Should I detail in dealership??

Aranofly · 03-13-2008

Hi guys,
Need some advice. -- Brought my new SLK 350 to the dealership since it had some trouble with the TPM.-- I asked them not to wash it after since I like to do it myself. Well, sure enough they did wash it and left it full of swirl marks all over.-- I was angry and they offered me a free detail in the dealership.
Should I trust them detailing my car when obviously they did not do a good job just washing it???

Tslick · 03-13-2008

Nope, chances are the ones that washed the car will be the one's that detail the car.

**etyu** · 03-14-2008

Nope, I'd have them pay to have it detailed at an independent place of your specification.

ryan.stephens · 03-14-2008

I agree with etyu, but just try getting that in the UK, they just won't!

**rlbawk** · 03-14-2008

I'm also with etyu on this. I think you would be in worse shape if they did more work on it. If you use them in the future be sure to specify not to clean your car after service.

**alroumi** · 03-14-2008

Detail it in somewhere professional that knows their stuff and have to do many luxury cars and exotics.

JOC · 03-14-2008

Aranofly - I had the same exact issue. I have a black 350 and i took it to the dealer for that first free check up between 1,500 and 3,000 miles. Well i brought it in and told them "DO NOT WASH MY CAR" and they washed it anyway. Left it full of swirls. I saw how they wash the cars... they use a big broom type washer with a long wooden handle and scrub the car like you would mop a floor. It's unreal. I made them pay for my own detailer to get rid of them, and the car looked great. Now i leave a hand written note in my car and put it on the dash if i leave it for service.

**Ynot** · 03-14-2008

Had a coupon from my dealer to wash, wax, detail for only $69.95, what a deal but I threw the coupon in the trash, just don't trust those teenagers working at the dealers.

**KTownAMG** · 03-14-2008

Great advice for the future. DEALER DO NOT WASH MY CAR!

**etyu** · 03-14-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOC

.... Now i leave a hand written note in my car and put it on the dash if i leave it for service.

I do the same. I have 2 pre-printed 5inx8in paper that I keep in the glove compartment. It states: DO NOT WASH CAR, NO LAVAR EL COCHE.

I put one on the dash and one on the windshield wiper.

**Dolebludger** · 03-14-2008

My dealer knows darn well that I do not want them to wash my car. Once early on they did before they knew my preference. My problem was not with swirls, but this a half-done job. I don't think they touched the wheels, and there were a lot of dirty areas. Next time, I had one of those little meetings with my Service Manager where I made it very clear that I did not want my car washed by them -- ever! Since then, no problems -- but they have still offered. Once they offered a wash after service, and it was raining cats and dogs outside!

**dltslk** · 03-14-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOC

Now i leave a hand written note in my car and put it on the dash if i leave it for service.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTownAMG

Great advice for the future. DEALER DO NOT WASH MY CAR!

Quote:

Originally Posted by etyu

I do the same. I have 2 pre-printed 5inx8in paper that I keep in the glove compartment. It states: DO NOT WASH CAR, NO LAVAR EL COCHE.

I put one on the dash and one on the windshield wiper.

Great idea from all of you. A definate "must do" at next service.

03-13-2008	#1 (permalink)
Aranofly SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St Lucie West Florida Vehicle: 2008 SLK 350 Posts: 25 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Should I detail in dealership?? Hi guys, Need some advice. -- Brought my new SLK 350 to the dealership since it had some trouble with the TPM.-- I asked them not to wash it after since I like to do it myself. Well, sure enough they did wash it and left it full of swirl marks all over.-- I was angry and they offered me a free detail in the dealership. Should I trust them detailing my car when obviously they did not do a good job just washing it???
	http://www.slkworld.com/

03-14-2008	#3 (permalink)
etyu Founding Member #2 / Ambassador Of Good Will Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Vehicle: 2008 SLK 55 Posts: 4,910 Country: Thanks: 313 Thanked 207 Times in 107 Posts	Nope, I'd have them pay to have it detailed at an independent place of your specification. __________________ *Eddy* To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, *Mod. R170 ant.* EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, HyperWhite license plate lamps ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Scott), bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

03-14-2008	#6 (permalink)
alroumi Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait Vehicle: 2006 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2007 Ebony Jaguar XKR Coupe' and 06 Black Cayenne S Posts: 6,021 Country: Thanks: 229 Thanked 157 Times in 95 Posts	Detail it in somewhere professional that knows their stuff and have to do many luxury cars and exotics. __________________ 06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG 06 Porsche Cayenne S 07 Jaguar XKR Coupe' I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

03-14-2008	#8 (permalink)
Ynot Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Colorado Vehicle: 06' MBZ SLK Posts: 2,700 Country: Thanks: 93 Thanked 25 Times in 18 Posts	Had a coupon from my dealer to wash, wax, detail for only $69.95, what a deal but I threw the coupon in the trash, just don't trust those teenagers working at the dealers. __________________ 06' SLK 350, Iridium/Ash all pkgs. 6-spd, 19" DCR. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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03-13-2008	#2 (permalink)
Tslick Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Long Beach, Ca Vehicle: SLK32 AMG Posts: 1,289 Country: Thanks: 54 Thanked 43 Times in 19 Posts	Nope, chances are the ones that washed the car will be the one's that detail the car.

03-14-2008	#4 (permalink)
ryan.stephens Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Exeter, UK Vehicle: 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML320 CDI Sport - Fully Loaded! Posts: 239 Country: Thanks: 12 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	I agree with etyu, but just try getting that in the UK, they just won't!

03-14-2008	#5 (permalink)
rlbawk Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hampton, GA Vehicle: 2007 SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2006 BMW 325 Convert Posts: 259 Country: Thanks: 20 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts	I'm also with etyu on this. I think you would be in worse shape if they did more work on it. If you use them in the future be sure to specify not to clean your car after service.

03-14-2008	#7 (permalink)
JOC SLK World Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Stamford, CT Vehicle: 2007 SLK 350 (Black with tan) Posts: 83 Country: Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Aranofly - I had the same exact issue. I have a black 350 and i took it to the dealer for that first free check up between 1,500 and 3,000 miles. Well i brought it in and told them "DO NOT WASH MY CAR" and they washed it anyway. Left it full of swirls. I saw how they wash the cars... they use a big broom type washer with a long wooden handle and scrub the car like you would mop a floor. It's unreal. I made them pay for my own detailer to get rid of them, and the car looked great. Now i leave a hand written note in my car and put it on the dash if i leave it for service.

03-14-2008	#9 (permalink)
KTownAMG Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Germany Vehicle: 09 SLK AMG 55 Posts: 170 Country: Thanks: 12 Thanked 33 Times in 14 Posts	Great advice for the future. DEALER DO NOT WASH MY CAR!

03-14-2008	#11 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 409 Country: Thanks: 33 Thanked 60 Times in 37 Posts	My dealer knows darn well that I do not want them to wash my car. Once early on they did before they knew my preference. My problem was not with swirls, but this a half-done job. I don't think they touched the wheels, and there were a lot of dirty areas. Next time, I had one of those little meetings with my Service Manager where I made it very clear that I did not want my car washed by them -- ever! Since then, no problems -- but they have still offered. Once they offered a wash after service, and it was raining cats and dogs outside!

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