Auto Car Wash and the Bonnet Badge

[BigMiles]

As a new Mercedes owner (C220 CDI Xreg) I need advice on using auto car washes. Will the 3 corner star on the bonnet survive the spinning brushes? Or will it be snapped off?
I am aware of the concerns people will have about auto carwash damaging paint work etc, but I am more concerned about the survival of my bonnet badge.

 

[GrahamC230K]

It will survive.

 

[bazza]

AUTO CAR WASH!!!!

Use a jet wash if you have to, but I would never use a car wash.


Bazza

 

[jberks]

why worry about the badge, when the paintwork will be buggered? As an alternative, just use sandpaper on the boot, bonnet, doors etc, saves a fortune on the carwashes and produces similar results. - and no damage to the badge!
Oh, and anyone ever had a clean car from a jetwash? Tried twice on a cleanish, well polished car, when I finished, it was just a streaky mess.

The local illegal immigrant hand car washes are great though!

 

[gregit]

CAR WASH

Mercedes Benz don't seem to have any hang up about car washes Fitting a button that instructions for use quote'OFF Actuate briefly to prevent unpleasant odour entrance and before entering a car wash'This is from a MB handbook,which I would have posted the page but can't get to load up

 

[OlafMaxwell]

Don't even think of an auto car wash. Or a garage. Lots of advice here about the auto washes, they mangle the paintwork. Then in my local garage that has a jet wash...........they put washing up liquid into the system...it is full of salt and Mercs rust like hell.

Buy a powerwasher and a good soft sponge and some Simoniz proper shampoo and go diy. I know it works, have 90k and paint like new. Have a 95 Peugeot also like new, never in auto washes.

 

[jberks]

Gregit,
Im sure Merc don't comment on such machines - the legal implications would be interesting if they did. However, in the same vein, the section on air bags does not imply they recommend smacking your pride and joy into a wall!

Auto car washes will stuff up any paintwork, no matter how good.

 

[gregit]

legal implications be damned

jberks
waited a while to post this MERCEDES BENZ recommendation just for you
Second button from right

 

[jberks]

thanks Gregit.
I suppose they had to think of some reason you may want to turn if off. Pehaps they could substitute "muck spreading season" for "car wash"!

 

[stwat]

why worry about the badge, when the paintwork will be buggered? As an alternative, just use sandpaper on the boot, bonnet, doors etc, saves a fortune on the carwashes and produces similar results. - and no damage to the badge!
Oh, and anyone ever had a clean car from a jetwash? Tried twice on a cleanish, well polished car, when I finished, it was just a streaky mess.

The local illegal immigrant hand car washes are great though!

LOL..

Stu.

ps, i've been a valeter and have seen the damage car washes can do!!!! Nasty..

 

[w201]

Why not run the car into a garage that does hand car washing it just costs the same as an automatic car wash

 

[SLinKyjoe]

Dont use the auto car wash. If that sensor that decides where the car is just happens to get a bit of muddy water splashed on it the whole thing collides with your car before the touch sensor backs it off. Just do a local survey of your car washes and see how many are out of action and how often!!

Jet washes are pointless unless you are knocking off some serious mud before washing the car proper. they are good for giving the underside a bit of clean th remove any road salt in winter, but then drving along a road in the rain does the same job.

Hand wash it yourself. You will notice that helpful dieticans and so on recommend you do this as its classed as good gentle exersise and helps maintain mobility. Saves you stuffing up the enviroment with pollutants when you have to drive to the "illegal immigrants" car wash too. Saves your petrol etc.

Oh and never ever put washing up liquid in the water. It destroys the rubber seals everywhere. I have mentioned this before and people replied with "it's okay for dishes and dishwashers so it will be okay for cars". They are mad. Dishwashers dont take ordinary washing up liquid. and do you really own 350BHP £60k dishes??? or 90BHP £3k dishes for that matter.

Mercedes do a booklet that tells you how to take care of your car by washing. it does say that it is okay to take your car to auto washes then goes on to explain at great length why you get the best out of the paintwork by doing it at home.

Simple answer...if it's not yours shove it in the car wash. If it is yours, shove the car wash.

 

[Matty H]

Forget the car washes & hand washes... Buy yourself some nice quality products like Meguiers or Mer & do it yourself...

I find driving it around (especially in the summer) an even better experience knowing it looks sooooo good, and it's all your own work.

 

[stwat]

Washing up liquid also contains salt and alkalies(spelling??) which strip the polish off!!!!!!

 

[pascal]

No autowash on new MB plez

BIGMILES,

Preparation time: 4mins Cooking time: 12mins

Ingredients:

1: 10L plastic bucket (green)

2: Turtlewax 'ZIP WAX' or 'EXTREME' car shampoo

3: Large sponge (white)

4: chamois (optional)

5: Hose (gold)

6: 8L warm water.

When you get the above ingredients, let us know and you can have full instructions.

PASCAL