E55BKS

Please feel free to add to the list:
1) Wash your car!
2) Flash your ECU!
3)

Big Carrot

I would tend to agree with you on the car wash thing, but my dealership actually does a great job and it's free!

Fleebee

1) Wash your car!
2) Flash your ECU!
3) Replace tires on expensive rims!
4) Collison repair/paint

AMGfan

5) Turn on your aftermarket stereo

Taximan1

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,...

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.

MB_Forever

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

E55BKS

There's nothing free at a stealership, it will cost you in the end.

MB_Forever

+1000000000

You may get a free car wash, then spend $500 at a good detailer to buff all the scratches out (assuming no deep scratches of course)

Big Carrot

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.

Archi

So the expensive car gets to go to the car wash and the 'cheapie' gets pampered? Just messing with you- nice stable you have.

Big Carrot

That's funny! I've had several Vipers, and not one of them was ever washed by any one but me!

blkamgsl55

Never had a problem with the car washes. I wish they were that good when it comes to the troubleshooting and repairs!

Taximan1

Listen, I agree with you guys 100%.. But the problem is simple. I drive my E55 about 15-17,000 miles per year. I drive the Viper about 1,000 miles per year... So... It basically never gets dirty..

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 Plus, Im a realist... The way these car depreciate, regardless of weather you hand wash or not. I opt for option #2...

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.

speedpeddler

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.

sack5000

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.

skooby

10. Tint your windows (they have to make it legal, too light).