Soaps, shampoos, are they all pretty much the same or is there something that I should watch out for? My MINI is brand-new never been waxed and this would be its first wash. I see fourms about waxing but not much on the shampoos that should be used. If this is a repeat please point me in the right direction.


Thanks for the help

Nick

 

Detailing nuts will disagree with me, but I use whatever mid-priced car soap I happen to have. More important to me is how I treat the paint after it is washed. . .

Anything by Meguiars is pretty good stuff and reasonably priced. Lots of detailing nuts buy much more expensive stuff that you cannot find in super stores, Zaino for instance. . .

 

I use the car wash from Zaino. I recommed the Kit they sell which includes a clay bar which i recommend using before your first wash/wax. Also included wax and other goodies you will find usefull. Zainobros.com

I used to just use dishwashing (before MINI) liquid but now know that it is bad for clear coat and paint.

I recommend spending some money on good high end products. Why skimp now?

I found Autopia.com helpful as well as the forum here.

 

More important than the soap is the applicator. Make sure it is ->100%<- cotton. That and rinse it out frequently.

In my experience the better stuff will suds more and clean better. I'm currently using Meguiar's #62 carwash.

 

check out nam car care site. they have everything and more that you could possible want. first time ever i have used a 'shampoo' on my car. great information and products!

 

I'll second the Meguiar's #62 "Professional" shampoo and conditioner, it always leaves a sparkling finish :smile:

 

So what is a sham, and who thought it was a good idea to use it's poo to wash with?



Cheers,
Jack

 

YuccaPatrol - - - I’m a detailing nut and an OCD sufferer, and I cannot differentiate between any of the mid-priced car shampoos.

early_apex - - - Right on! Technique is tremendously more important than the product used.

MINI-IZED - - - What car care products and what techniques you use are dependent on your goals.

If you’re at the low end of the detailing scale and all you want is to have a clean and shiny car with paint protection then it’s pretty easy. Wash once a week with a car shampoo using a 100% cotton towel and once every month or two apply a good layer of most any non-cleaner carnauba wax.

If you’re at the high end of the detailing scale and want your car to always look better than the day it was delivered then it’s more complicated. Wash with Dawn, use a claybar to remove any embedded contaminants, polish with a mild abrasive to remove any swirl marks, wash again with car shampoo, then choose whether you want to go with a synthetic sealant, a carnauba wax, or a combination of the two.

I fall into the latter category and it would take a page or two to describe the steps that I’ve taken with my recently acquired MCS and xB. Another page to describe my paint maintenance program for my older Z3.

 

Use Selson Blue for Dandruff.

 

>>Use Selson Blue for Dandruff.

My MINI isn't black so the dandruff doesn't show!

 

I prefer Microfiber towels over 100% cotton cuz I don't want all those little scratches left behind and it's easier to find good Microfiber towels than a 100% cotton towel that really is all cotton and does not have stitching that can scratch.

You make the call.

 

I used to be the any car soap kinda guy...then my boss introduced me to the P21 shampoo and I am forever changed. It makes a car, even an older car with poor paint just shine. I am still amazed that a soap can make such a difference.

 

>>More important than the soap is the applicator. Make sure it is ->100%<- cotton. That and rinse it out frequently.
>>

That brings up another question, which is better, a mitt or sponge?

>> So what is a sham, and who thought it was a good idea to use it's poo to wash with?

>>Use Selson Blue for Dandruff.

Very funny stuff!!

 

Can't go wrong with Meguiars products. I detailed my saab 9-5 this weekend, wash with meg. super suds (or something like that) meguiars fine cut cleaner, then another wash, then Klasse acrylic glaze. holy shine!!! and this is on a 5 year old BLACK car with paint that was neglected long before i bought it. I've had two people who know me and the car i drive ask me if i got a new saab last weekend. Granted it took all day to detail it .....

I'm doing my mini this weekend another 8 hours gone. -won't have to do the fine cut cleaner step though.

 

>>That brings up another question, which is better, a mitt or sponge?

The one that is cleaner

 

Try this link to get some hints on other products.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...amp;topic=3699

 

>>That brings up another question, which is better, a mitt or sponge?
>>

IMO neither a mitt nor a sponge are appropriate if you really want to avoid adding swirls to your paint! A mitt puts so much material between your hand and your paint that you cannot feel the surface or possible contaminants. A sponge is almost impossible to rinse without retaining contaminants.

The most **** method is to use two buckets - - one for car shampoo solution and one with clean water for rinsing your microfiber towel. Rinse the towel after every pass and change the rinse water when needed. Change the towel frequently - - probably 4 or 5 towels for a MINI. Only use the weight of the water loaded MF towel to wipe off the dirt! If any spots remain, then leave them and deal with them later on an individual basis. Rubbing contaminants onto/into the paint is what causes swirls and marring.

Dry the car with a waffle weave microfiber towel - - blot, don’t wipe.

 

>> Only use the weight of the water loaded MF towel to wipe off the dirt!

I've found this only works on a daily driver if you give it a weekly wash. Let it go much longer and the weight of the towel doesn't get the job done

 

>>>> Only use the weight of the water loaded MF towel to wipe off the dirt!
>>
>>I've found this only works on a daily driver if you give it a weekly wash. Let it go much longer and the weight of the towel doesn't get the job done

If you really want to keep the paint mar free, then wash it every week or wipe it down with a quick detailer every day. It's a PITA, but necessary if you want that "better than new" look.

 

>>If you really want to keep the paint mar free, then wash it every week or wipe it down with a quick detailer every day. It's a PITA, but necessary if you want that "better than new" look.

Do you use a quick detailer on a car that has been out in the rain?

 

>>Do you use a quick detailer on a car that has been out in the rain?

It depends on how dirty it was before the rain and how long it has been since the rain if the car was parked outside. If driven in the rain then almost certainly a QD wipe is pretty risky.

 

I would also think how much air polution your MINI lives in matters
When it rains here Poco has very few water marks,if clean.
Now tree polin and sap,thats hard to clean

 

I use official MINI shampoo and express wax for the body, windex for the glass parts, and armorall wheel cleaner (works amazing). For outer plastic material, I use armorall original protector spray (spray onto paper towel and rub onto the plastic). Couple of months ago I took my it to the dealer shop (Hassel mini, in Freeport, NY, btw) to get some work done. They cleaned it but whatever crap they used to buff it, left white swirlies on the plastic that, as I later realized, were minor abrasions. The above-mentioned armorall original spray worked great getting rid of those. The plastic outer parts look awesome. However, I would not recommend it for the leatherette seats.
For body washing, Microfiber cloths are great. After I spray on the express wax and wash it off, I use chamois for excess water removal and light polish. MINI shampoo smells wonderful, by the way. The only thing I haven't found / tried was compounds to remove those tiny oil / residue stains on the roof. Has anyone?

 

The big difference I see in the Meg's products and higher end shampoo's is the concentration. I currently use Prima mystique and use about a third the amount of product I used to use. The big thing to watch for with cleaner is lubricity. You don't want to 'scrub' of dirt etc you want to pretty much float it out so that it doesn't scratch or micromar the paint.

Also, I use a sheepskin wash mitt but a good microfiber would also work. I think both of these are much safer than cotton.

 

GEEZ, this thread was a few dozen pages deep. Seems I was the last to post to it 4 years ago, seems like a lifetime ago.

Mark