Hi everyone. After reading through some of the threads here, this is what I'm thinking I need for a starter detail kit & routine. I'd appreciate any thoughts, feedback, and/or recommendations before I order all of this stuff.

Cheers.


LOCAL PURCHASE ITEMS:

Plastic Car Wash Bucket for Water
(http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...0465&ppt=C0209)

Meguiar's Smooth Surface Clay Kit
(http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotiv...ereg-clay-kit/)


ONLINE PURCHASE ITEMS:

Towels, Applicators, Mitts, Etc

SCD Belgian Waffle Weave Drying Towel
(https://www.showcarsupplies.com/shop...&CatalogId=224)

SCD Microfiber Round Sponge Applicators
(https://www.showcarsupplies.com/shop...&CatalogId=222)

SCD Super Plush 3Pack Microfiber Buffing Cloths
(https://www.showcarsupplies.com/shop...&CatalogId=199)

Lambswool Wash Mitt
(https://www.showcarsupplies.com/shop...&CatalogId=110)

Product

Black Wow
(https://www.showcarsupplies.com/shop...o&CatalogId=96)

Prima Clarity
(http://stores.shopprimacarcare.com/-...ity/Detail.bok)

Prima Nero
(http://stores.shopprimacarcare.com/-...ero/Detail.bok)

I need a product recommendation for cleaning & maintaining my leather seats.

Prima Hydro System, including:

Prima Hydro Wash
(http://stores.shopprimacarcare.com/-...ash/Detail.bok)

Prima Hydro Seal
(http://stores.shopprimacarcare.com/-...eal/Detail.bok)

Prima Hydro
(http://stores.shopprimacarcare.com/-...dro/Detail.bok)


DETAILING ROUTINE

First round:
• Dawn wash with Lams Wool Wash Mitt, rinse, microfiber towel dry.
• Clay using Meguiar's Clay Kit - apply wet lube, clay, and dry with microfiber towel, one panel at a time until car is complete.
• Apply Hydro Seal using Microfiber Round Sponge Applicators.
• After an hour or so, remove Hydro Seal by buffing with Microfiber Buffing Cloths.
• Apply Black Wow to exterior black trim surfaces to restore "blackness".
• Clean windows inside & out with Prima Clarity & microfiber towel.
• Apply Prima Nero to black dash, interior trim, etc. using microfiber towel.
• Clean/condition leather seats with product recommendation from above.
• Vacuum.
• Done.

As needed:
• Touch up exterior with Prima Hydro, or wash with Prima Hydro Wash & Lambs Wool Wash Mitt, rinse, & microfiber towel dry.
• Spot treat exterior black trim surfaces with Black Wow to restore "blackness".
• Spot treat windows inside & out with Prima Clarity & microfiber towel.
• Spot treat black dash, interior trim, etc., with Prima Nero using microfiber towel.
• Spot treat leather seats with product recommendation from above.
• Vacuum.
• Done.

Every ~6 Month Detail:
• Wash with Prima Hydro Wash & Lambs Wool Wash Mitt, rinse, & microfiber towel dry.
• Clay using Meguiar's Clay Kit - apply wet lube, clay, and dry with microfiber towel, one panel at a time until car is complete.
• Apply Hydro Seal using Microfiber Round Sponge Applicators.
• After an hour or so, remove Hydro Seal by buffing with Microfiber Buffing Cloths.
• Apply Black Wow to exterior black trim surfaces to restore "blackness".
• Clean windows inside & out with Prima Clarity & microfiber towel.
• Apply Prima Nero to black dash, interior trim, etc. using microfiber towel.
• Clean/condition leather seats with product recommendation from above.
• Vacuum.
• Done.

 

I use Griot's stuff so won't get into a squabble about who's to use but, you need two buckets. One wash and the other rinse. One off the wall little devise for brushing the bugs off the lower radiator is a refridgerator coil brush. Ask a local appliance repair guy to get you one, abt. ten bucks. Machine wash your micro fiber but do not use those anti static sheet things in the dryer. Before and after pictures are always good.

 

I just started using the Griot's products and love them. If they are good enough for the Lemay America's Car Museum, they are good for my 2 MINI's. Did a full detail on my CM Yesterday it's like looking in a mirror. I will post a pic later!

 

I was sold on all of the testimony regarding Prima products' ease of use. Do you fans of Griot's find them the same? What about comparative costs to Prima? Care to list the equivalent products to the following?

Black Wow
Prima Clarity
Prima Nero
Leather Cleaner
Prima Hydro Wash
Prima Hydro Seal
Prima Hydro

I'm open to considering the options.

 

We carry the full Prima line...if you want the best deal, get all of the supplies you are thinking of directly from us (ShowCarSupplies.com) and we'll give you a large order discount.

In fact, I'll put together a quote for you this weekend.

For cleaning the leather seats, the best cleaner is Leatherique Prestine Clean and condition with Prima Nourish, although if the seats aren't that dirty, Nourish will clean them as well.

As far as your process goes, the first thing to apply is Black Wow. Do this DAYS before you do the rest of the detail. Best results come from allowing BW to absorb into your trim. Any dust attraction will be killed after it's first wash.

As for Hydro Seal, you don't apply it and let it dry. You apply it and it dries within seconds. You buff it off with a dry towel. It's unlike a typical wax that needs to haze up before removal.

Nero is best applied with a microfiber sponge, instead of a towel.

As far as claying goes, you should only have to clay once a year if you maintain your paint well. If the MINI sits outside day after day, then claying more often might be necessary. If you wash your paint atleast once a week or if it's garaged, the need to claying more than once a year is greatly reduced.

Richard

 

Good question but this is where the squabbling starts. Octane guy is a detailing guru so you can't go wrong with his advice or product. I got turned on to Griot's by a neighbor before I'd discovered this forum, so, as they say 'in for a pound...' I don't know of any way a 'cost - benefit' ratio could be attributed to either line of products without doing some serious side by side comparisons and I doubt anybody wants to do that when they can be out motoring.

One thing to consider. Griot's Garage does not participate in this forum give and take like Richard does. He watches these threads and steps in with sage advice when he thinks it is needed.

 

Thanks Fly'n Brick! There are a lot of great products on the market. However one thing that they all share is "technique is everything". NAM members have the unusual benefit to maximize their results and minimize the learning curve from someone that uses these products day in and day out on a variety of paints, not to mention I own two Midnight Black MINIs. Also Prima product results can be seen daily on my FaceBook page..we don't need to be friends to see it, nor do you need a FB account.

https://www.facebook.com/ShowCarDetailing

I also have a FB page setup for Black Wow that details the latest techniques and whats going on with the product around the world.
https://www.facebook.com/OnlyWow

However because I do run a detailing shop and often attend car shows, things can get super hectic and make it difficult for me to monitor the forum as actively as I would like or put together custom packages for everybody. I'm happy to do so, but I just wanted to point out that I support everything we sell, so I always appreciate the support I get from NAM.

Up coming shows...we'll be at MINI Takes The States (MTTS) at the Rose Bowl on July 14th, in August MINIs In The Mountains (MITM) in Colorado and the following week in Carmel at the BMWCCA Legends of the Autobahn.

As far as Prima products being compared to Griots and other products...like I said, there are many good products but I have settled over the years into a few of my favorites that get the job done in the best way for the absolute best results.

Richard

 

I'm not out to start a war over which product is better. LOL. I'm sure there are lots of very good products out there. But, since two people mentioned the same alternate product, I just thought I'd ask whether or not it was more expensive and more difficult to use.

Obviously, I'm just starting out into the world of anything beyond taking my car to my local car wash. So, I'm happy to have some support from this community, and I think enough people are using the Prima products to provide that support.

I also thought it might be useful to everyone if I was able to summarize some of the basics I gathered from combing through several threads (some of them quite lengthy).

Richard, if you can send me that quote and include that "large order discount" that you mentioned, I'd be happy to get this addiction started.

 

Thanks for starting a thread like this. I was going to rebuild my entire wash supply. I was getting ready to make one and ask the members for help too and my list is basically the same thing.

2x Plastic Wash Car Buckets
1x Clay kit (or NANOSKIN AutoScrub when I do more research)
1x Lambswool Wash Mitt
1x XL Absorber Drying Towel (These things are awesome)
1x Black Wow
1x Prima Clarity
1x Prima Nero
1x Prima Hydro Wash

Before I make a purchase... what is the difference between Hydro Seal, Hydro, Epic and Banana Gloss? It seems like they are all wax. Reading the description, it seems some of them are easier to use than others such as application method and lack of white streaks on black plastic trim parts. Which one is recommended? My previous wash kit had a long term wax (Hydro Seal) and a short term touch up wax (Hydro). Where does Epic and Banana Gloss fall under?

Also... Hydro wash vs Mystique?

I'll most likely be purchasing most of my supplies from OctaneGuy, so we'll be in touch soon to get a quote

 

You came close to describing it though it isn't an addiction. The brilliance of sunlight reflecting off a freshly detailed MINI somehow clicks on a DNA switch awakening OCD genes. You will forevermore be plagued. The good news is, as I told someone else in a similar situation, that there are lots of us in The Ward to keep you company.

You will be more than happy with Prima. Don't forget the interior, wheels, the wheel wells and the engine bay.

 

+1!!

I have both the 3" and 6" Kits, am waiting on the 4" Fine Pad and Applicator to be shipped.

I've gotten outstanding results with these, I used them for the 1st time a couple of weeks ago; last Weekend PDX MINI had a Tech Day and I got lots of compliments on how Molly's paint looked and I hadn't even applied any polish or wax yet, just spritzed her with some Griot's Garage Speed Shine.

One thing I do like about the pads is the ease of use and I'm not begrudgingly having to clay the car, it is actually fun. A very light touch and plenty of NanoSkin Glide is all you need!!

 

If I was only 4 hours away from Anaheim, I would schedule a session with Richard and take Little Wing there for customized tutorial.
I keep threatening to do it anyway, even if I do have to motor from Florida.

 

You can get the 5 gallon wash buckets from Home Depot. I have Dirt Guards which are a nice complement to any bucket.

Clay is still the safest way to clay, however the Autoscrub and their Speedy Towel are quickly gaining a lot of attention. I've been using and testing the speedy towel for awhile now and it's been working well. It does tend to mar the paint but as long as you plan to use an orbital polisher, it's not much of an issue. The towels are also expensive, but they work fast.

Some of you may remember my relationship with Nanoskin about 3 years ago when I was helping them come to the US. They had promised a spray on product that would harden the paint making it very hard to scratch. Turned out those products didn't work as promised, but they did eventually get things right with their latest paint prep products.

While the Absorber drying towels are great to have in the arsenal, my Belgian Waffles are really better in many ways...they absorb a ton of water and leave the surface drier especially on a waxed surface than any other waffle weave towel.

Prima products are all about choices. 4 different waxes for different kinds of people. Some love carnauba waxes, so Banana Gloss exists. But carnaubas can be tricky or require a lot of effort to put on so Banana Gloss gives you that carnauba look with many benefits like the ability to apply it on a hot panel sitting under the sun. Most products need to be applied in the shade. It flash cures so it dries almost immediately. Choose Banana Gloss for those reasons if you aren't a die-hard carnauba fan. It lasts from 1 to 3 months (medium term).

Epic is Prima's first synthetic polymer liquid wax. It lasts 4 to 6 months (long term) and gives an incredible rich shine with plenty of durability. Epic can be further enhanced by applying Amigo first, then doing Epic. I use Epic on every car we detail. It looks great and offers good protection on cars that will be maintained.

Prima Hydro was Prima's first spray wax. You spray it on and wipe it off like a quick detailer. It adds some lubricity and 2 to 3 weeks of protection. Many people confuse this with Slick which is a gloss enhancer "quick detailer" but offers no protection.

Hydro Seal and Hydro Wash are Prima's newest waxes. They complement each other. Before you Hydro Seal your car, you want to do a prep wash with Hydro Wash which is free of polymers.

Prima Mystique is a polymer soap that adds gloss to the paint just by washing with it. However it can impede the ability for Hydro Seal to bond properly to the paint, so use Hydro Wash instead of Mystique if you plan to wax with Hydro Seal. However once it's applied, you can wash with either soap.

Hope that makes sense!

Richard

 

That's a great response. Very detailed and exactly what I wanted to hear. The only question I have left is how long does hydro seal lasts?

And now I crave Belgian waffles :p

 

Hydro Seal is Prima's newest wax. How long it lasts is still open for debate. Prima says 6 to 8 months. Some people says more like 3 to 6 months...I would peg it somewhere in between. Durability is highly dependent on UV exposure, how often you wash, how often it rains, how well you prep, etc.. and of course, the subjective part...what method do you use to determine the protection is gone. Most people just see if the water still beads and if it doesn't, they assume the protection is gone. It's not a reliable way to judge paint durability but it's one of the most common ways.

I can polish a car which has no protection yet and it will bead water like crazy giving the impression it is waxed. It will last about a week or less this way.

The main thing I like about Hydro Seal is just how slippery it makes the paint and how quickly it can be applied.

Richard

 

Richard,

What is the longest lasting wax? Is it difficult to apply?

Dave

 

Longst lasting? In the Prima line? It's a toss up between Epic and Hydro Seal. They are both easy to apply. Epic is awesome by PC. Otherwise, either by hand isn't hard. HS is a little more involved on the front end.

Epic you apply it and let it dry, then wipe off. HS, you apply it until it goes clear, then wipe it dry with another towel.

Or are you talking about the longest lasting wax of any brand..that I couldn't tell you.

Richard

 

i dont like black wow. Ultima trim and tire guard on the other hand is perfect for our trim and lasts quite a while. i have practically a whole bottle of black wow and cleaner laying around with no use for it.
http://www.autogeek.net/ultima-tire-trim-guard.html

i would look into getting grit guards and using the two bucket method to wash the car.
http://www.autogeek.net/professional-grit-guard.html

i use wolfgang leather cleaner and then the conditioner for my leather. cleans the leather nicely and protects it very well too.
http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-leather-combo.html

 

http://www.autogeek.net/collinite-in...r-wax-845.html
easy application, on and off. lasts for up to 5 months. makes the paint look oh so nice

 

I've said this many times, and I will say it again. It's impossible to please everybody so it's great that you have your favorites. If you don't like Black Wow then you should return it or sell it.

Always good to have a variety of products to try.

Today polished with Prima polishes, and Hydro'd a Lamborghini Murcielago at the shop. I had hoped to wash my MINI, but instead got to work on a Lambo which was pretty awesome. The customer was absolutely floored by the results of Prima. It's coming back for a full correction in a few weeks.



Richard

 

There are many excellent products and one can spend quite a bit of money on premium detailing supplies.
It's only worth it if you know how to use them properly.
Prima and Black Wow are unique, top of the line products. They have their competitors.
What matters to me after I have spent my hard earned money on expensive, quality products is customer support and education.
Richard Lin truly wants his customers to get excellent results and he tirelessly works towards that end, from clueless beginners to experienced enthusiasts seeking professional results for their efforts.
Look at the contributions he makes on this and other forums and at MINI events.
The fact that he himself is a MINI enthusiast and owner is a bonus.
He isn't just selling a product but actively promotes a skilled craft and he genuinely wants his customers to know the satisfaction of transforming their cars from something ordinary to something stunning and beautiful.
He does this with patience, honesty, and humor too.
There's so much more to it than soap and wax.
Richard Lin exemplifies professionalism.

 

Another for what Richard does: When I got the MINI I knew I didn't know enough about keeping it looking good for years to come. Richard and Motoring Magic (a local independent MINI shop) hosted a paint care workshop, where they diagnosed cars, demo'd some of the Prima, BlackWow, PreWow products, and most importantly, proper techniques. His generosity with time, experience, and tips was enough for me to give the products a try. Over the year and a half, I've probably pinged him with questions a dozen times about technique, or results, or best practices, or my hard water issues, and I've always been treated as if I were his #1 customer, even though I've only ordered a small number of products.

I'm sure there are other products that perform similarly to the ones that Richard sells, however his work GREAT, aren't priced very high, but most of all, the personalized attention you get from a paint professional like Richard is worth so much more.

I actually do live about an hours drive from Richard--and would love to get my MINI in his hands for a full treatment, but with a newborn, well, the calendar just got even more complicated. Hopefully I'll see him at MTTS at the Rose Bowl!

 

One more thing about expense.
It does seem like a lot of money when placing an order, until I realized a few things.

The automatic car wash at $5+ a pop really adds up, although it's sort of invisible when tacked on to your gas bill.
Now I invest that money in quality products instead and have quit ruining my paint job.

I think a common mistake newbies make is using too much product and wasting it.
I ran through my first bottle of Hydro Seal, then read that Nick (of Prima) uses only 2 oz on his Suburban!
MINIs don't need as much product to do the job as other cars.

I started to ask the poster who doesn't like Black Wow to send his to me, but with about 1/2 of my 4 oz bottle left, I'm good to go for probably 2 more years!
Once I understood to use Black Wow a couple of days before washing the car and that a little bit goes a long, long way, I have had really great results with it. My trim stays in excellent condition.

Proper technique saves $$$!

My favorite/must have products:
Pre Wow
Black Wow
Hydro Wash
Hydro Seal
Hydro
Epic
Nero
Clarity
Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner

Of all the various tools, microfiber, etc. my favorite is the Belgian Waffle Weave towel. It's unbelievable how much water it picks up when drying the car with Hydro or Hydro Seal.

I need to grauate up to a porter cable and polishing.

 

Hey OctaneGuy - any progress on that quote? Cheers.

 

Sorry for the delay. I had fully intended to do this on Saturday, and then an unexpected car came in that ended up taking the rest of the day. I will do this this morning.

Btw, this is what I ended up working on, on Saturday...it was my first one.

For some reason the pix from FaceBook don't appear to be showing in my posts anymore...maybe Internet Brands is blocking them now? Here is a link