Hi folks,

My 2005 HB/B MCS is arriving in less than 2 weeks and I've been coming up with a plan for keeping her clean and keeping her paint in good shape. I should say up front that I'm not a detailing nut and while I do like to wash my car myself when I have the time, more often than not I don't have the time. I also have never been one to detail my own car, really. I wish I would but I lack the attention to detail or something.

Anyway, I thought I would run my plan for taking good care of the car, detailing-wise by all of you and see what you think. Please let me know if something seems not right, too often, not often enough, something important missing from the schedule, etc. I have decided to go the CrystalGuard route as a sealant for the paint to protect it from swirls, etc, as it seems like a good option that isn't too expensive, is more protective than wax, and is relatively 'maintenance-free'. Here's the schedule.

- When car arrives, get a clear bra and then get CrystalGuard Pro applied.
- Rotate in weekly pattern: For 3 weeks, each week either wash car by hand or take it to the local hand wash if I don't have time. The next week take it to a good detailer for a $35 "mini-detail" (so this ends up being one 'mini-detail' per month - note that this would be a regular wash and wax, which is okay to do with CrystalGuard on the paint, it just sits atop the CG).
- Every 3 months, bring the car to CrystalGuard to have CrystalGuard Quick applied to renew the CrystalGuard finish.
- In the meantime, always cover the car with WeatherShield cover and keep California Duster and Dash Duster around for dust, and perhaps some special Griot's 'clean wipes' for taking care of bird crap, etc.

How does this sound to you all? I'm not the most obsessive person about this sort of thing but I'm trying to take very good care of my new baby right from the start. I figure if I don't do it that way right away, the incentive will be less for me to start in the future, but if I keep it pristine from the get-go, I'll be more likely to keep it up.

Thanks.

-mike

 

Pretty good routine. Very detailed plan! Here is what I do:
Wash once a week, clean wheels, vacuum interior and wipe down (dust) dash area and inside. Clean seats with leather cleaner/conditioner.
Also wash before and after a long road trip, or when the dogs have ridden in the back seat (seat backs folded down, of course.)
I keep the car cover on when I park under a tree at work, otherwise just use the wind screen insert.
The car is always garaged at home.
Daily dusting with Cal Car Duster, followed by window cleaning with Stoner's, inside and out.
Mist and Wipe pretty often, as it's easy to keep up with. I keep a supply of clean micro-fiber clothes at hand at all times, and a couple in the boot bag as well.
Don't let a bunch of cleaning routines get in your way of having a good time with your MINI. Remember, a bug-filled wind screen is a badge of honor! :smile:
And don't forget the stuff that really extends the life of your car... keep the tires inflated properly, and check your fluid levels on a regular basis. An occasional inspection of belts and hoses is a good idea too.

 

Thanks for the response Rob. Might I ask a few questions about your routine?

1) Is Stoner's just a Windex-type product for cars?
2) Is "Mist and Wipe" an actual product, or if not, what do you use to do that?
3) Any particular micro-fiber cloths you can recommend?
4) What do you use for leather conditioner? Can this change the leather over time?
5) I was planning on applying RejeX to the wheels (it's an anti-stain type wax) so that it makes the wheels a lot easier to clean off. Any downsides to this you know of?

Of course I will also be doing all the maintenance-type stuff. I'm determined to keep my baby in shape! Thanks again.

-mike

 

Another question for you Rob (or anyone)... I'm still debating between going the CrystalGuard route and the regular wash/wax route.

The reason I'd like to do CrystalGuard is because it's a little more maintenance-free and probably protects the paint from swirls better... It may also be cheaper to go that route than to have someone wax the car every so often. The problem is I talked to CrystalGuard and they recommend not waxing the car after putting CG on... So it's gonna be one or the other, and I'm just not sure. Any thoughts?

-mike

 

Stoner's comes out as a foam. Good stuff, just follow the directions and use a clean cloth or two.

I got micro-fiber towels at a local performance shop, kinda pricey, but of good quality. I've seen then for cheap at AutoZone, but haven't tried them.

Mist and Wipe is a Megueir's product. Great for touch-ups in between washings. You literally just mist it on and wipe it off.

I use Meguier's Leather Conditioner Cleaner with a soft lint-free cloth. Spray on, let it soak in and wipe off.

Maybe I'll get funny looks for my wheel cleaning technique, but I just spray on Fantastik and wipe with a big old beach towel. A big towel makes it easy to get between the spokes. Never use the same towel on any other part of the car though!

I have no opinions or specific knowledge of CrystalGuard.

Have fun, happy motoring!

 

There is no mystery to CrystalGuard at all. It's just a paint sealant service. And not really a very great product, IMO. Zaino or even Klasse will blow it away in the durability department and most certainly in the gloss/slickness department. 80% of the results is in the prep, however.

And not to keep picking on things, but don't buy RejeX on account of the "anti-stain" qualities. That is just marketing hype. It resists stains no more than any other polymer. Again, Zaino will do just as good a job.

If you get a good polymer wax, lets say Zaino for instance, that's what I use, you don't have to wax but once every several months. I can go 6+ months between coats if I want. I shampoo the car weekly to keep contamination off of it. I use Zaino shampoo which boosts the shine. And I use a microfiber towel and Quick Detailer (Zaino Z6 in my case) to do periodic touch ups between washes. If I don't feel like washing the car and it's just dusty and not really dirty I just QD it. This is also good for rain spotting, sap and bird droppings. It also boosts the shine.

No polymer will protect from swirls better than any other. That's up to you. Using quality microfiber towels. (not the cheapos from Costco or Walmart or Auto Zone. They will scratch) And using 100% cotton chenille mitts. And using shampoo when you wash (it lubes the mitts on the surface) Dry your car initially with an Absorber (just lay it on and lift it off) then finish off with a waffle weave microfiber.

As far as wheels, you should wax them as well. I wax mine with Zaino. Inside and out. It's highly heat resistant. Brake dust sticks less and is easier to clean off.

I clean my wheels with the extra shampoo from my bucket after I am done washing the car. But if you use a wheel cleaner be sure it is 100% acid free.

Sound complicated? Not really. It's just a few necessary tools and techniques. And you NEED to do it if you want to keep your baby it top shape.

Check out this great read!

 

Thanks for the great info Brad! I plan on reading that file this weekend. I think you've convinced me to go the traditional wax route. Question for you, where would you recommend I get products that are high quality and decent price, such as microfiber towels, the Zaino products, etc? Also, do you think a detailer would use my product of choice if I brought it to them? I will probably not be doing all the work myself, as I usually just don't have the time.

Also another question - when you use car shampoo, that replaces some other kind of car wash soap, it's not in addition to the soap, right?

Thanks again!

-mike

 

If you go with Zaino, they have a detailing kit which has everything you need, including shampoo, quick detailer, etc. It's a good deal. I like Zaino because it's super slick feeling and very durable and has an excellent gloss. I have over 40 waxes in my cabinet and settled on this one for my cars.

Klasse is also very good. Super durable. Can't go wrong with it. You just need to choose a QD of your choice to go along with it. Meguiars Final Inspection is a low cost but good quality product. And get a shampoo also, like Sonus is a good bet.

If the detailer is worth his salt he knows about Zaino and Klasse and he will LOVE using it. And any quality service should agree to use your products anyway.

Yes, these shampoos should be used instead of any common car wash soap. Normal consumer car wash soaps are overly harsh and alkaline. They are designed to be strong to cut through dirt fast to clean grime fast. They also strip waxes fast and dry out rubber dressings fast AVOID THEM!

 

Thanks again Brad, is this the Zaino kit you're talking about? I see nothing in there explicitly listed 'shampoo' and 'quick detailer', so I'm not sure if that's what you were talking about.

-mike

 

They have two kits.

#1, the cheaper one, has their Z2 wax, Z5 wax, ZFX additive, Z6 Quick Detailer, Z7 Shampoo, Z18 Clay.

The Kit #2 also includes Leather Cleaner, Protectant and Tire/Trim Dressing. (I use all of these products, too, by the way)

So to answer your question, yes, each kit has the shampoo and QD.

Honestly, the only product that I think is a little redundant is the Z5. Z5 is a version of Z2 that has fillers in it that helps hide very light swirls in the paint. It's marginally sucessful. But I don't think you "have to have" both.

ZFX is an additive that allows you to layer multiple coats of Zaino in a single day. Let me explain.....Zaino goes on, and dries, very quickly. But it chemically "cures" and bonds to the surface of the paint in about six hours. So if you want to add another coat for extra protection or to enhance the slick look or gloss you have to wait several hours. But if you add a few drops of the ZFX to the wax then it cures instantly and you can add another layer as soon as you wipe off the previous one. It's a cool thing. Sounds more complicated than it is. And the slick feel is worth it!

You use the clay before you wax. It really makes the wax job super, super slick. Incredible the difference it makes. Fast to do, also.

Also, gebe sure to get microfiber towels. For drying, too

 

You rock Brad, thanks. Mind if I PM you in the future if I have any questions? It'd be good to have an expert on hand!

-mike

 

Only if you send pictures pictures of that beauty, first!

 

OK Brad, I've been doing my homework this morning and here's a list of all the things, based on that Autopia car care guide, that I think I want. I'm trying to do right by my car while also allowing for the quickest and easiest maintenance possible, at least to start with. I decided to avoid the Zaino kit because I got sort of stuck to the Autopia stuff and figured I might as well get all my products from them (do you see anything wrong with this?).

• Wheel cleaner: to help remove dust and grime from the wheels (P21S Gel Wheel Cleaner (16.95))
• Wheel repellent: to help keep dust and grime off the wheels and easy to clean (Rejex (22.00))
• Wheel/tire brush: To facilitate in cleaning the wheels, especially hard to reach places (OXO Tire & Wheel Brush (13.95))
• Wheel/tire detail brush: to get the really tiny spots on the wheels (1-inch Round Natural Detail Brush (4.95))
• Tire dressing: to dress up tires after cleaning (also for interior and extrerior vinyl and plastic) (1Z Vinyl & Rubber Care (12.95))
• Tire dressing applicator: to apply tire dressing (Handi-Grip Applicator (2.40))
• Wheel/tire drying towels: to dry wheels/tires without soiling other good towels (100% Cotton Terry Detailing Towels (9.95))
• Anti-insect/pre-cleaner: removes large tarnishes from the paint surface such as bugs or bird droppings before starting the real wash (1Z Insect and Tar Pre-Cleaner (7.95))
• Car wash shampoo: for the main wash, a good shampoo (Sonus Gloss Shampo (9.95))
• Wash sponge: to apply shampoo during wash (Chenille Wash Sponge (4.95))
• Water blade: to wipe majority of water off after wash/rinse (California Water Blade)
• Drying towel: to dry excess water off after water blade (Sonus Ultimate Drying Towel (14.95))
• Quick detailing spray: to quick-detail after wash or in between washes (Sonus Carnauba Spritz (9.95))
• Quick detailing applicator towel: to apply quick detailing spray (Sonus Ultimate Detailing Towels (12.95))
• Clay bar: for removing paint impurities (Perfect Shine Detailing Clay (6.25))
• Wax: to protect and maintain coat (1Z Glanx Wax (13.95)) - this has the benefit of being pretty quick to apply compared to most waxes
• Buffing towel: to buff wax (Sonus Der Wunder Buffing Towel (12.75))
• Leather care product: to keep interior leather in shape (1Z Leather Care (12.95))
• Interior detail brush: for cleaning and dusting hard to reach places on the interior (Two-Way Mini Detail Brush (2.49))

Phew, I think that's about it. It comes out to a pretty hefty total of about $160 after the Autopia 10% discount from the book. But I want to do it right and I think if I have the right tools I will be more encouraged to find the time for it. Anything you think I should change?

Thanks!

-mike

 

Mike,
The list is a great one. A couple suggestions....
Skip the RejeX. It isn't worth the money just for the wheels. The Glanz Wax will do just as good a job. In fact, even a cheap polymer like NuFinish you can purchase at AutoZone will do the job. I have nothing against RejeX, it't just not necessary to buy this for this purpose. Save your $$.

Don't apply shampoo with a sponge, use a chenille mitt. Sponges are hard and more likely to scratch.

I would avoid the water blade. Used properly they are ok, but I find the Absorber is WAY faster to use on the MINI. Get one at AutoZone. Lay it on and pull it off.

There is a special deal for those in the know at Autopia. in the discount code area type in SAVEBIG. It should give you a discount of 15% through Sept 5th.

Have fun...you're gonna get a BIG box!

 

Brad,

Thanks for even more useful info! I've replaced the sponge in my Autopia shopping cart with their mitt. Unfortunately the reason I still included the RejeX and the water blade is because I had already ordered them. The rejex is here and the water blade is on the way. Maybe I can return the rejex. Any specific absorber you recommend instead of the water blade? What are these made out of ? I think if I am careful with the water blade I could avoid scratches with it, but if something else does just as good a job, maybe I'll return that too.

And that is AWESOME about the 15% discount -- thanks! I doubt I could use that and the book discounts in combo, but we'll see!

-mike

 

Mike,
Don't return anything.

Then use the RejeX instead of the Glans Wax. It's a VERY easy wax to apply. Not the most durable wax but super easy to apply so doing it every couple months or more is no biggie. It's very slick!

Hey, just trying to save you some cash so you have more gas money!

And no big deal about the blade, just be sure no keep it REALLY, REALLY clean. a single bit of debris in the blade or on the car and it's a disasterous scratch!

Go to WalMart, K-Mart or Auto Zone and get The Absorber Brand. It comes in a tube. They work great.

 

Don't forget the 1Z glass cleaner.

 

What do you guys think of my wash plan? I want to have some super-concrete to look at so I don't forget anything, etc, my first few times until it becomes natural.

 

LOL! I just visualize you sitting in your driveway, hose in hand, surrounded by all these fine detailing products....WAITING FOR YOUR CAR TO SHOW UP!

I think your outline will work great for you. You've put a lot of thought into it and chosen good products. I respect a guy (or gal) who loves his car!

A tip: if you want to clay the whole car the best thing to do is to soap up the whole car with shampoo as if you are washing it. Shampoo is a good, even better clay lube than quick detailer. It's also cheaper and faster.

 

Haha, yeah, well it won't be long. My CoverCraft Weathershield is also on its way! So I'll have all the goodies either just before or right when the car gets here. Thanks for the tip and by the way, great looking MCS! It's funny because I usually don't like white cars but PW/B is just such a killer combo... two of the other guys getting their cars shipped out to CA from Classic on our truck are PW/B and it looks killer with the bonnet stripes. Your wheels accentuate that look even further!


-mike

 

One word baby................ Zaino ! :smile:

 

Can you offer any real reasons why I should use Zaino instead of Einszett?

-mike

 

Personal preference, but I think Zaino applies much easier and it does wipe off easier. It has a much slicker feel and is more durable. It also layers. (well, you asked...LOL! ) But you will like 1Z Glanz.

 

No, I definitely did ask, I was genuinely curious to hear reasons. I'm planning on experimenting with different waxes eventually. I figured I would start with something that seems pretty easy to apply, and if I decide I'd like to see what an even better wax could do, I can always pick one up, doesn't add too much to the cost as long as I have all the other stuff. I'll keep your comments in mind when I use the Glanz.

-mike