Hello fellow MINIans! I'm getting my baby fully hooded clear bra'ed next week and was wondering if anyone has taken their clear bra'ed MINI into a full service car wash? Any issues? I hear brushes and steamers are a BIG no no. Anyone care to share their knowledge/experiences? Thanks!

 

I have, with no issues. However, I don't do it regularly...maybe once or twice a year max. The rest of the time I wash by hand.

 

I am not a fan of full service/automatic car washes, but there shouldn't be any issues with the clear bra once it's set. Check with your clearbra installer for their recommendations, but I think it would be fine. Is Steve Treece/AutoShield Carolinas doing the clearbra install?

 

Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated!

 

I'm out in California. The guy I'm going with is Vince at Omega Werks. He came highly recommended on NAM NorCal forum and he's got 5 solid stars on Yelp.

 

i would definitely stay away from nylon brushes (yah, some places still have those! ) but for the most part it's okay.

clearbra swirls very easily. even with your dry finger if you rub it the surface will slighly haze...keep doing it and it looks like a fog/cloud. ...

 

The automated carwash was developed by satan. The brushed kind will scratch and swirl both the paint and the mask (although the paint is easier to fix) and the brushless will leave you with serious water spots. I suggest NoRinse carwash for a quick, damage free wash. Your mini will love you for it.

 

Agree with kenchan, clearbra swirls easily! Stay away from the car washes. DIY if possible.

 

Agree with the above comments that even if you wipe fine dust vigorously with your finger you can induce swirls in your clear-bra. So hand wash as much as possible using the correct technique. An occasional touchless car wash should be fine. Try to regularly wash your car (depending on your usage ofcourse). If you drive it everyday then weekly washes are a must. The more you let the dirt or dust sit, the more the clear-bra would lose it's sheen. I would even suggest wiping off the very fine dust that collects while your car is in the parking lot everyday with a california duster when you come home but this duster should not be used to get the dirt off (just fine dust only). Also do not use carnauba based wax as this can yellow your clear bra. People talk about using lexol to clean the clear-bra on a regular basis but I have heard some say that this can cause yellowing of the urethane film that is used in the clear-bra. I use Einszett spray wax (which is not carnauba based) and my film looks brand new, two years after the install.

 

I found myself a full service/detail hand wash car service. Charged $20 for the wash all by the hand. I thought it turned out well. Clear bra is still in tacked and so are the bonnet stripes.

 

late to the thread, but I still have my 2002 MCS with 3M clear on the bonnet, doors, rear quarter panels, pillars, door edges. I've used the touchless carwashes weekly for almost 7 years now, with no issues whatsoever.

BTW, the 3M stuff is still crystal clear and the best investment I've ever made.