>>Anybody know what to use on the black plastic exterior trim? Mine appears to be getting just a tad gray after a winter of salty roads. Anything out there that'll bring it back to life and keep it that way????

You guys are a real giggle. It's all that WAX you use.

 

Sirron is correct: Here's how I responded to a PM LockjawDavis sent me today:

I just detailed my new Mr. Motor today, so this is fresh in my mind! For the black exterior plastic when dirty, wash it with Zymol Clear, then further clean with Wizards Vinyl-Shine, then wax with Zymol Detail or Carbon (I used Carbon today). The wash, you can substitiute your favorite shampoo, and the only place to get Wizards is on their website (www.wizardsproducts.com), however what you have to be carefull on is the wax you use! Zymol uses banana and coconut oils to soften the caranuba during application, and has no silicone to leave those nasty white swirls so common in garbage waxes. Waxing the black plastic is a trick I learned accidentally, actually! Treat is just like paint, wax on, buff off! The plastic will have a nice satin sheen, and will be protected from debris and UV!

cheers,
Ryan

 

Troy here. But you can call me Ryan

I've used Eagle One's A2Z Wheel Cleaner with fantastic results after a winter of brake dust/salt abuse. The only thing to really remember here is that, after using a speacialty wheel cleaner (Griot's, Eagle One, Simple Green, etc.), you *must wax your wheels*.

Also, I've used PakShak towels and found them to be super-excellent. I've heard that the Wal-Mart and Costco towels are sketchy at best; you might get good ones, but you might also get bad (scratchy!) ones. Here's the test: try rubbing the data/music side of a CD with one of your towels, and if you create scratches with your towel, *it is not safe for your car*.

-Troy

 

Wow, this is stressing me out a bit! I need to learn how to take better care of my MINI. I think I need to take a class! :smile:

 

all this blabbing, I thought I'd post a pic of my recently waxed MCS!
Using Mother's Clay Bar, followed by a coat of Zymol Carbon on my Indi Blue/White. Enjoy!


Cheers,
Ryan

_________________
Wisdom is not a function of age, but a function of experience.
*Keeper of the CWFAC list*

 

I found an interesting test of different waxes from McGuiars, Zymol and Zaino...

Wax Test

 

Thanks for that link Kelisa. I wonder how these products would compare on the MINI (being different paint and surface)? I don't have an extra bonnet to spare

I've noticed the MINI is very static-clingy! Using the same wax (Zymol Carbon) on both my 325i and the MCS, the MCS seems to suck dust right to the surface, whereas my Bimmer rarely gets dusty! This is actually a situation for the tire-engineers, most likely. Oh well.

Cheers,
Ryan

 

OK, my Minis first detail is very important to me. She... or he... just turn 1K (it'll still read that on the odometer in the morning, too). I plan on purchasing the Zymol kit for Pepper Whites, but that's in the future. I went to Targè . Then it'll be ready to run over my Mini.

Am I pretty much ready to go? I'm going through Advance or Autozone or Murray's or something here in the coming week to find some good plastic cleaner.

Oh, and before I forget, and this post ends up too long, I have noticed that I smudge up my speedo and tach with finger prints. The outboard rearviews get spotty from the light Kentucky rains we have, so I bought a small spritzer bottle from Wal-Mart and have put plain old alcohol-base blue Windex in it, for the time being. I swore by the Armor-All vinegar base cleaner (I prefer the smell, and it's tint-safe), but I'm not sure what I should really use on interior plexi and exterior mirrors. Suggestions? I'm putting a microfiber and the spritzer in the glovebox (until I get my Hot Pocket) to use whenever neccessary. I saw at Targè a small interior "Detailer's Brush" that's half CA Duster-like mop and half strong bristled brush. I may go back and get it for the dash should any of you fine folks reccomend such a tool.


_________________
Proud owner of the SECOND Mini in BG, KY

 

Where did you see it that Zymol brand Cleaner Wax was just a "scratch remover?" I just purchased my bottle a week ago and read the bottle's indication and it's an overall good product. I thought it said that it removes swirl marks and surface abrasions, no harmful silicone ingredients as well. I can't wait for my MCS to arrive to try the product on in a few more days. Give the product a try and let us know how it went.

 

The Zymol Cleaner Wax is OK for protection and clear optics. I would just be careful with its' application and removal, since it is more aggressive than most waxes.

Cheers,
Ryan

 

Ryephile,

I read up a bit about zymol products on the web last night. Would it be best that I purchase a bottle of HD cleanse and a jar of "creame" wax also? So when my car arrives, I suppose I can give her a good washing then apply the HD cleanse then the Cleaner Wax product next? Then some time later, use the "creame" wax for monthly use...help!

 

Mothers Car Care Products is being kind enough to send me a "care package" to test and sample.
I will be testing their products and providing feedback on how they compare to my current favorite products. Thanks to Forrest for being so helpful and cooperative!

Stay tuned for the next chapter!
Cheers,
Ryan

---> Pooky, you can use either the Cleaner wax or the HDcleanse/Creme combo. The Cleaner wax is a "one-step" version of the HD and Creme set. I would trust the two-step process to clean and protect better, but obviously takes more time to apply and remove!

_________________
Wisdom is not a function of age, but a function of experience.
*Keeper of the CWFAC list*

 

For those looking at using Zymol I suggest taking a peek at Autopia.org and searching for posts of people comparing zymol and p21s or zaino products.

 

For MF Towels goto http://www.pakshak.com/ - great towels and won't require a mortgage.

 

Thanks for the tip. I just ordered some towels and those spongy doo dads.

 

>>w a g s f t b: yo ryan.. gotta question about car care.. you seem to know what's up..
>>Ryephile: I would recommend picking one of the two major schools of thought..
>>Ryephile: School A) Caranuba waxes, Zymol representing the pinnacle of caranuba tech
>>Ryephile: School B) synthetics, Zaino Brothers representing the peak in that arena
>>w a g s f t b: yeah both those names keep popping up
>>Ryephile: personally, when it comes to doing a show detail, I need 1: quick, and 2: optically transparent
>>Ryephile: side note: when I'm doing shows, I don't use waxes of any sort, only glossifiers
>>w a g s f t b: yeah well i own't be doing and shows with my MINI
>>Ryephile: Wizards Products are the king of show-car products
>>Ryephile: Paint-prep is crucial
>>Ryephile: my preference is a clay-bar
>>Ryephile: it's easier to use than "cleaners" and provides tactile feedback on when the paint is clean
>>Ryephile: for how much I love Zymol waxes, I hate their HD Cleanse (the paint cleaner)
>>Ryephile: first off, don't go to your local Wal-Mart, Murray's, Checker, or whatever local auto parts store
>>Ryephile: they carry mostly EVIL products
>>w a g s f t b: yeah the stuff i have now is meguiar's stuff based on a post
>>Ryephile: meguiar's is Ok (Davbret seems to like them, but I find most Meguiars products to be too labor intensive, and not have the visual snap of Zaino or Wizards)
>>Ryephile: so anyway, after a good Claybar rubdown (Mothers, and just about everyone makes clay bars, pick whatever)
>>Ryephile: ..time for your wax application
>>w a g s f t b: so after i wash and dry, i'll rub winnie down with a claybar
>>Ryephile: oh, yea, after the claybar, you'll wanna wash again
>>Ryephile: the car get's all yukkie with fallout residue
>>w a g s f t b: but makes sense
>>Ryephile: yea, a full detail job does really take hours!=-O
>>Ryephile: but you only have to do it every few months
>>Ryephile: on my Bimmer, I use Zymol's Carbon, a yellow caranuba for darker colors
>>Ryephile: Zymol just released a specific wax just for the MINI (they do car-specific waxes sometimes)
>>Ryephile: http://www.zymol.com/mini.htm
>>Ryephile: http://www.zymol.com (for the rest of their stuff)
>>w a g s f t b: ha, that thing's crazy.. matches your car's color..is that kit worth it?
>>Ryephile: the Zymol MINI glaze is a great price, I'm gettin' it anyway
>>w a g s f t b: yeah, i mean, it comes with a pen!
>>Ryephile: and the microfiber towel is a great bonus too!
>>w a g s f t b: so i'll get that
>>Ryephile: Just make sure to READ THE DIRECTIONS
>>w a g s f t b: and zymol isn't like zaino where you wax all the time, right
>>Ryephile: and contrary to "popular belief", never rub in circular motions!!!
>>w a g s f t b: ..still talking about waxing, right
>>Ryephile: zymol is caranuba-based, so it provides a visual gauge via water 'beading' to tell you when it's worn off
>>Ryephile: never circular motions for anything on your paint
>>Ryephile: you want to minimize your axes of reflection with the micro-scratches
>>Ryephile: wiping in one direction is as minimal as it gets
>>Ryephile: turbo recommendations: Glass cleaner: Stoner Invisible Glass or Eagle One 20/20 (spray on, wipe, wait til dry, then buff, yes buff out)
>>w a g s f t b: i have stoner's
>>Ryephile: Black plastic, and interior plastic: 303 aerospace protectant
>>Ryephile: leatherette, Lexol's Vinylex
>>w a g s f t b: for the black outside trim, i also have a stoner product
>>Ryephile: tires: I use Meguires endurance tire gel, it's nice, but major messy
>>Ryephile: better than those damn tire foam's tho!
>>Ryephile: car shampoo, including wheels: Zymol Clear
>>Ryephile: most of it's is just trial and error and recommendation
>>Ryephile: I have so many hundreds of dollars of ***** in my garage shelves its almost a joke
>>w a g s f t b: what about sponges? i have a... ***** can't even remember
>>Ryephile: natural sponge or sheepskin
>>w a g s f t b: the one i have is a mit
>>Ryephile: Here's your Microfiber source: http://www.microfibertech.com/
>>Ryephile: they can be in a mit shape, that's fine
>>w a g s f t b: i think the one i have is sheepskin
>>w a g s f t b: have you used the cali water blade?
>>Ryephile: I use sheepskin, the trick is to keep lots of suds
>>Ryephile: I use the water blade, actually, lol
>>w a g s f t b: yeah, i got one from the store.. it's kinda nice i guess
>>Ryephile: it's a bit hard on the wax tho, so only when I'm super rushed
>>w a g s f t b: hard to contour to the MINI
>>Ryephile: use big microfiber waffle weave towels to dry
>>w a g s f t b: and they're NOT chamois, right?
>>Ryephile: Here's your ticket to towel-perfection: http://www.microfibertech.com/superPack.html
>>Ryephile: chamios suck, hard to use, don't suck up water
>>w a g s f t b: yeah i hate them
>>Ryephile: I use Wizards synthetic chamois for big areas, it get's the vast majority of water off
>>w a g s f t b: i was reading something about microfiber towels from groits site
>>Ryephile: they're the least abrasive absorbant material current
>>Ryephile: http://wizardsproducts.com/
>>Ryephile: Mist-n-shine, it's the absolute best finishing spray ever:-D
>>Ryephile: use is post wash, when you don't need to wax
>>Ryephile: it's the last thing you'll use before cruising
>>Ryephile: also, great for touch-ups (between washes)
>>w a g s f t b: so i use this when i wash but don't wax
>>Ryephile: yep, you got the idea
>>Ryephile: Shinemaster is amazing, but not practical for a daily-driver (only lasts a few days!)
>>Ryephile: pick up a Water Bandit while you're there
>>Ryephile: also, their Vinyl Shine is equivalent to 303 Aerospace
>>w a g s f t b: so get that, too
>>Ryephile: (for interior and exterior plastics)
>>Ryephile: (smells great too!)
>>Ryephile: those three, and you're set!
>>Ryephile: be sure to get that microfiber kit from that page I linked above
>>Ryephile: what I found works great for exterior black trim and plastic is the Zymol waxes, since they have oils in them, they really make the black look great (no fading either, since it's waxed!)
>>w a g s f t b: isn't wax on plastic make streaks or something
>>Ryephile: you're thinking of synthetic waxes with silicone
>>w a g s f t b: oh
>>Ryephile: aka turtle wax, eagle one
>>Ryephile: those are the CRAP waxes you need to stay away from
>>w a g s f t b: so when i do wax, i won't have to like tape up everything i don't want wax on (like Davbret, lol)
>>Ryephile: ...and leave those little white streaks everywhere, and in the cracks
>>w a g s f t b: yeah but his name's ryan too
>>Ryephile: using the Zymol wax, you actually WANT to get the wax on the trim, it only helps
>>Ryephile: oh, about wheels: I use Zymol Clear (same as paint), but do wheels last. I put on a Mechaniks wear glove and use my hand like a wash mitt, and rub the wheels clean with the suds
>>Ryephile: http://www.mothers.com/products/products.html
>>Ryephile: under Paint Care, bout half way down
>>Ryephile: most of Mother's products are relatively scary, so I was surprised that their Claybar was safe
>>Ryephile: no the, Mother's clay bar is $19ish
>>Ryephile: Wizards and Zymol’s claybars are overpriced
>>w a g s f t b: so now i need the towels...
>>Ryephile: http://www.microfibertech.com/superPack.html
>>w a g s f t b: so how long til i'm buying all this stuff again
>>Ryephile: again!? ughk, two years from now, lol
>>w a g s f t b: good
>>w a g s f t b: should i get any other extra towels, or should this kit take care of it
>>Ryephile: seriously, I use my Wizards Mist-n-shine ALL THE TIME, and I haven't needed to buy a bottle in 18 months!
>>Ryephile: hmm, waffle for drying, a glass towel, two elite (one for mist-n-shine, one for vinyl-shine, and the wash mitt
>>Ryephile: nope, that's it!
>>Ryephile: (you'll use the mist-n-shine towel for wax removal too)
>>Ryephile: (and you apply the wax by hand, actually)
>>w a g s f t b: is that in the directions?
>>Ryephile: should be!
>>Ryephile: also, you could pick up a California car duster
>>w a g s f t b: yeah i've got one
>>Ryephile: those are awesome once you get them nice n dirty
>>w a g s f t b: funny all those posts about people throwing it away when they got dirty
>>Ryephile: they'll streak like mad brand new
>>w a g s f t b: alright, sweet, i guess i'm set
>>Ryephile: you should see mine, it looks wretched, but works amazing
>>w a g s f t b: this should come with a detailer who does the work for you
>>Ryephile: the stuff I recommended is all relatively low-effort with max "sparkle"
>>w a g s f t b: ok, thanks for all your help!
>>Ryephile: no problem, good luck!
>>Ryne whta do you think of the clay bar? does it really work and what does it actually do? I can't inmagine rubbing this chunk of glay acroos my paint... I like to use a spray quikwax from rainex. Its easy to apply and then most of the time I use this product called the "Bomb". Its a liquid spray detailer that works out of this world!!! Just spray on to a damp cloth or the mini and wipe it in.. It looks totally awsome...

 

Round Two: trying to make life easier....maybe

In the past few months I've discovered there are a wide variety of approaches to car care, however a few points remain the same:

First, you must wash the paint. Lots of suds and safe ingredients are important here. Use a sheepskin or microfiber mitt for your "suds transfer apparatus". Shampoos from Mothers, Zymol, P21S, and Pinnacle are safe, yet effective.

Second, you must clean the paint. You can do this by using a clay bar or a paint cleaning lotion. Clay bars from Wizards, Clay Magic, Griots Garage, Mothers, and Pinnacle seem to have the best results. Cleaners from Zymol, Meguiar's, P21S, Klasse, and Pinnacle are great too.

The next step is optional; swirl removers. 3M, Wizards, and Meguair's seem to dominate this category, but keep in mind Klasse All-In-One will work here too.

Critical Step: protection! This is usually the "waxing" stage. There are three basic "waxes"; Carnauba, synthetic, and silicone-based waxes. I recommend staying away from silicon-based waxes, they leave that gross white chalky residue on your trim. Carnauba waxes like Zymol, Pinnacle, and P21S provide a visual gauge (water beading) to see when it's time to reapply. Synthetic waxes like Zaino and Klasse are very easy to apply and generally have different optical properties than natural Carnaubas (neither better or worse). Combinations of both types are encouraged; MCO member Casey really enjoys putting P21S carnauba wax on top of Zaino synthetic wax.

The last step is a glossifier, which is not needed after your occasional waxing routine. A glossifier is a product that does not provide any protection, but creates additional reflection and brilliance to your paint. I put my life on Wizards Mist-n-Shine, however there are other glossifiers that are good too, like Pinnacle and Eagle One.

Most importantly, find products that work for you, and your budget. The effective differences between $20 Zymol Clear and $4 Mothers California Gold car wash may not be worth it to you. I hope this helps a few people out, but if you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

Good luck, and remember: "A clean MINI is a happy MINI!"
Ryan

_________________
Wisdom is not a function of age, but a function of experience.
*The April Club *

 

Everyone Buy the Zymol Clear and Mothers California Gold

Ryan - you are so into this stuff!

BUY ZYMOL !

Anything to make him stop!!!

BUY ZYMOL ! BUY ZYMOL ! BUY ZYMOL !

and remember: "A clean MINI is a happy MINI!"

 

ok Pebbles, that's a bit of an exaggeration :smile:

My main point is just trying to convey the basic process of car care; what you use is obviously up to you; I'm just hoping to point someone in the general right direction.

BUY ZYMOL
BUY ZAINO
BUY WIZARDS
BUY KLASSE
BUY PINNACLE
BUY BUY BUY!

bye bye,
Ryan

 

good point ryan...everyone has their favorites...I encourage people to try as many as they can...but the main point being the process....99% is the prep and effort and only 1% product.

 

Mt brain is overload....too much good stuff to remember......

 

WHAT ABOUT PAYING THE EXTRA DOLLAR AT THE GAS STATION CAR WASH.THE EXTRA DOLLAR GIVES YOU THE SEALER WAX.IT'S A REAL TREAT FOR MY MCS

 

My brain is on overload....too much good stuff to remember...... spellcheck activated.null

 

What are your thoughts on Klasse? I have used it with great results and it works for me. I use Sonax gloss shampoo and the Klasse AOI followed by SG. It really gives my car that shine. To clean my paint I use 3M Imperial Hand glaze. Any input would be appreciated.

 

I use Mother's Back to Black which works pretty well. The problem of wax getting onto the black trim was driving me crazy until I read a post about using Peanut Butter (smooth) to remove the wax. Whiel in initial disbelief, I tried it and the stuff really works the business! Something about the peanut oil that dissolves the wax residue.