Car damaged at car wash - advice?

Steve Carlton · 12-14-2005, 08:29 PM

A friend of mine and I dropped off our cars at a car wash we regularly use (we have yearly passes). We walk down the street and have breakfast while we're waiting, so the cars are parked to the side when we return. Today, I walk up to my car and there's a 5" horizontal, deep scratch about 2" below the driver's door handle. NO WAY was that there when I got into the car at home and when I dropped it off, it's too hard to miss (white scratch against black paint).

I didn't know what would be fair, but I brought it to the attention of the manager, who immediately got defensive, saying his guys didn't do it and saying it's not his liability. I figure it could have happened with an employee's belt buckle (it was an off-line wash) when washing or drying it. Or, it could have been done by a vandal while parked 30' away from their employees on their property. When I got pissed and said "Merry Christmas" as I opened the door to leave, the manager said he wanted to be fair and talk about it (all I wanted myself). He reiterated he wasn't liable; I said I wasn't so sure as there was a bailment. Then he said he'd see what he could do and call me back. So far I haven't heard. I'm tending to think they should pay for it in full. What do you guys think? What's the law?

89911 · 12-14-2005, 08:47 PM

The only people that should take their cars to car washes is mom's with filthy minivans and suv's. Your car is better off not being washed for 6 months then one trip in an automated car wash.

livi · 12-14-2005, 11:30 PM

Got a friend with a red 944. Took it to one of those automatic car cleaning facilities (no brushes). The paint turned all pale and whitish. Took it to the manager and insurance company. Both agreed it was caused by owners neglect of previous paint / washing maintenance.

My friend got nothing and he had me rub it back to original which took me a whole weekend (he has a nerve/muscle condition).

Victor · 12-15-2005, 12:37 AM

Drive a ***** box you do not care about through a carwash. Nothing else. Good luck proving your case.

Dantilla · 12-16-2005, 11:20 AM

I learned quite a bit about car washes after being asked to invest in one.
A few points:

-An automatic car wash can do a great job. The material used for the brushes is amazingly soft. By being continually rinsed, there is less chance of scratching the car than doing it yourself in the driveway.

-"Touchless" car washes can be very hard on the car. The only way to get a car clean without touching it is to use harsh chemicals. Repeated trips through a touchless system will tend to get chrome trim "cloudy".

-YMMV. I toured several carwashes. The guy I learned this from showed me the inner workings of his own car washes, and then we went to a few competing car washes, where he showed me what they were doing wrong.

-Bottom line, I have driven my Porsches through automatic car washes, and have been pleased with the results. I will NEVER take any of my vehicles through a touchless wash.

M.D. Holloway · 12-16-2005, 02:24 PM

I sliced my rear tire on the 911 at a car wash. The attendant could shift it with out stalling it so I drove it. Coming out at the end I engaged 1st gear and she rolled back slightly as I pressed the clutch. The manager said he was sorry but would pay for the tire - I agree, it was my fault.

I actually called Mark Wilson while I was at the tire shop to ask what to tell them when they put new rears on...