.
