Just got a brand new Mercedes, is a soft touch wash safe?

[druid5]

It's a white coupe with a black glass roof. It already has some swirl marks that are only visible in strong sunlight (not sure if it was from when it was waxed by the shop recently or from the car wash).

I picked it up in November and it had rail dust on it right off the lot, so the dealer sent it to a third party shop to get it waxed and clay barred. I don't know if the swirls are from that or the car wash.

It's far too cold here to wash by hand, and touch free washes don't get the grime off (and end up leaving a film). I pay $30 a month to a local car wash for unlimited washes, it has an air dry at the end so noone is wiping the car down with dirty rags, and there are people in the front that spray the cars down before they go in.

The owner of the car wash assured me it uses some type of special foam (I think its closed cell?) thats synthetic and doesn't hold dirt. They said the only way my car would get scratched is if a projectile was caught in the brush which is rare. This seems to be my only option since hand washing isn't an option.

Is this safe? If I am getting swirl marks from this, will they buff out assuming I get the car waxed 3 times a year?


I don't care too much about this car because I'm only keeping it about three years, I'm still in college and it's going to tide me over till I have a real job and can afford an SLK or E class. I just want it to look reasonably nice while I have it.

[druid5]

Re: Just got a brand new Mercedes, is a soft touch wash safe?

How do I edit my post?

[W211E320]

Re: Just got a brand new Mercedes, is a soft touch wash safe?

Hi, had the same problem in winter here ... now I use UWAWA after a high pressure cleaning

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?57586-Fast-Winter-Detail

[Detailing by M]

Re: Just got a brand new Mercedes, is a soft touch wash safe?

I would never use a mech wash or anything other then myself.
with that being said and you said you don't really care about the car then sure run it through and live with the scratches you might get.
When I lived in Boston I would use a self service with a pressure washer.
If I lived there now I would pressure wash at the Self Service to get off the salt and snow slush and then use a waterless wash.

[Selectchoice]

Re: Just got a brand new Mercedes, is a soft touch wash safe?

I don't care too much about this car because I'm only keeping it about three years, I'm still in college and it's going to tide me over till I have a real job and can afford an SLK or E class.

Wow, brand new Mercedes? Looks like a car I'd care about...

[rmagnus]

Re: Just got a brand new Mercedes, is a soft touch wash safe?

+1...but if the owner doesn't care then automatic car washes are fine. $30 a month should do the ticket. Good thing you got it in white. I could neither afford a Mercedes nor $30 a month for car washes when I was in college. Ah the new generation!

[druid5]

Re: Just got a brand new Mercedes, is a soft touch wash safe?

+1...but if the owner doesn't care then automatic car washes are fine. $30 a month should do the ticket. Good thing you got it in white. I could neither afford a Mercedes nor $30 a month for car washes when I was in college. Ah the new generation!

I care, but like I said it's a lease so I'm not going to be super OCD about it.

Noone here seems to be a fan of the car wash, is the synthetic closed cell foam thing a hype then? They said by design it physically cannot hold dirt, and you only risk if someone had like a fishing line or something caught in it.

If I spray it down at a pressure washer I read that the washers pressure can embed the dirt into the paint, is that true or a myth?

Also, what do you guys think of that transparent car bra 3M or whatever sells. Does the car still look good with it on? Does it work?

[wifpd4]

Re: Just got a brand new Mercedes, is a soft touch wash safe?

Clear bra on a lease would seems a bit expensive on a car you may not keep. Most folks only cover some or all of these parts: bumper, fenders, hood and mirrors. Rarely anyone covers the whole car, but its done. Clear bras protect the paint, but they are a form of sacrificial protection as it can be injured too, even by a automated car wash.

Granted the only way to clean a car, especially one in the winter and near snow, ice and salt, is to touch the paint. You decide whether you touch it hand washing and keep the paint clean and reasonably defect free or you go to a touching car wash and expect some defects.

I haven't read high pressure washers embed dirt, I have worried that while blowing the dirt off it scratches the paint. That does not stop me from using a high pressure washer in the winter. Salt is my enemy