How some dealers clean their cars

[CAShine]

Re: How some dealers clean their cars

Simple: Time = Money. For dealerships their specialty is selling cars, not making them look good. As long as it looks good to the average eye, then thats good enough. Imagine a dealership that actually cared about the appearance of their cars.

[saturn2]

Re: How some dealers clean their cars

I recently took delivery of a new Honda Odyssey. I told the salesperson not to have it washed as well. I still need to give it the once over, but I'm glad I told them not to. There are some bonded contaminants on the hood and a few areas where the adhesive remains from the wrapping. I can just imagine how they'd try to remove them.

For rail dust we would use clay and we were directed by the factory via a TSB to do so. We would try to remove the adhesive lines with prep solvent or cleaner wax.

One story about adhesives. Back in 95' GM sprayed Camaro's and Firebird's with a clear spray called trans seal on the body of the car to protect it before the car was sold. The problem was that the spray got all over the car they even got it under the wing and hood etc. And when you got to the point that you couldn't tear off the seal. You had to use a special Chemical to remove it.

[saturn2]

Re: How some dealers clean their cars

There is a difference between washing a car for delivery and washing a car for service. With a drive in car wash anybody can ride in it and be done. The problem is and I've seen it with my own eyes. If the machine has old bushes they need to be replaced time to time.

In new car more than likely we will do it by hand. The thing is a lot of cars don't come perfect off the truck sometimes chains get dropped on them and everything else. As for time allowance I made sure that all the cars that I did that a good coat of wax on them. Most guys would just use a spray wax and be done about it.

One thing that I found a little troubling is how many new hires think a detail is shinny tires and a wash.

[saturn2]

Re: How some dealers clean their cars

The real root of the problem for car lot detailers , is management . Most management types at car lots are looking at the bottom line . They will hire someone with little to no experience and pay them peanuts . When that person finally gets a clue as to how a car should be detailed , he becomes too expensive for the manager to keep around . I have seen it over and over again . I have been working in the car lot industry for a long , long time and the cycle continues . They want you to run a "detail " operation for them but they don't spend the money to do it right . At one of the car lots that I used to work for , we had four "detailers " . Two of these detailers were responsible for the courtesy clean that everyone dreads . These were the lowest paid employees in the whole dealership . They were minimum wage people who worked there rears off , but had no proper training in how to safely clean a car . They would typically have to clean an average of 30 cars in an 8 hour shift , as well as be shuttle drivers to pick up and drop off customers . The other two were supposed to detail all of the lot cars , and keep them maintained that way . They were also expected to do retail work . The company would buy elcheapo products and equipment , but expect the cars on their lot to look perfect .

I know that was a bit of a rant but I put in many years as a car lot detailer and I know what goes on in those places . It is basically a crash course for how not to detail a car . For me , it was valuable experience on my way to becoming a competent detailer . I am not saying it is right , just giving you a different perspective .

Cory

Working as a detailer for three or more Dealerships over 8 years removed from the field for 5 years now. I can't say how true the above statement is. But, I will say this if the car dealership got bad CSI each and every month it would be a big problem.
And I have one funny story that sticks out when it comes to CSI.
"One time I think it was 5-7 years ago another co-worker bought a new truck at the lot where we were employed. I point out this fact because when he filled out the CSI mailer he proceed run down the whole dealership from sales to New car detail."

The funny thing is that he did he's own vehicle nobody else touched it.
Tom E.who just happen to own Thomas Chevy. came down and .
He had the detail manger put it up on the front of his office to show everybody what he did.

[dpardo]

Re: How some dealers clean their cars

Speaking of soapless car washes, I recently saw a mobile detailer wash and wax a nice BMW recently.

I don't think he thought anyone was watching him and he basically did what someone mentioned earlier. He rinsed the car off with a high-pressure hose and then proceeded to dry and wax the car.

I couldn't believe he didn't bother washing it at all!

He finished in record time, though (LOL).

[thecarguy]

Re: How some dealers clean their cars

The real root of the problem for car lot detailers , is management . Most management types at car lots are looking at the bottom line . They will hire someone with little to no experience and pay them peanuts . When that person finally gets a clue as to how a car should be detailed , he becomes too expensive for the manager to keep around . I have seen it over and over again . I have been working in the car lot industry for a long , long time and the cycle continues . They want you to run a "detail " operation for them but they don't spend the money to do it right . At one of the car lots that I used to work for , we had four "detailers " . Two of these detailers were responsible for the courtesy clean that everyone dreads . These were the lowest paid employees in the whole dealership . They were minimum wage people who worked there rears off , but had no proper training in how to safely clean a car . They would typically have to clean an average of 30 cars in an 8 hour shift , as well as be shuttle drivers to pick up and drop off customers . The other two were supposed to detail all of the lot cars , and keep them maintained that way . They were also expected to do retail work . The company would buy elcheapo products and equipment , but expect the cars on their lot to look perfect .

I know that was a bit of a rant but I put in many years as a car lot detailer and I know what goes on in those places . It is basically a crash course for how not to detail a car . For me , it was valuable experience on my way to becoming a competent detailer . I am not saying it is right , just giving you a different perspective .

Cory

[Sal329]

Re: How some dealers clean their cars

They guy that "cleans" the cars here has a nice lil racket going on. He gets $1 per car at all the dealers around this area. It is him and one other person, a van a pressure washer and towels. He comes in early mornin atleast 1x a week and does all the cars on the lot. He sprays and his buddy dries them.
I've worked at 5 dealerships 2 out of those 5 I wouldn't mind them washing my car actually one of the dealers I worked at the guy would take care of my black mustang, washed it for me 2x a week and detail when needed I have never had a problem. They had a machine that would rinde the car with Deionized water, wash with lambwool wash mits they had 8 buckets lol 4 with soap 4 with just water.
The dealer I work for now I would not have wash my car lol but the detail dept (is off site) does some very very nice work.

[SVT Lightning]

Re: How some dealers clean their cars

NEVER get your car washed at the dealership. NEVER!!!

EXACTLY!!!!! Took my L in for an oil-change recently at the dealer. I happened to be watching thru the customer waiting room window that looks out into the shop. Lot Jockey pulls up a brand new F-250 4x4 with a beautiful color dark blue paint just outside the service bay. He proceeds to hook up a hose, grab a bucket and a long handled BRUSH. This brush looked like it had been in the shop for months. Just started scrubbing away and he started with the wheels FIRST!!!! I almost broke down in tears.......

[dvtldav]

Re: How some dealers clean their cars

You can tell them not to wash your car before delivery, but if the car has been sitting on the lot for a while then no telloing how many times it has been washed before you looked at it, so basically the damage has already been done. I won't let the dealership wash my car now when I take it in for service. They ask why, and I tell them the people they have washing cars probably do not have the same passion about my car as I do, besides my car is clean when I take it in.

Dave

[djbisko]

Re: How some dealers clean their cars

NEVER get your car washed at the dealership. NEVER!!!

[kty10]

Re: How some dealers clean their cars

I recently took delivery of a new Honda Odyssey. I told the salesperson not to have it washed as well. I still need to give it the once over, but I'm glad I told them not to. There are some bonded contaminants on the hood and a few areas where the adhesive remains from the wrapping. I can just imagine how they'd try to remove them.

[Mr Mustang]

Re: How some dealers clean their cars

I always decline the "wash", when I buy a new car, it better be fully wrapped, interior, exterior, wheels, etc. I'll tell them, if you take the wrapping off, put your sticker on, mount a front liscence, you get to keep the car. Thats not too much to ask?

[RaskyR1]

Re: How some dealers clean their cars

My next new car will be fresh off the transport! My new TSX was all sratched up when I took delivery too. I have also seen them wash cars on the lots like this. I always ask for no wash when I go in for service too but they actually washed it one time and I had just washed, waxed, dressed tires, and cleaned windows before I brought the car in! Needless to say the car came out looking like **** and had water spots all over. I told them if they washed the car again I would go else where.

Why would you wash a car that is spotless anyway???

[Mike Phillips]

Re: How some dealers clean their cars

Isn't it strange and sad that many of the people in the *New Car* industry are the root cause of so many swirls in brand new cars by the decisions they make as to who and how the new cars are prepped and maintained.

[3Fitty]

Re: How some dealers clean their cars

My dealer has "No Wash" in there computer!

I swear they wash cars with Steel Wool and AJAX!

Next time I'm there, I'm going to see if I can get the permanent designation.

My dealership uses hydrochloric acid and brillo pads to get that "show car shine".