Hi guys,

I need advice from PW owners on how to clean up/ detail under the bonnet. I asking more specifically on the painted part like the strut mount, painted chassis area and the inside of the hood.

My first question is how soft the paint in these area? Are there spots that's not clear coated? From my impression, the strut mount and chassis have no clear coat as the paint look kind of dull. But when I see some pic of a chilli red cleaned, it looks like it has clear coat.

Secondly, Do you or do you not clean the yellowish oil mark when detailing? I'm informed that it's supposed to be a protectant. It just so tempting to clean that stuff.

As on my recent post, I already took some paint away. I'd like to avoid that in the future. Thanks for the inputs.

 

The yellowish stuff is, from what I was told during my Plant Oxford tour, a wax like substance. It is an under body protectant that is squirted into the body and can get soft when heated, thus seeping out a bit. I don't see how it's any more of a protectant on the painted surfaces under the bonnet, so I've cleaned it off on visible painted surfaces. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I've also noticed shiny strut mounts in pictures, especially on the M7 website Maybe they waxed everything up prior to the shot.

Last time I did some detailing under the bonnet, I used Simple Green and a MF cloth to remove grease, oil, the yellowish stuff that had seeped out of the holes, etc. I then rinsed the parts I cleaned with some water sprayed from a bottle.

What were you using/doing that caused the paint to rub off?

 

Hi Paul,

I used the Black Magic 2-in-1 Engine Shine to pick up the dirts. It was written on the instruction that I can use it on the fender. I might interpret the instruction wrong, but I thought it would be safe to use it on the painted surface.

I see that under the bonnet of my PW, the paint looks dull as if there's no clear coat. I saw the pic on m7 website, and also on the JCW strut bar pic showing the shiny strut mount.

I'll try simple green the next time I'm cleaning the car. In the meanwhile, I'm still looking for a way to try fix the stripped metal.

 

To properly clean the engine you have to remove the front bumper.

Just kidding!

The waxy anti-corrosion substance is called cosmoline, waxoyl and a host of other names. It is injected in many interior panels and under the car. There is often a lot of overspray and the dealers use a very light duty, not residue solvent called Acrysol to clean it off.

Many solvents will clean it off but stronger cleaners such as simple green, denatured alcohol and others will dull and hurt the non-clearcoated paint under the bonnet.

I have always detailed painted areas with soft detailing brushes soaked with quick detailer.

For oily areas use isopropal (rubbing) alcohol with a soft brush or a medical swab or Q-Tip. Soak the tip and touch the oil and it sucks right up.

 

I've been waiting to go through a good, hot, Texas summer before trying to clean out all of the Cosmoline... no point in cleaning it out when it's gonna hit 100 degrees again tomorrow and just melt out more!

 

Hey BradB -- good to know about the simple green! Good thing I've only used it twice under the bonnet. And thanks for the other detailing tips

Now I only wish my garage floor looked like yours Maybe I'll coat it this weekend....

 

On the pics of my CR/B under bonnet detailing the gloss is from the Hyperdressing......

 

Nice ArmyDog! How did you apply it? Any tips?

Before and after pictures using Hyperdressing. Looks like good stuff.

 

i'm very lucky with my pw/pw as i started cleaning and waxing the engine area before i found out that there was no clear coat used in the engine compartment...i used water and some mild solvents and the zaino on the painted surfaces and a small bit of 303 for the coated black parts ....but i cleaned a friends chili red and the paint rubbed off on top of the strut towers not good but i did buy some spray paint from mymini.com and later painted the affected areas with very good results at leat the friend was happy and he did place 1st in a local car show ......so my best advice is to test an area that you cannot see very well......and be careful with what you might use.........

 

I used a spray bottle with a good mist....mixed it for semi-gloss. Read the details here

 

Thank you for all the great replies. I really learn a lot about the products that's out there for my mini.

However, I just inspect my car this morning and found out that the paint under my hood is really soft that ANY rubbing using ANYTHING will take the paint away. It's so soft almost like the surface of a godiva chocolate.

I really don't know if it is made as it is for a reason, or is it a defect on the paint job itself. I'll try to take it to the dealer to see what they say and hopefully I can do some comparison somehow. Wish me luck and I'll update you guys with the progress.

 

are you sure it is that soft? I have a PW and it is softer and not clear coated, but you can definitely work with it. Is the paint actually coming off when you try something? might as well try now before your warranty goes.

for the parts you are talking about I like to use a clay bar and some Klasse. I find the combo works pretty well and gets rid of most things.