[Steve48]

Hi, I am taking my car in to the dealership get something small checked out (door rattle). I do not want the dealership to wash my car as the paint is perfect after I polished it and put on ceramic coating. Is it enough just to let my service advisor know that I don't want it washed? First world problems, I know...but would hate to get lots of swirl marks that are going to be very hard to get rid of.

 

[MOG_80TH]

I normally do the same and it's not washed. I had one dealer who at times would forget so I just put a post-it note on the navigation screen with a friendly message to not wash. I also bring my car in fully detailed and to avoid any awkwardness I just let them know it's not needed vs. I don't want your scratch-o-matic to damage my paint

 

[dreamer]

Dude, just make it clear to them that you don’t want it touched. I had a car that whenever I went to the dealership, they had a note on my file “Do Not Wash”. I’m sure you won’t be the first to tell them that.

 

[jns211]

Definitely tell the service adviser you do not want the car wash. In a perfect world, that should be enough to prevent them from washing it.

However, mistakes occasionally happen, so I suggest waiting at the dealership while they do the work (if possible). You will be able to monitor the car's location at all times if you wait at the dealership.

It sounds like they are just checking something small, so they might not need your car for very long.

FYI. I also declined the car wash (& waited on my vehicle to be sure) the only time I visited the dealership's service department.

 

[GregW]

I too say "no wash, thanks". I also say "vacuum is fine".
They put notes on the work sheet and I've always got what I wanted.

 

[wriggly]

I also am in the no wash camp. My first service with no wash resulted in getting the car back with dirty water splashed all over it and hand prints front, back and drivers side from the tech. Complaint netted nothing.

 

[rasetsu]

I ask the service advisor at least twice to note "no wash". If I ever have to leave a car there, I will tell the service advisor AND leave a Post-It on the center console.

 

[jt4006]

I too opt for "no wash". I'm well able to scratch up my car via various snafu's and so don't need the help...

 

[Luke718]

I also mention a couple times not to wash. I actually put painters tape on my plastic bits before going in interior ...in places where the tech usually kicks getting in and out. I am scuff free interior because of it. No one will respect your car as much as you do and these things ain't cheap!

 

[CraigK]

+1 for no dealership wash. I even made a sign that I hang from my rear view mirror that says “Do Not Wash!” I’m not taking any chances.

 

[Westcoaster]

I also mention a couple times not to wash. I actually put painters tape on my plastic bits before going in interior ...in places where the tech usually kicks getting in and out. I am scuff free interior because of it. No one will respect your car as much as you do and these things ain't cheap!

Interesting, next time you do this how about a couple of pictures to show where to tape? thanks!

 

[CraigK]

My mock-up of a picture I found online. I hope I'm not infringing on any copyrights, but it's for my own use, not for sale. I just printed this and had it laminated.

 

[roundtail]

My mock-up of a picture I found online. I hope I'm not infringing on any copyrights, but it's for my own use, not for sale. I just printed this and had it laminated. View attachment 24616

I don't know about the deterrent value...that little bug looks mighty happy about its owner's tastes in car wash facilities .

 

[BB718]

I ask for no wash all the time but I do ask to keep it as it came in

 

[Naptown]

Doesn’t matter to me if they wash it. After all it sat in a RORO and then got trucked down and presumably pick up some dirt along the way. And they didn’t hand me keys to a dirty car so it got washed at least once before I owned it.

 

[Westcoaster]

Doesn’t matter to me if they wash it. After all it sat in a RORO and then got trucked down and presumably pick up some dirt along the way. And they didn’t hand me keys to a dirty car so it got washed at least once before I owned it.

We all expect a clean car at time of delivery, it is after that where the fun begins!

 

[CraigK]

Doesn’t matter to me if they wash it. After all it sat in a RORO and then got trucked down and presumably pick up some dirt along the way. And they didn’t hand me keys to a dirty car so it got washed at least once before I owned it.

Naptown, I think the issue for us OCD clean car people is that once you have your paint looking just the way you like it (corrected, coated, etc.), any wash from the dealer will never have the same care that we take when doing ourselves. So the standard of a "clean" car varies greatly from person to person.
I know the dealers wash as a favor, but unfortunately I had an experience once of the dealer washing my jet black Panamera mid-winter when it was caked in road grime and salt. Yes it needed a wash, but the kind of wash the dealer gave it basically rubbed the grit all over and scratched everything up. It required my time for a full two-step correction come spring. That's where I learned my lesson of "Do Not Wash".