I know that I've seen references to this before, but I'm not really finding what I need by searching. I hope someone here can help.

What's the best way to clean the waxy goo (cosmaline?) that leaks from various places after the MINI's trip across the Pond? I've got streaks leaking from my washer jets across the bonnet.

I have a starter kit from DP if that helps. Thanks!!

 

Don't know what's in the starter kit, but the stuff washed off mine very easily.

 

I used a little piece of a wet Mr Clean Magic Square and very light pressure. Others have used a higher concentration of mystique car wash from DP.

 

you just need goo-gone.

here's the link to the thread.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=102529

 

I got the majority of the goo off with alcohol, but there was still residue that looked like it was in the paint. So I used clay and got all of the stain off, but it had etched my paint. I can see the imperfections left around the driver's side jet to this day.

 

Interesting. I thought the goo was glue that they used to glue the seams together under the hood. Mine has been dripping when it gets hot. I noticed that under the hood where the metal turns back that this gummy, yellowish stuff is all up in there in various spots. After the initial seep-age and cleaning (I used Citri-Solve under the hood but not on the outside where the visible painted surfaces are) there isn't much anymore. Time will tell. I was a little disappointed, seeing this. I don't think what I am talking about is Cosmoline though. I believe they really just glued the seems together. I know it's only a 30K car and they have to save some money somewhere, but when I open up the hood of my 550i, it makes me annoyed that they didn't put the same amount of care into this little detail. Love my car though.

 

Discovered this weekend during the Mini bath that mine is doing this same described thing. It does seem to be from the heat, almost like it's melting this goo between the two areas of the hood. It wasn't there two weeks ago, so what's up?

 

They spray the cosmoline on, and it gets in between the bonnet skin and the supporting layer beneath it. You can clean the visible stuff but the stuff that gets between the two metal layers is not accessible. Once it gets very hot, the cosmoline will start melting and you will see it coming out from between the layers. It stops eventually

 

The make-ready shop at my dealer gave me some of the solvent they use to clean up the goo. It works great...but I'm not sure exactly what it is. I'm believe it's readily available stuff, but I'd sure hate to get something too strong by mistake. If anybody really wants to know what this is I can stop by and ask...short of that I'd use something I knew was safe like goo-gone. For anyone in D/FW...I have plenty.

 

I tried goo gone this weekend and it did not work. I still have badly stained areas on the plastic trim and obvious streaks in the paint on the front bumper. It is really a bummer.

I do have some Mr. Clean erasers. I will try those soon.

 

Please not on your paint. Try clay, try alcohol, try paint thinner, but don't try the magic eraser on your paint! Please!

 

Yeah, I forgot about the badly stained area on my passagener side plastic wheel well trim. I tried a little Dawn dishwashing liquid and it didn't touch it. Hubby rubbed some Turtlewax Ice over it, and that didn't touch it either.

 

Okay, thanks for the warning. I will try alcohol as I have some that I used on my wife's leather interior to get out an ink stain.

 

There are a few other threads on this site. After checking them out, I'm not sure if it is cosmoline or what I thought might be glue. Seems weird that Mini would glue parts of the hood together rather than weld them. I dunno, but again the citrisolve (orange based solvent that is biodegradable) worked pretty well. You have to be careful though, because even though it isn't some sort of 'super chemical' it can still be on the strong side.

 

It sure sounds like cosmoline. I really don't think they use glue on the bonnet. As described though it sounds like some of the same stuff a lot of us have had to deal with.

 

Try peanut butter and a toothbrush for the plastic trim. The oil in the peanut butter seems to be the active ingredient. And if it doesn't work youv'e only wasted 3 bucks tops
It really worked well for me

 

Talked to my service advisor when my car was in for service. He confirmed that it is cosmoline and that eventually it will weep itself dry. I didn't have the nerve to suggest they actually glued the hood together.

 

I purchased my mini about a month ago and about a week later I realized that the left quarter panel had some weird stuff on it...I took it in and they explained to me that it was cosmoline. So the guy took it to the back and had it buffed. I took it home and while examining it, found that they had scratched that area and that the cosmoline was still visible. I took it back in and it turns out the cosmoline is underneath the clear coat. So now they have to repaint the damn quarter panel and I'm pissed. Apparently, it's a factory defect. Anyone have any idea what my rights are? Thanks.

 

Everyone seems to accept this cosmoline leakage as the norm. I have had my car now for two months and the only fault it has is this crap that has stained by front bumper and wheel bays. I have tried everything posted on NAM and talked to the dealer's detailer on what to use with no luck. On a beautiful automobile this manufacturers defect looks like a pimple on the forehead of Ms. America. I do not see this same defect on any other BWM automobiles so why should I, we, accept this as part of the MINI purchase? If anyone has had luck replacing the parts affected or has heard if BWM will do anything about this please post on.

 

Exactly. We shouldn't have to.

 

My dealer said he will replace the plastic trim where the cosmoline leaked on it for free

 

The dealer should (and will) repaint stained sections under warranty, and replace stained trim.

The reason BMWs don't have the problem is they ship in nice flannel jammies rather than a coating of cosmoline.

 

Just to help clear this up, the cosmoline didn't get under the clear coat. That's impossible. Chances are it etched the clear coat and that's what you are seeing. I had this around the windshield washer jets. If they are going to repaint it, they should just be block sanding down the spot, then reshooting the clearcoat and blending it back in and that's not a big deal. Since there is no color paint involved, you won't even notice a difference.

 

Well that's what the dealership said.

 

I wasn't doubting you---just saying that, that explanation they gave you is absurd, and to prevent others from also being mislead, what they told you isn't possible.