Car Wash Horror Stories
Discussion
Xtriple129 said:
I took the Big Green Dollop of doom to the local Kosavo Karwash 18 months ago and it was a different guy to the really helpful and good chap that usually did it. He jet washed a piece of trim off the bumper, never to be seen again and used something different on the paintwork which seemed to take all the polish off. Never been back - invested £7 in an extendable hose and £3 on a tap adaptor and away we go.
When the MX5 was serviced recently the dealer gave it a 'courtesy wash' which it desperately needed but whatever they used wrecked the wheels - polished rims with clouds all over them and the silver now patchy and dull. I couldn't complain as it was free, but I did wonder just what the hell they use?
Sorry but that sounds ridiculous " can't complain cause it's free" so what, the When the MX5 was serviced recently the dealer gave it a 'courtesy wash' which it desperately needed but whatever they used wrecked the wheels - polished rims with clouds all over them and the silver now patchy and dull. I couldn't complain as it was free, but I did wonder just what the hell they use?
s fked up your paint and wheels but that's ok as it's free. I'd be right pissed off and want to speak to the dealer to get it corrected. Just because it's free is no excuse.Many years ago, I watched a brand-new Celica going through a roll-over car wash as I was filling up with petrol. On the first pass, the overhead roller pulled one of the wipers off and it got tangled in the brush.
I watched (and listened) with growing horror as it went thrap-thrap-thrap all the way over the car. And then thrap-thrap-thrap all the way back again. Every panel from front spoiler to rear number plate was shagged. I was just leaving as the young lady driver marched purposefully towards the kiosk.
I watched (and listened) with growing horror as it went thrap-thrap-thrap all the way over the car. And then thrap-thrap-thrap all the way back again. Every panel from front spoiler to rear number plate was shagged. I was just leaving as the young lady driver marched purposefully towards the kiosk.
mr alan said:
Xtriple129 said:
I took the Big Green Dollop of doom to the local Kosavo Karwash 18 months ago and it was a different guy to the really helpful and good chap that usually did it. He jet washed a piece of trim off the bumper, never to be seen again and used something different on the paintwork which seemed to take all the polish off. Never been back - invested £7 in an extendable hose and £3 on a tap adaptor and away we go.
When the MX5 was serviced recently the dealer gave it a 'courtesy wash' which it desperately needed but whatever they used wrecked the wheels - polished rims with clouds all over them and the silver now patchy and dull. I couldn't complain as it was free, but I did wonder just what the hell they use?
Sorry but that sounds ridiculous " can't complain cause it's free" so what, the When the MX5 was serviced recently the dealer gave it a 'courtesy wash' which it desperately needed but whatever they used wrecked the wheels - polished rims with clouds all over them and the silver now patchy and dull. I couldn't complain as it was free, but I did wonder just what the hell they use?
s fked up your paint and wheels but that's ok as it's free. I'd be right pissed off and want to speak to the dealer to get it corrected. Just because it's free is no excuse.I made the mistake of letting my local JLR dealership clean my car while being serviced. I could spot the swirl marks and water spots immediately. They offered to wash the car again and they possibly could not have swirl it because it was a jetwash, I could see the streaks in the paint of a (probably dirty) cloth used
. Next time they will be asked not to touch the paintwork.
Edited by alec.e on Friday 14th April 17:33
Do you actually have a leg to stand on if say, you use a machine car wash and it lifts the car up by the spoiler and tears it off for example, or are you just screwed?
Since cars come in so many shapes and sizes, current technology really isn't there yet to properly deal with each car.
Since cars come in so many shapes and sizes, current technology really isn't there yet to properly deal with each car.
Some people just don't bother cleaning. There's a S3 over the road from me, parked on the road all the time under a tree. I cry a bit when i see all the bird etching and lime all over it. He literally does not give two hoots and hasn't washed in a year since he got it.
It looks like a lease so i wonder what is actually covered under the terms of fair wear and tear on paintwork. I guess if it's not dinged it's ok.
Mind you, it's a bin inside as well. I'm not sure why you would bother getting a nice car and treating it like a tip.
It looks like a lease so i wonder what is actually covered under the terms of fair wear and tear on paintwork. I guess if it's not dinged it's ok.
Mind you, it's a bin inside as well. I'm not sure why you would bother getting a nice car and treating it like a tip.
Few years ago I took my old Discovery to the local Latvians for a wash. The wheels had been tarted up prior to me buying it and I watched in horror as they jetwashed them only for all the silver paint to be blasted off, replaced with primer underneath. They also must have used brick cleaner which took all the laquer off the badges. Never trusted anyone to wash my cars since.
Many years ago I worked for a large DIY chain who branched out into autocentres. Each location had brand new conveyor cars washes and almost every month there was something went wrong with them or customers using them, for example,
Woman who panicked and drove through at speed breaking every section as she went through.
A suzuki jeep, where the windscreen popped into the car and the owner went through the whole system holding it in place as the car filled with foamy water.
Trim getting stuck in the brush and wrecking the paint work as it rotated down the car.
Wipers being ripped off as even though we put bags on them, when dimwits turned them on the bags ripped off and often the brush caught the wiper.
But for shear comedy genius, was a lad who was cleaning the machine when a women drove up, he lined her up and set the machine going forgetting the step ladders in the second chamber which smashed the screen, bonnet etc.
Woman who panicked and drove through at speed breaking every section as she went through.
A suzuki jeep, where the windscreen popped into the car and the owner went through the whole system holding it in place as the car filled with foamy water.
Trim getting stuck in the brush and wrecking the paint work as it rotated down the car.
Wipers being ripped off as even though we put bags on them, when dimwits turned them on the bags ripped off and often the brush caught the wiper.
But for shear comedy genius, was a lad who was cleaning the machine when a women drove up, he lined her up and set the machine going forgetting the step ladders in the second chamber which smashed the screen, bonnet etc.
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
I watch them cleaning cars in Salisbury's car park...they spray some water over the car with one of those sprayers you use for misting plants, and then wipe the car over with a cloth. Yes it's clean, but the paintwork is ruined.
I guess people are just stupid and just don't care or understand the implications?
...and it costs £8.
Most people are renting their car on some kind of lease / PCP deal, so no, they don't care.I guess people are just stupid and just don't care or understand the implications?
...and it costs £8.
I'll happily put the company car through rollover washes as I know that I hand it back every few years to get another one.
The place i work at has one of these types of car washes on its grounds.
I've been there 3 years and have had loads of complaints that cars have been damaged. One day we had two cars pretty much same time, one of them was a few days old! Now had a really deep scratch across two panels and the car wash guys refusing to give insurance details.
This is when we usually end up going down and sorting it out before it turns violent.
I've been there 3 years and have had loads of complaints that cars have been damaged. One day we had two cars pretty much same time, one of them was a few days old! Now had a really deep scratch across two panels and the car wash guys refusing to give insurance details.
This is when we usually end up going down and sorting it out before it turns violent.
Took our Octavia in for a service at the local dealer. Gave it the obligatory valet, but used a "deodoriser" which was reminiscent of stale urinal cakes and spearmint chewing gum mixed together...
It was mid winter - I was forced to drive home with all of the windows down and the heater on full blast and it took weeks to get rid of the smell from the car. That said, they did do a bloody good job on the exterior!
It was mid winter - I was forced to drive home with all of the windows down and the heater on full blast and it took weeks to get rid of the smell from the car. That said, they did do a bloody good job on the exterior!
I've found one good hand car wash place (in East Dulwich), and I don't go anywhere else.
They pressure wash properly, use wash mitts not sponges, different mitts for the wheels, drying towels, etc. The guys running it also seem to really know their stuff - they spot tiny tiny scratches and swirl marks, and where bird st has degraded the laquer.
Everywhere else I've been had those drying blades, sponges with stones in, and a very cavalier attitude. I steer well clear.
They pressure wash properly, use wash mitts not sponges, different mitts for the wheels, drying towels, etc. The guys running it also seem to really know their stuff - they spot tiny tiny scratches and swirl marks, and where bird s
t has degraded the laquer. Everywhere else I've been had those drying blades, sponges with stones in, and a very cavalier attitude. I steer well clear.
R E S T E C P said:
Cold said:
From the wonderful world of Youtubeland:
I put an old Mondeo through an automated car wash once. I couldn't unscrew the antenna to get it off, no matter how hard I twisted. The car wash got it off for me
.... Although not quite in the way I had intended.I work in a very wealthy area of Surrey, I often see Lamborghinis, Ferrari's, Porsche, Mclaren's etc all being hand washed by the local hand wash places.
Edited by HTP99 on Sunday 16th April 12:18
TimmyMallett said:
Some people just don't bother cleaning. There's a S3 over the road from me, parked on the road all the time under a tree. I cry a bit when i see all the bird etching and lime all over it. He literally does not give two hoots and hasn't washed in a year since he got it.
It looks like a lease so i wonder what is actually covered under the terms of fair wear and tear on paintwork. I guess if it's not dinged it's ok.
Mind you, it's a bin inside as well. I'm not sure why you would bother getting a nice car and treating it like a tip.
Three times I've asked the main dealer NOT to wash my car and everytime they wash and vacuum it. I hate clean cars. Mechanics I'm sIt looks like a lease so i wonder what is actually covered under the terms of fair wear and tear on paintwork. I guess if it's not dinged it's ok.
Mind you, it's a bin inside as well. I'm not sure why you would bother getting a nice car and treating it like a tip.
t hot on but washing? No. I bet the dealer loves washing it as I'm in dispute over warranty items so this is probably small sniggering ways of getting back at me... 
The S3- as long as it comes up sparkling who cares? It's a metal box to be used to it's fullest capacity. Not a valuable air loom.
Sa Calobra said:
Three times I've asked the main dealer NOT to wash my car and everytime they wash and vacuum it. I hate clean cars. Mechanics I'm st hot on but washing? No. I bet the dealer loves washing it as I'm in dispute over warranty items so this is probably small sniggering ways of getting back at me...
The S3- as long as it comes up sparkling who cares? It's a metal box to be used to it's fullest capacity. Not a valuable air loom.
Sorry pedantic alert, but it's "Heirloom"t hot on but washing? No. I bet the dealer loves washing it as I'm in dispute over warranty items so this is probably small sniggering ways of getting back at me... The S3- as long as it comes up sparkling who cares? It's a metal box to be used to it's fullest capacity. Not a valuable air loom.
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