Is there such a job as 'under-carriage wash' at the dealers, say to clean up road salt & grime after winter?

What is involved -- detergents or just plain water (maybe from a power washer)?

Finally, what is the standard book rate for this job?

Thank you.

If I were you, I'd seek out a professional detailer for this work. From seeing what the detailers at the dealers do to the paint, I'd stay away from them for car wash needs.

Or drive it onto a set of ramps and scrub it off yourself if you are willing to brave the cold. Some automatic car washes have it where they just spray off the underside of the car.

It is really just a detailer's or car wash job, I wouldn't take my car to the dealer to be washed. As stated above, find a detailer or something else.

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

Look for a cars wash that has both upper wash and underbody wash, then go through a few times.

Or, look for a big puddle?

Most drive-through car washes ( Canadian Tire, etc. ) include the underbody rinse, if you pay for the " Supreme " wash.

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2007 C 230 Sport.

Thanks for all the advice.

In the past I've just been using my garden hose to spray the underside as best as I can, for like 15 minutes. This is with the car sitting right on the driveway, and for sure there'll be spots that I can't reach.

So I was thinking, maybe the dealers have a standard job for this... putting the car on a hoist to get the underside really really clean? If they do, would they be charging the same hourly rate for this kind of 'detailing work'?

Their shop rate for repairs runs about $120/hour now, and from the advice above, it seems to be a foolish idea to take it to the dealers.

I use my pressure washer, except I put a 90 degree elbow on the end of the wand and then put the tip on. That way I can run the wand under the vehicle and the water goes straight up. Works real effectively.

I have a `98 C230 and live in the mid atlantic where they salt roads, and find a garden hose does a great job of cleaning the underside. In the winter I reluctantly use a self service car wash wand - and I worry that the spray is too powerful.

in my factory service manual it does mention something about having the underbody inspected at a recommended interval and any damage to underbody rust coating repaired.
Also it mentions when having the engine cleaned afterward always have it sprayed with Mercedes Benz anti-corrosion wax, all linkage protected with lubricant and the poly-V-belt and pulleys protected.