View Poll Results: Do you let the dealer wash your car when you take it in for service?
Yes
7
20.59%
No
27
79.41%
Voters: 34. You may not vote on this poll

Do you let the dealer wash your car?

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Old 07-07-2006 | 08:17 PM
  #1  
littleorangeman's Avatar
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From: st. louis
Do you let the dealer wash your car?

Are you comfortable letting the dealer wash and clean your car not knowing what detergents/chemicals they are using to remove their grease/dirt? Or that you don't know if they are using a touchless wash? I think I'd rather clean it myself so I know what was used to take out a stain or wash the car.
Old 07-07-2006 | 08:26 PM
  #2  
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Originally Posted by littleorangeman
Are you comfortable letting the dealer wash and clean your car not knowing what detergents/chemicals they are using to remove their grease/dirt? Or that you don't know if they are using a touchless wash? I think I'd rather clean it myself so I know what was used to take out a stain or wash the car.
No. The best way to get rid of swirls is not to get them in the first place (says the person who doesn't have nor know how to use a Porter Cable).

When I was in for an A1 service, I was walking around including to the back of the dealership. They used a high pressure wand, and took what looked like a broom (I am sure the head was much softer, but...) to scrub the car, and then rinsed it with the high pressure wand.
Old 07-07-2006 | 08:32 PM
  #3  
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Fuck NO. Do not let the dealer wash your car.
Old 07-07-2006 | 08:48 PM
  #4  
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From: st. louis
I just figured that even if they ran it through a touchless carwash, you're still probably getting recycled water that includes other people's detritus. On the interior, I can understand them wanting to wipe down an errant grease stain from a dirty hand or leg or something, but who knows what chemicals they will use to wipe it off? I would much rather be given the car dirty and know what is being used to clean it, than get it back half-assed.

So how do you go about telling the guys at the dealer not to wash? Just tell the Service Manager to not wash your car? Post a sign on your dash saying so?
Old 07-07-2006 | 09:18 PM
  #5  
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From: near Charlotte
I actually have the same question.
I will be going in, in the next few weeks for my 5,000 mile service and DO NOT want the dealer to wash it.
Old 07-07-2006 | 10:32 PM
  #6  
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Where's the option for "I tell the dealer not to wash it, but they do anyway"?
Old 07-07-2006 | 10:35 PM
  #7  
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From: East Bay Area, CA
Dealer Installed Swirl Option (D.I.S.O.) should not have been on your window sticker.

Dealer Wash =
Old 07-07-2006 | 11:18 PM
  #8  
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I specifically state "No Wash" and ensure it is on the work order.
Old 07-07-2006 | 11:24 PM
  #9  
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^^
Good to know. Wouldn't have thought to make sure it was in the work order, but now I will.
Old 07-07-2006 | 11:36 PM
  #10  
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Oh, I forgot to mention the service advisor also highlights it in yellow ....
Old 07-07-2006 | 11:40 PM
  #11  
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I never let the dealer wash my car. I let them wash my car once in the summer years ago when I first got my Legend, and it came out looking twice as dirty as when I dropped it off. I always let them vacuum the interior, but that's it. The only time I may let them wash it is if its the middle of winter, and my car is covered in salt...in that case, they are the lesser of 2 evils.
Old 07-07-2006 | 11:51 PM
  #12  
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i just got 10K service at the Santa Monica dealer. i specifially said not to wash the car...and they knew already that the carwash casues the swirls. eventhough the SM dealer is nice enough to go to the real touchless carwash and do the job not at dealer, i don't like other people washing my car. they stated not to wash the car in the paper...you should ask for that too; ask them to put the statement on the paper work.
Old 07-08-2006 | 12:01 AM
  #13  
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From: st. louis
Originally Posted by SuperCoupe93
The only time I may let them wash it is if its the middle of winter, and my car is covered in salt...in that case, they are the lesser of 2 evils.
In that case I think I'd tell them that if they really couldn't resist washing my car to just spray it down with regular water and let it air dry...lol
Old 07-08-2006 | 01:10 AM
  #14  
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I dont let the dealer wash my car. Its in the computer system, and I remind them everytime I am in.
Old 07-08-2006 | 09:00 AM
  #15  
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After first seeing how they provide cars with a "complimentary" wash, I was amazed. They usually have one gopher fella scrub the car with a dirty brush soaked in soap (what kind??) without even pre-rinsing the car. Then after he "cleans" the car, they don't even dry it and park it right outside 'coz they have about a dozen more cars lined up to be washed. It is indeed dirtier after the wash and the windows are all smudged from leftover soap suds that dried up.

I just hurried to the counter and told them not to wash the car at all.
Old 07-29-2006 | 03:38 PM
  #16  
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HELL NO.

I actually wash and wax the car before it goes into the dealer.

1. I like it to look pretty there
2. I would know if there are any scratches or anything done by the dealer
Old 08-05-2006 | 01:02 PM
  #17  
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no..!! what they do is making swirls everywhere..
Old 08-05-2006 | 02:07 PM
  #18  
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NEVA !
Always tell them not to - even thou I hardly wash my car once a month

Once I was in for oil change and I was feeling that it's taking longer than normal
so I walked to the back to find that the wash kids were just about to do my car
I think I yelled "YO! YO! YO! STOP !!!" or something like that
Old 08-05-2006 | 02:40 PM
  #19  
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From: NJ
I voted yes because I did let them- but no longer would I allow them to touch my car with their washes.
Old 08-05-2006 | 07:24 PM
  #20  
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From: Phoenix, AZ
N
E
V
E
R
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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