How long should I wait until I detail my new mini, I just picked it up yesterday, but theres lots of dust and pollen on the car and I dont think the dealership put wax on it, and I want to spend some time bonding with her

 

You can start immediately. Because of the way the paint is applied at the factory, plus the amount of time it took to actually get to you after being painted, the paint is fully cured and should no longer be offgassing.

Detail away!!

 

Sweet

 

I bought an Acura RDX in March and they said that you don't 'need' wax or anything like that. They said they sprayed this chemical on it to protect the paint from acid rain, bird ****, etc and not to put anything on it. So I didn't wax it for a month or two. I don't know if thats horse pucky or not.

 

Yes I'm going to say that's BS.

I picked up my Mini and into the shop it went right away for a full detail I had planned (did it myself)

And I was suprised that the clay didn't come back as clean as I thought it would but there was some dirty spots and brake dust and splatter from the crappy tire dressing the dealer put on.

Remember, that by the time the car gets in your hands its been on a train, a truck and with all the brake dust in the air and other earth contaminants its very likely you'll find some on your car.

Personally, I say you take it home and give her a full detail with:

Wash
Clay
Paint Clean such as maybe DC1
Paint Polish
Wax x 2 or something like M21 or Epic

But you have to evaluate your finish first so take a look and take it from there.

But you can also begin the detail right away because of the paint being factory cured so you have no worries there.

 

Don't forget that little boat ride across the pond

 

Google the name of that sealant and you will find lots of info on it. It's a synthetic polymer sealent and needs to be applied every 6 months or so--though they advertise that it lasts for years without "waxing".

It's how dealers make lots of extra cash off their customers.

 

Thanks for the info.

I just Epic'd it it a few weeks ago so I'm not going to clay it until October. After closer examination it definitely does need a clayjob- lots of overspray on the rear quarter panels. (yellowish crap on a white car looks nasty).

I recently detailed a G6 that had never been clayed and after I did the first wash the paint felt like sandpaper. Once I started claying I was pulling up gobs of (edit: overspray)

 

Clay doesn't remove orange peel.

This is Orange Peel (that's textured look in the paint)

 

***I meant overspray***

 

Haha to a detailer, those little "oversights" are HUGE

overspray & orange peel.

 

Yes indeed. I don't think I'd mess with orange peel. Not on a daily driver at least.