Washing the car with the star

properwounded

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My car is well over due a bath and I don't fancy doing it. I am aware the car wash swirls the paintwork but my concern is the 3 pointed Star on the bonnet.

Would a car wash rip it off or damage it?
 

stwat

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Before my W126 went for paint, I subjected it to the horrors of a cars wash. All it did to the star was lay it flat against the bonnet.

I was cringing throughout the whole was cycle and would never put my car or myself through that again !!
 
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properwounded

properwounded

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I didn't do it when i had the 300CE because of the star and my 500SEC because of flaky old paint. Looks like i'll have to do the hard elbow grease driving to a hand wash place who's staff don't use the body & window blades
 

DSB SL AMG

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I would NOT put it through a car wash...try a £5 hand clean...must be a few in your area.
 

orb the Impaler

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I would NOT put it through a car wash...try a £5 hand clean...must be a few in your area.

I think it was Fifth Gear that did a test a few years ago of different car washes and they had some paint specialist or something checking the paint.

The automated car wash did the least damage!
 

whitenemesis

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I think it was Fifth Gear that did a test a few years ago of different car washes and they had some paint specialist or something checking the paint.

The automated car wash did the least damage!

Agreed, a well maintained automated car wash should be ok for the occasional quick wash.
 

television

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I had to put my 300TE in a wash sometimes and laying the star flat it was always just fine.

The was a side effect in that the Star got washed very well as it was laying flat and made it more of a target for the star thieves:(
 

alexanderfoti

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I thought, by the thread title, that there was a hidden option in star diag! That would have made my life easier :) :) :)
 

obduro

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I do mine by hand more often than not or self-service Jetwash when i'm feeling lazy
 

pottr

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I would NOT put it through a car wash...try a £5 hand clean...must be a few in your area.
If you have a decent one this is always the best way. Be careful though, a lot of the cowboys will whip out a jet wash the second you go to the tea bar/toilet... Then you have problems if they are over-zealous.

I stay clear of automatic car washes as a rule now. With my taxis, things like the top signs and aerials tend to cause serious problems with the paintwork when being hit by the brushes.

Can't beat a DIY clean.
 
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whitenemesis

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One advantage of automated car washes is they often as not have an under-body wash option. Very useful especially come the winter months. Or at least for the one wash come spring!

IIRC one isn't allowed to wash one's car beside the road/ on the driveway in Germany? What type of auto-wash do they have. Must be plenty of MBs going through them there!
 
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mersum1es

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I've not heard anyone loosing star in machine wash, but many have seen 'falling star' while brushing/shoveling snow off the car in -20C... (I wonder did they had time to wish something :rolleyes:)
 

pottr

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Fair comment. I am guilty of forgetting that not everyone has daily access to a ramp.
 

robparker

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Or just take the star out first, only takes 10 seconds...
 

brandwooddixon

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Never had a problem with the bonnet emblem on either of my 210s on the rare occasions that I put them through a car wash. It's sprung loaded and is pretty rugged.
 

S.Speed

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I use an automatic car wash 99% of the time and never had a problem..
I do however take the precaution of folding my wing mirrors in...
Om my first merc I had the wing mirror ripped off and I got soaked when I got out to retrieve it whilst the. Ar wash was still going....
No I am NOT noking..
 

toby1

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You really need to find some experts with experience of the brand

1003416_174681499371803_449929445_n.jpg
 


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