Using an Automatic Car wash...

[Geoff]

Hi there, I have what seems like a dumb question, but hopefully someone can help me with it !!

I've just taken delivery of my new C220 CDI Avantgarde SE, and I'm really pleased with it. But what are you supposed to do for washing it ? I'm not really into standing around with a bucket and hose, especially in the cold weather, so I want to put it through a car wash. If I do this, am I likely to snap off the badge on the front of the bonnet, or does it have enough 'spring' in it to prevent this happening.

Thanks in advance for any assistance !!

 

[jimmy]

The badge will withstand the car wash brushes but the paint will take a battering. Car washes scratch the paintwork really badly, even if they say non-scratch or soft bristle. They really are bad, but if you dont like hand washing then you have to decide what is best for you.

 

[Shude]

They really are bad, but if you dont like hand washing then you have to decide what is best for you.

Please take it to one of those hand car wash places, basically as good as washing it yourself!

 

[Brian WH]

The badge will withstand the car wash brushes but the paint will take a battering. Car washes scratch the paintwork really badly, even if they say non-scratch or soft bristle. They really are bad, but if you dont like hand washing then you have to decide what is best for you.

I toatally agree - DONT PUT IT THROUGH A CAR WASH - If you have any pride at all you will Love Cleaning it by hand. You will not only get a much better finish and NO SWIRLS on the paintwork but you will also get to know your car better and all its features.

 

[Satch]

A new bonnet star is not that expensive.

However, the cumulative damage to paint and alloys is. Car washes are evil devices: embedded grit, recycled water, aggressive detergents and a "wax" finish all over your windscreen? Yuck.

If it is a shed beyond hope or something you really do not care about fine. Otherwise do not do it!

 

[R2D2]

Hand wash only PLEASE!

 

[Howard]

If you can't be bothered to clean it - then perhaps you shouldn't have it !!

 

[jimmy]

Steady on chaps, it is upto Geoff how he cares for and cleans his car, if he really dislikes hand washing then thats up to him. Lets just warn him about the perils of automatic car washes.

We should not make judgements about whether he deserves to have an MB if he does not want to wash it himself, he might have enough money not to be bothered about the potential damage or it might be a company or lease car or whatever, it matters not. At the end of the day it is Geoff's decision.

Geoff is a new member, lets not give the wrong type of welcome to a new member (again!)

 

[stwat]

Im sorry Geoff but i agree with all the above answers(actualy, no im not sorry) If you Cant be bothered to wash the car yourself, then go to a hand car wash place.

Stu

 

[Geoff]

Thanks for all the replies, and I didn't realise I was going to provoke such a heated response!!

I do hand wash my car from time to time, but it's a time consuming job and sometimes I just want the convenience of a quick clean up via a drive through car wash. There's no way I'm going to start hand washing in the cold and dark when I come home from work at night, so that's why I was asking about the practicalities of using a car wash.

My previous car (not a Mercedes) also had silver metallic paint, and the odd trip through the car wash didn't seem to do the paintwork any harm, so I think I'll be prepared to take the risk, although I'll try not to make a habit if it !! (And yes, it is a company car which I'll only be keeping for 2 years, so maybe if I actually owned the car I might be more inclined to give it a much more personal wash)

Accepting that most people on here do not approve of car washes, coming back to my original question, is it actually safe to use one if I choose to do so, or am I likely to lose the badge every time I do it ??

 

[High-Lo]

coming back to my original question, is it actually safe to use one if I choose to do so, or am I likely to lose the badge every time I do it ??

Geoff the badge should be Ok for a car wash but I recommend trying to find a hand wash service instead of a traditional car wash. There are three places round my way so I'm sure they shouldn't be too hard to find. They start at just £8 for a basic wash/dry/glass/wheels, etc.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Shude]

Geoff the badge should be Ok for a car wash but I recommend trying to find a hand wash service instead of a traditional car wash. There are three places round my way so I'm sure they shouldn't be too hard to find. They start at just £8 for a basic wash/dry/glass/wheels, etc.

I'm not kidding when I say the "best hand-job in manchester" is only £5. It says that on the sign! It's actually a really popular hand car wash and a really speedy service, tons of cars queued up but they fly though. The sign cracks me up whenever I see it though

Accepting that most people on here do not approve of car washes, coming back to my original question, is it actually safe to use one if I choose to do so, or am I likely to lose the badge every time I do it ??

The bonnet ornament will be fine. In fact if you have the new nano paint finish then your paint will probably be fine too, no need to worry about it!

 

[SilverSaloon]

i used to use auto car washes all the time, but would never use one again on my merc.

hand wash is the only way for a good clean + care for your car - especially if it is brand new - the paintwork must be lovely so keep it that way!

there seems to be quite a few "brushless" car washes now... either hand or automatic.... such as "autoshine express"

http://www.autoshine-express.co.uk/

 

[Flash]

If u do decide to run it through the car wash (big mistake) then u can actually fold/pin the star down by simply pushing it backwards and afterwards u can pull it back to its upright postion - (thats how new MBs are delivered to the Stealers on transporters and remain that way before they are PDI'd).

If I was u (like the other Guys have mentioned on here - find a hand wash place).

Flash

 

[Shude]

You could even remove the bonnet ornament prior to washing, take seconds. The hole would allow water to run down the inside of the grill and fan area though unless you blocked it up with something

 

[JohnC]

It's better to keep it clean than dirty!

All the salt and grit that sticks to the car at this time of year does far more damage to the paintwork. But if you must use a car wash - use it when it's been raining and the muck on the car has at least had contact with some water before it's hit by the brushes.

And I don't recommend a pressure washer as the first blast with water - it has the same effect as a sandblast when the water combines with ther muck on the car.

Oh! the emblem will be OK - in a well maintained car wash - have a look at the state of the brushes before using

But at the end of the day - far better to hand wash yourself (it gets me out of the house SAD really)

 

[Shude]

lots of replies on this thread:

http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=4421

I went into one with my 'V' some years ago when I was in a hurry to get the car clean before going somewhere important. Unfortunately, the dickhead who had used it earlier had gotten his ariel ripped off when he had forgotten to lower it…… (I bet you can see where this is going!). Needless to say, said dickhead didn't tell the station owner and just drove off leaving the ariel snotted up in the brushes.

Muggins goes in and had the front of the wagon flailed by said ariel. £800 of damage before I could jump out and hit the emergeny stop… and that WAS an exciting experience… interesting but rather dangerous. (The Shell paid out of their pocket for it, the damage to the car that is, not my wet clothes and brown trousers!!). Chipped up bonnet, front wing, A pillar and smashed windsreen.

Never again… ever!

 

[garystu1965]

Tesco do a velvet brush drive thru. I tend to use that one every two weeks and hand wash every two weeks. Apart from the swirls which are hardly noticeable I think drive-thru's are fine. The jet washes are a waste of time. They just don't clean the car. What's this nano finish mullarky ????

 

[Howard]

Mercedes Hard Wearing Very Shiny Paint Finish Option

 

[Geoff]

Thanks for all the advice. Looks like most people reckon automatic car washes should be avoided, so I'll try and hand wash wherever possible. However, on the basis that my car is metallic silver, plus the fact that it is a new car and therefore has the nano paint finish, I'll take the risk of putting it through an automatic wash occasionally if I don't have the time to do it myself.

Still a bit nervous about the badge though….if I leave it upright it looks like it would get snapped off when the brushes return from the back of the car to the front. I tried folding it down, but is was pretty stiff and I didn't want to force it in case it broke – is it definitely designed to fold down ??