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So, it's 1/2 way through winter, how does your MINI look.
Both of ours look great. The 5 coats of Zanio in late October
are holding up great so far. 2 big ice storms, snow and rain, plus lots of road salt have all washed off with many trips to the wand wash.
It's raining here now, just out walking the dog, and both MINIs are beading up, and shining under the street light.
I'll post some pics tomorrow, as long as they are not buried under snow.
Bottom line, protect your paint with a good sealant, and a little elbow grease
We only did one coat of Zaino in Oct or so after 2-3 coats over the summer. The darn thing is white with salt, but it's so cold, can't wash it.
Took it to the dealer for the first service today, asked how they wash it and after hearing what we do with Zaino and washes, they replied..."we won't bother to wash it..."
So, she will have had salt and $#%^^&& on her for many weeks before we get to wash her.
I'll let everyone know how the polish holds up. I think we should definitely have a thread in the Spring...
here in central massachusetts we are having a record winter for least amount of snow....but finally, we are set to get our first decent snow fall for tomorrow, up to a foot, so I finally decided to put on my snow tires yesterday.... the cars are still white with road salt, but I washed my CR last week and the zaino is still beading up like crazy.
So, she will have had salt and $#%^^&& on her for many weeks before we get to wash her.
I hope my mistake doesn't prove too damaging. We have a new car wash in town where you pay when you buy the fuel. When I pulled over to the wash line I realized it was not a "spray only" wash, but a "whirling wet pole of rags" I went through anyway, cause there was sooo much salt I couldn't stand it. Didn't seem to hurt too much and Sgt Pepper really did look better. I had lots of snow packed in the wheels, and the wash didn't get it all out. Then I got up to 55 and things started shaking very badly! After a few miles of dry mouth wondering what I'd done wrong, I pushed the rest of the snow out of the wheels (which made them 180 out of balance)and motored home without further issue. Slightly off topic, could someone please tell me why none of the mud shields will fit the cabrio? I can't see what's so different about the shape of the rear that the sedan ones won't fit.
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Sgt Pepper, an '06 MCSc, PW/G, Premium, Sport, Cold Weather, green leather, anthracite interior, clear bra, window tint, "S" sticker covers for ugly yellow air bag sticker (from Aestheticcreations), M7 STB, M7 USS, M7 air diverter, Texas Speedwerks engine damper. When you're born, you're crying and everyone else is smiling. Live so that when you die everyone else is crying and you're the one who's smiling!
Trying to at least keep even with the salt (more Space Blue showing than salt and grunge).
I take it to a drive-thru which only sprays water, shampoo and "wax" at it, but finishes with a couple of shivering guys who "dry" it with some really nasty looking towels (and I'll bet they didn't come from Bed Bath & Beyond either! ). I'm seeing lots of swirlies, but I had them when I picked the car up at the dealer in October due to their pre-delivery "wash 'n shine" .
When the weather permits, I go to one of those coin-operated carwashes with the pressure wands and the (dreaded) "Foaming Brush" . I go with a pile of MF cloths and some of that spray-on wax that you're supposed to use when the car is wet. This works pretty well, and the car looks lots better than after the drive-thru wash as I take time to wipe the door jams, hatch opening, gas cap door and (usually) the bonnet (hood) opening and edges so there aren't any of those salt-laden drool marks running down the sides of the car.
Really looking forward to warmer weather and the disappearance of road salt so I can spend some "quality time" with the car and a new PC plus a collection of exotic chemicals.
__________________ Boldly marching back through time...
When the weather permits, I go to one of those coin-operated carwashes with the pressure wands and the (dreaded) "Foaming Brush"
DON"T USE THE FOAMING BRUSH
Take a wash mitt, put a plastic bag on your hand inside the mitt, helps keep your hand dry, and somewhat warm.
I have been washing my MINI at a wand wash all winter. And unless it is really dirty, I just spray it. The place I go to has a big drive-thru blow dryer. It gets 99% of the water off, I dry the rest by hand, wipe down door jabs/sills.
Does anyone think that the foaming brush could be "de-fanged" by blasting the bristles with the pressure wand before removing it from its cradle? Just wondering... or is it like those anti-freezes that "cannot be made non-poisonous" no matter what you do?
__________________ Boldly marching back through time...
i dunno. i used the foaming brush on my Veyron and it turned out great! the men in front of me were using it to clean the rocks and mud off their Jeep's and it worked really well then too!!!
Last edited by mcdbrendan; 02-13-2007 at 01:48 PM.
Reason: more sarcasm
I am sure you folks are sick of the snow, but I am sooooo jealous, I love the snow, and we get nothing here in GA , we are due our ten year storm though
__________________ 05/S PS
Motoring ID: Fuel420
MMC: 518
"Everytime Meatwad smiles a rainbow craps a baby" ATHF
After a Summer and Fall in NM keeping my Mini shiny and glossy, I'm getting grossed out here in VA at the salt & muck that I can't wash off with my frozen hose. I just keep the front & back windows clean and hope it's warmer this weekend.
The worst part of Winter here was a nice-weather drive a few nights ago returning from dinner in DC. Dry salt all over highway 66. And trucks were sucking it into the air so my car could drive through clouds of salt. Now I think the first wash is going to be mostly blasting everywhere I can reach with fresh water.
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Foamy, the funnest little car in Gainesville since Dec '06
It finally started raining here! I am so excited as when it rains, the snow melts but then the summer comes afterwords, and that when I can go drive without sliding off the turny roads and keeping my cars CLEAN!
.
another 3 weeks and
Team Justacooper
We have a new car wash in town where you pay when you buy the fuel. When I pulled over to the wash line I realized it was not a "spray only" wash, but a "whirling wet pole of rags"
I went through anyway, cause there was sooo much salt I couldn't stand it. Didn't seem to hurt too much and Sgt Pepper really did look better. I had lots of snow packed in the wheels, and the wash didn't get it all out. Then I got up to 55 and things started shaking very badly!
After a few miles of dry mouth wondering what I'd done wrong, I pushed the rest of the snow out of the wheels (which made them 180 out of balance)and motored home without further issue.
When you're born, you're crying and everyone else is smiling. Live so that when you die everyone else is crying and you're the one who's smiling!
. 
Boldly marching back through time...
05/S PS
