WOW WOW WOW

That's dedication to the marquee

 

Ok I handed off the keys today. I told them they might want to check the car out---they were at first like--why?? did you damage it--and then I reminded them that I cleaned it--and they all jumped from their desks and ran outside to see. Should have seen the smiles on their faces---they were all floored.

I said feel the paint---it's smooth as glass--I showed them the trim areas that were black now, the glossy tire sidewalls. Hahah after all these posts today, I actually reclayed the hood today, and added more #7 and 2 coats of NXT before I brought it in.

Then it dawned on me that I forgot to fill the tank, and told them, hang on, I'll go fill it up. Hahaha, the look on their faces were like---Noooo Maaan, You did good with our car---you don't need to replace the gas. We're cool with it. They wanted to know if I had a detail shop, and in hindsight I had a crummy answer. I mentioned about the MINI club I founded and how I'm just passionate about detailing MINI's. Guess if I were interested in more business, I would have spent more time on answering that.

So they asked for my card, and I gave them my c3 business card. But it sure was fun seeing their expressions.

Richard

 

Richard

You did a fantastic detail on the loaner.

I understand how you feel. I got a Z4 as a loaner for a Thursday through Monday. The Z4 was dirty to say the least.
I spent Friday afternoon cleaning it up. I did no claybar or polish, but wash and spray detailer. I hate to drive a dirty car, even if it's not mine.

 

Richard and Tom:

How nice of you to take pity on the poor dirty cars -- especially the poor dirty MINI . Flowers to you both!

 

The clock is on the speedo - it alternates between trip and time. It's been a bit hard to get used to it, having always had a dedicated clock or stereo clock.

John

 

Hmmm, I just saw the Odometer and trip mileage on the speedo (above steering column). The Tach showed remaining miles on tank. Oh well, I don't have the car anymore anyways.

Thanks

Richard

 

Richard do you or can you make a how-to on how to use a electric buffer? I would love to get to know how to use one to save me so much time when giving my car the attention it needs

 

I know - though you never know when you'll get a loaner again with the Chrono Package.

Where is the clock on non-Chrono MINIs?

 

Its in the center speedo next to the mileage.

 

Richard is the best!

I hope that you are not missing that S too much, or are you already thinking about getting one?

South Bay MINI is very lucky to have good customers like you man.

 

Hey, it is hard NOT to 'caress' a dirty MINI with a clay bar!
How can one resist such graceful curves!

 

Hey Camelpilot,
Yeah I miss it, but since I drove the MC and MCS back to back, what I miss most is the transmission. I know my modded MC has a lot of power, and I've proven time and time again that I can keep up with MCS's on the runs, the only difference is the amount of work needed to do it.

If I miss a shift in an S, I can just floor it, and it moves--where as I gotta downshift, or push in the clutch, get the revs up, and let out the clutch, to ensure the RPM's are up in the appropriate gear.

Also as a daily driver, the S needs less work--lots of bodies and AC on don't drain the power like they do in my Cooper.

Of course the Supercharger whine was pretty cool, my intake isn't bad either. Hahah, yeah I'm really concerned about my clutch/tranny since it was replaced once already. My clutch feel is super light-- I mean on the order of 10 times or more stiffer on the MCS, and the shifting of the Getrag was tighter than my 03 ever has been.

I'm going to go test drive a 2005 MC just for comparison sake--maybe the 5 speed Getrag and new gearing will be just as satisfying.

Thanks!

MDSBRAIN--There are already several good tutorials out there I can refer you to. I don't mind making one for the MINI though--as I love making these writeups! Also, I'll be releasing my first joint effort detailing video soon--subject is a black '67 Corvette with a single stage lacquer finish, but a MINI video is in the works as well.

 

I know what you mean about wanting to motor in a clean MINI...it just has a different feel when dirty. Also, if you're going to turn heads anyway, might as well give the general populace something nice to look at. Might cheer them up a bit.

So what was the reaction at the dealer when you brought back a pristine MINI???

 

No clean PW MCS for me. I got a blue MCc CVT and it's a little dirty.

 

Hi Dave!
Yeah that was the blue Cooper Cabrio they tried to pass off on me and I refused! The service guys were like--Good Choice!!! I wonder if you didn't get it because they put it on the FOR SALE lot??

LOL

GoKartRide--check out post #27
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...3&postcount=27

 

Oh geesh, it just goes to show you, no good deed goes unpunished. Careful in that cabrio, DiD.

Tatt

 

yeah, the visability out the back hasn't improved any since the last time I drove one.

 

Octane... can you give me some advice on using a clay bar? I have never used or seen one, and have no idea on how to use it. My MINI is a little over a year old now, and I need to clean it up. I have mostly just washed it using a car shampoo, but now I want to step up my efforts. Need to learn about clay bars, and also start waxing the car (I have not done so since I got the car).

Any tips would be great!!

Thanks!
Bill

 

Sure! Claybar is pretty easy to use. First off a few tips.

1.) Understand the goal
2.) Decide on the solution
3.) Take Action
4.) Continually evaluate if you've reached #1

Clay bar is this sticky little bar of clay that looks a lot like the oil based modeling clay Plasticine, but it isn't! Never use a full bar--pull off a chunk and knead it into a ball, then flatten it out like a pan cake.

Why not use the full bar? Cause if you drop it, you MUST throw it out. And dropping is all too easy to do!

You lubricate the area very well--with a quick detailer like Meguiar's QuiK Detailer, or you could even just use the soapy water during washing of your car.

Here's one of my students claybarring a piece of road debris from his front bumper.


As you run the clay over the paint it will pull up any bonded contaminants in your paint. How do you know if you have any? Just feel your paint--lightly run your fingers across the paint--assuming you've already washed and dried the car. If the paint doesn't feel as smooth and glossy as the clean side windows of your car, but instead feels bumpy and gritty like sandpaper, then it will benefit from claying.

So you take this little pancake of clay, hold it in your palm, or the area between your palm and finger tips--allowing pads of finger tips to overhang clay.

Liberally lubricate area, and glide clay over it, back and forth. Do this over a small area--say 1foot x 1foot. As you rub it, you will feel resistance at first, the clay is picking up the bonded contaminants. Keep rubbing and lubricating until you no longer feel resistance. Rub your fingers over this clayed area, and it should feel smooth as glass. Just do this with the rest of the MINI.

A few other tips.

1.) Make sure paint is cool to the touch
2.) Always lubricate paint surface your are claying. If it starts sticking on your fingers, just lubricate your fingers too.
3.) Stored used claybar in a ziplock bag away from the clean clay (spray some Quik Detailer inside bag to prevent it from sticking)
4.) Inspect the clay often as you are using it. Knead it into a ball, to expose new clay. After a while it will get so filled up with junk, you can't expose new clay anymore, you have to throw it out.

As my student is doing here, make sure to inspect the clay are you use it. Look for anything that might scratch your finish, remove it, or get a new piece of clay.


Spray Quik Detailer on the area


Claybar it


Wipe dry the area you just clayed


Note that that most of the bonded contaminants are airborne--that is they settle on your paint--and it's far more likely to settle on the horizontal surfaces rather than the vertical ones--so you will definitely clay the bonnet, roof, mirrors, and bumpers--check doors and side panels by feel. The boot is a different case altogether. If you don't regularly clean it of dust and dirt, it will bond to your paint, and although it's a vertical surface, claying is a huge must here!

You can use a larger piece than this--in this case were working on a small detail just below the window line. Also at my clinics we have anywhere from 5 to 15 people working, and we have to share the clay among everyone--the risk of dropping is high, so we try to conserve.



You can use any clay, just make sure it's mild and not agressive. A bar this size might last you 10 or 12 cars depending on how bad the car was in the first place. It may only last 3 or 4 cars if the cars are in really bad shape.

This is a good product that can be found on store shelves and it comes ready to go with lubricant and clay for around $10.

http://meguiars.com/estore/product_d...ectionID=11201

Hope that helps!!

Richard

 

I will be sure to point her to this thread the next time my wife says I am crazy for spending so much time with my car!

 

You are truly a good guy! I've run loaners through a car wash but you win hands down.

 

Hey wait a minute, are those 'students' practicing their clay bar technique on the Pepper White loaner car??

 

So, what's the story with claying an already waxed car?

Do you need to take the wax off before hand (dawn wash)? Or just hit it with the clay bar? Rewax afterwards, I'm assuming.

 

When you clay, you remove everything that's on the clear coat--so definitely rewax. No need to dawn wash--that's something that only Zaino recommends. Meguiar's says never to Dawn Wash cause it does more harm than good.

Just wash the car, lubricate and clay, then polish/wax again.

Haha, actually the girl in that picture is working on her own PW/BLK MCS. All my students work on their own cars while others assist.

Haha thanks. I think I'm sick.
Yeah I was thinking about starting a detailing business called OCD for Obsessive Compulsive Detailing.

 

Glide the clay (minimal pressure) or apply moderate pressure?