Detailing 101 Need to find out how to pamper your new MINI? Find out all the detailing secrets here.

Fess up: how often do you wash it?

Old May 15, 2007 | 06:59 AM
  #51  
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Every weekend unless it it rains, in which case there isn't much point in washing. Around here, once the roads are wet, the car gets filthy immediately.
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 07:25 AM
  #52  
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So happy to read that I'm not the only one. I was considering washing out back as the neighbours think I am completely nutz washing all the time. The MINI just isn't cute dirty.
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 07:51 AM
  #53  
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so i saw bird crap on my daily driver... mostly glass, slightly on the paint.

so be it.
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 08:19 AM
  #54  
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Originally Posted by LynnEl
By the end of the first year, the car is too fat to fit in the garage and too slow to outpace a Yugo.
ROFL!

I did not talk about the quarterly claying and stripping of wax. You have to understand that carnuaba wax does not hold up well in the Texas heat. It is pretty much gone in a month to 6 weeks.
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 08:28 AM
  #55  
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Skuzzy, If I'm reading your signature correctly you don't even have a MINI yet but you are virtual detailing it every week?
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 08:59 AM
  #56  
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skuzzy- you missed a spot.
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 09:20 AM
  #57  
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Originally Posted by ImagoX
I'll clean the windshield as needed though, even if it's once a day - I hate crap on the windsheild.
Agreed. I wash the windshield daily, if needed. A clean windshield gives the illusion that you are driving a clean car.

I try to wash once a week ...but living in CT I am worried about what will happen come winter. We get some nasty cold spells and I am going to have to resort to going to the car wash eventually.

dean.
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 09:34 AM
  #58  
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huh, i wash my daily driver's winsheild every morning too.... and
i do it from inside the car.
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 09:54 AM
  #59  
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Wash usually twice a month, sometimes a third if she gets muddy. Wax once a month, it's just gotta be done.
 

Last edited by camminich; May 15, 2007 at 10:47 AM.
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Old May 15, 2007 | 09:58 AM
  #60  
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Originally Posted by trico
Skuzzy, If I'm reading your signature correctly you don't even have a MINI yet but you are virtual detailing it every week?
The regimen is currently applied to our Volvo and Lexus. The Volvo is going bye-bye when the Mini arrives and the Mini will fill that slot.

Originally Posted by kenchan
skuzzy- you missed a spot.
I doubt it. You have not seen the custom reflective chart I use to measure the quality of finish on my cars. But thanks for caring!
 

Last edited by Skuzzy; May 15, 2007 at 10:00 AM.
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Old May 15, 2007 | 10:26 AM
  #61  
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I think LynnEl's are some of the most valuable posts in the detailing forum.

As for my wash schedule, every 2 weeks unless it is going to rain shortly after the scheduled wash. In that case I wait until the forecast is better.

Sometimes I go to the coin-op, spray yourself place. Sometimes I go to the "touchless" wash place where hard-working men dry my car with towels that are decidely not made of microfiber and frequently remove water spots by spraying their window-cleaning solution on the paint. I do not feel badly about this. (Although I may in 50 years when it costs me the opportunity to display my Mini on the lawn at Pebble Beach.)
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 10:27 AM
  #62  
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Originally Posted by Skuzzy
I doubt it. You have not seen the custom reflective chart I use to measure the quality of finish on my cars. But thanks for caring!
skuzzy runs spectro-analysis on his paint to ensure purity.
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 10:36 AM
  #63  
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Ouch

Cars are never "cute" only boring, sheepish, or aggressive. That sounds like something my mother's friends say when they see my car...and I immediately ask them to call it "cool" instead.

TJM

Originally Posted by mini44
... The MINI just isn't cute dirty.
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 10:49 AM
  #64  
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I would disaggree with the cute statement. I had a 750iL, and although I never thought it was "cute", I was always happy to hear the ladies call it that .
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 11:49 AM
  #65  
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Weather permitting, I wash at least 2x a week. A good indicator that it's time for me to wash is the amount of brake dust that accumulate on the wheels. It doesn't take much motoring to get excessive accumulation of brake dust
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 12:03 PM
  #66  
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Calling a 750iL "cute" is like calling a sumo wrestler "some guy in a daiper."
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 12:35 PM
  #67  
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Originally Posted by kenchan
skuzzy runs spectro-analysis on his paint to ensure purity.
How else am I going to know when it needs to be wet-sanded, or buffed? Or even re-painted.

And knowing when it is as good as it can get is important. I prefer objective data versus subjective viewing to determine the quality of finish. My base comparison is a mirror. I can get really close, but it is difficult to attain over the entire surface of the exterior.

Originally Posted by LynnEl
Calling a 750iL "cute" is like calling a sumo wrestler "some guy in a daiper."
That could be a matter of perspective. What if you are a sumo wrestler?
 

Last edited by Skuzzy; May 15, 2007 at 12:39 PM.
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Old May 15, 2007 | 12:51 PM
  #68  
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Originally Posted by Skuzzy
How else am I going to know when it needs to be wet-sanded, or buffed? Or even re-painted.

And knowing when it is as good as it can get is important. I prefer objective data versus subjective viewing to determine the quality of finish. My base comparison is a mirror. I can get really close, but it is difficult to attain over the entire surface of the exterior.

That could be a matter of perspective. What if you are a sumo wrestler?
damn, all that for 5min of glory... well, until the next time a dust
falls on it, huh?
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 12:53 PM
  #69  
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If I were a sumo wrestler I would not want to be called cute. Doubt it would help my career.
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 01:54 PM
  #70  
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In the winter (usually November - March) as often as the rain lets up to do so (once every other week or so).

In nice weather, 1-2 times per week. Once is usually an actual wash, the other is a good thorough QD.
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 02:01 PM
  #71  
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Usually once a week, weather permitting. Now that Im using the Prima products, who knows, maybe more often?
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 02:27 PM
  #72  
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Originally Posted by kenchan
damn, all that for 5min of glory... well, until the next time a dust
falls on it, huh?
Nah. It's all about the long haul for me.

I could tell you all about how good my cars look when I go to sell them, but then you would pop back with some remark about how yours do to as you never driver them and so on and so forth,....

I am used to people laughing at me. It does not slow me down one bit.
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 02:57 PM
  #73  
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Originally Posted by Skuzzy
Nah. It's all about the long haul for me.

I could tell you all about how good my cars look when I go to sell them, but then you would pop back with some remark about how yours do to as you never driver them and so on and so forth,....

I am used to people laughing at me. It does not slow me down one bit.
im not laughing at you. im just playing with ya.

dont take it so seriously... !!
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 03:00 PM
  #74  
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Well poop, I forgot to add the obligatory smiley there kenchan. I take nada seriously. But I am used to people laughhing at me. Heck, if I was not me and saw me, I would laugh at me as well.

Ok,..now I am seriously dizzy.
 
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Old May 15, 2007 | 03:03 PM
  #75  
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Originally Posted by Skuzzy
Well poop, I forgot to add the obligatory smiley there kenchan. I take nada seriously. But I am used to people laughhing at me. Heck, if I was not me and saw me, I would laugh at me as well.

Ok,..now I am seriously dizzy.
aha! that would make a big difference.

 
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