NEW B Class - how to look after it.

[Peter Hill]

Hi all,

I have a new B Class B200 CDI arriving shortly. It has most of the extras with black Artico and Jupiter Red paint.

As I understand it, I should drive it gently for the first 1,000 or so miles and not wash it for the first month.

I am disabled (Motability) so intend to use a local Eastern European 'Hand' car wash for regular upkeep. There is one nearby which offers a variety of specialised treatments...

Which products would be best to specify to use? I could have them use a good wax etc.

P.

 

[nigel cross]

Not the best idea, they will use what they use and scratch your new baby all over

 

[trapperjohn]

^ They will use. TFC. Traffic Film Remover and it will strip polish and paint pronto.

Just as an off the wall idea. All Mercedes garages have "car wash boys" not sure what they use to valet customers cars in for service. Might be worth having a glide round to the local Merc dealer and talk directly to the car wash boys out the back. I'm sure you will be able to come to some meaningful arrangement.

Others may wish to pooh pooh this idea. I have no idea what "suds" they use at Merc Main Dealers.

 

[wemorgan]

Welcome to the forum.

Are the drive through washing machines good enough? Maybe pay for a detailer to thoroughly clean the car once a year if you've an eye for such things.

 

[Dieselman]

How do we know what products the local hand car wash will use.

Some of my staff never wash their own cars and use these services exclusively, their cars appear fine.

 

[rascalmaster]

ref driving easy: there's another school of thought one that seems credible... to give it the ol boot every now and then you'll have a faster car...

New Car Care – How to Take Care of a New Car - Popular Mechanics

 

[mightymouse]

so do people normally wash their own cars to avoid the local hand car wash? what about the automatic ones?

 

[MB-BTurbo]

Just as an off the wall idea. All Mercedes garages have "car wash boys" not sure what they use to valet customers cars in for service. Might be worth having a glide round to the local Merc dealer and talk directly to the car wash boys out the back. I'm sure you will be able to come to some meaningful arrangement.

I was picking up some parts at Mercedes Skipton where I watched as a late teen early 20 year old used a sponge and 1 bucket to wash around 3 cars in succession.

 

[rascalmaster]

I INSIST Mercedes do NOT attempt to wash/ valet my car while it's in for a service...

 

[Mr.CAP]

Hi,
First off I would have a paintsealent put on it. After that it will withstand more aggressive use of solutions to clean your car. Weather they use traffic film remover or a petroleum based tar remover won't be a problem since this is what they are supposed to used to clean your car depending on what type of dirt they are trying to remove. The use of old sponges is far more concerning if they have pieces of gravel or other harmful dirt in them. Good luck with your new B- class
/ Mike

 

[trapperjohn]

I was picking up some parts at Mercedes Skipton where I watched as a late teen early 20 year old used a sponge and 1 bucket to wash around 3 cars in succession.

Holy crap Batman.

 

[MB-BTurbo]

I had thought about offering my services as I enjoy detailing and polishing nice cars to a good standard but there is no way I could compete with doing 3 cars in 10 minutes.

Its another example of the Mercedes standard. If it looks good on first impressions thats the main thing. Even still Im wondering how car number 3 could look good from 10 meters away let a lone stand up to closer scrutiny.

 

[@MARK]

Avoid the automatic car washes (the ones with rollers like you find at petrol stations or IMO etc) at all costs.

Many years ago, I had just had the front of my car repainted a few weeks before (hit a sheep don't ask) and a colleague agreed to go and get it washed for me. Nice sunny day so when I came out of the office I was horrified to see the damage the car wash had done to my brand new paint job.

Never again.

But it depends what you want.

If you want a mirror finish then you either have to do it yourself or pay big money for somebody to do it for you.

Everybody knocks the local eastern european hands wash but it's what 90% of drivers use these days and it would not surprise me if the chemicals they use are any different to what the "self employed" guys at the local MB garage use anyway.

Pick a good one and they will not scratch your car to bits and they will not strip the clear coat.

Most less than 5 year old cars I see on the road look just fine. Sure you get a few swirls on the bonnet in the sunlight but you only see that when you stand and examine the car.

Perhaps a compromise is using your local hand car wash once a month and getting a proper valet (where a new layer of hard polish is applied) once a year (or every 6 months if you want)

 

[Mr.CAP]

I had thought about offering my services as I enjoy detailing and polishing nice cars to a good standard but there is no way I could compete with doing 3 cars in 10 minutes.

Its another example of the Mercedes standard. If it looks good on first impressions thats the main thing. Even still Im wondering how car number 3 could look good from 10 meters away let a lone stand up to closer scrutiny.

It is too bad you feel that Mercedes has a bad standard. I would like to say that Mercedes has an excellent standard however it just might be that you have had had a bad experience with your local Mercedes dealer. I can give you an example that just happened in our dealership with a 2 months old CLS 350. It had a problem with a contact in the cable harness. The mechanic in charge of it told me that just changing the contract would solve the problem but since this was a warranty matter it was reported to Mercedes Sweden. Their response was to send a whole new set of cables witch resulted in that the whole interior had to be removed a operation that took 4 days to complete and which Mercedes paid. This is quite the opposite to your statement that if it looks good.... If you someday get to visit the factory as I have done several times you will see what high a rigorous standards they have and it is a very impressive factory with a size that is 3 times the size of Monaco

 

[mightymouse]

I think he meant the dealership. I am happy with MB Norwich where I bought my car from. I was not happy with Sheffield or Manchester, who were snobs to say the least.

 

[MB-BTurbo]

Their response was to send a whole new set of cables witch resulted in that the whole interior had to be removed a operation that took 4 days to complete and which Mercedes paid. This is quite the opposite to your statement that if it looks good.... If you someday get to visit the factory as I have done several times you will see what high a rigorous standards they have and it is a very impressive factory with a size that is 3 times the size of Monaco

That is very good to hear. I have nothing against Mercedes, in fact I really like them as a manufacturer and prefer them to Audi and BMW-despite the BMWs driving slightly better. The overall image, design and feel of Mercedes is something I much prefer and they feel more special.

I was referring to the dealerships. There are some concerning reports that you read that appear to be letting the Mercedes name down - and not just from those joining up because they have a problem. When I combine this with what I see at my dealership and the decision to pay someone to wash a £20,000 as quickly as possible for the sake of a few £ it is difficult to see how this ethos would be any different behind closed garage doors.

 

[steve333]

so do people normally wash their own cars to avoid the local hand car wash? what about the automatic ones?

I personally never use a hand car wash & choose to wash my car myself however the op has no choice as he is disabled so i would suggest finding out where a trusted local hand car wash is(maybe ask local car dealerships etc where there cars are washed?)

 

[Mr.CAP]

I understand what you are talking about. Unfortunately there are some dealerships here in Sweden that isn't really doing the name Mercedes any justice and it's bad that they get to keep on running the brand down. One can only hope that the customers complaints eventually reach high enough up in the chain so that it will be dealt with. The dealer should always strive to make the customer feel secure in his purchase and with his local dealership. I know it sounds like a bit of a dreamy scenario but it is something that goes hand in hand with the purchase and most people putting up the kind of money they do for a Mercedes expect it. Hopefully the dealers you mentioned will sort themselves out as soon as possible.

 

[mikec32]

Where is the op based!?

 

[amzchhabra]

i took delivery of my B200 CDI on 30th March, and have covered about 1500 miles now. Running in wise, I followed the manual in the maintenance and care section at the back and alongside that, i have not used cruise control until after 1500 miles. The service manual states 1500km, however i followed that for 1500 miles.

with regards to paint care, I coated the car with g-techniq products including C1 for the bodywork which will keep the silver paintwork in good shape for a year or so...