BMW washing your car..

Maaarkk · 10-04-2013, 12:45 PM

I've read a lot on here people saying that they wouldn't let bmw near their car when it comes to washing it.
But I had my car in today because they were putting in a new seatbelt butler on the drivers side, they took a lot longer than expected though and when the driver was meant to collect me they made a mistake and was even later..

Anyhow, because of taking so long they gave me one of these

Was told its a free full valet. Anyone had a full valet by bmw? Is it jut a wash and cleaned inside? The guy told me it's a good job, but hearing peoples stories on here I don't know how good it will be.

davyk31 · 10-04-2013, 01:33 PM

It will be a exterior wash and a Hoover/dash wipe inside. Whether it's a good job depends firstly on the person doing it and secondly how particular you are about your car. Many people will be delighted while others who have lovingly applied coats of wax will run a mile as the traffic film remover that the dealer uses will remove it all.

Generally the dealer guys do a reasonable job and are reasonably careful but it's all down to the individual. Bavarian have washed my car in the past and I was happy enough while on other occasions I have instructed them not to wash as I had plenty of wax applied that I wanted to stay on.

Travers91 · 10-04-2013, 01:45 PM

Yup completely made this mistake, after waxing the car I had to take it in to get a sensor replaced only to of had it washed by them, did a good job but not to my standards, that was with Munich legends!

G82Dude · 10-04-2013, 02:20 PM

Don't most dealers employ a third party to wash their cars? So it's done as quickly as they possibly can with little or no care.

kayfaz · 10-04-2013, 03:08 PM

What was wrong with the seat butler? Was it the common fault, if so did they replace it under warranty?

davyk31 · 10-05-2013, 02:37 AM

In my local dealer it is one of their own employees and not a third party. Watching him he does seem pretty careful but my main concern is the harsh chemicals they use.

DMH-01 · 10-05-2013, 02:55 AM

Most people will be more than happy because they don't know any better.

If you're fussy and don't want your paintwork marred then I wouldn't let them wash it.

blues n twos · 10-05-2013, 02:57 AM

Mine was washed by BMW even though I asked for them not to

The end result was my car in my mates paint shop having all the scratched being machine polished out. The best one was a 2 foot long sweeping scratch on the bonnet pea ably caused by grit in the sponge.

Was not happy

Alex.J · 10-05-2013, 04:01 AM

Yeah i would give it away to a friend who doesnt care about his car!

Not only is it the monkey doing it thats the problem, its the chemicals they use..

I would strongly advise against it

leetennis · 10-05-2013, 04:42 AM

It's a no from me too.
I collected my m135 three weeks ago, had a ceramic coat on the body work, wish I hadn't!

To my neighbour and colleagues it looks great, but to me there are swirls and light scratches everywhere. If you admire your car don't do it! If you don't look that hard, wash away.

dest · 10-05-2013, 05:26 AM

I wouldn't let them anywhere near my car

I6Touring · 10-05-2013, 06:14 AM

Highly variable in my experience, so a risk for cars with great paint condition. My car has been cleaned twice recently at bmw: first time was a good job, inside and out inc tyre black which I don't do myself, then second visit was poor, came back with wax residue in some areas and not even clean in others.

evo335xi · 10-05-2013, 07:03 AM

Actually had mine washed at the dealer before. Had mine detailed right before delivery and the car came out great as well.

Maaarkk · 10-05-2013, 08:20 AM

Mixed response then but most people say to stay away from it. My car being black as well maybe not a great idea as it shows up marks easily!

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayfaz

What was wrong with the seat butler? Was it the common fault, if so did they replace it under warranty?

Yeh, it just didn't work. I bought he car a few years old so never had it from new.
When I got it it worked ok but shortly after the seatbelt started slipping off, the just didn't catch at all. Fixed it myself, but eventually same thing happened.
So they put a new part in under warranty just

some people take the fuse out and think they're stupid, but I like it.

nealer74 · 10-07-2013, 06:32 AM

I got one of these last time I was at Bavarian ... used it on the wife's mini and it was grand. They did the gold vallet on my old black 335d back in the day and I was actually reasonably impressed..

Soul_Glo · 10-08-2013, 02:09 AM

Let them wash it once... thought ahhh BMW they will lookafter it... came back with a few scratches... spoke with the valet guy... and had a look at what chemicals they had in their bay... they actually had truck wash which they sprayed on the wheels... never again!!! They don't have time to take care of a car if it is just a complimentary valet... give it away

10-04-2013, 12:45 PM	#1
Maaarkk Captain 37 Rep 738 Posts Drives: E92/E63 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: N.Ireland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2004 E63 645CI [0.00] 2007 Bmw E92 [10.00]	BMW washing your car.. I've read a lot on here people saying that they wouldn't let bmw near their car when it comes to washing it. But I had my car in today because they were putting in a new seatbelt butler on the drivers side, they took a lot longer than expected though and when the driver was meant to collect me they made a mistake and was even later.. Anyhow, because of taking so long they gave me one of these Was told its a free full valet. Anyone had a full valet by bmw? Is it jut a wash and cleaned inside? The guy told me it's a good job, but hearing peoples stories on here I don't know how good it will be. __________________ BSM M Sport E92 Build Thread
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10-04-2013, 01:33 PM	#2
davyk31 Major General 1042 Rep 6,946 Posts Drives: Macan GTS :-) & F40 M135i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern Ireland iTrader: (0)	It will be a exterior wash and a Hoover/dash wipe inside. Whether it's a good job depends firstly on the person doing it and secondly how particular you are about your car. Many people will be delighted while others who have lovingly applied coats of wax will run a mile as the traffic film remover that the dealer uses will remove it all. Generally the dealer guys do a reasonable job and are reasonably careful but it's all down to the individual. Bavarian have washed my car in the past and I was happy enough while on other occasions I have instructed them not to wash as I had plenty of wax applied that I wanted to stay on.
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10-04-2013, 01:45 PM	#3
Travers91 New Member 0 Rep 25 Posts Drives: E90 320i M Sport 2009 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Brighton iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 E90 320i Msport [0.00]	Yup completely made this mistake, after waxing the car I had to take it in to get a sensor replaced only to of had it washed by them, did a good job but not to my standards, that was with Munich legends!
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10-04-2013, 02:20 PM	#4
G82Dude - 290 Rep 2,598 Posts Drives: M4CMxD Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	Don't most dealers employ a third party to wash their cars? So it's done as quickly as they possibly can with little or no care.
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10-04-2013, 03:08 PM	#5
kayfaz Lieutenant 30 Rep 572 Posts Drives: F10 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Reading, UK iTrader: (1)	What was wrong with the seat butler? Was it the common fault, if so did they replace it under warranty?
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10-05-2013, 02:37 AM	#6
davyk31 Major General 1042 Rep 6,946 Posts Drives: Macan GTS :-) & F40 M135i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern Ireland iTrader: (0)	In my local dealer it is one of their own employees and not a third party. Watching him he does seem pretty careful but my main concern is the harsh chemicals they use.
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10-05-2013, 02:55 AM	#7
DMH-01 Captain 12 Rep 693 Posts Drives: E92 335d M Sport Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Essex iTrader: (1)	Most people will be more than happy because they don't know any better. If you're fussy and don't want your paintwork marred then I wouldn't let them wash it. __________________ Official Website\|Official Twitter Page\|Official Facebook Page
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10-05-2013, 02:57 AM	#8
blues n twos Lieutenant 35 Rep 497 Posts Drives: BMW M4 DCT coupe Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Beaconsfield, Bucks iTrader: (1)	Mine was washed by BMW even though I asked for them not to The end result was my car in my mates paint shop having all the scratched being machine polished out. The best one was a 2 foot long sweeping scratch on the bonnet pea ably caused by grit in the sponge. Was not happy __________________ 2015 M4 DCT Mineral White + carbon pack
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10-05-2013, 04:01 AM	#9
Alex.J Major 56 Rep 1,241 Posts Drives: BMW E92 335i MSport Join Date: May 2013 Location: Nottingham iTrader: (9)	Yeah i would give it away to a friend who doesnt care about his car! Not only is it the monkey doing it thats the problem, its the chemicals they use.. I would strongly advise against it __________________
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10-05-2013, 04:42 AM	#10
leetennis Lieutenant 37 Rep 517 Posts Drives: 3 M Sport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: kent iTrader: (0)	It's a no from me too. I collected my m135 three weeks ago, had a ceramic coat on the body work, wish I hadn't! To my neighbour and colleagues it looks great, but to me there are swirls and light scratches everywhere. If you admire your car don't do it! If you don't look that hard, wash away.
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10-05-2013, 05:26 AM	#11
dest Major 89 Rep 1,378 Posts Drives: LCI E91 320d M Sport Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Northamptonshire iTrader: (4)	I wouldn't let them anywhere near my car
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10-05-2013, 06:14 AM	#12
I6Touring Private 5 Rep 88 Posts Drives: F31 330d sDrive Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Edinburgh iTrader: (0)	Highly variable in my experience, so a risk for cars with great paint condition. My car has been cleaned twice recently at bmw: first time was a good job, inside and out inc tyre black which I don't do myself, then second visit was poor, came back with wax residue in some areas and not even clean in others.
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10-05-2013, 07:03 AM	#13
evo335xi Lieutenant 33 Rep 451 Posts Drives: 335 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Ct iTrader: (1)	Actually had mine washed at the dealer before. Had mine detailed right before delivery and the car came out great as well.
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10-07-2013, 06:32 AM	#15
nealer74 Private 4 Rep 75 Posts Drives: E93 M3 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Northern Ireland, United Kingdom iTrader: (0)	I got one of these last time I was at Bavarian ... used it on the wife's mini and it was grand. They did the gold vallet on my old black 335d back in the day and I was actually reasonably impressed..
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10-08-2013, 02:09 AM	#16
Soul_Glo Major General 13347 Rep 7,484 Posts Drives: G20 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Manhattan, NYC iTrader: (1)	Let them wash it once... thought ahhh BMW they will lookafter it... came back with a few scratches... spoke with the valet guy... and had a look at what chemicals they had in their bay... they actually had truck wash which they sprayed on the wheels... never again!!! They don't have time to take care of a car if it is just a complimentary valet... give it away
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