Friendly Warning: Dealership Damage from 'Simple' Car Wash
#1
Friendly Warning: Dealership Damage from 'Simple' Car Wash
For those of you who don't know, I am a professional detailer. I spend quite a bit of time fixing mistakes caused by inexperienced/untrained dealership 'detailers'. I warn a lot of people on the forum to avoid dealership washes at all cost, however a lot of people ignore my words of caution because they don't see how a simple car wash can really damage your paint. This also goes for automatic washes and 'full service' washes as well. IMO there is no substitute for a proper hand wash.
Anyway, I wrote this article to share the story of a fellow 2IS owner and CL member that had to deal with the terrible wash techniques used by most dealerships. This owner is a very proud detailing enthusiast and loves maintaining his swirl free finish. Although he asked the service adviser not wash his vehicle, they did anyways and caused a tremendous amount of damage.
Lexus refused to cover the entire cost of the damages, so the owner was forced to pay hundreds out of pocket to fix the damage that the dealership caused. All of this from ONE improper car wash.
^Paint condition after dealer wash
Please Read the Full article here: The Real Cost of a Cheap Car Wash
As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!
-Zach
**mods: please do not move to detailing sub-forum. I think this needs to be seen here as many members do not visit the detailing section! Thank you!**
Anyway, I wrote this article to share the story of a fellow 2IS owner and CL member that had to deal with the terrible wash techniques used by most dealerships. This owner is a very proud detailing enthusiast and loves maintaining his swirl free finish. Although he asked the service adviser not wash his vehicle, they did anyways and caused a tremendous amount of damage.
Lexus refused to cover the entire cost of the damages, so the owner was forced to pay hundreds out of pocket to fix the damage that the dealership caused. All of this from ONE improper car wash.
^Paint condition after dealer wash
Please Read the Full article here: The Real Cost of a Cheap Car Wash
As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!
-Zach
**mods: please do not move to detailing sub-forum. I think this needs to be seen here as many members do not visit the detailing section! Thank you!**
#5
Intermediate
iTrader: (1)
Excellent info, thank you.
Not to get off-topic, but as I get older and have less time on my hands (2 kids) it gets really hard to keep a handwashing schedule. I live in the Pacific Northwest, and it doesn't help that is 40-50 degrees for a good part of the year - and raining. I was trying to hand-wash only when I purchased the IS350 - but then I found that the car just got nasty-dirty from not washing it for lengthy periods. The drive through carwashes are just so dang easy. lol
Is it better for the paint to go 2-3 weeks with out a handwash, or go through a drive-through 1 time a week?
Not to get off-topic, but as I get older and have less time on my hands (2 kids) it gets really hard to keep a handwashing schedule. I live in the Pacific Northwest, and it doesn't help that is 40-50 degrees for a good part of the year - and raining. I was trying to hand-wash only when I purchased the IS350 - but then I found that the car just got nasty-dirty from not washing it for lengthy periods. The drive through carwashes are just so dang easy. lol
Is it better for the paint to go 2-3 weeks with out a handwash, or go through a drive-through 1 time a week?
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#8
They are not all the same. My dealer car wash is one of the best I have seen (foam gun+hand wash). We can see through the glass wall how cars are serviced and washed.
Last edited by Allan1; 01-20-14 at 10:41 AM.
#11
Excellent info, thank you.
Not to get off-topic, but as I get older and have less time on my hands (2 kids) it gets really hard to keep a handwashing schedule. I live in the Pacific Northwest, and it doesn't help that is 40-50 degrees for a good part of the year - and raining. I was trying to hand-wash only when I purchased the IS350 - but then I found that the car just got nasty-dirty from not washing it for lengthy periods. The drive through carwashes are just so dang easy. lol
Is it better for the paint to go 2-3 weeks with out a handwash, or go through a drive-through 1 time a week?
Not to get off-topic, but as I get older and have less time on my hands (2 kids) it gets really hard to keep a handwashing schedule. I live in the Pacific Northwest, and it doesn't help that is 40-50 degrees for a good part of the year - and raining. I was trying to hand-wash only when I purchased the IS350 - but then I found that the car just got nasty-dirty from not washing it for lengthy periods. The drive through carwashes are just so dang easy. lol
Is it better for the paint to go 2-3 weeks with out a handwash, or go through a drive-through 1 time a week?
Rinseless washing is a fantastic way to maintain your vehicle in the colder months, or even in the summer when you just have light dirt/pollen buildup on your vehicle. Check out THIS ARTICLE on how to safely perform a rinseless wash in your garage with Optimum No Rinse.
Machine polishing is the only way to remove the swirls and other surface defects from the paint. Cutting compound & Polish contain fine abrasives that will actually remove a small amount of paint in order to level the surface and create a smooth, glossy surface.
Most dealerships use improper tools for this and end up leaving a lot of damage behind. Proper polishing is an art and requires a lot of practice and patience. Dual Action machines (aka random orbital) are the best tools for the job, however dealerships and body shops still resort to rotary buffers with dirty wool pads. This leaves a lack luster finish that is dull and cloudy compared to a properly polished surface.
^This is a panel that had been repaired and repainted by a BMW dealership. Notice the buffer trails and overall cloudy appearance.
^Here is a side by side comparison of the section that I polished (left side) vs. the finish the body shop left. Quite a dramatic difference. This is why a true professional detailer should always be consulted instead of a dealership or body shop when it comes to polishing.
Let me know if you've got any more questions!
-Zach