Steer Clear of Dealer wash??

pugxs · 02-26-2013, 08:23 AM

I have my car booked in with my local dealership to "reinitialise" my auto wipers following a windscreen replacement last month.

They mentioned they would give the car a wash and wax for me whilst it is in. Has anyone any experiences of a dealer 'valet'?

I'm very fussy when it comes to detailing my car and would be devastated if they scratched it or left me with killer swirl marks!!

However part of me also thinks that the showroom cars always look immaculate so surely they must know how to treat a car correctly?

Any thoughts would be welcomed?

SHEEDI · 02-26-2013, 09:23 AM

Stay away from Dealer's free car washes and waxes

Gray_Panther · 02-26-2013, 03:46 PM

Lol go to the showroom with a phone and shine the LED from the phone directly over the paint. Let me know if it is immaculate as you say it is....

Also they layer a lot of glaze on top which act as fillers to fill in swirls and scratches. They wash away over a month or two.

Sniz · 02-28-2013, 08:34 PM

Don't let them touch the car period. The showroom cars are rubbish.

Go in with a bottle of isopropyl and clean a spot. Then use a strong light and magically the defects will show their face.

I used to be a dealer wash boy.......you have no idea......

ny325 · 02-28-2013, 10:48 PM

Don't have the dealer wash your car.

Gig103 · 02-28-2013, 11:43 PM

Opt out even if it's a 100% hand wash. I was told by Infiniti that it was a hand wash but it still came back swirled.

Antartic · 03-04-2013, 12:24 PM

A hand wash does not automatically mean its going to be swirl free. Most people are not trained on proper techniques, and use the same towel on 10 cars to dry the paint and wheels.

They only care about the throughput of their wash bays, not the quality.

Sniz · 03-04-2013, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gig103

Opt out even if it's a 100% hand wash. I was told by Infiniti that it was a hand wash but it still came back swirled.

100% handwashed with a 2 week old dirty microfiber that lives in the corner of the wash bay covered in gravel and dirt.

WesleyC · 03-09-2013, 08:56 PM

I don't let the dealer wash my car. I honestly feel like the homeless guys that jump in front of your car at a red light and clean your windshield could do a better job.

I once saw the guys at the dealership washing a car and they were using, what looked to be, a giant broom meant for sweeping the garage. I nearly had a stroke when I saw that.

02-26-2013, 08:23 AM	#1
pugxs Private First Class 25 Rep 133 Posts Drives: E46 330ci Sport Join Date: May 2012 Location: Plymouth, England iTrader: (0)	Steer Clear of Dealer wash?? I have my car booked in with my local dealership to "reinitialise" my auto wipers following a windscreen replacement last month. They mentioned they would give the car a wash and wax for me whilst it is in. Has anyone any experiences of a dealer 'valet'? I'm very fussy when it comes to detailing my car and would be devastated if they scratched it or left me with killer swirl marks!! However part of me also thinks that the showroom cars always look immaculate so surely they must know how to treat a car correctly? Any thoughts would be welcomed?
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02-26-2013, 09:23 AM	#2
SHEEDI Banned 635 Rep 2,703 Posts Drives: 2009 335i - Sport PKG Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i [8.50]	Stay away from Dealer's free car washes and waxes
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02-26-2013, 03:46 PM	#3
Gray_Panther Brigadier General 2017 Rep 3,386 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Upstate NY iTrader: (0)	Lol go to the showroom with a phone and shine the LED from the phone directly over the paint. Let me know if it is immaculate as you say it is.... Also they layer a lot of glaze on top which act as fillers to fill in swirls and scratches. They wash away over a month or two. __________________ 2012 BMW 128i 6MT Deep Sea Blue Metallic
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02-28-2013, 08:34 PM	#4
Sniz Lieutenant General 769 Rep 10,584 Posts Drives: e92 335 - gone // e36 M3 turbo Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ellicott City, MD iTrader: (1)	Don't let them touch the car period. The showroom cars are rubbish. Go in with a bottle of isopropyl and clean a spot. Then use a strong light and magically the defects will show their face. I used to be a dealer wash boy.......you have no idea......
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02-28-2013, 10:48 PM	#5
ny325 Brigadier General 1005 Rep 3,172 Posts Drives: Jet Black E90 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Gridlock iTrader: (0)	Don't have the dealer wash your car.
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02-28-2013, 11:43 PM	#6
Gig103 Major 87 Rep 1,324 Posts Drives: 2014 Tesla P85D Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gilbert, AZ iTrader: (1)	Opt out even if it's a 100% hand wash. I was told by Infiniti that it was a hand wash but it still came back swirled. __________________ Was: 2008 335xi sedan 6MT Black Sapphire Metallic Is: 2014 Tesla P85D (Blue Metallic) Wife's: 2013 Infiniti G37 S sedan 6MT, Black
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03-04-2013, 12:24 PM	#7
Antartic Second Lieutenant 101 Rep 293 Posts Drives: F80 M3 2018 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	A hand wash does not automatically mean its going to be swirl free. Most people are not trained on proper techniques, and use the same towel on 10 cars to dry the paint and wheels. They only care about the throughput of their wash bays, not the quality.
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03-09-2013, 08:56 PM	#9
WesleyC Colonel 55 Rep 2,907 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Dec 2008 iTrader: (20)	I don't let the dealer wash my car. I honestly feel like the homeless guys that jump in front of your car at a red light and clean your windshield could do a better job. I once saw the guys at the dealership washing a car and they were using, what looked to be, a giant broom meant for sweeping the garage. I nearly had a stroke when I saw that.
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