FUBAR'D or alternatively known as a dealer wash. :(

[Supa Koopa]

My wife came home on Saturday after picking her car up from the BMW dealers. It was in for a service and she was over the moon about the fact they had washed it and so I didn't need to worry about doing it this week. It was at this point my heart sank as I had forgotten to tell her to not let them wash the car under any circumstances. My local dealer has a long running agreement that they are not allowed to wash my car but I totally forgot about hers.

So if anyone is in any doubt how much damage one wash can inflict then please look at the following pictures. Admittedly you'd need a video to see just how much damage there is but the scratches, swirls and holograms were a sight to see.

Notice the the slight milky haze to the colour and the straight marring from the wash.

I don't think the neighbours were too impressed with me while I was walking round the car shouting 'what a bunch of W*****S how can they F**K up a car so badly after one F*****G wash.

I then realised I didn't have the stuff I needed to fix it so it had to be a make do session as I just couldn't leave it like that. So out came the DA and some Menzernna 3800 on a White CG Quantum Pad. Totally the wrong stuff as this is a fine finish polish and I needed something more aggressive but it's all I had. It then had the full Blackfire Wet Ice Over Fire treatment.

So it's probably an 80-90% fix if I'm being generous but she'll never know and it settles my OCD.

These are before and after pictures but they can be used either way round. So you could take the last ones as before it went to the dealer and the first ones as after...! Fuming, you bet ya.

The major problem is that's only the roof corrected, but as the rest of the car is Silver (it's a mini cooper) you can't see the damage as easily and it can wait until I have the proper stuff and more time. The roof took me at least 2 hours on its own.

So this weeks lesson for her was do not let the Muppet's wash your car, for me to get some S20 black and for everyone else please don't let idiots like this go near your paintwork.

 

[Jassyo06]

Well alls well that ends well mate but can l say something Holograms on paint ain't caused by washing a car

 

[Supa Koopa]

Well alls well that ends well mate but can l say something Holograms on paint ain't caused by washing a car

It was the best way to describe the damage as you moved your head in the light. Most people don't know what a hologram is but I was trying to describe the shimmering you could see. The damage was obviously from a mechanical car wash as the marring inflicted was in straight lines. As you moved along the roof you could see some areas that were worse than others where the machine had obviously paused or adjusted the height. It really was shockingly bad.

I'm not in to willy waving contests and have nothing to prove. I didn't go back to the garage as it wasn't worth the argument. What I can say is that the roof looked like pic 5 before it went in and came back like pic 1 & 2. This car was a new purchase by us and has only ever been washed by me. If I'd have induced marring or holograms I wouldn't have bothered posting it now would I?

I just thought it might be an interesting tale or as a warning for some people. I know many, many people who let the dealers wash their cars, take them to automated car washes or £5 side of the road jobbies and they are all happy with them. This was to demonstrate what damage just one of these washes can cause because no one ever does this sort of thing. Damage normally happens over time and people rarely notice it.

 

[Terminator x]

When the RS3 was almost new I went to Audi so they could listen to the knocking top mounts in order to replace under warranty. Whilst waiting in reception for 10-20 mins to hear about it (yes they would replace) I came back outside to see they had washed the ******* car! Literally must have chucked a bucket of water on it and washed it down. The car was filthy as it hadn't been washed for a few weeks. Car was completely ****** up needless to say and from that point on I always specifically asked them not to wash it.

TX.

 

[Supa Koopa]

When the RS3 was almost new I went to Audi so they could listen to the knocking top mounts in order to replace under warranty. Whilst waiting in reception for 10-20 mins to hear about it (yes they would replace) I came back outside to see they had washed the ******* car! Literally must have chucked a bucket of water on it and washed it down. The car was filthy as it hadn't been washed for a few weeks. Car was completely ****** up needless to say and from that point on I always specifically asked them not to wash it.

TX.

Oh my God on a RS3 as well. I think I would've freaked.

Last week I took the S3 in for the gearbox and clutch to be reset and re-calibrated. She said give me a minute while I get your paperwork, she came walking back with a bright red sign with 'Do Not Wash' plastered on it. Finally they are learning....!

 

[NevMan]

My wife came home on Saturday after picking her car up from the BMW dealers. It was in for a service and she was over the moon about the fact they had washed it and so I didn't need to worry about doing it this week. It was at this point my heart sank as I had forgotten to tell her to not let them wash the car under any circumstances. My local dealer has a long running agreement that they are not allowed to wash my car but I totally forgot about hers.

So if anyone is in any doubt how much damage one wash can inflict then please look at the following pictures. Admittedly you'd need a video to see just how much damage there is but the scratches, swirls and holograms were a sight to see.

View attachment 160582

Notice the the slight milky haze to the colour and the straight marring from the wash.

View attachment 160583

I don't think the neighbours were too impressed with me while I was walking round the car shouting 'what a bunch of W*****S how can they F**K up a car so badly after one F*****G wash.

I then realised I didn't have the stuff I needed to fix it so it had to be a make do session as I just couldn't leave it like that. So out came the DA and some Menzernna 3800 on a White CG Quantum Pad. Totally the wrong stuff as this is a fine finish polish and I needed something more aggressive but it's all I had. It then had the full Blackfire Wet Ice Over Fire treatment.

View attachment 160584
So it's probably an 80-90% fix if I'm being generous but she'll never know and it settles my OCD.

View attachment 160586

View attachment 160585

These are before and after pictures but they can be used either way round. So you could take the last ones as before it went to the dealer and the first ones as after...! Fuming, you bet ya.

The major problem is that's only the roof corrected, but as the rest of the car is Silver (it's a mini cooper) you can't see the damage as easily and it can wait until I have the proper stuff and more time. The roof took me at least 2 hours on its own.

So this weeks lesson for her was do not let the Muppet's wash your car, for me to get some S20 black and for everyone else please don't let idiots like this go near your paintwork.

Thanks for posting @Supa Koopa , it really is scary the damage that can be done on one poor wash. Good job at fixing, even if you didn't quite have the right polish and pads, looks ****** good to me!. My Q5 went in last week for a rattle, and I placed about 4 DO NOT WASH signs (thanks to @Bristle Hound for posting example). I will do this every time it goes in, and should they not listen, they will pay for correction

 

[Supa Koopa]

To be honest it was a lesson for me as well. There were a few times before I became super anal regarding my cars that I thought I'll let the dealers clean it as seriously how much damage can you do with one wash? I think I've answered my own question. The worst part is the car came back dirty as well, so they'd not cleaned it properly and damaged it for free. Do not let them near that gorgeous Cooper Works...!

Terminator's story scares me even more as they'd done to his car so quick he didn't even know it was happening.

The biggest warning sign I had about how dealers treat cars was when I was looking to buy the S3. I was trying to decide on colours and was looking for a car in Ara blue and Glacier white. I went to the local dealers, who I eventually bought the car from, and he said he didn't have a blue one but did have one in white I could look at. The car was in their compound and was obviously owned by someone as it was a year or so old. The car looked great but the amount of surface damage was scarily bad, but it did help me decide on the colour as it hid them better than other colours I'd seen. As we were walking back to the showroom we passed an automatic carwash (the ones with the big rollers) and I asked what they used that for and was it for just the old used cars. He said no it's for everything. I guess the horror on my face said it all as he tried to say it was a new system and very expensive. I then asked 'you don't use it on absolutely everything though?', he said 'yes', 'not that brand new R8 surely?' i replied, 'Yeah absolutely, it's been in there this morning!'. It was at this point I explained that they were not allowed to prep the car in any way before delivery....!

 

[Terminator x]

I walked past a "Polish" car wash today and they were washing an almost brand new Ferrari

TX.

 

[Jassyo06]

I walked past a "Polish" car wash today and they were washing an almost brand new Ferrari

TX.

Probably had the full car covered in ppf as most owners of these types of cars have.. So he wasn't giving a monkeys

 

[V6_Man]

You are not alone in that mate. These dealerships are MoFos. Had my S4 booked in for MoT Friday last week. I left the notes inside as well as categorical mentioned it to the service guy to not wash the car. It was noted on the job sheet. Went to pick up the car on Saturday and saw 'clean' car and my heart went all the way down to my **** and got stuck there.

S4 was Finest Reserve protected only in Feb/March this year. This is what it looks like in the sunlight, it is a fu*k*n spiderweb now. Picture of the boot fyi

Had a meeting in Winchester so, stopped by my detailer on my way back. He took the pictures and is going to send them over along with an email. Long story short, the whole thing has to be redone. I have spoken to Oxford Audi and told them that. Fingers crossed, I shouldn't have picked up the car but had meetings all week this week so couldnt.


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[scotty76]

That's what happened to me @Tashfeen at Newbury. Ignored the note and the job sheet. This is obviously Marshalls new policy, wash 'em anyway regardless of what the customer says.

 

[V6_Man]

That's what happened to me @Tashfeen at Newbury. Ignored the note and the job sheet. This is obviously Marshalls new policy, wash 'em anyway regardless of what the customer says.

Oh, I didn't know that. Did you speak to Newbury Audi, did you get it detailed again? Did they pay?
Nick has just sent me the estimates, which I am going to send over to the Service Advisor at Ox Audi. Fingers crossed.


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[NevMan]

I walked past a "Polish" car wash today and they were washing an almost brand new Ferrari

TX.

Noooooooooooo ‍

 

[NevMan]

You are not alone in that mate. These dealerships are MoFos. Had my S4 booked in for MoT Friday last week. I left the notes inside as well as categorical mentioned it to the service guy to not wash the car. It was noted on the job sheet. Went to pick up the car on Saturday and saw 'clean' car and my heart went all the way down to my **** and got stuck there.

S4 was Finest Reserve protected only in Feb/March this year. This is what it looks like in the sunlight, it is a fu*k*n spiderweb now. Picture of the boot fyi

Had a meeting in Winchester so, stopped by my detailer on my way back. He took the pictures and is going to send them over along with an email. Long story short, the whole thing has to be redone. I have spoken to Oxford Audi and told them that. Fingers crossed, I shouldn't have picked up the car but had meetings all week this week so couldnt.


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Oh no @Tashfeen. Good on you, make them pay, I would do the same. ‍

 

[NevMan]

To be honest it was a lesson for me as well. There were a few times before I became super anal regarding my cars that I thought I'll let the dealers clean it as seriously how much damage can you do with one wash? I think I've answered my own question. The worst part is the car came back dirty as well, so they'd not cleaned it properly and damaged it for free. Do not let them near that gorgeous Cooper Works...!

Terminator's story scares me even more as they'd done to his car so quick he didn't even know it was happening.

The biggest warning sign I had about how dealers treat cars was when I was looking to buy the S3. I was trying to decide on colours and was looking for a car in Ara blue and Glacier white. I went to the local dealers, who I eventually bought the car from, and he said he didn't have a blue one but did have one in white I could look at. The car was in their compound and was obviously owned by someone as it was a year or so old. The car looked great but the amount of surface damage was scarily bad, but it did help me decide on the colour as it hid them better than other colours I'd seen. As we were walking back to the showroom we passed an automatic carwash (the ones with the big rollers) and I asked what they used that for and was it for just the old used cars. He said no it's for everything. I guess the horror on my face said it all as he tried to say it was a new system and very expensive. I then asked 'you don't use it on absolutely everything though?', he said 'yes', 'not that brand new R8 surely?' i replied, 'Yeah absolutely, it's been in there this morning!'. It was at this point I explained that they were not allowed to prep the car in any way before delivery....!

I definitely won’t let BMW touch the JCW wash-wise, especially as just had her ceramic coated by @FranA3:

 

[cuke2u]

Intercleanse have the valeting contract for the majority of dealerships in the South http://www.intercleanse.com/hats-on but they can cover much of the UK.
To be avoided like the pox, I watched one of them washing forecourt sales cars and the sponge was fortunate to have any water let alone suds. They clean the showroom cars with a spray and a cloth. Ruined my paintwork...

 

[V6_Man]

Intercleanse have the valeting contract for the majority of dealerships in the South http://www.intercleanse.com/hats-on but they can cover much of the UK.
To be avoided like the pox, I watched one of them washing forecourt sales cars and the sponge was fortunate to have any water let alone suds. They clean the showroom cars with a spray and a cloth. Ruined my paintwork...

I don't think the below can be achieved with a sponge, it is more like a wash brush or maybe a sponge but filled with stones

I know the window trim is easy to get scratches and swirls but trust me it wasn't that bad, at all. I am really anal when it comes to washing the window trim as well as drying it.


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[Supa Koopa]

@Tashfeen - It still amazes me they can do so much damage from one wash. I don't know how you could remain calm as that is absolutely shocking. I know the garages see this as a courtesy to the customer by providing a clean car, but I see it as pure vandalism and they should be dealt with accordingly. I do hope you get what you want from them. Unfortunately we just gave up and didn't even try, but that was wrong really as more people need to do exactly what you are doing or they'll never learn.

 

[Supa Koopa]

@q5man - That JCW is looking sweet.

 

[NevMan]

@q5man - That JCW is looking sweet.

Thanks, we are very pleased, now the easy part of maintaining

 

[V6_Man]

@Tashfeen - It still amazes me they can do so much damage from one wash. I don't know how you could remain calm as that is absolutely shocking. I know the garages see this as a courtesy to the customer by providing a clean car, but I see it as pure vandalism and they should be dealt with accordingly. I do hope you get what you want from them. Unfortunately we just gave up and didn't even try, but that was wrong really as more people need to do exactly what you are doing or they'll never learn.

I am fuming but pretending to be calm. I just got confirmation from the service advisor that he has sent my email along with pictures and quotes to his line manager who will get in touch asap.

They should've learned from the last time when they paid me to get the car professionally cleaned when they left the grease marks on the bonnet, engine bay and side skirts.

The more I look at the car the more issues I see. If you look closely at the below picture (highlighted) there are crease marks on the paint. Now how the fock did they managed to get these I am not sure. Since the coating I have washed the car 10 times and I sweet these were not their before.

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[V6_Man]

And it is not just that the whole focking boot is a different colour to the rest of the car. It has gone matte, it’s focking ibis white rather than Glacier - see below:

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[Audib5fan]

And it is not just that the whole focking boot is a different colour to the rest of the car. It has gone matte, it’s focking ibis white rather than Glacier - see below:

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Welcome to the ibis white crew


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[V6_Man]

Welcome to the ibis white crew


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lol


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[Audib5fan]

lol


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Hope you get it sorted up to ur satisfaction as looks like they have messed up big time


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[V6_Man]

Hope you get it sorted up to ur satisfaction as looks like they have messed up big time


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Cheers mate. I have been dealing with them very patiently but ain't gonna sit quite if it is not resolved by cob tomorrow. I am not sure if the 'skimming' and then relacquer would fix it or repainting. I simply don't want to go down the repaint route as I will be never happy with the paint-match.


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[Audib5fan]

Cheers mate. I have been dealing with them very patiently but ain't gonna sit quite if it is not resolved by cob tomorrow. I am not sure if the 'skimming' and then relacquer would fix it or repainting. I simply don't want to go down the repaint route as I will be never happy with the paint-match.


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Yeah you never know if it be exactly the same bud Let us know how you get on


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[scotty76]

Oh, I didn't know that. Did you speak to Newbury Audi, did you get it detailed again? Did they pay?
Nick has just sent me the estimates, which I am going to send over to the Service Advisor at Ox Audi. Fingers crossed.


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Nope drew a line under it Just not going back to the dealer's now. I don't have the time or energy for it at the moment. Their opening gambit will be to offer to fix it themselves. I'd rather just move on and save for the next detail. I emailed the service guy (no reply) and submitted crap scores on the survey and a written explanation in the boxes, ticked the boxes to submit to the dealer and Audi UK (no contact). So forget it I don't have the time for phone arguments.

 

[V6_Man]

Nope drew a line under it Just not going back to the dealer's now. I don't have the time or energy for it at the moment. Their opening gambit will be to offer to fix it themselves. I'd rather just move on and save for the next detail. I emailed the service guy (no reply) and submitted **** scores on the survey and a written explanation in the boxes, ticked the boxes to submit to the dealer and Audi UK (no contact). So forget it I don't have the time for phone arguments.

Blimme. You should've mate. Luckily, my A3 is booked in tomorrow for some warranty work. So, I'll be with the same guy tomorrow morning and would ask to see the Service Manager. I did ask them to talk to Nick themselves rather than involving menas I can't be fussed. Just tell me the booking date and I'll drop off the car. So, fingers crossed.


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[Supa Koopa]

@Tashfeen - wow you're really going through it at the moment buddy, I can feel your pain and hope you get it sorted. I just can't believe how much they've f****d your car. What the hell have they done to the boot to get that much of a difference?