Damn, I know there's something in here already on this subject, but I've not been able to find it again, so now I'm asking.
I just finished my first wash on my MINI, and all went reasonably well, except for a few hiccups before the wash. (Ok, ok, one or two during, as well.) I ended up polishing, which I wasn't sure I was going to do, used Eagle One's new "nano-wax" stuff, which was time consuming, like any hand wax, but worked pretty well, one section at a time, without leaving hard to remove white gunk on my trim pieces.
However, I noticed right away, that my side view mirrors had swirl marks on them. Just the tiny kind, you know? I'm not sure if I put them there, or if they already were there, and it doesn't really matter. I just want to get rid of those swirls, without making things worse. I tried using some chrome polish (very mild stuff), and using a non-circular motion technique, like I used for waxing the rest of the car. I was able to get SOME results. (They LOOK better, but those fine lines are still there.) I feel there is likely something better out there, that I'm not using, but should be. I'm mortified that my poor MINI's side mirrors are already showing "age". Arrgh!
I have some Mothers clear plastic polish and protectant, that I plan to use for the gauge covers, but I don't see why it would be any better (perhaps not worse?) than the chrome polish/protectant. I've also considered using the Eagle One "nano-wax" (I forget the name, it's new) for the side mirrors (would "fill" the scratches), but this particular wax isn't highly abrasive (if at all!), and I want permanent removal of the swirls, without removing the mirror suface by accident!
So, gang, what do you recommend?
P. S. Since the Eagle One wax didn't end up leaving unremovable gunk from my chrome bits, I ended up using it FOR my chrome bits, which seems to have worked out very well. That's why I'm thinking of using it for my side mirror "glass". (Is it really a form of glass, like my rear-view mirror? I don't think so, because my rear-view mirror is "swirl" free.) With effort, the Eagle One was OK at removing water spots during the waxing process, but I think I'll need to look to something else next time I wax.
P. P. S. Wow, the hatchback gets dirty fast on these cars! (Yeah, I know, I've been told.) I'm wondering if a California Car Duster is recommended, or is this likely to cause unintended scratches? (Maybe an in-between wax spray product would be better? Or both?) God, this car is going to make me a nutcase!
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