In Oct 2005 I picked up my HB/W S and when the sun hit the hood you could see lines in the paint coming from the washer jets. The fluid followed the seems in the plastic that they cover the hoods with when in transit from the factory. I had the hood wet sanded and polished but they did not come out. The dealer wouldn't swap cars so I wanted a new factory painted hood so I waited 6 months. One week before I was going to swap hoods the lines disappeared on there own. It almost seemed like the stronger UV rays in the spring (as the last few days were starting to get very bright) washed out the stains. My detailer couldn't explain it but thought it was possible. I'm happy it worked out the way it did as the dealer wasn't much help. The hood they were offering was on a car that looked like it had been on a lot in Eastern Canada for months with no care and constant acid rain.

Cheers
Dennis

 

I was detailing the MINIs today when I noticed the "staining" of washer fluid on the rear wiper of the Pepper White MC. I remember reading some of the posts on NAM about this subject and didn't remember any one conclusion or remedy for this problem.

So this is what I did. I used Bug and Tar cleaner sprayed on a soft cloth. I rub it somewhat medium pressure and it removed the yellow staining that looked like was in the paint, but wasn't. I then immediately put two coats of Mequiar's Tech Wax around the area on the boot and also on the bonnet near the washer jets. The bonnet jets didn't show any sign of staining on the Pepper White, but I put Mequiar's on there as a future (hopefully) preventative maintenance, if that happens to eventually ooze out and discolor the paint. I have NOT noticed this problem on my Chili Red MCS, but I put Meguiar's on there, too, on top of the over 1000 coats of Meguiar's already applied!

One more thing, I noticed some suggested posts that the washer fluid should be diluted and not be used full strength. This may be OK to do in the warmer climates, but if you live/drive in areas where it freezes, this is NOT recommended as the fluid will freeze in the reservoir when it gets to the freezing point come December and beyond. Even though you may have the Cold Weather Package, this ONLY heats up the jets, NOT the fluid in the reservoir. (I had a friend move from CA to WI and had a mix of water/washer fluid in a Honda. The mixture froze and cracked the reservoir tank from freezing expansion.)

Hope this helps!

 

Just a final note on my story. Took the car to the dealer and they tried again to get the marks out. They couldn't do it with polish. They ended up taking it to a local detail shop and they wet sanded the finish and polished it. In the end, it looks like new and Mini took care of it. They even replaced the bonnet stripe with no questions or pressure on me. Thanks Northwest Mini!

 

the moral of the story is, to drain yoru wiper fluid when you get the car and replace it with something you know wont ruin the paint.

 

But it's not the wiper fluid itself, it's the Cosmoline that remains in and around the washer jets. That explains why there are few people who have this problem. If it was the washer fluid, almost everybody would be affected. Instead, it's how well the Cosmoline is removed from the vehicle upon arriving in the US.

The real question is if draining and replacing your fluid does any good. If there is still some Cosmoline hanging around, will it still mess up the paint when combined with the new fluid, or does it only happen when it combines with the "stock" fluid?

 

An interesting Google hit concerning Cosmoline and vehicles prepped for travel: http://member.rivernet.com.au/btaylo...neRemoval.html

 

Sounds like a good idea might be to have an assistant inside spray the windshield, rear window, and head lights while you stand outside the car w/ a garden hose spraying down the car. It seems like this would serve to A: get rid of the hydrochloric acid MINI puts in for washer fluid B: flush out the nozzles to get rid of the cosmoline and C: keep the spray from eating through the clearcoat, paint, and hood.

Thankfully this thread is here, cause my car gets delivered in the next few days and this is some good stuff to know!

 

I had the same problem around my windshield wiper jets about a week after I got my mini. It didn't come off when I washed the car, but it did with clay (love, love, love clay!) and there haven't been any problem since. I don't have bonnet stripes though.

 

I actually flushed all of my wiper fluid out and put water there for now.... Jus tto get it out of the system.

I have also aplied Kosmolene to the undercarraige of my MCS. It appears that MINI did the bare minimum for rust undercoating so I had my garage do the rest of it (since my car is new and clean underneath)...

 

Yup. Exactly what I said in a previous post. Rogue Cosmoline is your culprit, and MINI should cover this. Jimbo

 

I think I'm on the "it's the Cosmoline!" bandwagon but it's interesting to note that the people who are on the "it's the washerfluid!" bandwagon believe they have solved the problem. But why would they think that if it isn't in some way related to the washerfluid?

I can only think of a few reasons:

1) The vocal few that were initially affected were convinced it was the washer fluid and now there are many that are performing this [needless?] preventative measure thinking they've thwarted something that possibly never would have affected them anyway.

2) Washerfluid flushing is only tangentially related

3) It is the washerfluid and us Cosmoline knuckleheads are just nuts!

4) Who cares...flushing is a low cost [dubious?] insurance policy but why not...it doesn't hurt.

Are there any washerfluid flushers that are still affected? If so, please pipe up!

 

I'm glad I read this thread. When my car arrives in a few weeks, I'm planning to jam a water hose down into the window-water tank and flush everything out. Once I use enought water that there's some room again I'll throw in some blue stuff.

(Hoping it doesn't eat through the driveway)

 

It has to be a combination of both the Cosmoline and the washer fluid, or else MINI wouldn't coat the whole car with Cosmoline. When the two combine, they become caustic to the paint and bonnet stripes. Now, whether it's just the "stock" washer fluid or any washer fluid has yet to be determined. But yes, draining/diluting the washer fluid should have an effect, as it will then be removed from the equation. And squirting enough of the new stuff through the washer jets should aid in getting rid of what's left. Personally, I like ashbroomstick's idea of holding a hose to the car while squirting all of the stock fluid out.

 

What is the best way to "drain" the washer fluid? Wouldn't spraying the fluid until empty also clear the nozzles?

 

Well since I just took delivery of my car last Thursday, I went ahead and took ashboomstick's idea. I've asked my brother to squirt the wiper fluid on both the front and the back while I sprayed water from outside since I was going wash my car anyways. Cost $2.00 to replace the fluid. I just don't want to take the chance and at least one of the variable is out of the picture.

 

It isn't limited to light coloured vehicles. My space blue MINI has it around the left washer nozzle. If I can't polish it out gently tomorrow, I'll be calling the MA on Monday.

 

My BRG has the same thing. When I first saw it, I didnt think it was a big deal and would wash right out, but after reading this post I tried to clean it off and it didn't help much, I got concerned! Ive got a call into my detailer to see what he can do to get it out w/o doing more damage.

 

Took delivery of my 2006 SB/S MCSa yesterday. Today, after sitting in the 95-degree sun all day, I noticed the dreaded Cosmoline stains coming from under the right washer jet onto my silver bonnet stripes, and even more Cosmoline dripping down the boot beneath the rear wiper... ughhh... I haven't tried to remove it yet... will do so when it cools down outside and then coat with a layer of Tech Wax or something. This is terrible though...especially for a new car of this caliber. There's gotta be something more they can do to prevent this from happening...

-boognish

 

creseida, jmmas, and boognish - I'm sorry to hear you guys have this problem. I've been keeping an eagle eye on mine and so far have been able to catch any weeping fluid before it has a chance to sit around for a while. The weird thing is, I've only used the jets once (because I'm deathly afraid of this happening), but yet fluid does weep from the jets from time to time. Yesterday I noticed some small quantities of Cosmoline right along the edge of the jet where it's connected to the hood, so I took a couple wet q-tips and wiped it away before it could cause a problem. One night this week I'm going to do the squirt-and-spray-with-water to get rid of the stupid fluid.

 

Yea, I decided to give my car a good cleaning yesterday. For the most part, it got off the paint, though if you look at the paint from different angles you can see the inconsistencies from the cosmo... But my bonnet stripe is ruined. while the spot isnt extremely noticable, it is to me.. and ive only had the car for a couple weeks... So I definitely want it fixed.

 

Happened to ours too...
Glad to see that's yet another initial issue already tackled and answered here on NAM. Thanks all... Elbow grease it is...

-e

 

At 13,600 miles I still get Cosmodrip from my rear washer unit down the chrome trim to the paint and the badge. Annoying as all hell. Gonna try some paint cleaner and see how that works, Woo hoo post #700

 

If it isn't immediately removed once you see it appear is it on there forever?
As in is it constantly further etching the paint as time goes by or is it basically just leaving a trace behind like a water spot only a little bit more severe?

Ie... what if instead of rubbing it out at every single occurence you waited a little bit longer between each time you reached for the rubbing compound? what do you think?

-e

 

Very disappointed how a lot of people seem to have this problem. I'm also planning to do the squirt and spray as soon as I get mine next week.

 

Somehow I think at least with the rear unit the Cosmoline is mixing with the rubber seals and, coupled with washer fluid and other moisture, is making it worse. Also: there were almost zero problems reported with the 02-04s regarding Cosmodrip from the rear washer/wiper unit, but when they redesigned the rear washer jets and wiper unit for the 05 model year that's when the problems started to occur. If anyone finds a solution plz post. What a pain. :impatient Jimbo