I vaguely remember reading a thread that mentioned using wax on the windows and sunroof of a Mini. Is this a reality or am I asking for a disaster? Somebody set me straight so I don't ruin my car. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

When I used to detail cars, I'd wax the windows sometimes. It doesn't hurt anything and just like painted surfaces water will bead on them. It's kind of like Rain-X...

 

Does wax work better than RainX or is there a noticeable difference between the two?

 

I don't know about wax on the windows, but I Zaino (Z2) my windows. It makes them stay cleaner longer and it has some of the Rain-X effect (water sheeting off of the windshield when at higher speeds) without causing the annoying squeeking/chattering of the wipers when you use them at lower speeds.

 

RainX is okay...i hate how it streaks when you try to buff it off. it takes
forever imho to get the thing clean. it recommends using water...but then
you remove a good amount of it when you use water.

ive pretty much used the spray type waxes to do windows with good
results. basically a slicker mist and wipe.

 

I've heard clay barring them with old clay (used stuff that's no longer fit for paint) makes them bead really well as well, and doesn;t leave a coating on them that might later fog... makes sense to me since it should get all the crap off the glass, right? I've not done this yet, though (need clay first). Has anyone done this?

 

I used to wax my windows whenever I waxed my car. Like Buddy Lee said, it has the same effect as Rain-X initially. However, I found that the wax wears out unevenly and if you live in a wet fall and winter area, and use your wipers a lot, the wax will wear off unevenly. Your wipers will make a lot of noise as it passes over patches of wax and unwaxed window. As well, you wipers will only effectively wipe water away in patches leaving visibility even worse until all the wax is worn off. I don't seem to get this problem with a liquid based coating like Rain-X.

I don't wax my windows anymore as it is easier to just wash the windows when dirty or use Rain-X. The alternative is to continually make sure there is a coat of wax on the windows. BUt I don't wax my car every car wash.

 

Clay does make an excellent window cleaner and removes a lot of the crud that solvent-based cleaners miss!

I save my old clay in a specially marked container for just this purpose.

 

I clay bar and NXT my windows routinely. Rain glides right off.

...Les

 

Turtle Wax ICE is not to be used on windows (per the bottle). I never even thought of using my NXT on my windows. Guess I have another reason to wash Envy again.

 

I've always waxed my windows and sunroof but not the windshield (wears off too quickly).
Waxing leaves them nice and smooth (and easier for the electric motor too).
You don't have to, but it won't hurt!

 

Wax or more preferably a polymer like zaino will last a few days on windows.
Rainx will last a few weeks.
I prefer something that lasts most of the year with one application:
http://www.jwardell.com/mini/2006/04...-x-vs-aquapel/

 

one trick I have learned from another detail board is to clean your windows before you wash your car. Then give all the windows and mirrors two good coats of rain-x all around. Don't buff it between coats or when you are done. Then go and wash your car like normal. The windows will be sparkling clear and the water will bead and slide right off. I do this about once a month before I wash the car and my windows are easy to clean and when it rains I don't even need my wipers. The rain-x never streaks. Try it next time and you wouldn't be disappointed.

 

I do it, but need to do it more often with all the rain. The clay works alot like rainx, but doesnt start to rub off the first time you use your wipers. Griots also sells glass polish, but I have never seen the need.


Want me to clay bar yours on saturday...provided its not raining.

 

:: Nods :: Yep, I mentioned it here because of your "window clay" bucket that I saw in your garage (which I inadvertantly added to while claying my car at your place - my bad). And sure, I'd love to see how it works on my windows - I've been using "Invisible Glass" on them for a few months now, and I have to say I'm NOT impressed... I seem to have to clean them lots more often than I used to with plain old Windex, and I seem to get a haze back on them very fast. At first I chalked it up to humidity, but now I'm not so sure...

Plus, the other day, I was driving in low-hanging sunlight, and saw lots of tiny white dots all over the windscreen. I have NO idea what all that crap is (I remember one poster on here seeing something similar and thinking that maybe his power washer pitted the glass - I've never used anything more pressurized than a garden hose sprayer on "shower" though, so that can't be it in my case).

Obviously Invisible Glass isn't doing the trick. Ted the local detailing guru seemed to like the Meguiar's stuff - what do you guys prefer for simple in-between-claying spritzing?

 

only thing with this is that im not sure if i want my plastic and rubber
parts to have to get exposed to draining the rain-x during the wash...
and also wiping the car down with the same MF...

rain-x imho never really worked that well for cars that travel
less then 45mph during the commute anyway.

 

only thing with this is that im not sure if i want my plastic and rubber
parts to have to get exposed to draining the rain-x during the wash...
and also wiping the car down with the same MF...

rain-x imho never really worked that well for cars that travel
less then 45mph during most of the commute anyway.

 

Something a lot of people don't think about....wax (polymer sealant is best) the INSIDE of your glass if you have tinted windows. You will be amazed at how much faster they will go up and down. The friction of the film (which is really rather sticky) is reduced against the inside seal, the electric motor works faster since it slides easier.

When I tinted my Audi S4 the windows REALLY dragged. I was shocked. A coat of Zaino cured this.

 

Hum, I was never aware of this. I have had tinted windows for a long time. I may have to try it. No affect on the film itself?

 

I know that anything with amonia (i.e. regular glass cleaner) is a total no-no for tint film, as it dissolves the glue, but I'm not sure about WAX...

 

I've never tried Zaino-ing the inside... very nice!

I've never been a big fan of Rain-x. I like it when I'm on the highway, driving at 65 MPH and the water goes flying off. Unfortunately, it wore off fairly quickly and, at lower speeds, it would not move necessitating the use of wipers. Because the Rain-X was so slick, the wipers didn't get enough friction to drag properly, so they would stutter and squeek across the window.

Given my dislike of Rain-X, I was reluctant, years ago, to try Zaino on the windshield. After that first reluctant time, I've been Zainoing my glass for years. The Zaino is slick enough to allow the high-speed Rain-X effect to happen (always reminds me of a ship from Star Wars jumping into 'hyper-space') but still gives the wipers enough traction to clear the windshield efficiently at low speeds.

 

That was my understanding too. I use Griots(big supprize to you I am sure)
window cleaner. You can smell the alcohol in it.

It was my understanding that because of the film created by RainX, it is actually not as smooth as the Zaino, which is what creates the wipers to chatter ans carry on.

 

It is pitted glass...it's not your sprayer. Unless you don't actually DRIVE your MINI, it's super-soft glass gets thousands of little chips in it over time. When it's dirty, you can't spot them, but if you truly get it clean, you will be very surprised how bad your glass is, especially if it is a few years old!

Get some slightly abrasive glass polish like those from Sonus or Zaino and you'll see. (But you'll also have your glass as clean as possible!)

 

I have used probably 6-8 different brands of glass and other polishes. The chips/vision issues in the MINI windshield did not get better at all. PC Rotary, doesn't matter. MINI windshield quality sucks.

 

Um... actually, it's a brand new windsheild. The dealer replaced it like 3 weeks ago, and I noticed them over a week ago. It has maybe 300 miles on it. I'm finding it a bit hard to believe that it would pit THAT fast, no matter the conventional wisdom of "soft" Mini glass.