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Now that winter is over, I'd like to wash the salt and junk off from underneath of my MCS I was thinking of going to the local self wash place and spraying the bottom with their foam soap and rinsing it off. They have this broom looking thing (can't imagine who would use that on their finish) and I thought of using that on the bottom of the car after applying the foam soap.
What do you recommend? I like the "broom thing" idea, but I don't want to snag anything under the car and rip it off (brake lines, fuel lines, wires ...) I don't know what's under there that could get snagged.
I would think that the brush would be ok underneath the car, just be really careful, and try not to scrub at the joints or anything that has a lubricant or seal, as it could rupture the seal.
Salt readily dissolves with water. If you want to just do an easy job, use the hose in your driveway (if you have one) or use the spray in the car wash. I'm not sure I'd attempt to use the brush as there are too many things it could affect.
I've actually used an oscillating lawn sprinkler under mine- heard about doing that years ago. I set it at a fairly low pressure and let it work back and forth for a while, then move it to another section. It rinses very well and gets the job done.
Sprinkler sounds like a good idea. But, about the brush... come on, the MINI isn't a delicate vase or anything. Anything underneath had better be secure. If you are going to use a brush, it should be fine, as long as you aren't scraping away like you are trying to remove tar.
__________________ BlooMeeni - 2004 Mini Copper, Auto A/C, HK Stereo, Leather, 5sp.
I too have used this on my Jeep...But never thoguth about doing it with the mini. Hum....
Haha. No I am not a redneck, but God didn't grace Ohio with rocks (that's why I climb on plastic ones) so some fun off camber stuff and getting stuck int he mud is about all I can do.
I jacked the car up, and sprayed the underside with my Mr. Clean soap gun, and then hosed it off. Whatever water sprayer you use, don't use the jet setting.
Zip
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www.usminiclub.com Obie: my '05 MINI Cooper - Jet Black, Premium and Sport packages, chrome side vents with white/clear repeaters, M7 STPs, K&N 57i intake, Megan Racing MINI Cooper cat-back exhaust, TSW engine damper, Alta 19mm anti-sway bar, Ian Cull anti-nanny circuit.
i just take a water hose at full blast and just wash with normal water
pressure. i dont really wash the actual carriage. i wash the suspension
parts, fender arches (on my commuters, that is), parts of the frame
exposed to the wheels, etc.
Great ideas. I've used the sprinkler idea for many years...it works. Another idea is to put your car on jack stands rotate the tires and wash the wheel wells and the backs of the wheels at the same time.
I use a 'water broom' attached to a pressure washer at lowered pressure to clean the undercarriage of cars. A water broom is essentially a bar with several fan-spray nozzles that rides on wheels and is meant for cleaning floors and decks. Modifying it a bit to invert the wheels and change the angle results in a nice, low 'scrubber' that does a surprising job of clearing out crud from under cars.
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JCW Intake|15% Alta|Milltek Catback|17x7.5 SSR Comps|215/45-17 GS-D3s|Much More
MMC #28|Motoring ID RAGE666
I just wanted to point out the nomally the actual "underside" of the car doesn't get that dirty. It's the wheel wells and suspension parts that get it the worst.
I jack up the car and remove the wheels (you can just do one side at a time). Then clean everything up with a bucket of soapy water and a sponge or brush (or both). The underside of the shock mounts get especialy dirty. If you want to make it real nice you can spray the black plastic wheel wells with foaming tire cleaner/protectant when you're done. It's quick and easy, but it doens't last that long.
Don't forget to clean the plastic area between the wheels (where the plastic jack points are). The front tires throw junk straight back and fill this area with mud and crap.
I have Leda shocks with the adjusters exposed to the elements, so I really try to keep this area clean.
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_____________________________ 2006 MCS HB/W Setup for G-Stock autocross Sand & Sage Sports Car Club Leda double adjustable shocks with remote reservoirs, SSR wheels, 22.5mm front bar
BlooMeeni - 2004 Mini Copper, Auto A/C, HK Stereo, Leather, 5sp.
