MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring

gokartride · #1 02-16-2007, 07:19 AM

Okay detailing wizards......how to best care for the felt wheel wells on the new R56? The plastic ones on R50/53 were easy...not sure about the new felt ones.

Crashton · #2 02-16-2007, 10:40 AM

That's a good question. My wifes last Audi had them & I just hit them with a high pressure blast of water. The felt liners are great. They really quiet the noise of rocks hitting the bottom of the car.

kenchan · #3 02-16-2007, 10:42 AM

i too would use a pressure washer.

kenchan · #4 02-16-2007, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

i too would use a pressure washer.

i want to clarify that im only referring to the wells, not the entire
chassis when using any high power pressure washer...i would try
tap water hose pressure first. probably be enough.

ImagoX · #5 02-16-2007, 11:36 AM

FELT on the inside of a wheel well? That's... nuts. Won't it just rot? I thought you guys were joking when I read that.

Crashton · #6 02-16-2007, 12:23 PM

Well it feels like felt, but I'm sure it's really a high tech recycled milk bottle mix of things.

nixjosh2 · #7 02-16-2007, 02:44 PM

What is that?? Velvet

**skitelluride531** · #8 02-16-2007, 04:48 PM

On all the cars I have worked on that had felt liners, I just sprayed them with water. It seems that dirt does not stick to the felt quite as easily as it does to the plastic liners. Maybe I am wrong, this is just my personal experience.

mcdbrendan · #9 02-16-2007, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skitelluride531

On all the cars I have worked on that had felt liners, I just sprayed them with water. It seems that dirt does not stick to the felt quite as easily as it does to the plastic liners. Maybe I am wrong, this is just my personal experience.

Totally off topic, but Ski, have you always been a Vendor???

**skitelluride531** · #10 02-16-2007, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcdbrendan

Totally off topic, but Ski, have you always been a Vendor???

No, I really am not a vendor. I am just selling a NAM related product, so Mark gave me Vendor status so I can promote on the Vendor Announcements (*PLUG* Spotter Cards! Order in the NAM Store

).

kenchan · #11 02-16-2007, 06:03 PM

considering how the sunroof seal is felt and that usually cleans
as easily as the rest of the car, im sure the wheelwell felt is
easy to clean as well.

Mr. Pep'r · #12 02-16-2007, 06:41 PM

Our Focus ZX-3 has felt rear wheel wells and they do quite things down. High pressure water seems to do the trick.

Are both the front and rear wheel wells felt?

mcdbrendan · #13 02-16-2007, 08:23 PM

Haha. Good for you.

gokartride · #14 02-16-2007, 08:28 PM

Thanks for the responses...I used to tell people they could tell my mood by observing how clean my wheel wells were. Clean MINI = happy me (more or less

)!!! Anyway, I'm glad to have a strategy thanks to your input. I have little expreience with both this material and being neurotic about my car.

MiniMaybee · #15 02-16-2007, 08:44 PM

I wonder how the 303 Fabric Cleaner would work. This is what I use on my canvas top when it is really dirty. So maybe if your wells get really dirty you could use some of that stuff. I also wonder how the 303 Fabric Guard would work. I wonder if it would make it bead the water and dirt like the vert top. Might be interesting to try.

jwardell · #16 02-21-2007, 01:56 PM

I had felt in my last car's wells as well and it never really needed to be cleaned. Maybe in a rare case of caked mud or snow, a good strong hosing.
For those confused, it is more the fabric that you make cheap outdoor carpet out of for porches or mini golf etc.

ImagoX · #17 02-21-2007, 02:23 PM

I felt (no pun intended) these at the dealer this weekend... The "nap" is very low, barely there at all, really - much less than I expected. I can't be sure, of course, but it felt (again, no pun) that they'd come clean pretty easily with water. Should be interesting to see what road salt does to whatever this material is, though, and sound-deadening aside (I seldom drive on gravel roads), I'm actually kind of glad that my wells are basic plastic.

Crashton · #18 02-21-2007, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImagoX

I'm actually kind of glad that my wells are basic plastic.

You won't say that when you see the Hot Orange shag carpet ones I bought at Odd Lots. Oh Baby!!!

ImagoX · #19 02-21-2007, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crashton

You won't say that when you see the Hot Orange shag carpet ones I bought at Odd Lots. Oh Baby!!!

((Drool ))... Now all you have to do is slap a few LED strips in there to light 'em up... Class-AY!!

Crashton · #20 02-21-2007, 06:52 PM

On a side note I installed an LED conversion kit in my MINI MAG Light today. I hope I haven't caught that LED madness from you.

ImagoX · #21 02-21-2007, 06:55 PM

Dude, you're so doomed... Just give up and order a few dozen LED strips now and spare yourself the agony of your futile resistance. You shall be assimilated, and your uniqueness shall be added to our own...

Crashton · #22 02-21-2007, 07:07 PM

You are starting to scare me. Pink monster fluffy bunny suits & now this.

I want my mommy!!!!