I always say no thanks to wash. The service adviser is very understandable and actually they like it that way because it is less job for them.

 

This is absolutely 100% TRUE! The few times I've taken my car in (e.g. warranty work) I use Griot's Speed Shine to make it look even cleaner than I normally keep it, and the dealer staff (I mean from the service advisor to the mechanic to the gopher) all verbally talk to themselves about how great I keep the car and I must love my car blah blah blah. I see them handle the car very gingerly and with a very different and respectful attitude compared to the others.

 

NO WAY!
On my previous car - an SUV, I once watched them hose down my already spotless car. Great. I then watch as this "helper" (dealer prided themselves on hiring handicapped/special needs personnel) leaned against the rear hatch to dry above the rear window. He has on this exposed big-a$$ belt buckle that in the 15 seconds it took me to stop him puts about 3 six inch long scratched in the hatch. All the way thru the clearcoat to the color. Service manager comes out to stop me from telling this person to stop. I show him the results, and he apologizes telling me that the person drying my car doesn't know any better. I go on to explain that I do not fault the dryer - I fault him for not providing either supervision or prior inspection. This belt buckle was so large I could have opened beer bottles with it! Long story short - they try to buff it out but it is too deep and they hesitated to repaint claiming it would never look the same. Last time I ever went to John Hine in San Diego's Misson Valley for service. I have since told every dealer to skip the wash - I'd rather them not risk it.

sd_diver

 

Man, lots of horror stories. Anyone get a decent wash by the dealer?

 

Well, like I said in an earlier post, the last time they did mine, it was pretty good, even the wheels were very clean, I may still request no wash, but I did this time too, and somehow it got washed anyway, but I didn't say anything since it was such a good job!

 

hmm..maybe ill just have them do my wheels and get the brake dust off ..you think they will do just the wheels?

haha its probably pointless though

 

They fix it? I would have raised hell. The dealer damaged my front bumper and after a new one was painted and installed there was a small scratch. They paid for someone to come in and do a spot job on it. I couldn't even tell it had been painted. I think the bill said $240....but it was for them to pay, not me.

 

"Anyone say "no thanks" to the dealer wash?"

Yes, I also say no to the women in short skirts on the sidewalk who want to provide services. Same principle.

 

haha i also want them to just wash my wheels to get rid of that brake dust.......but i worry those idiots will overspray and stuff on the body panels and f up drying that........

how do u get rid of those stubborn brake dusts?

 

Accelerate through the yellow lights!

 

i dont like their wash so i skip it i only tell them to wash my wheels cuz its hard to get all the brake dust off and they do a pretty good job.

 

You obviously never owned an '04 or '03 if you think there is brake dust on an '05, I have, and the dust on my '05 is almost non-existent, the '04 was bad!

 

Haha I think you guys over-worry about the look of the car, it is just a car. Women worry about their own look, and men worry about their cars' looks.

 

Don't do it.
I know of more than one member here that have had wheels messed up,
with dealers using the wrong cleaning products.

Some tire & wheel cleaning products will eat your wheel finish.

 

Looks like I'm in the minority here, but I have not had any problems with the dealer washing my car. The wheels are OK too. It's Brilliant Silver, so things like swirl marks wouldn't be noticeable. I probably wouldn't want the dealer to wash it if it was black.