Hello, all.

About 4 months ago, I went from being a MINI fan to a MINI owner. The car is an absolute blast, even on Michigan roads!

I have to purchase some cleaning stuff for my car and Michigan's selection of cleaning components are limited. So, maybe the experience MINI owners can lend you guidance? Pretty please?

I've read a post that the following items are fantastic purchase (but, where do I purchase these?)

• Prima Mystique Car Wash (exterior)
• Prima Clarity (windows)
• Prima Amigo (??? What is this?)
• Prima Nero (interior)

So, where can I buy these? Is there reputable vendor you can recommend? Also, I have painted wheels, can I use the car wash there also, or should I use something else? Last but not least, I've never owned leather seats before, is there anything special I need to do to keep them looking great?

 

Congrats on joining the Mini family!

The Prima line of cleaning products is only available online. I'd head over to the Detailing forum on this site to get folks recommendations on where they prefer to get their cleaning and care care products... or just take a look through the Vendor Directory (see the main menu to the left) to find shops that are sponsored.

 

I have yet to need to order new supplies but I still use the stuff I had left over from my last car and has been serving me well on my new baby.

Right now I am washing with Turtle Wax Ice shampoo - meguiars carnauba wax - mothers clay bar kit - Mothers mag polish. I just use a high quality synthetic chamois to dry. I think my car looks good

 

I used Zaino on my Porsche and it worked great and lasted very long but it was a pain to use and expensive. So I have been using this German stuff called Klasse All-In-One Auto Polish & Sealant Glaze Car Wax. Works great plus you can top it with Carnauba Wax (I use S100, Harley Davidson sells it)
and it is easy on easy off, with no waiting for it to dry. It lasts long too. It is about 1/3 the price of Zaino and you can do a MINI in under an hour.

 

I've only used the Prima line on my Lucy and I'll never change... It's like magic. You definitely need to get some Hydro.

I buy my stuff from Prima Car Care. Nick and Heather are super nice, they even went out of their way to meet me at the shop when I was visiting in Denver.

http://stores.shopprimacarcare.com/StoreFront.bok

 

You can get most of your cleaning needs from autogeek.net . I been purchasing from them for a while, it just easier when you order from one place that has like 90% of car cleaning products sold. They have % off sales time to time during the season changes.

Even in NY, it a pain to get some products in stores and getting all of the them. Pain when you have products for step 1, 3, 4, 5 but can't find 2 anywhere, etc.

 

I use autogeek.net also. They are the best. I use there wolfgang products as well as dodo juice products.

 

ShowCarSupplies.com

I sell the entire Prima line as well as some Meguiar's and other products. I'm also one of the few professional paint polishers that uses Prima on a daily basis.

Prima Amigo is a polymer glaze that works great for making any color other than silver or Pepper White look better by adding gloss and richness to the paint.

If you have a machine polisher like a Porter Cable 7424 or 7424XP, then Prima Swirl and Amigo are great complements.

If working by hand, you can't go wrong with the following:

Prima Amigo
Prima Banana Gloss
Prima Hydro
Prima Epic

Banana Gloss is a flash curing carnauba wax that fills imperfections and can be applied to a either cold or hot paint, so regardless of whether it's been sitting in the sun or not, BG is flexible.

BG only lasts about a month, so you'll want to keep that in mind, however it's super easy to use and nearly effortless to remove.

Prima Hydro is a spray wax that doesn't need to dry. You just spray it on and wipe it off like a quick detailer but it actually protects the paint. I love Hydro as a general spray wax booster and on areas like door jambs and even the wheels to make future removal of brake dust easier.

Prima Epic is a synthetic polymer wax that offers 4 to 6 months of durability. It requires about 20 minutes to an hour to dry. I prefer to apply it the night before and wipe it off in the morning on a garaged car. The length of time you leave it doesn't matter, as long as it's dry. You then need to not get the car wet for 24 hours while the polymers can crosslink. Epic rewards you with deep rich gloss, unlike other polymer based products like Zaino that give you more shine than richness of color.

PM me or continue posting here and I will respond back.

Richard

 

Here are some videos I made

Using Prima Nero on my R53


Using Prima Amigo with an orbital buffer and finishing with Banana Gloss


Buffing a BMW 330CI with Prima

 

Octane Guy,

I actually have a question I been trying to resolve that most supply shops haven't been able to really answer. I just got the car less than a month ago and been struggling with cleaning windows. Once the windows are clean etc, I roll down and up the windows, they are dirty again. I think the felt guides and rubber seals might be dirty. Do you have a method to clean those?

 

http://www.griotsgarage.com/home.do?...FZAJ2godeDzfyQ

hit the site and request a catalog

 

How soon are you rolling down the windows? Within 24 hours or longer? I'm just wondering if there is water that's in the door, and is getting the glass wet when you roll it up/down. Where is the dirt, on the inside or outside of the glass or both???

 

http://www.zainostore.com

Sure you can get all kinds of products .... and that's your choice.
If you want FAST & EASY .... try Zaino All-In-One.

For a non-show daily driver the AIO is a nice simple twice a year product.

If your finish needs a bit more. Wash > Zaino Clay bar > All-In-One.

Glass spots .... Glass Cooktop Polish sold at Sears. NOTHING cleans glass better. Do not get on paint!!

Bob

 

I noticed after a rain or car wash, the windows are gonna be wet regardless. But after 1 week of dry hot dry weather it still gets dirty. After cleaning the window with microfiber and glass cleaner, the window would be nice and clean. Roll down and up, i get horizontal and vertical thin lines streaks and white marks on the window. It not mud or black dirt etc. I can rub the white lines and smudges with my finger but that makes a oily mess. I end up cleaning window again till I roll down the window.

I carefully checked and the mess is inside and outside of the window. I think it might be the felt guard that rubs against the window. But I am not sure how to clean that or what product to use.

I am pretty much waiting till I solve this problem before getting tints. The worst thing I want is heavy scratched tints.

 

I have HUGE issues on water inside the windows after hand wash or rain, I talked to the dealer and it's a problem, additionally, even after washing the felt guards. I have a 2009 Clubman and haven't been able to resolve. I do have tints, it doesn't seem to have affected them yet.

 

I have the same problem with the windows getting dirty in Los Angeles with no rain. Strange things is I don't even get inside the window wet at all. How can the window gets oily and dirty after I roll them up and down days after I wash them.

 

Honestly, a lot of that is probably the amount of smog in the air around LA. That stuff collects on things, especially the closer you get to the inner city. And, if you are in stop and go traffic a lot, if anyone is burning oil, it will slowly accumulate. Brake dust also accumulates on things in stop and go traffic.

Good luck with it, whatever you end up doing.