Hello All, This place is awesome. I am super new to the Mini world and detailing. The info here has been very detailed and so informative. But, I see a couple questions about stripes but no direct answers, or atleast I can't find them.

Does one clay stripes? Does one clay the black and chrome on the Mini's? I understand claying the clear bra is good? If you don't clay stripes I guess you tape them off?

Polish and wax just about everything, except the black pin stripe if you have them?

Oh, and do this all in the shade on a cool day? It gets hot here in Florida and not really much shade where I live.

Sorry if these questions are repeated I just want to take care of my Mini like everyone else here seems to do. I have seen some of the photos posted here and Oh My God, they are incredible looking Mini's.

Does this sound right?
Dawn wash
Clay
Dawn wash again
Polish
Wax

Thanks everyone.

 

Howdy! I am also new to detailing and actually did a full detail on my car today! Thanks in part to OctaneGuy and Prima products!

I
Dawn washed
Clay
Waxed

You dont have to polish your car and since I dont have a PC doing it by hand would be a pain! I think for being a first timer my car came out great! Dory feels like a babies bottom!

 

Also, I wanted to mention the stripes on my Mini are dealer installed so they won't be under any clear coat. And the NXT wax says don't get on vinyl but I have read people just wax over their stripes, is it because they have clear coat over their stripes?
Can anyone help with my questions?
Thanks

 

You can clay the stripes and wax over them, just try not to leave residue on the edges.

Polish may or may not be necessary depending on the paint. The fact that the car is new will not be the deciding factor, the swirls will.

If you want to get crazy about detailing like most of us (maybe not good crazy) get OG video and you will understand most of what you need to know.

Yes,
Wash with Dawn
Clay
Wash with auto wash soap
Polish if necessary
Wax

 

i dont clay the stripes. i dont polish them either.

 

I clay the stripes. I polish them too.

 

Thanks for the answers. So, even though on the wax it says don't get on vinyl it is ok to wax the stripes that will be on top of the clear coat?
And the polish doesn't strip the color of the stripe?

And it is ok to clay the vinyl too? And it is ok to clay and wax clear bra's also?

I think I'm getting so confused because some say yes and some say no. I know I can test a spot but if it doesn't take nicely then I have ruined a spot on the stripe.

I appreciate the answers and hope some more will chime in.

 

Oh MiniMaybee are your stripes under or on top of the clear coat?

 

You can treat the stripes and clear bra just like the painted surfaces of your car.

Ken does not NEED to treat the stripes on his MINI, because they have never been exposed to rain, snow, pollen, or long periods in the sun

Mark

 

My stripes are on top of my clear coat which is exposed to nature as the almighty intended - no clear bra on my MINI.
Mark is right, Ken's MINI is garaged and not a daily driver so he can get away with that kind of statement.

 

When you clay the stripes just make sure that you do from the middle of the stripe out (clay particles otherwise can get stuck in the seams - and yes I am talking from experience )

 

Thank you everyone. I appreciate it soooo much. I have been going nuts reading and reading but no answers really materialized. This will let me sleep better now. Treat bra and stripes just like the painted surfaces, great simple answer. And the detail of claying from the middle out, great great great. Thanks.

I don't understand why wax and polish instructions say don't get on plastic or vinyl but I assume it is ok after what has been said here, yes?

 

Most wax instructions are talking about black plastic trim, like on our wheel arches and such as it will turn them white. But that is what Black Wow is for, if you treat the trim before you wax, no issues.

Mark

 

This is great!! This is the detailed info that newbies don't know about. All those instructions out there never give the little details like this, I'm super excited.

So, once treated with a plastic and or vinyl conditioner then one can wax right over the vinyl and plastics without any issues?

 

The one major caveat is to not wax over the black plastic trim. It'll turn white after the wax dries.

 

But from what I understand you can wax over the black plastic and vinyl if you use the plastic and vinyl dressing before you wax. That's the trick, right?

 

Yes...but it's more like an "if you accidentally get some on it will be okay" thing...I wouldn't be aiming to wax the trim

 

I see the light.
Thanks for all the good info.

What do people do for the Pillars, just wax them with the rest of the car or is that something glass cleaner is used on?

 

Wax 'em

 

Great job!! Dory looks mighty purty!!!!

 

Yes nice job on Dory. I like the clouds in the hood, ooppps, bonnet.
How did you handle the plastics? Tape them off then wax? Put on a dressing then wax?