List of procedures you shouldn't let the dealership do to your car!
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2005 E55, 2004 E55(sold), 2001 Viper GTS, 2006 Viper VOI9, 1994 ZR-1 Corvette 2009 Viper ACR,
Im not sure if I am on the same page as you, with the wash.. I always let the dealer wash my car.. Its a daily driver, and a depreciating asset no matter which way you slice it.. Why not let them wash it?? Yes, they use the car wash, but they do a good job..
I dont know.. when I was 21. I could spend 2 hours every weekend doing it. Now, I just dont have the time.. And with winter, its just too cold outside.. I take mine through the car wash. Shoot me,...![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Now my viper, NEVER goes through the car wash. But it also never goes out in ANY type of weather. SO, its much easier to keep up with.
I dont know.. when I was 21. I could spend 2 hours every weekend doing it. Now, I just dont have the time.. And with winter, its just too cold outside.. I take mine through the car wash. Shoot me,...
![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Now my viper, NEVER goes through the car wash. But it also never goes out in ANY type of weather. SO, its much easier to keep up with.
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E63 P30, CL500 Sport
Dealer car washes are the worst for your car even if it seems like they do a great job. My service advisor (he is a good friend of mine) told me this story once:
One time a guy was at the dealership at night closing a deal on a brand new c-class. Finally around 10 pm they got most of the paperwork complete except for a couple of things. So the salesman tells him come tomorrow morning to finish up the paperwork and I'll have the car "detailed" for you. The guy comes in the next day and sees all these "swirl" marks on the car (especially visible under sunlight), gets very angry, and cancels the whole deal.
I know swirl marks can be removed, but not all of them. Some get really bad and reach beyond the clear coat. So, if you really want them removed right, it may become a fairly expensive ordeal. Better to avoid or minimize them in the first place.
My service advisor told me NEVER let us wash your car. He said we have minimum-wage workers wiping and "swirling" your car's surface (they don't even use microfiber towels, they use some old, half-dirty mechanic towels to dry the car). Many people don't realize this because they pick up the car in the evening and you can't really see swirl marks in detail around evening time.
Don't Let The Dealer Wash Your Cars
That statement should really be the first 5 on the list to emphasize its importance......
1) Wash your car !!!!
2) Wash your car !!!!
3) Wash your car !!!!
4) Wash your car !!!!
5) Wash your car !!!!
6) Flash your ECU!
7) Replace tires on expensive rims!
8) Collison repair/paint
9) Turn on your aftermarket stereo
One time a guy was at the dealership at night closing a deal on a brand new c-class. Finally around 10 pm they got most of the paperwork complete except for a couple of things. So the salesman tells him come tomorrow morning to finish up the paperwork and I'll have the car "detailed" for you. The guy comes in the next day and sees all these "swirl" marks on the car (especially visible under sunlight), gets very angry, and cancels the whole deal.
I know swirl marks can be removed, but not all of them. Some get really bad and reach beyond the clear coat. So, if you really want them removed right, it may become a fairly expensive ordeal. Better to avoid or minimize them in the first place.
My service advisor told me NEVER let us wash your car. He said we have minimum-wage workers wiping and "swirling" your car's surface (they don't even use microfiber towels, they use some old, half-dirty mechanic towels to dry the car). Many people don't realize this because they pick up the car in the evening and you can't really see swirl marks in detail around evening time.
Don't Let The Dealer Wash Your Cars
That statement should really be the first 5 on the list to emphasize its importance......
1) Wash your car !!!!
2) Wash your car !!!!
3) Wash your car !!!!
4) Wash your car !!!!
5) Wash your car !!!!
6) Flash your ECU!
7) Replace tires on expensive rims!
8) Collison repair/paint
9) Turn on your aftermarket stereo
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A slow Tahoe!
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#9
That's certainly true! I dropped my car off for a $495 "service" today, so I guess they are getting their fair share. I do use the hell out of the free car wash though. Typically once a week. They actually dry it really well, leave no streaks, clean my wheels really well, and put shiny goo on the tires without getting it all over my wheels and the rest of the car, which is more than I can say for the $39 sit and wait places, and it doesn't cost me a dime. I'm pretty **** about my paint too, and they really don't seem to swirl it at all, so maybe they do use microfiber at my dealership. I spent two full days detailing it a few months ago with the full Menzerna line, so that may be fending off some of the swirls.
In the end, it is just a daily driver, and I really don't have the time to jack with it, nor do I want to pay some detailing service $50 a week to wash it just so I can worry a bit less about swirls.
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'06 E55
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2008 SLK, 2006 Cadillac SRX, 1994 Cutlass Supreme Convertible
Never had a problem with the car washes. I wish they were that good when it comes to the troubleshooting and repairs!
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2005 E55, 2004 E55(sold), 2001 Viper GTS, 2006 Viper VOI9, 1994 ZR-1 Corvette 2009 Viper ACR,
With the E55 I have 2 choices. Drive a dirty car, or take it through the car wash.. I would have to hand wash it twice a week, to stay on top of it. Ever tried that, in 30 degree weather? I have, it sucks
![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
HOWEVER, I do all the servicing myself. Not to save money, I just honestly enjoy doing it. So unless there is a warranty issue. The E55 never really goes into the dealership.. I have a very large, brand new, full service car wash near me.. At any given day/time. There will be many other AMG cars there. Including a black SL65, which is there twice a week..Is it as good for the car, as a hand wash? No.. But it works. And the brushes they use, are clean and new.
Last edited by Taximan1; 12-22-2007 at 09:55 AM.
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2014 E63, Cobra replica, 68 Camaro, 66 Chevy II SS, Z4 BMW, Honda Element, Birel 125cc Shifter Kart.
My dealer does an OK job with the wash but I NEVER let them do a detail job.
They offered a free detail after a bad service experience that cost me $200 to make right. There was wax in every nook and cranny and swirl marks everywhere. A 10 yr old could have done a better job.
I also agree with those that understand these cars depreciate horribly and maximize their ownership experience by driving the hell out of them and not obsessing about minor things like car washes. You're going to lose your *** on the car anyway so you may as well enjoy it to the max.
They offered a free detail after a bad service experience that cost me $200 to make right. There was wax in every nook and cranny and swirl marks everywhere. A 10 yr old could have done a better job.
I also agree with those that understand these cars depreciate horribly and maximize their ownership experience by driving the hell out of them and not obsessing about minor things like car washes. You're going to lose your *** on the car anyway so you may as well enjoy it to the max.
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My fear of the stealer goes further. I do all my own oil changes and if the car won't run, I have a mechanic that comes to the house to fix it. I just don't go to the stealer. They did hassle me when I turned in the last lease car because it had absolutely zero service records! I told them do go fuch themselves and they did, ha.