Do you wash your car before taking it in for servicing?

Laura

Laura

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If the leaf blower wasn't enough, this evening I might have proved to my neighbors that I'm truly nuts. I'm taking my car to the dealer tomorrow morning for routine maintenance, but I don't trust them to take care of it. My theory is that the better it looks, the more careful they will be. So, I spent my standard couple of hours on it this evening, but this time it was 38 degrees and dark as everyone drove by on their way home from work. My family has given up on me, so I pose the question to my fellow autogeeks: Does my logic and dealer-fear make sense, or am I on the verge of becoming too OD? :confused:
 
Why not just ask them not to wash your car? Or put a note in the car that says do not wash.
 
LDJaxon said:
If the leaf blower wasn't enough, this evening I might have proved to my neighbors that I'm truly nuts. I'm taking my car to the dealer tomorrow morning for routine maintenance, but I don't trust them to take care of it. My theory is that the better it looks, the more careful they will be. So, I spent my standard couple of hours on it this evening, but this time it was 38 degrees and dark as everyone drove by on their way home from work. My family has given up on me, so I pose the question to my fellow autogeeks: Does my logic and dealer-fear make sense, or am I on the verge of becoming too OD? :confused:
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:xyxthumbs:I'm right there with ya buddy!! (I understand):props:
 
GMC83 said:
Why not just ask them not to wash your car? Or put a note in the car that says do not wash.
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seems they never get the message and wash the car anyway

I would probably do the same and have with my Jeep....def don't want them washing it with the shop broom

I picked up my dad's mint 1989 Mercedes 560SEC yesterday at the repair shop and when I got there the air cleaner was still not installed. As I was talking to the owner of the repair shop his tech installed the air filter and than proceeded to install scratches to the front fender as he wiped his greasy fingerprints off of the fender.......needless to say I was in a state of shock.........so yes it still will happen even clean
 
I always make sure they do not wash my car and ask them if they can be meticulous when handing tools around the paint (in a friendly manner of course.) Sometimes, being direct is the only way to go...
 
Make sure all receipts print boldly : DO NOT WASH !!
 
I always make sure inside outside and engine bay is clean when i bring it in for service the tech is alway afraid to work on it in fear of his life if he gets any fingerprints on it.
I tell him just clean up after your self and when going over the veh withe the service adviser he will not see any scratches and inform him if any are their when you pick up he better leave town.
 
mitch1959 said:
I always make sure inside outside and engine bay is clean when i bring it in for service the tech is alway afraid to work on it in fear of his life if he gets any fingerprints on it.
I tell him just clean up after your self and when going over the veh withe the service adviser he will not see any scratches and inform him if any are their when you pick up he better leave town.
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That is why I wash mine before. To show them how clean and scratch free the car is. So, if anything apperas after they are done, they know it wasn't there before.
 
I always put a note 'DO NOT WASH' in my car when I take it in for service. If you're driving an A5, they better just take darn good care of it regardless. I don't even let them vacuum.
 
I too always wash my car before taking it to the dealer. I don't want to tempt them into washing it by taking it to them dirty.

The Toyota dealer I go to puts a magnetic cone of the roof that says "Do Not Wash". So far I've been lucky.

:)

Mike
 
...This is why I invested in tools a long time ago. I do all my own work. About the only thing I won't do is differentials and internal engine. I never have to worry about the "What if they mess up my car?" thing.
 
Mikejl said:
I too always wash my car before taking it to the dealer. I don't want to tempt them into washing it by taking it to them dirty.

The Toyota dealer I go to puts a magnetic cone of the roof that says "Do Not Wash". So far I've been lucky.

:)

Mike
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I work in a Audi dealer as the guy that fixes your car. that cone you're talking about, just scratch the roof, well at least at my dealer.
I dont put the cone on your roof tho, I always use my fender cover. I wear latax gloves working on the car, then off when inside the car. on the A5 , make sure they lift up the car correctly, if not you'll have a dent on the side skirts w/o knowing its there. since your car is black, should be easy to spot. and DO NOT LET them wash it. by the way A5 is a good car.
 
zinc02gt said:
...This is why I invested in tools a long time ago. I do all my own work. About the only thing I won't do is differentials and internal engine. I never have to worry about the "What if they mess up my car?" thing.
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on these german things, its not always about trying a wrench, mostly computers and softwares.
 
LDJaxon said:
If the leaf blower wasn't enough, this evening I might have proved to my neighbors that I'm truly nuts. I'm taking my car to the dealer tomorrow morning for routine maintenance, but I don't trust them to take care of it. My theory is that the better it looks, the more careful they will be. So, I spent my standard couple of hours on it this evening, but this time it was 38 degrees and dark as everyone drove by on their way home from work. My family has given up on me, so I pose the question to my fellow autogeeks: Does my logic and dealer-fear make sense, or am I on the verge of becoming too OD? :confused:
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I agree with you 100% :xyxthumbs:
Unfortunately most auto repair shop employees don't appreciate the customers love and care for their cars.. that said I always have my cars clean when they have to be worked on, thankfully so far I haven't had too much outside work required.
 
dont have this problem since i do all maintenance myself, but if they see clean car im sure they will be more carefull since then you can say that they messed it up. make sure you tell whoever checks car in that you will polish swirls out with blood of tech who screw with it. and leave same note on dash, this should get message accross.

i usualy try to wash my car when i go to dealer to pick up some parts since i like to park inside their shop lol
 
Im the MANWoo Hoo! I'm not nuts!! Thank you for the validation!

zinc02gt said:
...This is why I invested in tools a long time ago. I do all my own work. About the only thing I won't do is differentials and internal engine. I never have to worry about the "What if they mess up my car?" thing.
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I trust myself with whatever they could do to the paint much more than what I could do under the hood! And my small fortune I've spent at Autogeek can't begin to compare to all the tools I'd need for this! I admit, though, it would really be nice being able to do everything myself.

flb18r said:
I work in a Audi dealer as the guy that fixes your car. on the A5 , make sure they lift up the car correctly, if not you'll have a dent on the side skirts w/o knowing its there. since your car is black, should be easy to spot. and DO NOT LET them wash it. by the way A5 is a good car.
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Wow, too bad I'm not in New Jersey! I hope my guy tomorrow is as thoughtful. Thanks for the lift tip. They have never done anything to cause my fear; I'm just over-protective. It's actually Deep Sea Blue, but it's really hard to get the blue to show up in a picture. It's got a few quirky electrical things going on, but I'm so in love with the body style that I overlook the quirkiness and just consider it personality. Brake pads are another story, though. Those I curse daily!
 
I agree with you completly LD. If you bring a clean car in for service chances are they will see it doesn't need it and reolize your a clean car nut, but like mentioned earlier always make sure it is written on the work order and any where else you can put a note, like the steering wheel etc.. If after all these attempts to get your point across they still go ahead and wash it against your wishes it's time to find a new dealer for service.
 
I do the same. Last time they put those damn plastic cones on the hood and they left 3 scratches where magnets were. Pissed me off let them see them and they said they would take care of it. I laughed in there face and the hell you will. You are not touching the paint. Im waiting to get the survey in the mail and rip them a new a$$
 
I used to wash my car before I took it in, but the mechanic always leaves oil prints all over the body and engine, so I just said forget it. I still don't allow them to wash the car, I just take care of it afterwords now.
 
My Local Mercedes Dealership has ttheir own SWIRL MAKER Tunnel Wash ! :( - They also have a Giant 7 inch long , one inch tall RUBBER STAMP that say "DO NOT WASH" - I always make sure I watch them stamp my service tickets with it. I always detail my vehicles before they go in for service !!
 
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