Have had my Mini for about a week, and am loving it!

We don't have a carport, or a functional garage, and don't want the hassle of a car cover. Scarlett is getting much sap on her due to our trees (which we can't cut due to restrictions). We're going to drive to Durango, CO (first trip in the Mini to the Mountains!) .

So, my question is: will a good wax lasting for 90 days help me keep Scarlett in more prime condition? Please see the link and give me your thoughts. I'm a first time Mini owner, and desperate for a solution.

Thanks! Motor on!

 

Waxing of course won't hurt, weather it will last for 90 days is hard to say.
Anything you do to protect the finish will help.
If you don't want to go with a cover, have you thought of maybe just covering it with a cotton sheet, no plastic, cotton breathes, but still kind of a pain.
Congratulations on your MINI, enjoy!

 

Unfortunately, waxing really won't do a whole lot for protecting against tree sap. It'll certainly go a long way toward helping protect the paint. To remove the wax you'll need a bug & tar remover and probably a clay bar. Both will strip wax away so you'll definitely need to re-wax after using it.

Traditionally, waxes don't last much longer than a month or two. If you want longer protection, you'll need to use a sealant instead. Both accomplish the same goal (protecting the paint) but each has ups an downs. Generally speaking, traditional carnuaba waxes won't last as long as sealants and may not offer quite as much protection, but usually help the paint "pop" more and leave a warm tone. Sealants can sometimes make paint look dull, but bond better with paint and will protect last significantly longer. Best bet, use both. (Sealant first, then wax)

 

To clarify here in red, I think NJ Mini meant "sap".

Also, as far as terminology goes..the term wax versus sealant can be quite confusing. A better way of describing the same thing is simply comparing natural waxes to synthetic waxes. All "waxes" do one thing...protect the finish. Regardless of whether we refer to it as a natural (carnauba type) which offers 1 to 2 months of protection, or Synthetic Polymer (sealant type) that offers 4 to 6 month of protection.

I actually disagree with the visual difference between the two.

Synthetic Polymer waxes offer more shine and reflectivity than carnauba type of waxes. This results in the depth of the colors being less rich and more flat. Definitely not duller though.

Carnauba waxes tint your paint which offers warmth. As long as your car isn't silver or white, carnaubas are fine. Put carnauba on a silver car and it ends up looking like champagne...put it on a white car, and eventually it looks kinda yellow..which is what happens to white paint naturally as it ages. Not my cup of tea!

Tree sap is horrible stuff. It will etch your paint permanently. Keeping the paint waxed is the first step towards protecting it, but frequent washing will also be important. Don't let the sap sit on the car for weeks between washes. If you can't cover it, or move the car away, then frequent cleanings are really your only option.

Here is a great synthetic wax that offers the richness and depth of a carnauba but durability of a sealant..I only have one left in stock at the moment.
http://www.showcarsupplies.com/shopexd.asp?id=67&bc=no


Richard

 

Thanks so much for the input. It's 98 degrees here right now, but I'm going to change my clothes and hand wash my car. This old neighborhood is full of trees so there's really no escaping the sap. It's never been this bad before, but it actually RAINED this year so the trees are producing more sap. I can park it in the street where the tree overhang isn't so bad, but then I risk some moron hitting it (actually had someone hit my truck, parked in the DRIVEWAY hard enough to push it into my front yard). I think I'll deal with washing once a week. I'll need to get a coat of wax on it, but it's too hot for that right now.

I really, REALLY appreciate the help you kind folks have given me. This is my first Mini, and I want to take good care of my new baby!

 

It came off! However, I have made an appointment for next Saturday morning to have it hand washed and hand waxed. Then, I'll be able to maintain it better weekly by hand washing myself. Which, since I'm only 5'2" tall, is not so difficult as it is on our Explorer Sportrac!

You guys/gals DO rock! Thanks again for the help!