[Kassim786]

Ok so I was at the dealers getting the car serviced and spoke to the car wash guy to see what method he actually washes the car in

(as I know BMW get a lot of stick for putting more scratches on when cleaning cars


What I heard next was shocking


Dirty cars ... Get washed with JUST water and then dried with a leather cloth !?!?

Surely that damages then more as the dirt is still on there ??

No wonder why they get scratched

[IanS100]

They washed mine last time it was in, & whilst it didn't come out scratched, neither did it come out clean. There were big areas where it was obvious that a wet, dirty cloth had been wiped over the paintwork leaving long, dirty streaks. It certainly wasn't a job to be proud of.

As for vacuuming the car out, the mats were nice & clean but when I had to remove one the following day, I found all the dirt & grit was underneath them. It looks like they brushed the muck off & left it, hidden in the footwells bequeath the mats.

They didn't even deserve 1/10 for effort!

[Guvernator]

What did you expect? They are a car dealer, not a professional detailer so they will wash your car for the lowest cost possible which means it will be crap. I never understand why people get so happy about getting their car washed "for free" after a service, I usually tell them not to bother.

[SP3333D]

Originally Posted by Guvernator

What did you expect? They are a car dealer, not a professional detailer so they will wash your car for the lowest cost possible which means it will be crap. I never understand why people get so happy about getting their car washed "for free" after a service, I usually tell them not to bother.

+1

My service writer knows that the first thing he needs to do is put a "No Wash" tag in the window.

[J Dub]

I have learnt about this one, I take mine in clean and always say before they do anything, I don't want mine washed as its been done and treated, thank you, if you want to run the hoover over the inside thats fine, but thats it

[acerboo]

Originally Posted by J Dub

I have learnt about this one, I take mine in clean and always say before they do anything, I don't want mine washed as its been done and treated, thank you, if you want to run the hoover over the inside thats fine, but thats it

even so youd be surprised at the damage that can be done to the plastics with a careless vacuum nozzle

[DMH-01]

Most people are quite happy for the dealers to wash the car as they either don't know any better or don't really care.

As mentioned, I wouldn't let them wash mine and always display my "Do Not Wash This Vehicle", they also make a note on the job sheet.

[J Dub]

Originally Posted by acerboo

even so youd be surprised at the damage that can be done to the plastics with a careless vacuum nozzle

As yet its not been done as its always clean lol they always say there is nothing to do, in fact maybe I will get them just to rinse the wheels as thats got to be almost safe and I hate cleaning my wheels lol

[Hope]

Always been happy with Bowker BMW washing my car! They even polished off a load of marks from where the model designation was last time they washed it.

[G82Dude]

Never, never, NEVER get your dealer to wash your car. Simples.

[Woody80]

Mine just came back from a bumper repair after someone reversed into it. They've washed the whole car in dirty water by the looks of it - you can see the dirty stripes where they've dried it and there's whole areas they've misses!

[Kassim786]

Originally Posted by Guvernator

What did you expect? They are a car dealer, not a professional detailer so they will wash your car for the lowest cost possible which means it will be crap. I never understand why people get so happy about getting their car washed "for free" after a service, I usually tell them not to bother.

Damn mate didn't need the lecture I didn't say I was getting the wash ?

I said I wanted to find out what they did wrong

[Jedimindtrix]

Originally Posted by Guvernator

What did you expect? They are a car dealer, not a professional detailer so they will wash your car for the lowest cost possible which means it will be crap. I never understand why people get so happy about getting their car washed "for free" after a service, I usually tell them not to bother.

I take it your a member of detailingworld.

[a11y]

Originally Posted by Jedimindtrix

I take it your a member of detailingworld.

And you point is........?


You don't have to have car cleaning OCD to want to care for your car. Fact is that majority of car dealers (Inc BMW) just don't take sufficient care not to scratch paintwork when washing.

[Fat Tony]

Took my car in to local dealers a few months back to have diagnosis on steering rack. When finished it was cleaned and somehow they managed to spill a brake fluid type substance over the front end. Ended up having to have front end re sprayed.......at dealers expense obviously!!

Will never get them to clean my car again.

[E93FTW]

Well it's "FREE" so you know what you get with that word.

[All Taken]

Originally Posted by E93FTW

Well it's "FREE" so you know what you get with that word.

That's a bit simple for my taste. The wash isn't really free now is it? You pay a premium for the services in comparison to other garages. The 'free' wash and vac is a way if softening the cost, I for one wouldn't want BMW scratching my motor when they themselves wiggle out of anything they can.

[Hope]

Originally Posted by All Taken

when they themselves wiggle out of anything they can.

Wholeheartedly agree with this, out of all the car brands I have owned, BMW have been the worst in terms of wiggling, they are expert wigglers!

[E93FTW]

Originally Posted by All Taken

That's a bit simple for my taste. The wash isn't really free now is it? You pay a premium for the services in comparison to other garages. The 'free' wash and vac is a way if softening the cost, I for one wouldn't want BMW scratching my motor when they themselves wiggle out of anything they can.

I get what your saying but since it's included with your service it's a half-assed job. Mine comes out barely dried everytime so that's why I call it "FREE".

[Guvernator]

Didn't mean it to come over as a lecture but just surprised that some people seem shocked that a BMW main dealer doesn't really take car when washing your car. At the end of the day they are a business and not exactly paragons of virtue at the best of times so washing your car decently for "free" is the least of their worries when they'd rather be overcharging your for stuff you don't really need doing instead.

[E93FTW]

Originally Posted by Guvernator

Didn't mean it to come over as a lecture but just surprised that some people seem shocked that a BMW main dealer doesn't really take car when washing your car. At the end of the day they are a business and not exactly paragons of virtue at the best of times so washing your car decently for "free" is the least of their worries when they'd rather be overcharging your for stuff you don't really need doing instead.

Absolutely,I agree

[Hope]

Originally Posted by Silver_Fox

I never let them touch mine.
It's difficult to tell some scratches on metallic paint as you need certain light.
I know the car like the back of my hand... and DA it myself every other month.

Every other month!? I hope not with any of the cutting compounds, I would definitely invest in a paint meter if I was going to DA my car every other month.