DON'T WASH CAR! by Mike Phillips

Re: Don't wash car !!!!!!!!!!!

When I ordered my FR-S I told the salesman I didn't want it washed or touched when it came in. Don't take the stickers off or anything, just back it off the truck and park it. He looked at me like I was crazy and kept asking if I was sure.
When I went to pick it up they had complied, stickers still on the glass and being shipped from Japan it was filthy. I could just see them rubbing all that dirt into the paint.
When the paperwork was done the salesman told me he was going to go fill it with gas and I had to instruct him that it only takes 93 and again he thought I was crazy so I had to show him the sticker on the fuel door. When I got home I walked around it and saw where he had spilled gas all down the side of it. That reaffirmed I made the right decision to not let them wash it.
After I very carefully washed it the first time I found scratches and swirls all over it. One big one right below the corner of the spoiler that looked like they dropped it while installing it. A few deep ones on the top of the bumper at the trunk. The right front fender looked like someone leaned against it with jeans on and did the Chubby Checker.
So it's not just the dealership, the factory and the shippers will trash your car too.
I polished most of the swirls and scratches out but some I just had to let go, I didn't want to sacrifice too much clear coat on it's first polish. Thought I better leave some for later down the road.
I went by the dealer last Saturday to get some oil filters and ran into the salesman and he said "you know you get free oil changes for 2 years". I said "yes I know but I will pass". I would rather change my own oil than have to fix whatever damage they will induce. I just hope I never need any major warranty work, anything small I will just fix myself and probably come out ahead in the long run.

I read a story on another forum just the other day where a guy had a staggered wheel setup on his FR-S and took it to the dealer to get a tail light replaced under warranty because it was fogging up. When he picked up his car they had rotated his tires for him as a free courtesy. Yea that's right, they put the big tires and wheels on the front and the skinnys on the rear!
 
S2K said:
When I ordered my FR-S I told the salesman I didn't want it washed or touched when it came in. Don't take the stickers off or anything, just back it off the truck and park it. He looked at me like I was crazy and kept asking if I was sure.
When I went to pick it up they had complied, stickers still on the glass and being shipped from Japan it was filthy. I could just see them rubbing all that dirt into the paint.
When the paperwork was done the salesman told me he was going to go fill it with gas and I had to instruct him that it only takes 93 and again he thought I was crazy so I had to show him the sticker on the fuel door. When I got home I walked around it and saw where he had spilled gas all down the side of it. That reaffirmed I made the right decision to not let them wash it.
After I very carefully washed it the first time I found scratches and swirls all over it. One big one right below the corner of the spoiler that looked like they dropped it while installing it. A few deep ones on the top of the bumper at the trunk. The right front fender looked like someone leaned against it with jeans on and did the Chubby Checker.
So it's not just the dealership, the factory and the shippers will trash your car too.
I polished most of the swirls and scratches out but some I just had to let go, I didn't want to sacrifice too much clear coat on it's first polish. Thought I better leave some for later down the road.
I went by the dealer last Saturday to get some oil filters and ran into the salesman and he said "you know you get free oil changes for 2 years". I said "yes I know but I will pass". I would rather change my own oil than have to fix whatever damage they will induce. I just hope I never need any major warranty work, anything small I will just fix myself and probably come out ahead in the long run.

I read a story on another forum just the other day where a guy had a staggered wheel setup on his FR-S and took it to the dealer to get a tail light replaced under warranty because it was fogging up. When he picked up his car they had rotated his tires for him as a free courtesy. Yea that's right, they put the big tires and wheels on the front and the skinnys on the rear!
Click to expand...

I did the same when I got my tundra.

Does the FRS have that stupid locking filter cover (no locking - needs tool)?
 
Re: Don't wash car !!!!!!!!!!!

Andr3wilson said:
I did the same when I got my tundra.

Does the FRS have that stupid locking filter cover (no locking - needs tool)?
Click to expand...

Nope just a regular spin on filter....it's got a Subaru engine!
 
Re: Don't wash car !!!!!!!!!!!

Great Write-Up Mike...... If I can every afford a new car, I'll be sure to print a sign like that! Unfortunately - I own a detailing company :/ lol! But seriously, youd be surprised how many new cars we'll get to detail ;) :buffing:
 
Re: Don't wash car !!!!!!!!!!!

swanicyouth said:
Funny you said that - I said the same thing. He bought the car in some God forsaken place in rural PA where they had the exact one he wanted - but emissions aren't required there.

He told me the salesman told him it was exempt because it was a new car for a year or so.

I dunno. When I was doing SI/EI every new car where I lived needed stickers.
Click to expand...

Ahhh, Pennsyltucky... you never cease to amaze me...

picture.php


Interestingly if your vehicle is registered outside of the following counties it doesn't need an emissions inspection:
Allegheny, Beaver, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Cambria, Centre, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Washington, Westmoreland and York.
​
So if your buddy doesn't have his new Sti registered in one of the above, he's good to go.
 
Re: Don't wash car !!!!!!!!!!!

Just print out a piece of paper that says DO NOT WASH and tape it to the dash... that's what I used to do.
Now they know me enough to not even try it.

But mostly I go to a small shop that if you said "wash it" they'd tell you to go ef yourself LOL
 
Re: Don't wash car !!!!!!!!!!!

I know you think I am crazy for reviving this thread... Sorry, but I too have been asking my dealer to NOT wash my car for years.

It is kind of hard now because the detailer is a sort of friend of mine; he is the husband of a friend of a friend to be more specific, but I know him well and have a good rapport with him. They do not wash it, but each time they ask if it is okay to vaccum to which I respond... "sure." One time he came out and wanted to know if he could put tire dressing on. I basically said, "knock yourself out." They really aim to please but do not understand the nature of the request.

They all know me by now and do not wash my car, but they do not know why I do not allow it. Usually, they make comments that my car is the most beautiful car to come into the dealership and doesn't need a wash anyway... they do NOT know why that is. They know there is something different about it, but they do not know that the difference is mine isn't swirled.

The service manger once asked me, "What wax do you use?"

I said, nothing really special... Just Meguiar's Nxt Tech 2.0, Ultimate Liquid/Paste... He responded, "Have tried some of those Meguiar's products and they don't look like that... what's your secret?" I responded, "my secret is a swirl-free finish."

One time it was dirty when I took it in... probably had a week or two worth of road grime... and they asked about three times to wash it. I refused and they were completely befuddled. They were like, "normally it is so clean."

The whole time I am thinking... I would rather just have to wash it than polish the whole thing with Meguiar's or Menzurna prodcuts again.
 
Re: Don't wash car !!!!!!!!!!!

I really didn't think they'd try to wash my clown car at the MB dealership last week so I didn't mention it or hang my CQuartz "Do Not Wash" mirror hanger.

When the car jockey brought it around front after the alignment, he apologized that they didn't wash it because I had a "ripped roof". I gasped, then realized he meant I had left my glass rear window unzipped when I came in (it's a custom aftermarket glass window to replace the folding vinyl one, so they naturally had never seen one). They did manage to acid wash my CQUK-coated wheels, though. Grrrrr.
 
Re: Don't wash car !!!!!!!!!!!

How i missed this thread surprises me. This is my #1 topic to family and friends and a well practiced routine i myself have had for years! I printed up a sign that said PLEASE DO NOT WASH and laminated it. I then rigged a mini bungee chord and hung it on my steering wheel every time i brought it in for service. It was also bilingual as we have a large Spanish speaking population. In addition to that, i ALWAYS made it a point to persuade the service advisor to completely understand what that sign meant. At my BMW dealership they always complied going so far as to right it on the service ticket and highlight it! Worked every time.

Another example of my experience and one i have told here before is when i ordered my new BMW. I'll mention it again for anyone who may have missed it and can learn from my experience. I finally wanted a spec'ed bimmer and ordered it from the factory at the dealership. Each and every time i met with the sales rep in closing the deal, i mentioned that i did NOT want it washed or even as much as a rinse down when it arrived and was unloaded off the truck. I will never forget the sales rep's reluctance to do that for me and i grew increasingly more insistent each time i spoke to him. A car wash may have been on their dealer "prep" reuqirements and he may have thought he may get dinged by the manager for not washing a brand new vehicle delivered. I got to the point of telling the sales rep i WILL NOT accept the vehicle if there is so much as a hint of even a rinse off! He remained incredulous at my request so i asked him to join me out in the showroom...

Under the very discerning canister lights they use to display the newest models, i asked him to inspect with me the new BMW Jet Black Z4. I pointed out to him the swirls and scratches in the black hood. I then proceeded to explain to him they weren't installed by the factory nor picked them up in their little cocoons they put them in for transit. Nope, that's the handiwork of your "detailers" and new car washers you have right here.

He finally got it and on that glorious day of delivery i arrived to see my new baby just glistening in filth! Ahhh, all was right in my world for a change.

I remember explaining to the sales rep that maybe 99% of his customers are not whacky like me. I also didn't dis his "detail crew" as they are doing exactly what the dealer wants and all is fine. It is just that THIS customer didn't want the complementary DISO added.

I remember driving it home, getting high on that new car smell and immediately proceeded to a careful wash, clay and polish followed by my favorite LSP...

Despite his advice to not "waxing it for about 2 weeks"!!!

Sometimes it takes the hammer in a velvet pouch approach but it's YOUR car now...NOT theirs.
 
Re: Don't wash car !!!!!!!!!!!

Mike,

There is a very hi end detail house in my area. I usually just tell the service guy I paid 1200 bucks for a 3 step polish and nano coating and if they mess it up, it will need to be done again.

At that point he usually wants to see my car and I have him use my inspection form.

No swirls, all rims un-scraped, all glass and lenses pristine and dings or dents. I tell him, I will check it with you when I get back.

Please don't wash or wipe down.

Any yes I tape the sign over the air bag on the steering wheel.

I am too afraid they will lower the window.

I know the service guys at my dealers, its hard to break them in but now they know I am a good guy just a little mental about my cars is all.
 
Re: Don't wash car !!!!!!!!!!!

Exactly! But we's preachin' to the choir here. I want to be the ONLY one putting swirls and scratches in my paint!

Dangit!
 
Re: Don't wash car !!!!!!!!!!!

They always ask me if they can vaccuum it when I say "NO WASH"

I respond.... "Sure; go for it" :dblthumb2:


My thought is nobody can *9&# up vacuuming. :dblthumb2:
 
Re: Don't wash car !!!!!!!!!!!

Mizzoutiger said:
Go to :38 for the "nobody" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XzXVbT4lz4
Click to expand...

Jbirk said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyBVsAkvUHg
Click to expand...

Is this normal? I've seen a couple vids where places "wash" the inside of your car like they do the outside--but I don't see how that technique even came to be? Who thought it would be a good idea to soak an interior like that?

Side note: interesting that the FORD dealer used a Toyota in each vid.
 
Re: Don't wash car !!!!!!!!!!!

We had a guy at the Tech Session of our Cars & Coffee car show this last Saturday that read this article and follows the directions and credits this thread for the scratch free finish on his car every time he takes it to the dealership for service.

No every dealership is horrible but the only way you find out is if a mistake is made and it's not worth the risk in my opinion. Especially considering how long it takes to completely undo the damage a 15 minute amateur car wash can inflict.


:nomore:
 
Re: Don't wash car !!!!!!!!!!!

Hey! I'm an amateur and I can wash a car in 15 minutes! ;)
 
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