Fear of dealer washing the Z4

A

adambmw

Member
 North West
I have booked my Z4 into the dealer for them to look at some faults under warrenty.

I am really fussy about washing my car (wash mitt, two buckets, microfibre etc etc) so far it only has very very unavoidable minor swirling.

I am sure that my local dealer won't share my fussiness over keeping the bodywork looking good and usually when they have cars in they get the "valet" people to wash them as a gesture - this is my worse nightmare. I have seen them at the same dealers using old sponges, mucky buckets of water and wash leathers on £40k cars they have for sale, my other local BMW dealer has an automatic car wash they use......

How can I ensure they don't wash it? Ideally I would take it in on a Monday having spent the Sunday cleaning it so they didn't feel the need to, however with work commitments I have had to book it in for a Friday.

I can tell the Service Advisor, but will they pass the message on, should I leave a big note in the windscreen - will they think I am a idot and start doing wheel spins on the test drive to prove a point?

On that note I was speaking to a guy at work today who said that a while back he worked at a BMW dealers during the summer as a valeter. They would regularly take the cars "for a spin" to quote him "often sideways" and "to go to McDonolds in" :x :x
 
AdamBMW,

I own a carwash and do not let the dealer (or their lot slaves) wash my car. However I want to add this note to your comment "wash mitt, two buckets, microfibre etc etc"

1st, most wash mitts will hold dirt and so should not be used
2nd, microfiber can scratch some surfaces

Many new carwashes can give you the ability to wash your car without touching it at all (either self-serve or touchless automatic). Not all are good, but some are. For more on that see my my posting here http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101526&page=2

Now this may sound a little mean, but really, it's a car, a nice one for sure, but don't be so critical with it or you won't enjoy it.

BigLeo
Z4MC
 
I always ask for "no wash" service nowadays. The service advisor then writes "no wash" on the order and all is well. Many people ask for no wash, so don't feel like it's a dorky request.

I've heard horror stories like you describe, but I suppose it depends on the dealership how they take care of the cars (and thus the customers). How I get around it is to get a loaner car from them and thrash it about during my day of wait. :)
 
Put a sign in it and remind the service desk and make sure you see it written down.

My dealer knows now after I forced them to replace the entire roof on my Z when they ignored my request not to wash the car ...

My dealer damaged old roof on my previous car:

rf33hu.jpg
 
My dealer actually will ask you if you want the wash or not and no washer get a "NO WASH" sticker on the work order....
 
As above make sure its written down and pop a sign in the window who cares what they think its your hard earned that pays for the car and do not worry i am very fussy about my car.
 
Wow seeing the roof like that is the kind of thing I am worried about - you would think they'd know better!

I remember when I had a Civic which was scratched while being serviced, I complained to the service manager who proceeded to "polish it out" by applying polish on an old cloth on top of the muck on the car in circular motion! Ouch!!!

Glad I am not alone in my fears :thumbsup:
 
Here is a great "DO NOT WASH" sign I tape to the dashboard whenever I bring my car in to the dealer:

DoNotWashSign-Z4.jpg

I have a larger version as a PDF but I don't know how to post it. :cry:
 
NEVER LET THE DEALERSHIP WASH YOUR CAR!!! I specify this when I go in: they write it in huge letters and post it everywhere! I know where every piece of dirt is on my car. If they've washed it, I'll KNOW!!!, and I tell them I WILL KNOW!! :evil:
 
BigLeo48 said:
AdamBMW,

I own a carwash and do not let the dealer (or their lot slaves) wash my car. However I want to add this note to your comment "wash mitt, two buckets, microfibre etc etc"

1st, most wash mitts will hold dirt and so should not be used
2nd, microfiber can scratch some surfaces

Many new carwashes can give you the ability to wash your car without touching it at all (either self-serve or touchless automatic). Not all are good, but some are. For more on that see my my posting here http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101526&page=2

Now this may sound a little mean, but really, it's a car, a nice one for sure, but don't be so critical with it or you won't enjoy it.

BigLeo
Z4MC
Click to expand...

Am interested about your statement about Wash Mitts. Does this include Lambs wool ones that every Pro uses?

I guess theres no true way of cleaning a car without the chance of marking the paint in some way.

Cheers

PaulN
 
GaryD said:
Here is a great "DO NOT WASH" sign I tape to the dashboard whenever I bring my car in to the dealer:
DoNotWashSign-Z4.jpg
I have a larger version as a PDF but I don't know how to post it. :cry:
Click to expand...
Aha! I made that, and posted it to Ye Olde Z4um (m.o.s.). :thumbsup:

I was wondering if anyone had saved it. :happyclap:
 
fire-n-ice said:
NEVER LET THE DEALERSHIP WASH YOUR CAR!!! I specify this when I go in: they write it in huge letters and post it everywhere! I know where every piece of dirt is on my car. If they've washed it, I'll KNOW!!!, and I tell them I WILL KNOW!! :evil:
Click to expand...

You are right on fire-n-ice ! ! ! :thumbsup:

I have had the same BMW service manager for five years. She knows I don't want to have anyone wash mine and the reasons why. She writes it in big letters on my service order too. I do like the sign posted just ahead of you - I will use it too!

I usually bring it in very clean anyway!

". . . If they've washed it, I'll KNOW!!!" - - - You're are car lover!

Best!
Jack
 
Talk about a pure car enthusiast cum car lover :D

fire-n-ice said:
NEVER LET THE DEALERSHIP WASH YOUR CAR!!! I specify this when I go in: they write it in huge letters and post it everywhere! I know where every piece of dirt is on my car. If they've washed it, I'll KNOW!!!, and I tell them I WILL KNOW!! :evil:
Click to expand...
 
I really needed that sign as MY Z4MC was half assed washed there are dirt streaks from the towels they used, I can feel my paint wincing in pain....

They didn't even wash the entire car....

And its S.Black....

I don't use mitts, i use my fingers so I can feel everything in the paint.... grrrrr

I've done the standard complaints.....we'll see what happens.
 
Am interested about your statement about Wash Mitts. Does this include Lambs wool ones that every Pro uses?

I guess theres no true way of cleaning a car without the chance of marking the paint in some way.

Cheers

PaulN[/quote]

PaulN,

OK...to clean anything you need to know the surface you're cleaning and the type of soil (organic, inorganic, etc). Removing soil with detergents is a chemical process. For example, to remove bug residue, you use an Alkaline detergent blend (high pH), spray it on, let it soak (dwell time), then blast it off with somewhat high pressure (impact). So what' I'm saying is that with a proper detergent made for CC paint and formulated to remove a particular soil will work without friction and be safe for the paint.

It's not just the wash mitts, but how they are used. The mitt won't scratch the car (as it is softer than the paint), but the soils it collects will if not removed. Here's an extreme example...go to the local park sand box, dump a bunch of sand on the Lambs wool mitt and rub it on your paint. I bed it scratches :) I know, that's stupid, but you see my point. I've watched many so called 'Pros' use a lot of different equipment and the vast majority of them do it wrong. Most owners think they know how to wash a car, but at times do more damage than they realize.

Personally, I wash my cars regularly. My summer sports cars I wash a couple of times a week at my carwash. I use bug remover, tire and rim cleaner (weak blend as they never get very dirty), acid and alkaline presoak blends. That gets it clean. Then I apply RainX total surface protectant (not every time as it lasts a few weeks to a month). So the soap gets the crap off and the RainX or wax stops the crap from attaching to the surface. I then use a demineralized spot free final rinse and blow dry the entire car so I don't get streaks from water or soap hiding in nooks and crannies of the car. The car always looks great and takes me 10 minutes every time. That wash would cost you about $7 at my carwash.

Hope this helps...Big Leo
 
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