Car Wash (Star on bonnet)

[omega1]

Hi all,

Just wondering what the advice is for taking a C220 CDI (Saloon) with the pop up star on the bonnet through an automatic car wash, will I be Ok with this or should I stick to manual spray wash?


Thanks

 

[wemorgan]

I've seen plenty of Mercedes go through the local car wash, though I can't comment whether any do it twice, sorry.

Personally I always wash my car by hand. A quick bucket and sponge wash should only take 30 mins.........but I appreciate that some people are either too busy or just don't like doing it.

Be warned that after several years of automatic car washes your car will be covered with 1000s of scratches.

 

[Midland45]

Bad mistake going through auto car washes, and it doesnt take several years to cover the car in swirl marks. Obviously the darker colour the car the more noticeable they'll be

 

[jpwilliams]

I've seen plenty of Mercedes go through the local car wash, though I can't comment whether any do it twice, sorry.

Personally I always wash my car by hand. A quick bucket and sponge wash should only take 30 mins.........but I appreciate that some people are either too busy or just don't like doing it.

Be warned that after several years of automatic car washes your car will be covered with 1000s of scratches.

I agree with the comment re the (relatively minute but still noticeable) scratches. I`ve put 4 Mercs thru car washes both here and in Spain with out any damage to the spring loaded star !

Regards

 

[Shude]

Unless you use a two-bucket method with lambs-wool mitt etc a carwash puts less swirls on your car than a soapy sponge! We learned this on some motoring show or other.

The bonnet ornament should be fine as the star is firmly attached to the base but pivots and twists with relative ease. Don't worry about it!

 

[wemorgan]

Unless you use a two-bucket method with lambs-wool mitt etc a carwash puts less swirls on your car than a soapy sponge! We learned this on some motoring show or other.

Interesting, I've never heard of the two bucket method before.
Here's a useful post I found for those interested

Good Washing Technique - Detailing World

It seems I need to go and buy a lambs wool mitt and 2nd bucket this w/e

 

[Aoraki]

just wondering what the advice is for taking a c220 cdi (saloon) with the pop up star on the bonnet through an automatic car wash, will i be ok with this or should i stick to manual spray wash?

DON'T!!!

just do as Shude says

 

[davethemus]

usually in most industrial estates or business parks there will be a mobile valet'r who will hand wash the full car and the wheels for about £3.00. I always give them a fiver before they do the job and they make sure they wash and rinse every bit thoroughly.

 

[andy_k]

usually in most industrial estates or business parks there will be a mobile valet'r who will hand wash the full car and the wheels for about £3.00. I always give them a fiver before they do the job and they make sure they wash and rinse every bit thoroughly.

referring to the show that Shude mentioned, it said that if your mobile valeter uses one of those squeegee things to wipe the excess water off he will do more damage than the car wash

I remember that program the 'expert' was the guy who we've seen on here detailing his Astras

The moral of te story seemed to be, unless you are absolutely fastidious, the garage car wash is your best bet

 

[ecossebev]

I woud be wary of those foam washes that have suddenly began to spring up everywhere. The foam comes in 25l concentrate barrels, and gets diluted on site. They tend to mix it a bit stronger this time of year to remove the flies from the front end of rep mobiles. All it takes is someone to add a bit extra for good measure and not only does it remove the flies, but probably most of the wax too. I have been to countless cars to machine polish the paintwork in order to remove the matt finish left by the local foam wash. £4 to wash the car....£150 to get the shine back. I saw one customer who had the paint on his calipers removed by a valeter who got the dilution wrong. I agree with the previous posts. DIY....you get a bit more satisfaction I think, doing it by hand. Also gives you an opportunity to see at close range the condition of the paintwork.

 

[N/B]

I woud be wary of those foam washes that have suddenly began to spring up everywhere. The foam comes in 25l concentrate barrels, and gets diluted on site. They tend to mix it a bit stronger this time of year to remove the flies from the front end of rep mobiles. All it takes is someone to add a bit extra for good measure and not only does it remove the flies, but probably most of the wax too. I have been to countless cars to machine polish the paintwork in order to remove the matt finish left by the local foam wash. £4 to wash the car....£150 to get the shine back. I saw one customer who had the paint on his calipers removed by a valeter who got the dilution wrong.

+1, the local hand wash will f**k up your paint faster than a Drive-Thru.
Last one I used (years ago) covered the lower half of the car in TFR (concentrated Traffic film Remover) and then stood back having a fag whilst it 'did its work'.
After he'd washed and dried the car, it became apparent to me that my (non-clearcoated) Signal Red paint was now flecked with Pink, all over.
I didn't pay him, and I did nearly knock him out.
F**king idiots, they really don't have a clue.

Drive-Thrus are awful, and only for company cars that you really couldn't give a monkey's about imo.
Jet Washes are fine, as long as you're the one holding the lance.
Take your kids along though, and on your head be it...

 

[A-AvantGarde]

It seems I need to go and buy a lambs wool mitt and 2nd bucket this w/e

I've just started doing this after seeing some other posts on here. Its amazing how much difference it appears to make. It's amazing how dirty the water in the bucket that you clean the sponge mit gets, whilst the main soap bucket stays clean & soapy. Remember to get a grit guard for your buckets!

I'm now paranoid about using the local £5 car washes - I'd much rather do it myself even when it comes to my company car, I still treat it as though it's mine...

 

[G-Force]

I liked to wash our cars by hand, i have never used an auto one after i seen a 10 day old red vectra go through one and come out with shocking marks on the bonnet, i used to use the local guys with the wash bay until i seen then drop the sponge on the floor ( lots of loose chips ) and start scrubbing the guys car again without as much as rinsing the sponge...

Boy did i reverse out of the Q.........

 

[nullogik]

I don't trust the local car wash guys, god only knows how many cars have been washed with the same sponges and cloths...and like a previous guy said, how do you know that they haven't dropped the sponge on the ground only to wash your car with it. The same applies to the brushes/rollers etc used in the automatic car washes. Hundreds or thousands of cars worth of grime and grit could be on those brushes/rollers.

The only person I trust to clean my car is myself. I do all my own washing, and find it very satisfying.

 

[andy_k]

Hundreds or thousands of cars worth of grime and grit could be on those brushes/rollers.

Unlikely, considering the amount of water they throw around

 

[Shude]

Unlikely, considering the amount of water they throw around

I've used a jet-wash every now and then and the first thing I spray with the "lance" is the brush!

 

[timskemp]

I've used a jet-wash every now and then and the first thing I spray with the "lance" is the brush!

you use the brush??

 

[ABBY]

The only time I used an auto car wash it broke a folding mirror and put scratches on the boot lid. There was a small sign warning clients to fold mirrors which i didn't see. Also avoid hand washes that use squeegees to dry.