I just noticed some serious scratches on the hood of my MINI that were not there when I detailed a few weeks ago. The worst looking are a series of parallel lines near the edge of the hood -- a few fairly deep -- like someone placed something there and then dragged it off. Then there are some "cat-slept-here-and-then-slid-off"-type scratches in the center, also fairly deep. Add that to some bird crap-tupe etching, and I might just be looking at repainting the hood soon (at the same time that I get the replacement bumper done, but that's another story). All very discouraging, especially since my MINI is let out of its garage only when it's in use.

Question is, is the MINI's paint job especially poor quality, or have I been extraordinarily unlucky? I got up close and personal to the paint job when I Zainoed etc. the car a few weeks ago, and noticed a lot of paint pits that apparently resulted from less than 18,000 miles of motoring. I was never this obsessive about prior cars, but I'd swear that their paint jobs held up a lot better than the MINI's.

 

I've actually noticed that the MINI has a pretty good paint job. We only have a couple chips after 30k miles. Our Honda Insight, on the other had, has so many chips, we don't even care anymore (thank goodness for aluminum bodies).

 

I would say yes, the paint on MINIs is too thin. After a couple of years, I have numerous pock marks and minor chips just from the day to day drive. I don't really think that there is much that can be done, short of a bumper to bumper invisa-shield or custom paint. Just put it down to another of the MINI's many "personality traits".

 

Having had MUCH experience in this arena.... By experience I mean I am the **** type that inventories chips after each drive, much to the chagrin of my wife! Ha! ....I have to admit that I am also disappointed by the soft paint of the MINI. They tend to scratch very easily. Chipping, I think, is a result of aerodynamics. Our lovely little cars are shaped like bricks and simply scream "hit me" while on the road. For that reason, I installed a "clear bra" within days of delivery.

Detailing maintenance, cleanliness, proper wax/sealant protection and use of quality detailing tools such as microfiber polishing towels and drying towels is the key to avoiding making your own scratches and protecting it from the elements as much as possible.

 

I'm not expert, but I've found that, on the few scratches I've had, MINI paint is very responsive to hand application of the 3M swirl and scratch removal product and also, occasionally, ScratchX. Didn't need to work that hard at it either. Maybe there are advantages.

 

Hey Brad, Do you know how thick the paint is?

 

Actually, a friend had an electronic paint thickness gauge and we did meter it but I can't recall what the variance was. (microns) It was quite different on our two cars (MINIS) and substantially thinner (even at the thickest point) from my Audi.

It was especially thin over the curves of the front fenders and the hood scoop. Paint is usually thinner on curves and vertical surfaces in general but this was alarming.

 

So the trick is to keep it protected from the start and keep up with it, to stay away from having to use a heavy cut polish to any extent.

Thanks Brad U Da Man

 

Yup! Always the goal!