I'm going to wait awhile before purchasing BlackWow since as a complete newbie I've already spent >$150 on supplies and it may turn out I don't even have enough patience for proper detailing work. I'm curious to see if it will be a good hobby for me - I do love my MINI.

My plan is to expand my first wash as a more knowledgeable, less negligent owner into a major detail with Dawn wash, and clay and Epic for all paint, wheels and glass. I would like feedback on my plan for the trim - Nero on trim before (and after?) Epic, then Hydro. My roof trim looks terrible right now since my MINI is 3 years old, has always lived outside in the city streets and was taken to no-brush car washes albeit fairly infrequently. Oh, the products I've bought are Prima Mystique, Epic, Hydro, Nero, and Clarity. I'm hesitant to buy anything else for now irrespective of price since I would like to keep things simple. Actually I was originally just going to go for Hydro and Clarity, but the threads I read are so darn persuasive that I'm catching the fever, at least mentally! I'll see if I've got the stamina for the actual physical effort...

thanks for any suggestions.

 

I would just Nero it, unless you live in a wet/snowy climate.

Unfortunately, to restore it (from the 3 years of sun damage and the like) you'll need Black Wow. But more frequent applications of Nero can get you by for now.

 

If I'm doing frequent applications of Nero, can I just wipe down the trim with the QD that comes with the clay (Mothers kit) instead of waiting until after a full wash? I was thinking about the Hydro since kenchan recommends it for everything. thanks.

 

hydro everything on the car less tires and interior. (no joke)

glass, seals, plastics, paint, everything.

 

kenchan, why am I not surprised with your reply?!
Do you never use Nero?

Seriously, can I alternate using Hydro and Nero? For example for my major details a couple of times a year use Nero.
For regular washes, just Mystique and Hydro.
For trim upkeep in between washes QD and Nero?

thanks.

 

After a while you'll get a feel for what products work best on what parts.

I use Nero on my black plastic trim and tires after most washes. On the trim, it's a "booster" for Black Wow which a use a few times per year on the trim.
I use Hydro when I dry after every wash. I don't spray Hydro on the trim. But if the towel spreads some on there as I dry, no worries.

It's not really a "layering" thing for the trim - you don't need to put down a base of Nero with Hydro on top, or anything like that. One or the other works fine. I like the look of Nero on the trim better than just Hydro...

 

I use Nero for interior bits.

It's a great door panel kickmark preventative tool too.

Put some on while your car is new and this alone prevents 99% of those shoe marks when one kicks the door panel while getting in/out of the car.

I use Nero dilluted 50/50 with water.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong here but the Nero will work to condition the trim while Hydro is a good protectant. If your looking to restore your trim you'll probably want to Nero more often.

 

. . . Or pick up some Black Wow

 

I agree

 

I would dress the trim with Nero after every wash. I dry the car with hydro and a waffle weave. I have a separate towel to dry the trim because I always seem to miss a bit of dirt. Then squirt the nero or 303 into a microfiber pad and dress all the trim. It only takes like 10 squirts for the whole car. Without doing the trim it looks like you put a fancy shirt on but wore old pants.

 

yes, it's amazing how faded trim can ruin the entire look of the car.
mini44 - think I will try out your method to start.
I'm quite sure I will buy BW at some point, but I'm trying to get away with a minimum of products to start with.
Funny thing, I'm out in small town USA for the coming months, but after that I will be going back to the City which means apartment in the air and street parking. How on earth, and WHERE?, am I going to wash my car then?
thanks for all the feedback everyone. I love this forum!

Oh yeah, I forgot... does Nero also work as a trim protector if I get a little Epic on it? I read that BW works well for that.

 

I hook up a hose to my water heater

 

Actually, I googled self-service car wash and found some in the 2 places where I spend many of my weekends, so that's an option. So I'll just have to load my buckets, Primas, and towels with me on my getaways! I've never had a problem yet fitting in what I need (I'll not forget a trip out to Sam's Club with a friend who bought a ton of stuff including a big flat screen TV - we got it all in!)

 

Do not, repeat, do not put Epic on your trim. Any wax, synthetic or carnuaba, is going to be a PITA to remove.

Nero I find does not last long on my exterior. It is best for interior where it is awesome.

I hear you don't want to invest anymore but I would suggest spending a little more on Black Wow, Wizards, Mothers Back to Black or even Aerospace 303 on your trim.

As far as Hydro I use it everytime I wash as well. I do not spray it directly on the car. I used to until I noticed some spray pattern on the trim. IT does have some ploymers, syntehitc wax which can imbed on trim. Spray onto MF and apply. It does not take much. After you get it damp one spray for a body panel is all you need

Welcome to the OCD club. We got some OCD 12 step meetings forming up. Step 1-I am powerless over dirt accumulation...!

 

tsg91, yeah looks like I'm headed in the OCD direction... My post was a bit unclear about what I mean to do on the trim - I wasn't going to Epic it, just Nero and Hydro. I was just asking about the order of that relative to Epic-ing the rest of the car. I was hoping the Nero would act as protection for the trim in case I accidentally got any Epic on it. I thought maybe I should reapply the Nero after the Epic and wipe down since I had read that extra BW was helpful for that.
Looks like I will purchase the BW sometime soon!! But I STILL haven't received my Prima shipment from TSG. They were the only shop that had all the products in stock, plus they were giving 15% for new customers, but I'm getting impatient for them to actually ship the darn stuff so I can get going with this. My car is desperate for some TLC.

 

Sorry if I misunderstood ya. In my minds eye I was envisioning removing all that Epic from trim and it ......was..... not....... pretty

As far as the wait....find your happy spot, find your happy spot

CYA at the OCD 12 step meeting, I'll save ya a seat