Sytner Mercedes - The Club - Free Car Wash

[mpc]

I bought my Mercedes C Class Estate thru Sytner Mercedes and automatically became a member of 'The Club' which gives me certain benefits.
One of those benefits is a free car wash each quarter.
Has anyone used this, is it just a young lad with a jet wash at the garage or is it done 'properly' and detailed?

 

[BigJase88]

Lad with a hose and a sponge most likely

 

[Benz17]

I bought my Mercedes C Class Estate thru Sytner Mercedes and automatically became a member of 'The Club' which gives me certain benefits.
One of those benefits is a free car wash each quarter.
Has anyone used this, is it just a young lad with a jet wash at the garage or is it done 'properly' and detailed?

Detailed at a dealer, I think not.

 

[clk320x]

Free car scratching with a sponge equivalent to 120 grit

 

[whitenemesis]

I bought my Mercedes C Class Estate thru Sytner Mercedes and automatically became a member of 'The Club' which gives me certain benefits.
One of those benefits is a free car wash each quarter.
Has anyone used this, is it just a young lad with a jet wash at the garage or is it done 'properly' and detailed?

My word, are they still doing that?
I had my C class serviced by the Sytner group and did on occasion use the Club's free wash. one more than one occasion I watched as the mature chap cleaned my car and dropped the microfibre, which he promptly threw in the bin and got a new towel to finish the cleaning. After he detailed the car inside and out another chap (in a suit) came out and checked over his work. I had no complaints... That was back in the mid 2000's

 

[liamt]

I've only used it once and it wasn't that bad at my Sytner Dealer. However, don't expect detailer level valeting. One part of the club membership I have found useful was the free puncture repair which I had to use once on an Easter Saturday when I got a puncture on my way into work.

 

[MEMERC7]

Please tell us you didn't pay full retail at a flash showroom & served by a smarmy salesperson whom you thought was your friend & who persuaded you to think you were getting a good deal because of a free car wash. Are you sure the 'deal'! didn't include a bouquet of plastic daffodils every Spring?

 

[Chrishazle]

I've watched MB Ashford's "car wash", it's a couple of lads with a pressure washer out back of the workshop. I prefer to take my cars to the Waves franchise at Tesco Tenderden where I know the people, have watched the care they take many times and even allowed them to do my 968 cabriolet on a number of occasions!

 

[liamt]

Please tell us you didn't pay full retail at a flash showroom & served by a smarmy salesperson whom you thought was your friend & who persuaded you to think you were getting a good deal because of a free car wash. Are you sure the 'deal'! didn't include a bouquet of plastic daffodils every Spring?

It is a standard service that Sytner provides to all its customers. You don't even have to buy the car from them. You qualify if you get it serviced at one of their dealerships.

 

[uumode]

Tony Purslow MB in the old days - early 2000s used to give free car wash with reasonable care, and under fluorescent lighting to highlight any streaks when it's in, free MOT, free fluid top ups, and up to 40% off labour for older cars and 10% off parts which almost matched the pricer specialists. But then specialists don't normally provide biscuits and ground coffee.

These days the cleaning has gone down hill with a quick wipe of a dirty rag? Car comes out with streaks dirtier than it's gone in. Scratches in interior trim too. Teenager would have done it better. Thought it was a one off lapse but happened again on next service, so now I ask for the car to be not washed at all.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Tony Purslow MB in the old days - early 2000s used to give free car wash with reasonable care, and under fluorescent lighting to highlight any streaks when it's in, free MOT, free fluid top ups, and up to 40% off labour for older cars and 10% off parts which almost matched the pricer specialists. But then specialists don't normally provide biscuits and ground coffee.

These days the cleaning has gone down hill with a quick wipe of a dirty rag? Car comes out with streaks dirtier than it's gone in. Scratches in interior trim too. Teenager would have done it better. Thought it was a one off lapse but happened again on next service, so now I ask for the car to be not washed at all.

It’s almost as if they do a bad job or scratch the car so that you know they’ve done it!

I do the same, I ask dealers not to wash the car and I have hanging signs for the mirror, sun visor and seat back, which say “Please don’t wash, thank you” because over the years a dealer has washed my car and scratched one of my cars three times - telling the service advisor and noting it on the job card wasn’t enough to stop someone washing the car.

On the first occasion (around 2001/2) I just lived with the super fine “car wash” scratches that it left over the car until I sold it, which was tragic because the paintwork was perfect. The next time in 2014/5 it was a single long scratch which you could see was a piece of grit on a sponge, and I had that polished out by my detailer. The dealer I used wasn’t surprised and didn’t care.

The last time was in 2017/8 and on a black car which had just been collected from the detailer after full paint correction and ceramic coatiNo. A perfectly clean black car with perfect paint looks very clean, but that didn’t stop them washing it and covering It in super fine “car wash” scratches. I had to have it corrected and coated again, and at my cost. They didn’t care so I changed dealer.

 

[Skd884]

Tony Purslow MB in the old days - early 2000s used to give free car wash with reasonable care, and under fluorescent lighting to highlight any streaks when it's in, free MOT, free fluid top ups, and up to 40% off labour for older cars and 10% off parts which almost matched the pricer specialists. But then specialists don't normally provide biscuits and ground coffee.

These days the cleaning has gone down hill with a quick wipe of a dirty rag? Car comes out with streaks dirtier than it's gone in. Scratches in interior trim too. Teenager would have done it better. Thought it was a one off lapse but happened again on next service, so now I ask for the car to be not washed at all.

Tier 1​

• 3, 4 and 5 year old vehicles
• 10% discount on all parts held in stock
• 20% labour discount - services and repairs

Tier 2​

• 6, 7 and 8 year old vehicles
• 10% discount on all parts held in stock
• 40% labour discount - services and repairs
• £30 MOT

Tier 3​

• 9+ year old vehicles
• 15% discount on all parts held in stock
• 40% labour discount - services and repairs
• £20 MOT

Platinum Programme Offer | Mercedes-Benz & Smart Car Offers From Sandown

Take a look at the platinum programme offer at Sandown. Filter the offers online until you find the right car for you.

www.sandown-group.co.uk

 

[BTB 500]

I used MB Guildford (Tony Purslow, Sandown) for 14 years until we moved to Shropshire in 2021. I really miss them - there's nothing similar up here

 

[Skd884]

I used MB Guildford (Tony Purslow, Sandown) for 14 years until we moved to Shropshire in 2021. I really miss them - there's nothing similar up here

Yes the £ for older cars is superb, £139 to service my v8 c43.

 

[BTB 500]

Yes the £ for older cars is superb, £139 to service my v8 c43.

It wasn't just the money ... they seemed genuinely interested in my R129, and never pushed to do extra work (the opposite in fact ... they advised dropping from annual to 2-yearly servicing because of the low usage).

 

[Deleted member 126251]

When I purchased my SLK in Australia, there was the usual carwash with every service. Only difference was, it was attractive women in shorts and T-shirts.

 

[leef44]

It’s almost as if they do a bad job or scratch the car so that you know they’ve done it!

I do the same, I ask dealers not to wash the car and I have hanging signs for the mirror, sun visor and seat back, which say “Please don’t wash, thank you” because over the years a dealer has washed my car and scratched one of my cars three times - telling the service advisor and noting it on the job card wasn’t enough to stop someone washing the car.

On the first occasion (around 2001/2) I just lived with the super fine “car wash” scratches that it left over the car until I sold it, which was tragic because the paintwork was perfect. The next time in 2014/5 it was a single long scratch which you could see was a piece of grit on a sponge, and I had that polished out by my detailer. The dealer I used wasn’t surprised and didn’t care.

The last time was in 2017/8 and on a black car which had just been collected from the detailer after full paint correction and ceramic coatiNo. A perfectly clean black car with perfect paint looks very clean, but that didn’t stop them washing it and covering It in super fine “car wash” scratches. I had to have it corrected and coated again, and at my cost. They didn’t care so I changed dealer.

I've had my car serviced at MB Brooklands, flagship dealership.
The service has been brilliant from them. Yes I know I'm paying for that lovely reception area, lovely coffee and business desk area.
The car service itself has been very good. I have no complaints and they even did the 5 year gearbox oil change under the service plan although I only just made it within 1000 miles (otherwise if the mileage is too low then they exempt themselves from doing this).

However, I likewise specifically ask for the car not to be washed. I make sure they make a note of it but never thought of hanging a sign over the mirror (that's a good idea). I too have a black car so more sensitive to this.

The issue is the young lad at the back with the jet wash gun has no idea of the damage that can be done squirting high pressure water between the gaps where there are electrical parts e.g. door mirrors and lights.

A friend who also has a service agreement enjoyed the privilege of having her car washed by them. One time she came back with a non functioning rear offside light. She didn't do anything about it for a couple of weeks so it was too late to link the cause.

It cost her over £300 to have it replaced because they only replace the whole unit and do not fix whatever was broken. She listens to me now about not getting the car washed.

 

[Benz17]

I also have been using MB Brooklands since I opted for the service plan, had 2 services and one more remaining this year. They are around 1.5 hours drive from my home.

I also can’t fault their work, I also make sure they write on the job sheet not to wash the car, also make sure i wash it day before the service, so they can see it doesn’t need washing.

Once my last service is completed, not sure what to do, as the service plan was discounted if paid up front, which was competitive, do I go back to my Indy (Wayne Gates), or do I opt for another service plan, will have to work out the figures, more then likely will go back to Terry.

 

[Skd884]

Terry is superb.

 

[leef44]

I also have been using MB Brooklands since I opted for the service plan, had 2 services and one more remaining this year. They are around 1.5 hours drive from my home.

I also can’t fault their work, I also make sure they write on the job sheet not to wash the car, also make sure i wash it day before the service, so they can see it doesn’t need washing.

Once my last service is completed, not sure what to do, as the service plan was discounted if paid up front, which was competitive, do I go back to my Indy (Wayne Gates), or do I opt for another service plan, will have to work out the figures, more then likely will go back to Terry.

The decision as to whether to go back to Brooklands surely depends on three things:
1) Do you have spark plugs due?
2) Do you have gearbox oil due?
3) Do they still have the pretty girls behind the glass to goggle out

If all three are yes then it is worth considering.