Hello everyone

Now that I going to get my first new car in a decade, I am concerned for once about how to keep my MCS beautiful during the winter. I currently just go to the automatic $2 car wash for my Honda every week or two. Now that's completely unacceptable for my MCS. How do you guys take care of your precious cars during winter? Be specific because I'm ignorant

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IB/W MINI Cooper S, Sept 6 production
all packages, bonnet stripes, aero kit, driving lights

 

a

 

Keep it in the garage till spring...that's where SUV's can be handy, laugh!

 

I agree with Wessieball because I to live in utah, and the salt here is horrible, they sure know how to muck up a city here in Salt Lake. I prefer to use the wand washes though as they do just as well as automatic washes but you stand less chance of scratches and bumps from the mechanics of an automatic, even the touchless ones can damage such a fine piece of art as a Mini so being outside in the cold for 5-10 minutes is worth saving any ugly cosmetic damage that will surely show up even more when spring arrives. Dry by hand, a Mini doesn't take long at all.
And just as Wessieball says, concentrate more on the iside to keep it tidy of salt, or sand from being tracked in on your feet, and trust us, it will.
Good luck.

 

a

 

Just wanted to add one comment.....
DON'T use Auto car washes that use brushes! Touchless is the only way you should even consider using an auto wash.
If you want to test this theory.... go stand outside your local car wash.... wait for a dark color car to run through the wash..... Now... take a look (In good sun light) at all of those swirls/scratches!!

Personally.... I would make sure you have a good coat of (lasting... Zaino is good) wax/polish on your car just before the winter months. Wash by hand (or touchless autowash) once every 1-2 weeks or so..... Follow each wash with a good coat of "Quick Detailer" (This will help keep the wax in good shape). You should be able to make it through the better part of the winter months with a good coat of wax. You may need to reapply towards the end.
Hope this helps.
SW

 

>>Keep it in the garage till spring...that's where SUV's can be handy, laugh!

As 9 times out of 10 it's an SUV in the ditch, and not a regular car, i'll pass on the SUV...

Rocketboy_X

 

Thats because 9 out of 10 cars are SUV's :smile:

 

I have to agree with sfiveten on the touchless car wash. The BMW dealer here in K town took their MINI S through the old brush wash and it ripped the roof spoiler completly off the car don't know if it was the brush or the dryer that caught it though just something to think about before you run it through a car wash.

 

I used to live in Lake Placid in New York, home of the 1980 Winter Olympics. My solution would be to do what I did. I moved to Florida.



Size Matters!!!!!

 

I agree with Nolan, my MSC will spend the winter sharing the heated bay in my garage with my 65 Mustang Fastback. Here in CT it will probably be in there from December thru April unless we have a mild winter.


Gary A

 

>>I agree with Nolan, my MSC will spend the winter sharing the heated bay in my garage with my 65 Mustang Fastback. Here in CT it will probably be in there from December thru April unless we have a mild winter.
>>
>>

I hope that's a 'clean' heated bay... putting a car w/salt and snow on it in a heated situation will just increase the corrosion...

Rocketboy_X

 

Well, teh snow has started to fly here in PA, and although it will probably still be a while before the real salt comes out, I figgured I'd pipe up.

My concern is the undercarridge of the car, where all the salt and sand will collect. I haven't really delt with cleaning the underside of a car except with a truck, which was older and higher. I'm concerned about the wierd electronic sensors and things on the MINI that have been lacking on my other vehicles, such as the abs/dsc sensors and the unusual electric power steering motor/fan. While I am sure they are weather resistant, is there any danger of damaging them while using a wand to get rid of road salt? What about the underside of the engine?

Dave, I'm sure you'll be dealing with this soon, so any input , from anyone, would be appreciated!

 

>>>>I agree with Nolan, my MSC will spend the winter sharing the heated bay in my garage with my 65 Mustang Fastback. Here in CT it will probably be in there from December thru April unless we have a mild winter.
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>I hope that's a 'clean' heated bay... putting a car w/salt and snow on it in a heated situation will just increase the corrosion...
>>
>>Rocketboy_X
>>

Yes Rocketboy they are clean and covered. Epoxy floor, plenty of lights and music, a great place to detail the MINI and just hang out.

 

>>I have to agree with sfiveten on the touchless car wash. The BMW dealer here in K town took their MINI S through the old brush wash and it ripped the roof spoiler completly off the car don't know if it was the brush or the dryer that caught it though just something to think about before you run it through a car wash.

I've always used car washes that have the cotton "rags" instead of brushes. I've always been scared of the touchless ones because the high pressure water always acts like it's going to take off paint, etc. The MINI manual says auto car washes are okay as long as it's the cotton "rag" kind instead of brushes too, not that that means anything.

One question. Isn't the high pressure water from the touchless car wash going to hurt my bonnet stripes? I'd hate to go wash my car and come out stripeless!!

 

I just got back from giving my MCS it's first car wash. I couldn't find a touchless car wash so I took a chance on the "Platinum" service at a local car wash that isn't touchless, but doesn't use those old fashioned hard bristles.

Bottom line it seems like it did a good job. No swirls or scratches. Didn't take off my spoiler or bonnet stripes. Had them wax it too. I think I can live with that through the winter, and I'll wash it by hand in the summer. From the sounds of it here on MCO, using a good wax is 90% of the battle in keeping your car looking good.

Thanks for all the info from you guys/gals here in Detailing 101...though maybe I should have taken Detailing 99 or 100 first!

 

I have been using the brushless auto car wash here in NY, and that gets most of the gunk and salt off. I have bonnet stripes and rally lights, and as long as you dont go to one of the those car washes where those huge plastics dryer arms rolls over your car, your ok. Those "arms" could hook onto your rally lights and snap em right off. Now the other aspect is wax. If you keep the car waxed, it will stop the salt from getting to the paint layer as it acts as a buffer bewteen the dirt and the paint. Only problem is trying to get home from the car wash without getting it mucked up again so you can wax it. Also for the winter ive put garbage bags over my floor mats. Call me crazy, but it keeps em from gettting shitty.

 

Yea a heated garage would be ideal

The self-do wash bays are good for wintertime, but I'd stay away from the provided brush! Usually what I do is bring my own soap and bucket and sponge, and just fill it up with the warm water, wash as you would in summertime, then rinse. Oh, then you thaw out your hands and get your microfiber drying towels

Last option is to find an excellent run-thru wash, one that doesn't DESTROY your paint. If you do this option, find a way to wax all the time!, like weekly!

wintertime (and salt that goes with it) is horror for the cars

 

>>Personally.... I would make sure you have a good coat of (lasting... Zaino is good) wax/polish on your car just before the winter months. Wash by hand (or touchless autowash) once every 1-2 weeks or so..... Follow each wash with a good coat of "Quick Detailer" (This will help keep the wax in good shape). You should be able to make it through the better part of the winter months with a good coat of wax. You may need to reapply towards the end.
>>Hope this helps.
>>SW
>>
Doesn't the detergent from the car wash strip the wax from the car?

 

yea, re-read my post above, If you go thru an automatic wash, it will strip the wax!

using a finishing spray after washing will only protect the wax that's left after the washing. In winter months there are more sediments and salt stuck to the paint, so each washing is more abrasive than usual, meaning you have to re-wax more often.