Hello! This is actually my first post anywhere on NAM, although I have been lurking for the past few months. I (finally) picked up my 2009 MCS last week in Atlanta, and, after about 500 miles, he is really in need of a bath! Are there any good full-service car washes in the Birmingham area? I don't know where to go--my previous cars have all relied on the rain as a cleansing agent!

 

Congrats on the new MINI

The only car wash in my area (that I have noticed) is Anthony's. My MINI is a carwash virgin though. I always wash by hand so I can't really tell you if any of them do good work on a MINI

 

Congrats

I have used Carwash Headquarters on Hwy. 280 and been happy with their work. I have not been back in the few months since I got the MINI, I wash it myself.

 

I'm with Bamatt!

NO ONE ever washes my car but ME! Its kind of a bonding thing. Or maybe a mothering thing, whatever it is, I love spending an afternoon washing and detailing my Mini. If you want something done right - do it yourself, I always say. And I have OCD (Obsessive Car Disorder)
Cool thing about the Mini, its so small, you can have it shinny from bonnet to boot under an hour!

 

Wash it by hand. Enjoy every turn. I have the last two weekends and it's always a fun experience. Every time, a new lesson learned.

There's a sticky in the detail forum. A great tip about spraying the micro-fiber towel clean and wringing it before it goes back in the bucket. Seriously, who are you going to pay that's going to do that every time? If they do- good for you, but why let them get paid for having the fun?

 

Thanks for your help, everyone!

I ended up washing the car myself at a self-service place over in the Homewood area (since I knew that I would do a thorough job, plus it's cheaper anyway). I also took your advice and scoured the posts about detailing--and ordered some Prima products.

P.S., I am now at about 960 miles! Only about 240 left and I can really hit that gas pedal!

 

good job It's much safer & rewarding that way

Once I was gonna have to go thru the carwash because it was during my work day & I had to have the MINI clean for a show someone wanted it in later that night. I ended up opting for the hand wash. Then I stood over the guy & scared him to death until he just let me wash & dry the dang thing myself So I paid over $20 to wash my own dam car using mostly my own products that I had brought from home