Do they wash the cars that come off the ship in Southampton?

[EVFan786]

Hello All,

I am collecting my car from Manchester on the 5th, as they will not wash your car if you ask them not to because the last 2 cars I have collected from Longbridge have been "dry" washed which leaves the paintwork with swirl marks all over the car !

I have been told that when the car is taken of the ship that all the teslas are taken through an automatic carwash. Are there any members out there who knows if this is true or are aware of what happens to cars once they are taken of the ship ?

 

[spdpsba]

Hello All,

I am collecting my car from Manchester on the 5th, as they will not wash your car if you ask them not to because the last 2 cars I have collected from Longbridge have been "dry" washed which leaves the paintwork with swirl marks all over the car !

I have been told that when the car is taken of the ship that all the teslas are taken through an automatic carwash. Are there any members out there who knows if this is true or are aware of what happens to cars once they are taken of the ship ?

Nah, don’t worry too much. Other than rain and sunshine nothing much happens once it is out of the ship.

Though the possibilities of miscommunication is great as you are dealing with Tesla if you leave a message - from not dealer prepped to no message passed to anyone. Take the risk at your own peril. And slowly this thread will again become an Elon bashing post

 

[Whyone]

Every new Tesla I have seen has had swirled paintwork.

 

[Peter N]

Every new Tesla I have seen has had swirled paintwork.

Yes, on the one I refused in July, but not on the one that I accepted two weeks later.

 

[M1tch]

Mine was not washed and had a good layer of grime all over. As far as I know, I gave it its first wash and ceramic coating and it looked amazing. (And still does although not seen it for 3 months!)

 

[Cnixon]

At Southampton my tyres & wheels were covered in silicone tyre gloss - which I made them wash off! So they do try! My avatar above was collection day.

 

[Pink Duck]

When they say ‘dry’ washed, they mean spraying waterless car washing agent over a naturally dirtied vehicle sat outside for weeks often while waiting for inventory to build and next ship to arrive then physically impacted by a probably hyper-used microfibre cloth - instantly rubbing new micro-scratches all over the otherwise factory-fresh orange peel paintwork.

So yes, by all means make sure they know to delivery your car dirty and do it right yourself!

 

[nychan]

I collected the car 2 months ago in Southampton and the car was pretty clean inside and outside so i would assume it has been washed

 

[KennethS]

I hate to say it, but given the number of vehicles on a transport ship and the speed at which they unload, if there is a procedure for cleaning/wiping/de-griming, the likelihood they would single out a particular vehicle during the unloading and moving to the collection area is low.

With both our Tesla (and other cars before them) one of our first appointments following collection is a local detailer. In both cases there were no blemishes that a good detail couldn't sort out.

 

[EVFan786]

Mine was not washed and had a good layer of grime all over. As far as I know, I gave it its first wash and ceramic coating and it looked amazing. (And still does although not seen it for 3 months!)

where did you collect from mate and did you ask them not to wash it ?

 

[Ashdeman]

Whoever washed mine used a Brillo pad from looking at how many swirls were in the paint. The Nottingham service centre corrected the paint a couple of weeks after taking delivery.

 

[MrBadger]

Tbh, you are unlikely to get any individual service, even if it is not having something done that all the other cars are having done.

Tesla like to streamline everything, which means doing everything the same for everyone, unless you are one of the few who will ruthlessly promote the car on video and are able to keep a straight face when doing so.

 

[M1tch]

where did you collect from mate and did you ask them not to wash it ?

I collected it from Bristol. I never mentioned cleaning it or not but it certainly hadnt been. I didn’t mind either way, excusing a few stone chips it is still immaculate.

 

[Tonybvi]

Tbh, you are unlikely to get any individual service, even if it is not having something done that all the other cars are having done.

Tesla like to streamline everything, which means doing everything the same for everyone, unless you are one of the few who will ruthlessly promote the car on video and are able to keep a straight face when doing so.

Unlike 4 years back when I picked up my MX from Edinburgh. It had been immaculately prepped and PDI’d without a fault on it. Mind that was in the good old days before the huge influx of M3’s and MY’s and when Tesla still had a lovely showroom next to Harvey Nicks in Edinburgh and the Newbridge service centre only saw a few cars going through.

 

[MrBadger]

Unlike 4 years back when I picked up my MX from Edinburgh.

When we picked up our Model 3 in 2019 at West Drayton there was a Model X collection in the corner getting the special treatment whilst all the Model 3 collections were told to find their car, pair the phone, sign the pad and off you go. At least we got some cookies and coffee whilst waiting to collect. None of that now.

So sounds like even the halo cars eventually got lumped in with everyone else? I wonder how the LHD Model S’ were treated? The person with the iPad probably went to the passenger side to get signed off!

 

[WalkQuickly]

Will be having a Model 3 delivered next week that is still currently en route to Southampton so will report back if that is cleaned before it arrives!

 

[Pink Duck]

6 years ago Milton Keynes service centre had an on-site detailer working under canvas preparing new car deliveries and the loaner vehicles.

Mine was immaculate and dust-free inside/out on delivery, gorgeous thing to behold. Contrast that to the exterior prep duo rushing through countless Model 3 deliveries in Dartford years later and how things rapidly progressed closer to mainstream dealerships.