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I've read through some posts here about detailing our beloved MINI's and learned quite a bit, but I still have a few questions. I'm pretty much going with the Meguiars line of products since they are more readily available to me.
This weekend I plan on washing 3 week old MINI this weekend. The finish is still smooth so I don't need to clay bar yet. I plan on washing the car with the Meguiars Gold Class car wash and waxing with NXT Tech Wax. Would it be a good idea to follow it up the wash with Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner, then Deep Crystal System Polish, and finish up with wax? Should I only use the cleaner and polish after I clay bar the car?
Also is it ok to mix product lines like that? I'm using the Gold Class car wash, 2 steps out of the 3 step system, and replacing step 3 with the NXT Tech Wax.
If you don't have any paint swirls then avoid the polish. Just go to your wax.
I almost religiously clay a car before waxing. Even though it feels smooth it will feel slicker after a quick claying. (do this while washing with the shampoo suds) It takes twenty minutes and is well worth it. Claying will not leave any marks if you do it properly. You can then wax afterwards.
As far as mixing...sure, no problem.
__________________ Bloomquist Garage! '04 PW Mini Cooper S....Gone but still here in spirit! My Other Rides.
BradB you certainly seem to know more than me on this topic, but I can't possibly see how after 3 weeks his car would pick up anything that would damage it. We're talking less than a month. Seems to me that thing will be as slick as it can get.
I clayed my mini when it was only a few weeks old and you would be surprised at the amount of junk that was in the clay. Like BradB said, it only takes 20 minutes. Even if it only pulls up a little bit of stuff, that is better than leaving it on.
Also, I would imagine the boat ride over and sitting in open lots would allow some particles to settle on the paint. If it were I, it would get clayed.
It only takes 20 min if you do it early. I just got a chance to detail my MCS. Bought it used, 03, in Jan and the weather is just now getting nice enough to detail. There was alot of stuff on that car..the paint looks SO much deeper now.
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03 MSC BRG/W
97 Jeep Wrangler. Sold
BradB you certainly seem to know more than me on this topic, but I can't possibly see how after 3 weeks his car would pick up anything that would damage it. We're talking less than a month. Seems to me that thing will be as slick as it can get.
You would be amazed. I have clayed even my "brand new" cars. Remember, they sit on lots at the factory, at the dock, they travel on trains and trucks getting exposure to things such as rail dust, bugs, birds, acid dew/rain, etc. Even though they look slick and feel relatively slick, claying has always improved them. I spot clay the horizontal surfaces of my cars several times a year, sometimes every month as needed. A light claying with good lube will barely degrade the wax and keeps the paint feeling WAY slick.
__________________ Bloomquist Garage! '04 PW Mini Cooper S....Gone but still here in spirit! My Other Rides.
Thanks for all the replies! Just made a trip to the auto store on my lunch and finished getting the the rest of the tools I needed to give the MINI a good detailing tomorrow morning.
I have never clayed a car in my life for fear of screwing up.
With all the new cars I've purchased I simply wash, dry and then carefully inspect every millimetre of the bodywork for imperfections or roughness by eye and touch. If I see/feel any contaminants I use Autoglym Super Resin Polish to remove them before I wax (actually I re-wash after using the Autoglym then apply Zaino).
I'm not saying that claying isn't worthwhile, but it's not something I feel will add much to the general condition of a daily driver. For the uninitiated, there's way more chance of harming your paintwork with a claybar if you're not careful and patient. For me, it's not worth the risk.
I just finished detailing both our cars this weekend. I ended up not claying my MINI, but did clay my wife's car since she some pretty insistent streaks, spots, that weren't removed while washing. Did the 3-step meguiar deal after washing both with the gold-class wash. For the wax, I applied two coats of the NXT Tech wax. Both cars look brand-spankin' new. My wife especially loves the look of her car now. The paint looks fresh and new. All day I was praying it wouldn't rain with so many clouds overhead and my luck held out!
There were some fine swirls/scratches along the front pillars of my car which I think were from the dealership washing the car. Now they are gone, devoid of any swirls, scratches, or minor water spots.
Thanks again for answering my questions. Wish I took some pics, but I forot the camera at home.
I just got a chance to detail my MCS. Bought it used, 03, in Jan and the weather is just now getting nice enough to detail. There was alot of stuff on that car..the paint looks SO much deeper now. 
