[BigFoig]

So I went to get my scheduled oil change today as well as the vehicle inspection as per the maintenance schedule on the BMW.

I went to a dealership in the GTA. The reason I'm leaving the name out is because they resolved the issue by offering me a full vehicle polishing on my next visit.

But I wanted to show you guys how if there was no recording how SOL I would be.


So I asked the service advisor for no wash he said ok.

30 mins later he comes back and tells me they hand washed it. So I said ok that's fine. Didn't like it but better than getting a soft cloth wash.

I went outside to inspect the car and there was a lot of swirls marks on the hood and fenders. Plus the car was dripping and areas normally washed when hand washed were not washed. (i.e gap between the mirrors)


Thankfully I have the new S3 now because I can plug my sd card into the external mem slot and review footage off the phone.

What I saw shocked me. They gave me a soft cloth car wash even though the service advisor told me that it was hand washed.

So I went back inside to complain and the manager went outside with me to inspect the vehicle and he concluded that if I asked for no wash and got a wash and recieved the swirls than he will comp me a vehicle polishing.


Thanks blackvue you saved the day.

I've had friends tell me that they had a swirless car but after service they recieved a swirled car and were SOL because they couldn't prove the swirls weren't there before.

Thanks to the video footage you can't argue back.

[cuiter23]

bigfoiggggg

+1 for blackvue, definitely worth the investment!

[ChasVS]

Wow, it's amazing the difficulties we face each and every day in this World!

[John 070]

That's weird, I would agree it should be used to bust dishonest dealers (like when they don't change the oil because there is no way you can tell since there's no dipstick), but on a carwash, not really sure. The absolute bottom line is only M cars are hand wash. Just ask for no wash. It doesn't take a camera to show that the car has been washed. If you said no wash, and they did, doesn't really matter if it were done by hand (which it wont be unless you have a M, or machine) or not, they didn't follow instructions.

[SilverII]

first world problem

[AddictedToBavarian]

Same thing happened to me after I had asked the SA not to wash it, he wrote it on the keys, and the work order.... and they still did. Careless idiots. They offered me a detail too. TRUST ME don't accept that detail, it will be worse than what you have now. You think they have professional detailers back there? Nope, 19 year old kids who can give a shit about a car they can't afford.

Don't mind these guys ^. They would post something up like this immediately if it happened to them, but since it didn't they just want to be funny guys.

[J02 335i]

Originally Posted by John 070

That's weird, I would agree it should be used to bust dishonest dealers (like when they don't change the oil because there is no way you can tell since there's no dipstick), but on a carwash, not really sure. The absolute bottom line is only M cars are hand wash. Just ask for no wash. It doesn't take a camera to show that the car has been washed. If you said no wash, and they did, doesn't really matter if it were done by hand (which it wont be unless you have a M, or machine) or not, they didn't follow instructions.

Never heard that one before? There are 6 and 7 series worth much more then 1m's and M3's. I could understand if only the "high end" cars were hand washed but not just M models. Doesn't make much sense to me. They should all be washed properly or not at all imo.

[335dM]

My 335 is always hand washed at both my dealers!

[The Archer]

Indeed - I prefer the dealer not wash my cars at all. I like washing my vehicles, wax, polish, etc.. kind of relaxing, actually

[Kolyan2k]

nice catch

[Dark_Knight_335]

It's the principle too. Following simple instructions and respecting others wishes makes life grand. Think about it.

[BOBKUR]

Originally Posted by BigFoig

So I went to get my scheduled oil change today as well as the vehicle inspection as per the maintenance schedule on the BMW.

I went to a dealership in the GTA. The reason I'm leaving the name out is because they resolved the issue by offering me a full vehicle polishing on my next visit.

But I wanted to show you guys how if there was no recording how SOL I would be.


So I asked the service advisor for no wash he said ok.

30 mins later he comes back and tells me they hand washed it. So I said ok that's fine. Didn't like it but better than getting a soft cloth wash.

I went outside to inspect the car and there was a lot of swirls marks on the hood and fenders. Plus the car was dripping and areas normally washed when hand washed were not washed. (i.e gap between the mirrors)


Thankfully I have the new S3 now because I can plug my sd card into the external mem slot and review footage off the phone.

What I saw shocked me. They gave me a soft cloth car wash even though the service advisor told me that it was hand washed.

So I went back inside to complain and the manager went outside with me to inspect the vehicle and he concluded that if I asked for no wash and got a wash and recieved the swirls than he will comp me a vehicle polishing.


Thanks blackvue you saved the day.

I've had friends tell me that they had a swirless car but after service they recieved a swirled car and were SOL because they couldn't prove the swirls weren't there before.

Thanks to the video footage you can't argue back.

Do you keep an eye on your wife too.

[M0.92]

Had similar story. One of my rims had a long scratch on it after the dealer washed it. I didn't notice until I got home so I called my SA. He told me to bring the car back and they would fix it, which they did. Since then I always tell them no wash and so far they have not done it.

[Ryballz]

Under no circumstances would I allow the dealer to wash or detail my car.
Their polish they offer you is going to make things worse. Have them reimburse you for a quality job somewhere else.
They'll let some 19 year old kid making $9 an hour 'detail' your car. He'll polish it using the same wool buffer pad he's 'polished' 30 cars with that week, and probably end up etching the shit out of your clear.

[AndreyT]

The most important step in any car wash is the very first one, when you use clean water to blow off the accumulated grit off the surface of your car's finish. If the abrasive particles were properly removed before the actual washing began, it does not really matter what kind of car wash you use - hand wash, soft cloth, mechanical brushes or anything else. It makes virtually no difference (assuming the washing medium is properly maintained).

You said they gave your car swirl marks? That was caused by the grit that was left on the car before the actual wash began. Under such circumstances, hand wash is in no way better than anything else. I'd even say that you get uglier swirl marks from hand wash than from a mechanical brush.

[BigFoig]

Originally Posted by AndreyT

The most important step in any car wash is the very first one, when you use clean water to blow off the accumulated grit off the surface of your car's finish. If the abrasive particles were properly removed before the actual washing began, it does not really matter what kind of car wash you use - hand wash, soft cloth, mechanical brushes or anything else. It makes virtually no difference (assuming the washing medium is properly maintained).

You said they gave your car swirl marks? That was caused by the grit that was left on the car before the actual wash began. Under such circumstances, hand wash is in no way better than anything else. I'd even say that you get uglier swirl marks from hand wash than from a mechanical brush.

Makes sense. If there was dirt on the body before hand hand washing or machine washing just rubs it in.