Hello everyone,

First, let me apologize if this sort of question came up and had been
answered in the past. I did try and read what sounded like a similar
questions/situations up to about page 35...but nothing fit my case and
so I just decided to post new thread here...

I have a week old Paceman (he is SUPER FUN to drive and I really
enjoy spending time with him!!!)
I am starting to wonder if I should wash him sometime soon...
Its oxford green and though he sleeps in his garage, he's already starting
to show pollen and dust and things...

Before doing as much research here, I rushed and ended up buying some
supplies...(mostly Griots things...car wash, spray on wax, wheel cleaner,
micro fiber wash pads and drying towel) I am not sure this is adequate
to start with...(am not OCD...prefer simple/easy method...especially, since
he is not even driven daily...) I think I want to wash and then maybe wax
at the most...?? I am hoping this will be enough to keep him
clean...(or do you recommend I go little further??)

My other concerns are...I have factory installed driving lights(chrome) and
black bonnet stripes...do they require special treatment/instruction when it
comes to washing/waxing?? (I got nervous when I saw some
exposed wires in the back of driving lights and started to wonder about
washing them and what ifs......)

Any instructions/suggestions are much appreciated since I am a total
beginner when it comes to owning a MINI and detailing...

Thank you in advance...

 

Seems like you are making this harder than it is.

Wash using your microfiber wash pad... Use two buckets. One for the soap for washing. One with just water for rinsing your wash pad before sticking it back in the wash bucket. Never wash in direct sunlight. Dry immediately after washing.

No need to... in fact, do not.... wax the car until it is at least four months old. Six is better. And when you do.... tape off the stripes.... do not wax them. Polish is I'm to keep them looking good but wax may cause them to crack over time.

Completely safe to wash the driving lights.

 

The advice to not wax a brand new car is wrong. Factory paint is "baked" at a high temp, so the paint cures at the factory. If your car is repainted at a body shop where they can't expose it to a high temperature, then the paint will take a few months to cure.

My vinyl stripe care said to avoid carnauba wax.

 

I still prefer to let the paint unwaxed for a while. Water beads like crazy either way so do not believe waxing a brand new car is necessary even if you are correct. I still prefer to play it safe and not wax at first.

Just doing a quick google search and finding dissenting views for waxing or not. For instance:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...t-off-gas.html

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-det...detailing.html

 

I find that... making sure to wash the body.. with a pressure washer (or touch-less car wash) before you really "wash it" with a bucket/sponge really goes a long way to remove larger grit particles before they get rubbed into the clear and swirl it.

I'm not saying to blast the paint from 1mm away... just get the big crunchy stuff off... and then rinse... wash.. with quality car-safe soaps..

When dried with a micro-fiber towel... I hit it with a light spray polish.

I find with modern clear-coats.. "waxing" only needs to be done a few times a year... and not really to a new car..

 

Thank you guys so much for taking your time and reply to my thread.

Yes, definitely...I might be over thinking/analyzing...I want him to be perfect
for as long as I have him... (yes...not realistic...I know...)

Based on most of your suggestion...I think I will try to first rinse off with
plain water and see how much it beads up and then maybe take it from
there...(maybe I might ask my MA what exactly was done as prep before
I got him...)

Of course, in the meantime, I will keep reading all those helpful
threads here and also referred websites and study!

 

Go to Griot's web site and wade thru their on line catalog. Lots of the products have a link to a video instruction clip, a real confidence builder.

As for the stripes: There are a pair of opinions running loose, wax - don't wax, I've waxed the heck out of mine with no regrets. Hold off till you get a few more opinions on that. Mike at Aesthetic Creations, now out of the vinyl business regretably, said absolutely no to polishing over them, that polishing would cloud the dye.