drpellypo Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 Passat is going in for a service next Friday. Thing is, I'm wanting to tell them not to clean it. But is this just OTT? Somehow I feel they'll think I'm some kind of weirdo, and may even, just to annoy me, not do a great job of the work. Or am I being silly? If they wash it, will it really spell the end of a scratch free surface? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petsy Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 hmm, why risk it! put a big sign in the car saying don't wash me as well as saying the same at service reception when you hand over the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheechy Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 Do you really think a guy on just above minimum wage who is told he has 10 minutes to wash your car is going to give it care and attention then go ahead and let em clean the car. I know I told the local garage not to clean the car and they were fine about it - after one day deciding to clean the car when it was in to get something looked at and the car came out dirtier than when in went in - along with nice new swirly marks that I had to polish out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markpaq Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 When I had my A3 serviced I asked at the service desk for them NOT to clean it and they did anyway It took me ages to get rid of the water blade marks. The next time I asked at the desk AND left an A4 size note on the dash politely asking for the car to be left alone, that worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 When my A4 and the wife's A4 went to Audi, they managed to strip all the wax protection off it with whatever TFR they used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamiekip Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 Hmmm, may car is going in to have a scuff that was received in transit taken out of the front splitter. Tried to avoid this happening by getting Paul Dalton to try and remove - sadly he was only able to mask the problem as the top coat was broken. Anyway, the car, believe it or not, came with no swirls or damage to the rest of the paint work. Should I be intructing them to leave the rest of the car and just focus on the scuff it self and the surrounding area???? Or, does the fact the car came in such great condition (bar the scuff) imply it's in safe hands? Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 Best to avoid getting it cleaned i say. I just printed out bit of A4 paper in the window that says DO NOT CLEAN and wipe away the blue tac marks myself later. It seems to be quiet effective stuck over the passanger side of the windscreen. Only once did it not get taken notice of, i got an appology from the Dealer manager and an Autoglym valet pack. They dont apprecaite or really understand swirls etc. so they really care. Wash, any kind of wash = good happy customers!! Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahaydock Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 I ask them not to do it, like to see it on the job card, and on the key fob attachment and leave 2 A4 bits of paper in the car. They get the point... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davyk31 Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 I tell them not to wash it and also make sure they remove wheels using hand tools rather than air gun as it damages the wheel. They look at me strangley and agree and then I tell them to write it on the job card while I am watching. Better safe than sorry and they do not mind not having to wash one car, saves the low paid muppet 10 mins in his day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RReflections Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 Do as a lot of my clients do, tell the service desk that you want no service wash, and that if they do not do as asked they will be billed for their detailer to put right their damage, and to expect it to cost them at least £350. You'd be surprised just how well they remember and ensure not to wash it after being told this, no need for signs in the car or anything Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McGee Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 As RR says tell them they will have to pay for the damage and make sure it is on the job card as well as a couple of A4 notes in the car, one on drivers seat and the other on the dash. Has worked for me everytime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jediknight83 Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 i do this with my audi and make sure 'do not wash' is written on the job sheet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpellypo Posted May 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 I guess I'm not a freak then! I shall do as suggested. Ta chaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shao_khan Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 Just to help with your concerns - I asked for mine not to be washed (WAYSIDE Audi) it was written down in big letters and they washed it anyway - ITs being dealt with as you'd expect from audi after sales...... anyway booked into a body shop mid may to fix the damage they did - 6 panels have scrathes to laquer some deepers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Passat is going in for a service next Friday. Thing is, I'm wanting to tell them not to clean it. But is this just OTT? Somehow I feel they'll think I'm some kind of weirdo, and may even, just to annoy me, not do a great job of the work. Or am I being silly? If they wash it, will it really spell the end of a scratch free surface? [/ QUOTE ] This is how I felt when I took my car in for it's first service. I washed and waxed it before I took it in, in the hope they would either not wash it, or just be more careful with it. I didn't ask them not to wash it. Upon collection I noticed the car was covered in little bits of what look like chamois leather, or some other fabric, so they had washed it. I gave the car a once over and it looked ok, so I left it and went home. With hindsight I shouldn't have felt embarrassed about asking them not to wash it. It's my car afterall. As far as them not respecting my wishes, or car, or not performing work to standard had I told them not to wash it - who knows! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_C Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 I find that a polite but firm request to the person dealing with the service does the job, together with the attached A4 sheet sellotaped to the steering wheel, dash, and another copy left on the passenger seat for good measure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maersk Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 Works for me. Please don't wash the car. They don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted May 3, 2007 Report Share Posted May 3, 2007 I specifically ask them not to valet my car, and put a notice in the window. Does the trick. the rate at which dealers shift cars through their premises, there is no way they can take care of peoples cars. Most are manned by third party contractors who use the same gritty sponge and dirty water from the last few cars. there is no way i want them anywhere near my car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CabGirl Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 How do people get on with dealers and wheels? Ours keep coming back chav'd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadowman Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 Mine went in for a 1st service a couple weeks ago. I politely asked that they did not wash it when I handed the keys in. They wrote it on the job sheet. I also left a small polite note taped to the steering wheel. They were absolutely fine about it and did not wash it. My advice is don't be embarrassed to ask. Just be polite... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arch Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 I asked them not to wash mine and to make sure they used a seat cover on BOTH seats. All very well covering the drivers seat but it doesn't help when you end up with a big, black, oily paw mark on the bolster of the pax seat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpellypo Posted May 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 Mentioned it to the desk girl, and she'd obviously had issues with this before because she wrote DO NOT WASH!!!!! Right over the entire front of the job sheet and said 'they ought to see that!' Needless to say, I was impressed! I also left a note in the window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shakman Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 Had my car washed by my local Audi dealer ... and they left small scratches over a few panels (seemed to be dirt stuck in either their sponge or chamois). Complained and dealership had the scratched polished out. However, recently noticed they were very heavy handed with what obviously was a rotaty, and now have left loads of holograms in the paint. Feel too embarassed to go back to the dealer, since I didnt spot it at the time (you only see it when the sun hits it at certain angles) and was about 6 months ago. If I complain I wouldn't want them to try to fix it again as that is what they will offer and I'm sure they will make another mess of it. Do you think there is any chance I can get them to pay for a detailer to do the messed up panels, considering the amount of time that has passed ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpsmith Posted May 11, 2007 Report Share Posted May 11, 2007 Same situation with me, almost. Bought the A2 for the Missus from the Audi Dealer prior to really getting involved with the Detailing thing. When I picked it up it looked absolutely stunning and the small number of marks I asked to be sorted were done perfectly, or so it seemed as was a Dull Overcast day and looked like it had been waxed over the top with something containing fillers also. Anyway, once I knew more and had properly cleaned it and seen it "naked" in the Sun I could see the holograms right down each side where they had rotary'd it. Did not bother going back mind you, as felt embarassed as know most of them down there and get great service on everything else, and over 6 months had passed too. The best plan is to get it done yourself or pay to get it done and then make sure they dont touch it next time. After all you have no proof it was them and could hae been done by anyone over the 6 months that has passed!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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