**** Before posting this request, I spent many hours searching this forum, and just seem to get more and more confused! So thanks in advance for all your help! Also, if these questions have been covered, I missed it and sorry for re-posting!***
Hi, my name is Tom, and I’m a detailing slacker/novice (they say the first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem!)
In the past, my idea of “detailing” was to take my car through the automatic (touchless) car wash and pay extra for the wax option! I now see the errors of my ways, and am seeking advice to keep my new MINI it top condition.
But first, per OctaneGuy’s instructions in a prior thread, here’s some info. I live in the Chicago area and have an R56, MCa, OB/OB, that is garaged at night and is in an open parking lot during the day. The car was delivered on 9/18/07 and has not yet been washed, mainly because I haven’t had the time (I’d rather be motoring!) and it doesn’t look dirty to me. When it was caught in a light rain yesterday, the water was still beading, and when it dried later in the garage, there were no spots/dirt showing. I have used a California Duster a few times on it, but not on a daily basis. My questions are similar to, but a bit different from the thread, "Slacker car care" which actually prompted me to post this.
So, I’m looking for some advice and tips, to avoid getting into bad habits from the start, and of course I would rather not spend too much money or time (I’d rather be motoring!).
What I’m concerned about the most right now is the upcoming Chicago winter. At this point, the only detailing time I’ll have is on the weekends, as it’s getting dark by the time I get home now during the week.
So, here’s a few questions I have:
1)[FONT="] [/FONT]I know it needs a wash and dry, but what do you recommend to use (soap, wash mitt, microfiber cloths?)
2)[FONT="] [/FONT]When should I wax, and how? Should the “factory finish” make it through the winter, or should I wax it now?
3)[FONT="] [/FONT]What do you recommend that I should do in the spring?
4)[FONT="] [/FONT]What’s the best way to care for the microfiber cloths/wash mitts?
5)[FONT="] [/FONT]What else am I missing?
My initial thought is to pick up something like the “Paradise Starter Bundle 1” and some Hydro to hopefully make it though the winter, but do I need the Epic wax, or can I use Hydro now, or do I need to use Epic before I can use Hydro?
Thanks in advance for all your help, advice, and tips!
