I've used Armor All for many years. I like it. They now have a new "Armor All Gel" that's supposed to have more UV protection that any other product.

When you're the biggest, somehow bad rumors about how bad your products are always begin.

I put the Armor All ones in the some category as "don't use Fram filters". Only been using them with no problems for about 45 years....I think there're OK.

You forgot to mention I got off the wax residue first..J/k

I on the other hand had to do just that. After getting the wax residue off with a tooth brush and some Griots Paint prep I had laying around, i was able to get the white off. I think too used Griots Rubber and Vinyl dressing. I wish I would have done it sooner, It looks great. Took all of about 5 min to dress the car, once i got the wax off.( that took 5 min also, once I got to it )

Well, in my case, it wasn't a rumor - it happened. Dash on a Mazda started cracking after only a few years, after being treated a few times a month with Armor All. I live in Ohio, not Florida or Arizona or someplace with insane heat and sun, but I guess it's possible it was just a defective dash. Still, whether or not it caused it, I prefer the duller finish I get with other products over the "wet look", but whatever you prefer.

Oh, and S Curves did get the bits of wax off the trim with the Griot's, true... Must have been pretty easy because it only seemed to take seconds. thanks!

Turtle wax ICE here - you can even get it at Target now for 17 bucks. Works great and lasts longer than vinylex/armor all and such.

All naturale peanut butter, then the OEM MINI Exterior Trim Cleaner which works it's magic to make it look factory new again.

Ooooooooooooooh! Peanut Butter? I wouldn't be able to get out of my driveway for the dogs licking my wheels

Well, after 2 years of experimenting, I have come to the following conclution.

Every time I wash the MINI, I use some brand of tire foam on the tires. Your supposed to spray the whole tire, and just let it sit. I have found that with the MINI's low profile tires, it goes everywhere. So, I went to Oreilly auto parts and picked up a tire sponge. Now, I just lightly spray some foam on the tires, and spread it with the tire sponge. One day, I though "hey, would't this do great on the trim?" So I though wth, I'll give it a shot. I used my tire sponge, already soaked with foam, and it looks GREAT!

q-monkey - that's really nice looking !

Thanks!

It just took a lot of testing. The hard part with the tire sponge technique is keeping it off the paint!

I use Back to black but it seems to be a dust magnet. Then I started applying Aerospace 303 after the Back to back treatment and it lasts a lot longer and the dust build up is gone. Aerospace 303 has lots of U.V. protection and I use it on my interior exclusively.
-Dan

armour all is really just an oil, and provides almost no protection against cracking/aging, (despite the company claims). 303 is much better, & the cost is worth it. they also make a very good fabric protector, (scotchguard, again, is just an oil, which can actually make some fabrics more suceptible to staining and wear). the 303 website has several articles discussing the need to truly block UV rays. as for wax, the wax bmw sells for the mini is quite good- it does not dry to white residue at all. its insanely easy to use. it does not last that long, only a few months, but is ideal if you love to wax your car... !

303 here. i use it on the plastic trim, my tire edges, and my entire interior. it is some seriously amazing stuff.

it is a little more expensive depending where you get it, but the quality justifies the cost.

also when applying it to the exterior trim / rubber seals i use a foam/ cloth applicator to apply and a soft rag to wipe away the access and smooth it out as it goes on.

Looks great, but, how does it stand up to a day or two of rain?
So far I haven't found any product that does.
I assume it doesn't since you apply it with every wash.

We finally had some rain this morning after several weeks with nothing but a drizzle, so I can see how my final product held up. If it does well, I will run a final comparison test with all the favorites, and let's hope I finally have a conclusion in a month. I meant to start and finish this test in the SPRING!

Josh, what's your final product? We're dying to know!

I'm curious about Back to Black and also Sonus Total Eclipse...wonder how it stacks up next to Sonus Tire & Bumper Dressing Gel. I'm placing an Autopia order tonight, and they've got a promotion which should get me some Total Eclipse for free. If it's not your final product, I'll let you know how it works for me, though I won't be testing it scientifically...

I haven't tried Total Eclipse, because it doesn't really sound like it will do any better and if anything is more general purpose than their specific trim dressing which I did test, so I expect it to do worse if anything.

Back to Black...I now call Back to Crap.

Sorry things have taken SO long but we have gone a VERY long time without any rainy days here. A storm rolled through last night but my car was parked in its new garage. I need a rainy drive to work or two or three to complete each test.

this was what i use on all my cars,
stoner's trim shine, no mess just spray:

What about overspray on the paint, though? Spraying onto tires is one thing, but...

I've tried the Sonus tire gel. Looks good, but seems to fly off the tires and onto the doors. Perhaps I didn't let the finish dry long enough, but I thought overnight was a good amount of time.

Next on the list is Griot's "up-to-three-months" dressing or the long-lasting one. Griot does state the dressings do not fly off. Along with the rubber cleaner and wheel cleaner.

Before Sonus, I used Autoglym's tire dressing with great results (didn't last last more than one rainy day, though). But with the amount of brake dust MINIs make, I'm cleaning the wheels at least once a week.

what i do is spray it on before i wash the car, this stuff usually stays on the car for a good 2 weeks before it needs another spray, this is even after you wash the car several times it's still looks black.

Yesterday I started what is hopefully my last comparison test as I think I finally have a good product. And due to popular demand here I am also including olive oil vs peanut oil.

clippings of bat wings,an ounce of virgin's blood,blue whale semen and an opossum's tail ex.usually find on road.Blend then heat over high flame and apply with paint brush and u are good for 3 years 22 days and 6 hours.

Yeah, but where are you gonna get blue whale semen any more? I'm down to my last 5-gallon bucket... And GOOD LUCK finding a virgin any more...

+1 love that stuff.. does not make it shiny or anything like that.. just give parts its brand new look. I only use this on the outside black trim, not on the interior or tires.. I go over with a dry cloth afterwards and kind of buff it a little..to prevent it from picking up the dust as somebody mentioned before..

the problem i would have with using motor oil is that it could act as a solvent to the rubber which is made out of petroleum. I think probably a coating is best but apparently they do not stick.

"late reader here… nice comprehensive write-up- saves us all a lot of trouble. i’ve recently read that the “best” product of all, is the MINI branded “trim cleaner”. Any experience with this product?" quote from the test link , a commentator.

has anyone tested mini's stuff for this application?

trim related question..I dripped some touch up paint on my black fender well trim. There's stuff like "goof off", etc...anyone know if this will be OK on the pastic? Or, any other suggestions to get the paint off? Maybe soften it w/ the peanut butter?