My Cooper Cabrio is being built faster than expected and will be here within the month. For my other cars, I have always just taken them to a brushless car wash when they were dirty and they looked good for a week or so, and when they got dirty again, I took them back. But for the new Cabrio, I am going to use some of the tips and products mentioned in this Forum. But, my question now is - "what is the first thing you would do after bringing the new Mini home to protect its paint and convertible top?"

 

Wash, claybar, and apply multiple coats of Zaino. Invest the $$ and have a pro install 3M paint protection film (Clearbra, Stoneguard) on the front - you won't regret it.

 

+1 on the wash, claybar and clearbra. I'm personally a Prima Epic fan - but there are lots of good premium quality sealants / waxes to be found, including Zaino.

NEVER use carwash soap on the top - it will both destroy the water repellency, and attract more dirt... also NEVER run the cabrio through a carwash - including a touchless one - for the same reason. Plus, you never know what they're using for soap in those carwashes - the stuff that cuts the dirt best is also likely to blast the wax/sealant right off your car.

The top SHOULD be good for several months as-is - it's treated at the factory. If it beads water from the hose, it should be OK with no additional treatment.

When it's time to clean the top, use a special-purpose cleaner (like RaggTop's or 303 Fabric Cleaner) followed by a proper UV/water repellent treatment (like RaggTop or 303 Fabric Guard). I do this about once every 6 months - and my car is garaged at night, but outside all day every day. The top treatment is more to protect the appearance of the top - not to keep it from leaking (the rubber layer does that).

Invest in a good sheepskin or microfiber mitt, and keep it off the ground and away from your wheels (brake dust is highly abrasive to paint). Use a separate mitt or rag or soft brush for your wheels.

See OctaneGuy's video on the ShowCarDetailing.com website for good washing technique to minimize swirls and keep it looking good for a LONG time.

 

I use a shop vac with the round brush to clean my top on the MINI SC. Also now do the same to my Z4 Roadster. You can just rinse the top off after you vaccum, no soap.

 

What's the best way to apply the Fabric Guard? I'm assuming there's a much more OCD way than just spray it on.

 

I do the same thing now. Works well. I also use a sticky lint roller to get the grit out of the weave - there's stuff that wont even vacuum out, but the tape roller pulls it out...

I'm a big advocate of brushing it on - I do it with the 303 (even though they say to spray it) and it works fine and is non-messy, and easier to get a GOOD coat on there and get it down in the weave...

 

drive it, enjoy it. then give it a nice wash. use LOTS of water
for the boot as a lot of sand and grit gets stuck on there.

 

Thanks! I don't have a convertible, but I did get some for my cloth seats. Not that I'll ever let anyone ever have any beverages in the car, but it pays to be safe.

 

Yup, just what I was going to say

Mark

 

and Hydro ofcourse, right?

 

Yuppers

Mark