How do I wash the wing on my GP?

[GPowner]

Picked my GP up today. Yay.

My MA told me that there were specific instructions on how to clean it so it won't scratch, which is evidently easy to do. Noooooooooo . Anywho, he said he thought they were supposed to use a sheepskin mit only, but he really didn't know. I thought my microfibre towel (seamless) would work fine. He said Noooooooo . That he has scratched surfaces with those.

Help. I don't want to ruin my car 24 hours after I've taken delivery. Noooooooo .

[Motor On]

It's a GP you're not supposed to get it dirty Octance Guy has some pretty decent instructions about how to do it right.

[GPowner]

I private messged him. Can't wait for his response!

[OctaneGuy]

I'm in my hotel room now in Las Vegas. I'm working the NACE show which is all about Collision Repair--I was at SEMA earlier this week.

The best advice I can offer for the wing and the rest of the MINI is to understand what it takes to maintain a show car finish. To do that, you have to take care of how you wash the car. Forget about taking the car down to the car wash or letting the dealer wash your car!

Go to www.ShowCarGarage.com and watch my free 30 minute video on washing my MINI.

In the near future, I'll do a writeup on how I take care of my paint--I drove 240+ miles to get here, and the first thing I did was wash it---using my own system of bottle DI water---right in front of my hotel room. I've got black paint, so it's especially difficult to maintain. But the wash, plus daily covering with a car cover has kept it looking great all week!

Ok gotta get going for now.

Richard

[GPowner]

Good luck at the show. I watched the first 8 minutes. So far, good stuff. Interesting you cover your car daily. Even when it's in the garage?!

Originally Posted by OctaneGuy

I'm in my hotel room now in Las Vegas. I'm working the NACE show which is all about Collision Repair--I was at SEMA earlier this week.

The best advice I can offer for the wing and the rest of the MINI is to understand what it takes to maintain a show car finish. To do that, you have to take care of how you wash the car. Forget about taking the car down to the car wash or letting the dealer wash your car!

Go to www.ShowCarGarage.com and watch my free 30 minute video on washing my MINI.

In the near future, I'll do a writeup on how I take care of my paint--I drove 240+ miles to get here, and the first thing I did was wash it---using my own system of bottle DI water---right in front of my hotel room. I've got black paint, so it's especially difficult to maintain. But the wash, plus daily covering with a car cover has kept it looking great all week!

Ok gotta get going for now.

Richard

[OctaneGuy]

Oh let me clarify. When I'm at home I don't cover it. But in the public parking garage I do because:
1.) Its exposed to elements (not sealed)
2.) Keeps valuables inside hidden
3.) Protects from door dings and animal scratches

Although even at home it could benefit from an indoor cover that's quick to apply since dust build up is so readily on black paint. Trouble with my car is that the paint is so slick that when I get one side of the cover on, the other slides off! =)

Richard

Originally Posted by GPowner

Good luck at the show. I watched the first 8 minutes. So far, good stuff. Interesting you cover your car daily. Even when it's in the garage?!

[jwardell]

Originally Posted by GPowner

Picked my GP up today. Yay.

My MA told me that there were specific instructions on how to clean it so it won't scratch, which is evidently easy to do. Noooooooooo . Anywho, he said he thought they were supposed to use a sheepskin mit only, but he really didn't know. I thought my microfibre towel (seamless) would work fine. He said Noooooooo . That he has scratched surfaces with those.

Help. I don't want to ruin my car 24 hours after I've taken delivery. Noooooooo .

The GPs don't scratch any easier than other minis! He is confusing the "hand wash only" requirement, made as an automated car wash might rip off the GP's rear wing.

Of course all of us detailing nuts would never machine wash any car...but the GP's paint is no different than any other.

He is also clearly as ignorant in his microfiber anti-recommendation.
Though it is true there are is a large range in quality and some that can scratch. Most MF towels are designed for polishing and are low-pile, therefore not good for lifting dirt that you need for washing. Just use your head when selecting a product. You want something that is not harsh itself, and with enough pile to hold dirt away from the surface.

I recommend, depending on your personal preference, the aforementioned wool mitt, this MF mitt, or a good quality chenille sponge.

[GPowner]

Originally Posted by jwardell

The GPs don't scratch any easier than other minis! He is confusing the "hand wash only" requirement, made as an automated car wash might rip off the GP's rear wing.

Of course all of us detailing nuts would never machine wash any car...but the GP's paint is no different than any other.

He is also clearly as ignorant in his microfiber anti-recommendation.
Though it is true there are is a large range in quality and some that can scratch. Most MF towels are designed for polishing and are low-pile, therefore not good for lifting dirt that you need for washing. Just use your head when selecting a product. You want something that is not harsh itself, and with enough pile to hold dirt away from the surface.

I recommend, depending on your personal preference, the aforementioned wool mitt, this MF mitt, or a good quality chenille sponge.

Thanks for the suggestions! I have purchased a wool mit.

My MA is actually very knowledgable. He didn't say that the paint would scratch any easier, just that there were 'detailed' washing instructions for the carbon Fibre wing. More likely, it is the listener (me!) that is ignorant.

[GPowner]

Man. You guys are good. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[ryanthemartini]

Use a sheepskin mit so it wont drag particles around causing scratches. The next step is to dry it, and for that I recommend a nice Meguiars or Cobra drying towel. Bed, Bath, and Beyond also has nice drying towels

It wouldnt help to put a durable sealnt on there such as Duragloss 105.


Edit: Really look into a drying towel for your car. I recommend spend the money on a few from bed bath and beyond. It is a great insurance policy as most cars I detail are washed correctly and dried with anything that is made of cloth *eye twitch*