MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring

garretwp · #1 10-24-2005, 03:21 PM

So I own a Jet Black 05 MCS and winter is coming soon in NJ. I was wondering as my frist black car, what is a good way of removing snow in the winter time? I would like to try and prevent scratching the paint when removing snow. All tips welcome.

Garrett

chrisneal · #2 10-24-2005, 03:29 PM

I like to use the arm of my coat to brush the snow off down to about an inch depth, and then just leave it. Especially since the Boston winters are so icy, I don't even bother trying to remove it all. Too much risk. I just put a few good coats of wax on before the cold sets in, and then shine it back up when the sun comes out in April.

boognish · #3 10-24-2005, 03:39 PM

I'm with chrisnl on that one. I've driven my '03 Jet Black Cooper through 2 Jersey Shore winters now... expecting a harsh one this year... My MINI is garaged when I come home from work every evening...so if it snows during the day, it melts in the garage by the next morning it's snow and ice free...although the garage floor is usually nice and wet and dirty the next morning...but oh well.

rock on,

-boognish

garretwp · #4 10-24-2005, 03:49 PM

A garage would be nice. But sadly my parents (more my Dad) would not like me using up one of the spots in the garage. I even suggested I would rent the spot. But then he said he would have no where to put his motorcycles. On my silver subaru, i would just use a broom. but being that this car is black, I want to be extra careful! I will have to give the remove most of it but an inch or two and let it melt tip. Any other ideas?

Garrett

jonnieoh · #5 10-24-2005, 04:03 PM

If you do decide to use a snow brush, SHOP CAREFULLY. Many out there hold the bristles in by clamping them with a piece of metal. This metal usually has a very sharp edge at the end, which will scrape all the paint right off your car!

Buyer beware. Spend more, and buy an expensive, well-designed snow brush. You get what you pay for.

The safest bet is to leave a bit of snow and ice on the car, and let it melt off later...

xtremepsionic · #6 10-24-2005, 04:31 PM

I'm in Calgary, Canada and 4 months of the year even my breath freezes.

What I do is remove snow from the glass, and unless the snow is very thick (over 2-3 inches) I just leave them on the car, they just melt off/blow off anyway.

snid · #7 10-24-2005, 04:44 PM

Like the others have said, brush of most of the snow, but not all. If you stop just before you get down to paint, you'll minimize the chances of scratching the paint. but try to get as much snow off the car as possible... the person driving behind you will thank you.

boognish · #8 10-24-2005, 04:50 PM

It's true, you can get a ticket if you drive in New Jersey without first removing the snow from your car's roof/trunk/bonnet and around the headlights and taillights. I've been behind cars on the highway that have not removed the snow, when suddenly a huge sheet of snow and ice they left on their car roof gets picked up by the wind and comes crashing down right in front of me as I'm driving... that's ticketable. Plus it shows total lack of respect/concern for other drivers.

rock on,

-boognish

LizzyBobio · #9 10-24-2005, 05:00 PM

Have you looked into a Sno Brum ?

**lotsie** · #10 10-24-2005, 08:59 PM

I use a soft brush to get the snow off my MC, have had no problems.

Any day now

wseattlemini · #11 10-24-2005, 09:29 PM

I owned black cars while living in Michigan and always used a snow brush and never had scratching problems. However, beware of brushes that have the scraper on the same end as brush. Too easy to scratch the paint with those.

not-so-rednwhitecooper · #12 10-24-2005, 09:31 PM

i keep my pressure sprayer hooked up in the garage with warm water running to it.

before it comes into the garage, i hose it off and it stays very clean all winter.

xtremepsionic · #13 10-24-2005, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rednwhitecooper

i keep my pressure sprayer hooked up in the garage with warm water running to it.

before it comes into the garage, i hose it off and it stays very clean all winter.

Hmm, I should get me one of those! However it gets so cold here, I'm afraid the garage floor would turn into an ice rink! (the garage is attached to the house, but not heated, so it does get below freezing on very cold days)

not-so-rednwhitecooper · #14 10-24-2005, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtremepsionic

Hmm, I should get me one of those! However it gets so cold here, I'm afraid the garage floor would turn into an ice rink! (the garage is attached to the house, but not heated, so it does get below freezing on very cold days)

ours is like that too.

as long as you hose it off outside, it'll just drip off the car inside.

i always snowblow it very well in front of my door so i have plenty of room to get under the car to get it ALL off, i dont want any salt sitting up in there anywhere.

BFG9000 · #15 10-25-2005, 02:34 AM

Two words: portable carport: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...&R= 200148624
Be sure to get a quality one that will hold up to heavy snow.

garretwp · #16 10-25-2005, 06:05 AM

I would love to get one, but not sure if the folks will allow me to have it in the driveway. Even though the driveway is huge, it will have to be approved by the big guy! Ill have to check with him and see if it would be ok. Other then that, I have always wanted to get one for temp. reasons.

Garrett

jwardell · #17 10-25-2005, 01:44 PM

I use one of these.

A couple layers of zaino right about now does a good job of protecting your paint through the winter.

MarkS · #18 11-06-2005, 06:02 AM

Last year, my wife hired a guy to shovel our driveway and sidewalk. The first time we got a heavy snow I heard him outside shovelling and, giving it no more thought than "oh good, I don't have to do that any more", didn't pay any attention to what he was doing. A bit later he rang the doorbell and proudly said "I cleaned the snow off your car, too!" He was holding a broom.

Since the MCS and the Miata were in the garage, the car was our Saab 9-5 which, while not quite the same as the two "cute cars" (as my wife calls them), I try to keep it looking good. So, at the moment, it took all the self-restraint I had to keep from taking the broom and using it on him in ways he'd find very unpleasant.

Fortunately, no real damage was done but I made it exceedingly clear that he was never, ever to touch any of our cars. The good thing is that, from that moment on, he was indeed very careful, even to the point of, when we also hired him to mow our lawn in the summer, taking care not to blow lawn clippings anywhere near our cars.

Mark

Frank in Toledo · #19 11-06-2005, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garretwp

So I own a Jet Black 05 MCS and winter is coming soon in NJ. I was wondering as my frist black car, what is a good way of removing snow in the winter time? I would like to try and prevent scratching the paint when removing snow. All tips welcome.

Garrett

I have this crazy idea... I'm thinking gas powered leaf blower... Naaa, that's just crazy.

ScottinBend · #20 11-06-2005, 12:13 PM

I just use my California Water Blade (the big one) for the painted surfaces and a regular glass squeegee for the windows.

chows4us · #21 11-06-2005, 12:37 PM

The wind does wonders, especially at 70 or so