D
Deleted member 126251
Guest
You are not alone. Even then I walk around to the wash bay and "tell" the lads to only hoover the interior - they find it alien that I do not want a "free car wash".
The MB dealer in Brisbane Australia had a team of nubile young ladies that washed the cars (they were subcontracted from an all girl business). They couldn't understand why they were not allowed to touch my car.
bigcarpchaser
Active Member
Internet rules, pictures or it didn’t happen [emoji106]
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yep, but you can't beat a nice clean car, and don't you know a clean car drive's better.All my cars are not garage queens, use them as they should be used, rather spend my time driving than cleaning
renault12ts
MB Club Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2009
- Messages
- 16,674
- Car
- 2005 W215 CL500.
AMV
Active Member
- Joined
- May 30, 2017
- Messages
- 349
- Car
- E350 C207 / W124 190E / BMW Soon
I was my car most of the year however i do have maintenance washes by my detailer who initially protected the paintwork.
I loathe to get my gear out in this winter so i find my self visiting my friend a lot more than i'd like.
I loathe to get my gear out in this winter so i find my self visiting my friend a lot more than i'd like.
Reflection
Member
As a pro detailer,9 out of 10 of my customers come to me for paint correction, so what causes the swirls and minor scratches??
Machine Car washes,hand/power wash and clay barring are all the main reasons for poor paint quality.
Good wash techniques are the way go to protect your beloved Mercedes paint.
If your obsessed about you paint like me........Don't clay unless you plan to polish out the damage, use a wash mitt not a sponge, prerinse with power washer and use large 10ltr bucket x 2 with a decent shampoo with good lubrication.
Machine Car washes,hand/power wash and clay barring are all the main reasons for poor paint quality.
Good wash techniques are the way go to protect your beloved Mercedes paint.
If your obsessed about you paint like me........Don't clay unless you plan to polish out the damage, use a wash mitt not a sponge, prerinse with power washer and use large 10ltr bucket x 2 with a decent shampoo with good lubrication.
fabes
MB Enthusiast
I cannot recommend clay barring a car enough after having done all four of ours - as a novice on my daughter 14 year old Corsa upto my car where I felt much more proficient.
Yes I did then run a machine polisher quickly over them with the Turtle wax hybrid 'stuff', not knowing that that was recommended, but it was in my plan last lockdown summer
However, the shine (even when partially dirty) that they still retain months later and then the actual feel of smooth metal is appreciated even by my daughters
That and twin bucket with a wash mit is my rule.
My brother in law has been converted by it as well and did his to breath life into his an 18 year BMW convertible (yes I know....) as well as all his families cars.
I wash one car each weekend, so each car is cleaned once a month (unless it really, really needs it!)
Yes I did then run a machine polisher quickly over them with the Turtle wax hybrid 'stuff', not knowing that that was recommended, but it was in my plan last lockdown summer
However, the shine (even when partially dirty) that they still retain months later and then the actual feel of smooth metal is appreciated even by my daughters
That and twin bucket with a wash mit is my rule.
My brother in law has been converted by it as well and did his to breath life into his an 18 year BMW convertible (yes I know....) as well as all his families cars.
I wash one car each weekend, so each car is cleaned once a month (unless it really, really needs it!)
merc estate
MB Enthusiast
I love washing the car very therapeutic, stand back and look at what a great job 
my son arrives in his car which is dirty as usual, so as a dad you say look at the state of that car its embarrassing, Ahhh he said i will take it to the polish place. What i said how much do they charge you (bearing in mind had come round to borrow money) a tenner he said. Right i said give me a tenner i will wash it, but i want the tenner first. So he gives me the tenner (at this point i think i am teaching him a lesson) then his friend turns up and says why you washing his car, i proudly say i've taken a tenner of him for doing this, this is easier than going to work. He says do you want to wash mine then. 
Bloody kids what do you do with them. And no i didn't wash his car too.
my son arrives in his car which is dirty as usual, so as a dad you say look at the state of that car its embarrassing, Ahhh he said i will take it to the polish place. What i said how much do they charge you (bearing in mind had come round to borrow money) a tenner he said. Right i said give me a tenner i will wash it, but i want the tenner first. So he gives me the tenner (at this point i think i am teaching him a lesson) then his friend turns up and says why you washing his car, i proudly say i've taken a tenner of him for doing this, this is easier than going to work. He says do you want to wash mine then. Bloody kids what do you do with them. And no i didn't wash his car too.
merc estate
MB Enthusiast
Yep, the idea was for him to realise that if i'm giving him £100 a £10 is already gone, but maybe its me knowing how maths workSo basically you washed his car for free as he borrowed it back off you
Dickster
MB Enthusiast
My SL has been washed twice in two and a half years, once by me and once by my kids. Not my favourite pastime 
No water required triple wax waterless wash its absolutely amazing use it on both my e classes 3 towelling cloths body work glass then wheels takes me 15 mins people think it scratches the paint work trust me it doesn’t
Reflection
Member
I Did a full correction on Astra GTC a while back, the customer was using a similar approach to yourself, At first glance on drop off it looked pretty decent ,once i completed the decontamination stage and inspected the paint under a direct light, you wouldn't believe the amount of damage present. i think many of these products actually "fill" the induced scratches as you use waterless products, many waterless products use silicones which are well known to "fill"
Since Mercedes paint is in the hard category, you may avoid certain level of damage that softer paint types would be venerable to. Vauxhalls are very soft. But i would still show caution with these products.
I can't imagine cleaning a car without a hose . It's like washing yourself with a damp cloth instead of having a bath or shower !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fez7
Member
Sometimes when working away for long periods 1-2 months I’ll find a decent place that offers a good quality hand wash but I don’t like it one little bit,, certainly prefer to wash it myself 100% and certainly never let the stealer wash it on a service day, story for another time 
