trancemission

So I finally brought my car in for that recall. I had to get its State inspection done as well so I figured just do the recall while I was there.

Now my dealer rocks, at least they have always been great with me.

So anyway, my service guy usually scratches out the washing part but this time he forgot and so did I. So I go to pick it up and I thought, what the hell, maybe they might do a good job.

fuck no, they washed it, then parked it next to the sprinklers. I looked at my service dude and was like "Bob, it actually looked better when I brought it to you dirty" Now Bob is the coolest dude, he offered to redo it but I denied. I know he felt pretty bad.

But i mean really, why in the hell do they even offer that? Are there any dealerships that actually take the time to wash it good enough?

Anyway, just had to vent.

Distorted Reality

I'm probably sure there are some dealerships out there that do great washes, actually take time to wash it properly and take time to make sure its done right, pride on their work. But half of the dealerships out there the porters are always some inexperience kids that don't have detailing background. But honestly how hard is it to properly rinse a car and wash it with some soap and water and use a clean mit and a clean towel to dry the car. They are just lazy. I have found that even mercades benz, or bmw dealerships are the same way. My buddy took his cls55 amg to mercades benz and they washed it and it looked like complete shit swirl marks all in the paint, dried water spots all over. So I guess its a dime a dozen places out there that do a good job on washes. For the times I do take my car in for service I always politely decline the wash and tell them not to worry about it. And have the service writer write in bold on the ticket do not wash car.

jptl04

iTrader: (1)

those BASTARDS! yea lazy kids, they prolly wash whole car with one mitt. dirty wheels, then straight to the fender or hood, "oops i dropped the mitt, oh well" back in the bucket then back on your hood. hello scratches and swirls. you're right they shouldn't even offer the stupid wash. i make it a point to have the service advisor write on the service form "NO WASH" dont forget next time!

LoveMyTL-S

I don't allow the dealer to wash it either...........I enjoy doing the job right myself.

01tl4tl

hahahaaha
you really think the guy who drives your car around the lot and thru the car wash- (most are automated systems now)- that person may or may not READ english, doesnt take time to read any work orders- especially things like Vac Only or No Wash

They are single mindly programmed that every car gets washed - especially if its hot outside!! Acura has a nice stereo and ac after all

When the wash program works right~~
the average customer, who has come in for a basic oil change service, is so excited to see their car is washed- it actually feels like it runs better,,, they may return for real service later- with good money- its an investment in goodwill on their part

If you want to ensure the car does not get touched, write a NO WASH note in Espanol
and tape it in 3 places inside the car-

Tell the Service Manager ``if they wash your car- a real detail shop gets to fix the damage!- not their detail guy--he may be the same person noted above!!!

HONgDA

iTrader: (1)

I took mine for the recall and I forgot to tell them not wash it. To my surprise they did a great job without any damage. It felt like they put some sealant or wax on it that made it smooth and shiny. It lasted for a week. They couldn't get me a loaner so at least they did something right.

CarrieLynn

iTrader: (2)

I have a perfect story for this thread...

A few years back I had a Honda Accord w/ chrome rims and they wash your car at Honda too. So they washed my car and I don't know what the hell they put on my rims but it completly left marks on the chrome. It looked like they sprayed something on them and there were PERMANEMT drip marks down the rims, must have ate the finish. Anyway, they reimbursed me for the rims, since they were ruined and I have never let the dealership wash my car again!

csmeance

wheel cleaner for brake dust+steel rims = bad. I never let the dealer wash my car, all the dirt from other cars scratch the finish, etc.

voidtrance

Last time I took my car in (last week), my service guy told me that they will stop washing cars at the dealerships because they [the city, I think] is banning it due to dealerships not having proper drainages.

I guess, I won't have to worry about it anymore!

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

Ethan- I can sympathize. I HATE IT when I forget to tell them not to wash it.

mn2trance

Took mine in for an oil change last week and didn't tell them to do the wash and vac, but they did both any way. I needed both done since I can't wash it due to a water ban. My car was clean from the dirt and so were my wheels. After I had gotten home, I cleaned the fenders due to the wheel cleaner chemicals spraying on them while I was driving home.

My dealership rocks!

aceman4

iTrader: (1)

Some folks just don't care what the exterior of the car looks like and they welcome a free wash or they're just not knowledgeable on what effect a "dirty" car wash on their car. IMHO, If you are on this forum, then you care about your car to read hour after hour on this forum and would never let this happen. Why else would you be here? You LOVE your Acura.

aceman4

iTrader: (1)

Wow, I didn't realize Atlanta was still enforcing a water ban. We are still at twice per week on water and washing. I've had great luck with the following waterless auto wash products. They work great if your car isn't too dirty.

DP Waterless Auto Wash or Eco Touch Waterless Car Wash

FR4NCH1SE

yea man, those service advisors are the shyt the one I had the pleasure to have at Pohanka Acura in Chantilly named Jayson was the shit. He so nice and he gave me a car to drive home but I took my matrix to his dealership and he even gave me donuts and soda when I left after I picked up my baby. There are some nice people in the world that are worth giving time to.

TL1999

DAMN..that sux...

i tell my dealer HANDWASH only...and park it in the shade...

Will Y.

Sierra Acura's advisor asked if I wanted the car washed when I went in for the PS hose/wiper motor recalls.
Oh, I said "sure," and the car looked good afterwards, although I had washed it a few days before. SSM FTW!

crazyasiantl

iTrader: (7)

it seems everytime the dealer washes my car there are streaks in my paint and my rims have all kinds of waterspots and streaks in them. i kick myself everytime i forget to tell them no because i have to spend 4 hours re-waxing and polishing my wheels again

subinf

You guys have some pathetic dealers. The car wash I get from the dealer is pretty damn good.

TLType-s12

iTrader: (2)

The dealership I take it to washes it everytime you bring it in for whatever reason. The last time I noticed when I got home there were decent size swirl marks that werent there before. Now its nothing a good wax & polish wont fix. But ever since then everytime Ive gone to the dealership I specify NO WASH!!

Cat97

I don't understand the problem...

I have yet to bring my TL in for anything more than an oil change, but I used to bring my Vigor to the same dealership for service. They did an exterior wash if time and weather permitted, and I never noticed a problem.

I still need to bring it in for the power steering hose recall... should I worry?

YeuEmMaiMai

i let my dealer wash my car but then again I clean and wax it once a month and it shines just like a new 08 acura.......... this wednesday it will be clay bar city and 5 layers of wax to prep it for the winter.....actually when you get right down to it the paint on my car is smoother than 08 loaner I had with 7K on it..........and there is about 7.5 years difference between the build dates (10-01 vs 05-08) in the spring I will get the hood redone to get rid of all the chips in the paint around the grill area

trancemission

well like I said, my dealership kicks ass.

its just in this one area where they suck

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

I have always hand washed our cars, so when I took the TL in for the recall and noticed the cars being washed with a brush and hose, I promptly said no thanks. Talk about swirl marks.

Most would just think of it as a free car wash and never be bothered by the brush method.

rksokol

I always mention to the service counter to write "no wash" for two reasons:

1. Potential to damage the car, and
2. It takes so damn long!

Geez, I just bring in the car for a one hour job, and the car has to go into a 90 minute que to get washed? Screw it, just gimme the car back!

MWalsh9152

I dropped mine off for them to check out my tranny last night. No wash please

mrlobaloba

iTrader: (2)

My dealer is next door to this shitty car wash. So after they do work on the car they send it through. The car wash doesn't even have people to dry your car and had previously scratched the rims on my Vdub.

Jskman987

Took mine in for the PS & wiper recall & they washed it. What a mistake.... It looked better before I got it serviced!!

sixsixfour

i always wahs my car. no matter how nice or polite the dealer is, i just prefer washing my own car. i make sure every time its noted to NOT wash the car. so far, I havent slipped.

chill_dog

I always say "no wash", and they don't wash it. A couple of the guys even know and have verified I don't want it washed before I can even tell them. Besides, all they do is run it through the wash and dry it...not worth it.

Oh, and as for water restrictions...we're still on one day a week car washing, despite having gotten plenty of rain recently to make up the water levels. I wouldn't care so much, but I don't like the day I have to wash my car.

MWalsh9152

have you checked out the no rinse washing system? with it you can wash the car with only a few gallons of water.....and you can do it in your garage if you have one so noone can give you shit if they wanted

paliknight

my dealer never washes my car lol. been there 3 times. i dont even mention a car wash either.

ac08odl

park ave makes my car look new after a oil change.. after all its free they dont have to do that..

paliknight

thats where i got my car from . they never washed or even offered to wash my car once. maybe i should consider myself lucky.

I hate cars

I let them wash my car once and only once. They made swirl marks on the guages and paint and it looked better when it was dirty when I brought it in. I'm sure it's not just Acura, my friend had the same experience in his IS350 at the Lexus dealer.

ac08odl

really? speak to dan about that..

jayunsplanet

iTrader: (1)

Your service adviser might care... but it doesn't trickle down to the $6/hr guy who actually washes the cars. Big and bold on the work order: "DO NOT WASH CAR"

Just wash it yourself...
Some dealers take pride... like Maserati dealerships.

Frankie02

yeah that's why I request for them not to wash or vac my car.

Jesstzn

But not Ferarri dealers ... they washed my daughters and I had to polish it all out again.

powerflow

Me too, no wash for me.

Most high volume dealers have a auto wash machine. These things are dirty and have rotating brushes that slap the dirt off the car. These thing will cause micro marring and swirl marks. Noticeable afterwards on a car that has mint, swirl free paint. Honda's softer type clear doesn't help.

Lot kids also might drive it like a hot rod, rev up the engine, bump into something, scratch/damage the paint. I've seen it time after time.

Not all Acura dealers, but most are like this.

napatype S

I have a story that makes all these stories look like a walk in the park. I bought my TLS on a sunday night. The dealer said they couldn't give me a good detail that night due to the detail guy calling in sick. So they told me to come back monday. So i dropped my car off and there gave me a loaner tsx. I got into the tsx and there was trash everywhere. They said sorry we didn't have time to clean it up for you. So i said forget it i was running late for work. So that afternoon on my lunch i called to see if it was ready. They told me they discovered a scratch on the dash that they would like to fix for me. The problem is the guy who they have do it doesn't come into till tommorow so they told me to keep the loaner for another day. The next day comes and i don't receive a call all day. So around 4pm i call the dealership to see whats going on. The service guys says everything is going great but i need to speak to the sales manager. The sales manager tell me one of his salesman hit my car with a mdx. I flipped out. I said i'm coming down there. I get there and my bumper is hanging off. The sales manger says "he just kissed it". I then say i want a new car. The car had 36 miles on it. The dealership refused to. Then i got my uncle (the lawyer) to go down with me they had a new car in just a few minutes. Now thats a dealership car wash story.