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

[Showroom Shine]

:xyxthumbs:I'm right there with ya buddy!! (I understand)rops:

:iagree: I try not to take mine to service dirty either. I did once,and they ran it through their cheapo wash and scratched it up. I had them take it to their shop and buff all the scratches. I now have a standing order. NO WASH! This the Lexus and Benz Dealership too!

 

[frosty]

I'd take it as is and tell the service manager not to wash my car. If they do, they will be getting a bill to correct any damage they do.

If they did, would give me an excuse to work on my car and get reimbursed for my time and products so I'd kind of hope they screwed it up. Probably wouldn't happen more than one time though.

It's a simple request and if they aren't component enough to follow that simple request, makes me wonder what they do when servicing it. Makes you wonder if they forget to actually drain the oil or replace the filter.

They would pay me if they screwed up just to make me go away. At the very least the service would be free.

Or if I didn't want to end up confrontational, I'd just watch them do my car.

I did this at the Mercedes dealership the last time I had to get a piece of molding replaced. What I was pissed at more is they just left my car in the back with the flashers going, doors unlocked with the keys in it.

They have 3rd party companies doing paint work in the back parking lot etc and they give everybody the code to the gate to get in and out. All I could think of was Ferris Bueller and the "test drive".

 

[Misha]

I'd take it as is and tell the service manager not to wash my car. If they do, they will be getting a bill to correct any damage they do.

If they did, would give me an excuse to work on my car and get reimbursed for my time and products so I'd kind of hope they screwed it up. Probably wouldn't happen more than one time though.

It's a simple request and if they aren't component enough to follow that simple request, makes me wonder what they do when servicing it. Makes you wonder if they forget to actually drain the oil or replace the filter.

They would pay me if they screwed up just to make me go away. At the very least the service would be free.

Or if I didn't want to end up confrontational, I'd just watch them do my car.

I did this at the Mercedes dealership the last time I had to get a piece of molding replaced. What I was pissed at more is they just left my car in the back with the flashers going, doors unlocked with the keys in it.

They have 3rd party companies doing paint work in the back parking lot etc and they give everybody the code to the gate to get in and out. All I could think of was Ferris Bueller and the "test drive".

here is idea for business. if you know ppl who go to this dealer, tell them to do same. then you can work on their car and get reimburse. just remember its Stealership so return the favor of overcharging

 

[frosty]

here is idea for business. if you know ppl who go to this dealer, tell them to do same. then you can work on their car and get reimburse. just remember its Stealership so return the favor of overcharging

EXACTLY!

Was thinking while typing, they don't do "free carwashes" or free anything.

If you save them for washing the car, they should discount the service job.

 

[DLB]

There is one good thing about leaving it dirty - you can tell where they've been.

Example - my wife's car was getting a service one time and they were to replace air filter, check brakes, rotate tires, check fluids, change oil. It was the standard deal.

Well, it was about 25k miles or so, and I hadn't ever cleaned the engine bay. When I got home with it, I noticed the dust on the airbox was still un-fingerprinted, the wheels and lug nuts were still covered in dust with no smudges, the caps to all the fluids still had dust/grime on them, etc. It did have clean oil. So, it looked like they hadn't done anything but an oil change. My $55 receipt said they had done much more.

When I took it back to the service manager - he agreed that it looked like nothing had been done, and I got the next one free, which I never cashed in. As well as a "repeat" on that one.

Generally - I do all my own servicing. But on some cars, it is so tough to change the oil and other fluids now, its just sensible to have it done.

Oh, and I never let anyone else clean on it. No Autogeek's are in my 'hood.

DLB

 

[keifer75]

Make sure all receipts print boldly : DO NOT WASH !!

^that is exactly what I had them do. "NO WASH! EVER"

 

[CharlesW]

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.

Maybe most, but not all.
The four service/repair facilities I use have several guys that really take an interest in taking care of a nice car. Mine are clean outside, inside, and under the hood when I take them in and they are returned the same way.

 

[oldmodman]

I only have a "lowly" Ford Mustang, but it is a Cobra.

And before I take it in for service, and only during a BIG warranty repair (I do all my own work any other time", it is always washed and waxed if necessary.

But I go one step farther. I apply that white, self adhesive protection paper to the front fenders before taking it in. I got a roll of it at a local automotive finish supply store.

 

[DLB]

But I go one step farther. I apply that white, self adhesive protection paper to the front fenders before taking it in. I got a roll of it at a local automotive finish supply store.

He's winning. Anybody got anything on that?
That is hardcore right there.

DLB

 

[Laura]

But I go one step farther. I apply that white, self adhesive protection paper to the front fenders before taking it in. I got a roll of it at a local automotive finish supply store.

:surrender: You have me beat!

So here's what happened to me today. First, when I dropped off the car and told them DO NOT WASH, the service guy wrote it on my order and a sales guy who was standing there asked me why. After I told them, they laughed and started telling me about all the trashed out cars brought in - all the stuff they've found under the seats, etc. Clearly, they notice and appreciate a well kept car. Made me feel my effort last night was worth it. Next, "the driver" took me to an appointment I had while they were doing the service. During the normal chatting on the way I learned that in addition to transporting customers, he was also their detail guy. Sure enough, his "detail" is running it through the auto swirl-maker and drying it off with bath towels that have been used and thrown around all day. That OD feeling crept in as I realized that I didn't trust him with my car, but I trusted him to drive me across town in morning traffic. Finally, they had to order a part for one of my issues, so they kept my car and gave me a loner. It's a black A4 with brake dust caked in the wheels, mud all over the tires, and a bird bomb on the hood. If I didn't have something else going on tonight, I think I'd wash it for them. I did take care of the hood. Even if it isn't mine, I just can't drive a dirty car.