[cal99_99]

I just wonder if anyone get free car washed after each service? I always get it with my VW dealer. So i expect BMW will do the same or better. But they didn't wash it when I got my alignment done last week as my 1st service. a little disappointed.

[hwrdcur]

Strange, usually they do wash cars, maybe it was clean already?

[E92_335]

You should go back and complain. My car was in the shop for a couple hours just to get something put in and they washed it

[BKsBimmer]

Originally Posted by cal99_99

I just wonder if anyone get free car washed after each service? I always get it with my VW dealer. So i expect BMW will do the same or better. But they didn't wash it when I got my alignment done last week as my 1st service. a little disappointed.

Mine has gotten washed everytime they have kept it overnight or longer. Which has been twice in the last year. Otherwise no wash. I've no doubt they'd wash it if asked though.

[Mystic330]

IMHO - be glad they didn't!!!
The dealer "free" carwashes are usually done by a high-school kid, or college intern making min wage who are definitely not using a clean cotton mitt that is rinsed after every panel - and in fact probably have used the same bucket of water to wash the last 9 cars out of the shop

I always decline "complementary" car washes as I don't need the "complementary" micro-scratches and swirl marks....

"you want something done right - Do it yerself!"

Just my $.02

[RIM3]

Just be fortunate you don't go to my RI dealership as they washed mine after replacing a tire and tore off the drivers side mirror. I don't know about you guys but I would rather they left it dirty.

[Bimmer335i]

My dealer usually does washes after a service that may take at least a day or longer. But funny thing is I always specifically asked them NOT to wash my car. Reason was that for the first wash, they did a great job but left over hard water stain everywhere, especially door and window sills. Had to claybar to get the stain off. So I guess if your car was filty going in, yeah, might want a carwash, but other than that, I don't recommend it. Wash it yourself, you know it'll be a quality wash!

[FotiosF90M5]

mine always gets washed.not a great job all the time but washed nonetheless.

[CALIF65GM]

My dealer washes it everytime, but I always tell my SA "no wash, mark it on the RO please."

[tomegun]

I don't think they will take as much care to wash your car right so you are better off without them doing it.
Years ago I had just driven to Phoenix from Denver and my Accord was absolutely filthy. I washed and waxed the car before getting my oil changed. I told them not to wash the car. I got back just as they were bringing my car out of the car wash and I was not happy. They apologized and told me they would go get the same wax I used and do my car over. Of course I didn't believe them, but I left anyway. When I got back the car was shining and they actually showed me the wax that they had went out to buy for me.

[Acheron]

Mine always gets washed no matter which of my BMW's I bring them.

[BzsBimmer]

Are you crazy or something?
I don't know of ANY dealer who washes cars with the care that individuals put in to it.

The people who get their dealers to wash their cars are the same one's who go to drive thru car washes and don't really care so much about their paint.
I'd say about 60-70% of all owners

[Ninel]

i get a carwash for leaving the car at the dealer even for a couple of hours

but i dont really trust anyone washing my car except my dad
so i woudnt be mad if they dont wash it

[oldaccount]

i always tell them not to wash it. theres no telling how the paint will turn out.

[Acheron]

Or they have a friend at the dealership that takes just as much care of their BMW as I do mine. So he washes my cars every time I take them (he's a tech guy btw and he's the only one that works on mine.)

[BMWCali]

I make a point to make sure my car is NOT washed when I bring it in for service. In fact, last time when I got a software update they stuck a piece of paper on the dash saying "DO NOT WASH."

Dealership washes are absolute crap and will leave scratches and holograms all over your car.

[ejazbmw]

yeah basically what everyone else said i also make sure they don't wash my car, but before i picked up my car the dealer did a pretty decent job of detailing or whatever they do.

[jkalex05]

Washed from a dealership = Sprayed over with a waterhose, wheels are cleaned with rag and tires are covered with cheap tireshine.

[drkeng]

Fields always washes it. They washed it when I was in a rush after getting a low tire pressure warning checked out.
On Sat during the summer, they bbq burgers/dogs/brats for lunch, so it's crowded. They get a good amount of brake dust off, then it's a quick auto wash and chamois dry, but it does ok.

Anyone use those soft squeegees to dry their car? I got a couple at Costco and they're pretty efficient, probably better than chamois.

[Acheron]

My friend always uses Zaino on my cars.

[vase330]

Originally Posted by ejazbmw

yeah basically what everyone else said i also make sure they don't wash my car, but before i picked up my car the dealer did a pretty decent job of detailing or whatever they do.

I never told them don't wash it, they didn't. I didn't care and said nothing. However, there was cigarette ashes on my right passenger floor between the seat and door. I could smell cigarettes in the car. I was naturally pissed as I don't smoke. But my car sat at customs for a month, so no way to tell if it was the dealership or the customs guys. So I just swallowed had and vacuumed it and drove around with windows down to take the smell out. My rim also had a small nick with a piece of tire missing too. It is about a fraction the size of a babies nail. No biggie really, I let it slide, there are worse things in life. I am sure before long I will add big nicks of my own, just like the ones on my 330 now.

[oldaccount]

Originally Posted by drkeng

Anyone use those soft squeegees to dry their car? I got a couple at Costco and they're pretty efficient, probably better than chamois.

problem with those is that they drag any debris across the finish. at least a microfiber waffle weave will trap the debris to prevent swirls.

Blotting with a microfiber waffle weave is really one of the best methods as theres really no movement across the surface. Using an electric leaf blower beforehand minimizes the chance for swirls even more.