Sytner Mercedes - The Club - Free Car Wash

[Benz17]

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.

1) No
2) No
3) Couldn’t possibly comment

 

[Benz17]

Terry is superb.

He is, my previous W211 all work was done by him, for the 8 years or so I owned it.

When I purchased my current W213, the 3rd service due was also done by him, then with the discount offered on the service plan came up, I decided to go for it.

Terry is also a good hours drive from where I live.

Wheels in motion are also a good hours drive from me, when I get my annual wheel alignment checked over.

Used Lepsons for alloys refurbed, and KDS for detailing, both an hours drive.

Been to comand online for some retrofits, another 1.5 hours drive.

And the furthest was Germany to get my multibeam headlights retrofitted, some may say I am crazy, my wife certainly does.

But all the above have been worth it, as have got top notch service, and all work has been of the highest standard.

Nothing near me sadly who are able and comes with a good reputation.

Do others also travel a fair distance for car related work, or is it just me.

 

[uumode]

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.

Yes, I stick a 'Please Do Not Wash' note in the car too, as the reflex action of the service driver is to take cars into the cleaning area after work is complete, as they don't need to read the service notes like the technicians.

The damage to your cars sounds bad for hand wash. Fortunately for my recent cars there is no damage to paintwork inspected under bright LED light.

Before Mercedes though I had an Audi and had some repair work done which hit complications and work was only completed after the cleaning staff had gone home. It was late and dark so didn't notice anything until the morning, when I discovered Brillo pad 'skates on ice' deep scratches over the body.

Someone had taken it through the mechanical car wash in the petrol station round the corner. (quite aggressive in those days, modern ones have gentler washing pads)

I tried to argue my case and reached out to advisory bodies who indicated the onus was in me to prove they used the services of the petrol station, which I couldn't. So like you had to live with the car like that until I was in a position to change it.

Bought a brand new black car which I inspected the night before pickup (needed to be PDI'd in the morning) the black paint was glorious and glossy. Went next day to pick up, and the paintwork had swirl marks over the body. It had rained in the morning and the salesman just used some cloth to wipe off the 'dusty' rain drops. They machine polished the car for free to restore it to its former glory.

Possibly paint / lacquer in those days is softer than today? However I still see brand-new showroom cars with fine swirl marks under showroom lighting.

 

[uumode]

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.

I had an older E Class in for some work and told them to not wash the car (but in those days I didn't yet put a note in the car to not wash).
They accidentally washed it with strong pressure as well, stripping off the lacquer and paint from two of the alloy wheels. They automatically apologised and arranged a free courtesy car for a week while they refurbished the two damaged alloys.