MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring

blinkboy1491 · #1 08-31-2009, 08:28 AM

Just got my MINI, PW/B, and am ready to wash it for the first time. However, I'm curious if there was a certain wax that people prefer for this color. I know I've read on here that different waxes give different shines depending on the color. Or would just a regular Carnauba do just fine?

Bigshot · #2 08-31-2009, 08:32 AM

I think the Zaino protectant looks best on light colored cars. Very easy to apply and long lasting to boot.

mini44 · #3 08-31-2009, 08:43 AM

Check out this thread. I like the way this one shines.
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...ant-shine.html

kenchan · #4 08-31-2009, 08:42 AM

i recommend Prima Epic or Griot's PaintSealant (polymers).

carnauba will look good on the black, but the pepper white requires more surface shine.

kenchan · #5 08-31-2009, 09:18 AM

oh yah, also try Banana Gloss. anything with higher intensity shine would work
well for that color (per ML).

MLPearson79 · #6 09-01-2009, 07:24 AM

Agreed

I use Epic with Banana Gloss over the top.

**Gil-galad** · #7 09-01-2009, 07:44 AM

Epic here, with routine Hydro for maintenance.

blinkboy1491 · #8 09-01-2009, 08:13 AM

Well my hydro is on the way, so this weekend I'll give my MINI its first good cleaning. So would it be overkill to use hydro when I plan on waxing it this time?

countryboyshane · #9 09-01-2009, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinkboy1491

Well my hydro is on the way, so this weekend I'll give my MINI its first good cleaning. So would it be overkill to use hydro when I plan on waxing it this time?

Hyrdo is considered to be a quick-detailer. I use a quick detailer (Z6 since I'm a Zaino system user) as a last step during every wash. I also give it a quick detailer wipedown every morning before I leave for work, just because I'm very OCD about my paint.

kenchan · #10 09-01-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countryboyshane

Hyrdo is considered to be a quick-detailer. I use a quick detailer (Z6 since I'm a Zaino system user) as a last step during every wash. I also give it a quick detailer wipedown every morning before I leave for work, just because I'm very OCD about my paint.

you are kidding again, right? Hydro is not a quick-detailer...Slick is Prima's QD. Hydro is a spray polymer sealant.

if you're OCD about your paint, why are you QD'ing your daily driver?

oh manz...

countryboyshane · #11 09-01-2009, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

you are kidding again, right? Hydro is not a quick-detailer...Slick is Prima's QD. Hydro is a spray polymer sealant.

if you're OCD about your paint, why are you QD'ing your daily driver?

oh manz...

Oh my mistake sorry. I do a wipe down everyday because my Mini gets extrememly dusty. We have lots of construction right now kicking up a ton of dust. My cali car duster still is pretty new so it streaks a bit. Gotta get rid of those streaks.

**Detailers Paradise** · #12 09-01-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countryboyshane

I do a wipe down everyday because my Mini gets extrememly dusty. We have lots of construction right now kicking up a ton of dust. My cali car duster still is pretty new so it streaks a bit. Gotta get rid of those streaks.

Bummer about your dust issue! The California Car Duster will definitely come in handy, as you're probably already finding.

To speed up the "un-newing" process of your duster (read: stop those streaks!), wrap it up in newspaper overnight (or even a couple of days if it's really greasy) to help soak up the excess paraffin. The manufacturer intentionally overloads the duster with their paraffin in order to help extend the shelf life of the dusters before they're purchased and used. So, you just have to sop up all that excess! (note that some will have more excess than others, depending on their production date and how they have been stored)

Our Prima Slick creates an unusually slick surface if you want additional dust repellency in addition to the duster. (hence the name we gave it!

)

Good luck!

-Heather

countryboyshane · #13 09-02-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detailers Paradise

Bummer about your dust issue! The California Car Duster will definitely come in handy, as you're probably already finding.

To speed up the "un-newing" process of your duster (read: stop those streaks!), wrap it up in newspaper overnight (or even a couple of days if it's really greasy) to help soak up the excess paraffin. The manufacturer intentionally overloads the duster with their paraffin in order to help extend the shelf life of the dusters before they're purchased and used. So, you just have to sop up all that excess! (note that some will have more excess than others, depending on their production date and how they have been stored)

Our Prima Slick creates an unusually slick surface if you want additional dust repellency in addition to the duster. (hence the name we gave it!

)

Good luck!

-Heather

Thanks for the tip! I'm going to give it a try by starting tonight with the newspaper wrap.

kenchan · #14 09-01-2009, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countryboyshane

Oh my mistake sorry. I do a wipe down everyday because my Mini gets extrememly dusty. We have lots of construction right now kicking up a ton of dust. My cali car duster still is pretty new so it streaks a bit. Gotta get rid of those streaks.

ahhh, yah, i'd set the new CalDuster on some newspaper for 7days and it should be good to go. shake it from time to time and change positions when you place it on the newspaper. there's too much paffarin(sp?) wax in there when new.

Griot's latest duster doesn't streak. i call it the coconut duster. it uses coconut oil and works pretty well.

it lints the first few times though, so keep it away from the felt seal around the sunroof until it's broken in.

**Detailers Paradise** · #15 09-01-2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

ahhh, yah, i'd set the new CalDuster on some newspaper for 7days and it should be good to go. shake it from time to time and change positions when you place it on the newspaper. there's too much paffarin(sp?) wax in there when new.

Ah yes, thanks kenchan! I stand corrected. I initially wrote "oils" when I should've written "paraffin wax". (I think I'm too tired to be posting sometimes!

)

-Heather

kenchan · #16 09-02-2009, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detailers Paradise

Ah yes, thanks kenchan! I stand corrected. I initially wrote "oils" when I should've written "paraffin wax". (I think I'm too tired to be posting sometimes!

)

-Heather

we knew what you meant, I wasn't trying to correct you.

plus, I didn't know how to spell paraffin anyway.

**Detailers Paradise** · #17 09-02-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

we knew what you meant, I wasn't trying to correct you.

plus, I didn't know how to spell paraffin anyway.

Well, between the two of us we got it right... your paraffin and my spelling of it!

-Heather

thulchatt · #18 09-01-2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinkboy1491

Well my hydro is on the way, so this weekend I'll give my MINI its first good cleaning. So would it be overkill to use hydro when I plan on waxing it this time?

As said above use Hydro after a wash, but not before wax.
Wash with Dawn dish soap.
Clay - Even if it is new you probably need clay.
Polish
Wax/Seal - Epic, etc.

Next week, after you wash, use Hydro to get added protection.

countryboyshane · #19 09-01-2009, 08:28 AM

This argument that certain waxes look better on certain colors is outrageous to me

. As long as you're using a great name like Zaino, Zymol, Prima...etc., they are all going to look great! Pick a system and stick with it.

kenchan · #20 09-01-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countryboyshane

This argument that certain waxes look better on certain colors is outrageous to me

. As long as you're using a great name like Zaino, Zymol, Prima...etc., they are all going to look great! Pick a system and stick with it.

you are kidding, right?

if you cant tell a difference stick with turtle wax.

countryboyshane · #21 09-01-2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

you are kidding, right?

if you cant tell a difference stick with turtle wax.

Ha, no i think i was misunderstood there. I was simply stating those three are among the best. Prima and Zaino seem to be the most popular on NAM. I know I love my Zaino products. I can definitely tell the difference between Zaino shine and turtle wax ha ha ha.

OK now I'm really watching my grammar to avoid looking like an ass again

**Detailers Paradise** · #22 09-01-2009, 03:32 PM

Although I do think different waxes/sealants give various looks on different paint colors, whites tend to be a little more versatile when it comes to wax.

I would go with the most durable waxes available since I wouldn't be as concerned with the specific type of look as I would with other colors. Prima Epic, Zaino or Klasse Sealant Glaze are three of the most durable on the market (although SG can be a little more difficult to work with, relative to the other two). Epic will increase the richness of Pepper White just a bit- if you want that effect.

Carnauba waxes are not very durable (unless used as a topper to one of the above synthetic waxes) so they wouldn't provide you with nearly as much protection nor for nearly as long.

OctaneGuy has used quite a variety of waxes on PW so maybe he'll chime in here and give his two cents too!

-Heather

**OctaneGuy** · #23 09-01-2009, 10:00 PM

Since PW isn't a brilliant white like on a Toyota, I'd opt for a wax that offers some warmth, i.e. Carnauba. Course it also depends on how often you can maintain your paint. If you just want to wash and forget about anything else except for twice a year, then by all means, durability is most important and choose a synthetic. Trust me, white will NEVER shine like a black car..regardless of the pix you will see people post. It's not that white won't reflect light, it will under the right lighting conditions, but compared to a darker paint, it won't compare.

This is where color richness is more important to me. Since PW is more of a creme color, a carnauba fits the bill perfectly! However if I had a brilliant white car, I wouldn't choose a carnauba because a creme colored Toyota looks like a dirty/off white one!

So in other words, if the paint is supposed to be brilliant white, not coffee stained, then choose a durable shiny wax. For PW, you can go with either synthetic or carnauba. Personally, I vote for BG. I just love how easy it is to apply and how it makes paint look!

Richard

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detailers Paradise

Although I do think different waxes/sealants give various looks on different paint colors, whites tend to be a little more versatile when it comes to wax.

OctaneGuy has used quite a variety of waxes on PW so maybe he'll chime in here and give his two cents too!

-Heather

**Detailers Paradise** · #24 09-02-2009, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OctaneGuy

Personally, I vote for BG.

Richard

And by "BG" he is referring to Prima Banana Gloss. (jeesh Richard... not everyone knows the abbreviations! )

I'd normally provide a link to Banana Gloss to DP (aka Detailers Paradise

) but since Richard was the one who voted for it then here's a link to it on his website instead: BG at SCD

-Heather

kenchan · #25 09-02-2009, 06:07 AM

So it sounds like the way to go is Epic or Zaino or Griot's PaintSealant, or watever choice of polymer followed by a quick app of either BananaGloss (contains carnauba) or carnauba (Griot's Best of Show).

On my white FitS, I'm going to use Griot's PaintSealant (after some Prima Amigo) and shine the hell out of it.

On my new silver 370Z (whiter than my G35C), I used only Best of Show to keep the warmth.

looks fantastic.