Cash Wash?

[Kalibre]

Hi,

I've come from roadster territory (Audi TT) so I haven't had the luxury of using a good automated car wash for while now. Now I've got my C180 on order (Saloon) I was thinking about running it through one, the only problem is the 'Three-Point-Star' on the bonnet. I guess Car Washes are a big no no then?

Thanks,

Kalibre

 

[jberks]

Mechanical car washes are a big no because of the damage they do to the paintwork. Your star would be fine, though the car was would be crap at cleaning the back of it!

 

[television]

Mechanical car washes are a big no because of the damage they do to the paintwork. Your star would be fine, though the car was would be crap at cleaning the back of it!

Don't forget my posting on MB paint on new cars, it was developed for car wash, as in Germany you are not allowed to wash by hand.

Malcolm

 

[littlebrooklyn]

The lovely Mercedes we recently sold had obviously been put through the car wash regularly and was covered in very fine scratches. I hadn't really noticed them but my partner was quick to see them.

Why can't they wash their cars by hand in Germany by the way

 

[vics1982]

Car Wash

I think its only sundays that your not allowed to wash your car by hand in Germany.

Possibly wrong though.

 

[littlebrooklyn]

I think its only sundays that your not allowed to wash your car by hand in Germany.

Possibly wrong though.

Crazy Germans

 

[gary350]

Sorry to say this but spending loads of cash on your MB and then puting it through a carwash or power hosing what planet are you from, take no chances do it yourself or get the chauffeur to do it.

gary

 

[Jensen]

Wash it by hand I find you get a better wash/finish anyway.

 

[littlebrooklyn]

We always use the Flash autodry thing that you can buy in Tesco, it really does work very well

 

[clive williams]

I think its only sundays that your not allowed to wash your car by hand in Germany.

Possibly wrong though.

Most towns and cities in Germany do not allow car washing (by hand) in municipal areas i.e. streets and car parks and generally no car washing on Sundays, hence the extensive use of automated car washes.

One important point to watch on car washes is the wheel cleaner spray that many of them use now. It's usually acid based and whilst it probably won't affect the alloy wheels or paint (its washed off with copious amounts of water straight after) the acid solution can run down the back of the wheel and end up on the protruding thread of the wheel bolts in the hub. The end result is vigorous corrosion, which makes the bolts difficult to get out and damages the threads of the hub on removal. Remember also that a fair number of wheel washes are applied between wheel removals. My local tyre shop has had an increasing number of problem bolts especially since:
a) There are more alloy wheeled cars about
b) The current fashion is for more open alloy wheels
c) Punters are keen to keep the alloys free from brake dust and hence specify the acid spray clean
d) More aggressive acidic cleaners are used as caustic material can be more hazardous
e) Servicing is now stretched out to longer intervals and it can be easily up to 2 years + between the wheels being taken off.
f) Bolts used instead of studs as its cheaper to manufacture, which means that corroded threads are not visible or accessible to clean.

Personally, I lightly gease the wheel bolt threads with coperslip each time I take a wheel off, which provides an acid resistant coating as well as using Muck Off to clean the wheels (non-acidic and effective)

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[television]

The hand washing in Germany is baned everyday as all water must be recycled. this is why MB brought out a new paint, Certain area's of Sweden will be next, If you wash your car near flats etc, people complain about the road dirt being washed onto their ground.

Malcolm

 

[Retired]

In Germany you can't wash your car at home / in ther steet as the waste water is not permitted to go into the normal drains.

You need to go to a place which deals with the waste water appropriately.

As has been said that means many people use automatic washers. However, you can go and wash your car by hand as long as the waste is dealt with correctly.

Its not how you wash your car that counts, its what happens to the water you wash it with.

 

[tom7035]

Hi,

I've come from roadster territory (Audi TT) so I haven't had the luxury of using a good automated car wash for while now. Now I've got my C180 on order (Saloon) I was thinking about running it through one, the only problem is the 'Three-Point-Star' on the bonnet. I guess Car Washes are a big no no then?

Thanks,

Kalibre

No such thing as a 'good' automated car wash, unfortunately.

 

[johnnycapone]

Wow what a mine field of information this place can be. I totally agree that these automated car wash's can be no good for any cars paintwork. As for Clives theory about copper slip, I work in the electrical supply industry and we also used copperslip on bolt threads for many years. But a few years ago it was outlawed due to its copper content causing strees fractures in the bolts themselves. As a result all bolts onsite which had been coated with copper slip had to be replaced over a period of time. Dont panic just yet, if I remember correctly, these stress fractures were due to the bolts be exposed to elevated temperatures (steam pipes) but I can confirm this for you if you like.
Regards
John

 

[television]

[]Wow what a mine field of information this place can be. John[/QUOTE]

I agree, and when we are pushing up daises it will be here forever, including the things you wish you never said

Malcolm

 

[turnipsock]

...anyway...everybody knows it's bad luck to wash your car.

 

[ivegotcclass]

If dirt is left on a car for long enough it will fall off anyway.

 

[Ramius]

Im supprised that no one has mentioned the Sundy morning tradition of waking up, grabbing a coffee and hand washing your car!

Theres no better way to blow away the cob webs of a heavy Saturday night then bending to the bucket repeatedly and feeling that throb of pain drive through your hangover.....I mean head.

 

[littlebrooklyn]

...anyway...everybody knows it's bad luck to wash your car.

Yep it always rains when we have just washed ours, same thing happens when the window cleaner comes round

Nice to see you are now a moderator

 

[Scooby Don't]

Clive
I do exactly the same.

I have just replaced the brake pads on my C270 and the hardest part of the job was removing the wheels! Certainly I would never have managed it at the roadside in the event of a puncture.

When I finally managed to remove the wheels (brute force I'm afraid) the bolts were corroded and the alloy wheel corrosion welded to the hub. This is a four year old car....

I have used 'Copaslip' for years without any problems in all sorts of environments/ applications and have come to rely on it's ability to combat corrosion so I would be interested if jonnycapone has more info. At the moment I treat both the bolts and the contact faces of the allow wheel/hub to light smear of the stuff on reassembly...

I recall reading somewhere that MB specifically say 'don't grease the wheel bolts' but I can't remember where. Maybe on the tapered contact faces but otherwise I have no idea why as it seems entirely sensible to me.