Is Car Washing Included in the First Maintenance Service?

[MadisonDella]

Car washing is not included in the first maintenance service. However, most 4S shops will offer free car washing as a complimentary service, but there is no strict requirement for this. The key items for the first maintenance of a new car are as follows: 1. Oil and oil filter replacement: Before the first maintenance, the vehicle is in the break-in period. During this time, dust, metal wear, carbon deposits, and other mechanical impurities will gradually mix into the engine oil. If these contaminants are not removed in time, they may cause abnormal damage to the internal parts of the cylinders. 2. Tightening nuts: During the first maintenance, the nuts in various parts of the new car will be checked. Many vehicles leave the factory with some screws not tightened to the maximum, considering the break-in period. During the first maintenance, the screws will be tightened to the specified torque. 3. Chassis inspection: The first maintenance will check the chassis for scratches, underbody impacts, corrosion, oil leaks, and other issues. 4. Tire inspection: This mainly involves checking whether the tire wear is even. If one tire shows significantly more wear than the others, it may indicate that the vehicle has a tendency to pull to one side. Additionally, tire pressure will be checked and adjusted as needed. 5. Computer system check: A computer system check can comprehensively detect any issues with the car, and the maintenance personnel will then address these problems accordingly.

[London]

From the experience of auto repair shop technicians, the first maintenance mainly focuses on the care of the vehicle's core components. Standard procedures include changing the engine oil and oil filter, checking chassis bolts, and tire pressure—these are the essential tasks. As for car washing, it's considered an additional service and depends entirely on the 4S shop's arrangements. In my area, there are three shops: two will proactively wash and wipe your car, while the third only provides a vacuum cleaner for you to do it yourself. The key is to call ahead and confirm the details, and it doesn’t hurt to ask if you should bring your own towel—once, I saw a new car owner use a rag provided by the 4S shop, and it ended up scratching the paint.

[VonLucas]

As a seasoned driver who has gone through three first maintenance services, my experience is that car washing services are directly linked to brand positioning. At luxury brand dealerships, your freshly serviced sparkling car is delivered to you before you even finish your coffee in the lounge. With mainstream joint-venture brands, it depends on whether you encounter a considerate service advisor. For domestic brands, you usually need to make additional requests. A crucial reminder: always walk around your car for inspection after maintenance. Last month, my neighbor was scrolling through his phone in the lounge and only noticed an extra scratch on the front right door when picking up the car – these kinds of disputes waste the most time.

[AlanFitz]

The manufacturer's standard procedure doesn't include mandatory car washing. But smart owners choose rainy days for maintenance when workshop bays become readily available, and technicians show more patience. Last Wednesday during a heavy rainstorm when I sent my car for service, an idle mechanic even voluntarily helped clean oil stains from the engine bay. Though the exterior got dirty again within half an hour of rain washing, the key benefit was the exceptionally thorough inspection of the chassis and brake system.

[StephenLee]

Don't get confused by the maintenance manual. The key is the additional services printed in small print on the second page of the work order. Once when I picked up a car for my cousin, I noticed the car wash was checked on the form but not actually done. The service manager immediately offered a bottle of windshield washer fluid as compensation. My advice is to check all available value-added services before signing, especially paid items like tire stone removal and interior disinfection. If your car is particularly dirty when you arrive, they'll likely wash it proactively—after all, it affects the dealership's image.

[MacLila]

Attention new car owners: Remember to clear personal items before maintenance! Last year, my car charger disappeared into the vacuum nozzle. The standard procedure is to lay out protective covers (three-piece set) upon vehicle handover, but this step is often skipped in practice. There are two types of car washes: machine washing may scratch the new car's ceramic coating, while manual washing often misses door frame cleaning. Experienced owners note 'external glass wipe only' on the checklist and focus on monitoring coolant levels and tire pressure data – these constitute the core value of first maintenance.