My new MINI is currently sitting at the VDC and as I am axiously awaiting her arrival, I wanted to put in an order at DP so that I can perform a proper detailing job when she arrives. Here is what I have on the list so far:

• Paradise Super Bundle
• Prima Amigo
• Prima Clay
• Leatherique Bundle (for the seats)

I wanted to get some feedback from the folks in this forum as to whether this was enough, or possibly over-kill (I've been checking out the forum for a while and I already think I know what the feedback is going to be ). The MINI is going to be my first new car purchase - I drove a "beater" in high school and college, and then did a quick lease after college graduation. I plan on keeping the car for a while, and I am honestly just excited to be getting the MINI, hence the big DP order prior to her arrival. Let me know your thoughts. I should add that she will be parked outside, and winters (and spring this year) can be kind of nasty here.

By the way, Heather, I noticed a little discrepancy in the Super Bundle description. I am hoping that I when I receive my soon-to-be-placed order that I get 6 skinny applicator pads, not 4 !

 

make sure you have a large 5+ gallon wash bucket and a nice washmitt.

swirls are usually created by the person washing/wiping down the car.

 

Oops! Thanks for pointing that out. I fixed it. And yes, you'll receive 6 skinnies with the Super Bundle, not 4.

-Heather

 

The Super Bundle comes with a wool wash mitt, so all set there!

And I agree... many swirls can be prevented by proper washing.

-Heather

 

Your list looks great!

The only thing I might alter is the Leatherique Bundle. While the complete Leatherique system does absolutely amazing things, it may be more than you need for a brand new car. Certainly, you could get it now for the future but you won't need the entire system for about a year.

As an alternative, I would suggest getting just one of the 16oz size Leatherique Prestine Clean instead of the bundle for now. This is an excellent cleaner, which also has just a smidge of conditioner. Here's why...

Here's my abridged lowdown on new automotive leather and its care:

Most new automotive leather has been treated by the manufacturer with a protective coating. Unfortunately, this protective coating isn't the best thing for leather in the long-term as it clogs the leather pores. Manufacturers assume that most people would rather have the short-term benefit of having "tough" impermeable leather that will withstand spills and wear than the long-term benefit of healthy soft leather that lasts forever.

So, new leather's protective coating means that leather conditioners will barely penetrate the leather anyway. In most cases, one can assume that the protective coating on new leather will last anywhere from 6 months to 1 year- usually diminishing gradually over that approx timeframe. Within the first 6 months to a year, it's almost useless to use a conditioner.

Note that the protective coating can be stripped off, for those who want their natural "real" leather asap. Leatherique makes a product called Prepping Agent which will strip all or most of the protective coating. (Prepping Agent is named this way because its primary purpose is to prep leather for re-dying.) Is this stripping necessary then? IMHO, no it is not. In my opinion, you don't lose a significant amount of "leather health" (due to pore clogging) in just one year and you might as well save yourself the labor of stripping off the protection and just take advantage of it.

The most important thing you can do for most new leather is to clean it regularly. Cleaning it regularly, even with a protective coating on it, means that you will prevent the gradual embedding of grime, dirt, etc into the pores of the leather. Yes, the protective coating helps prevent this but it's difficult to assess the rate of the coating's disintegration... so it's best to keep on top of the leather cleaning from the start. If you don't, you'll risk clogging the pores of your leather with dirt/grime as the coating wears off. Then you're back to clogged pores and the issues that accompany them.

In fact, I actively promote more frequent, even if super quick & light, cleanings of any age of leather. Ultimately, this supports your conditioning efforts much more than conditioning alone is able to do.

I could go on and on about leather care but I'll stop here for now. I don't want to put anyone asleep!

Soooo, your list is great but just get the Leatherique Prestine Clean by itself for now.

-Heather

 

Bah, I need to do another DP order soon...

1gal Hyrdro
1gal Clarity
1 New Wash Mit (maybe black )
1 16oz of Cut
1 16oz of Amigo
1 8oz of Wizards Black Renew
3pk Monster Fluffies

Wowzers! Thats $190 already. That list is getting big waaay to fast :(

 

I just placed a similar order last week, but i also included 303 protectant for the interiors i think its a little bit better that nero
i also purchased a grit guard on ebay for my wash bucket and a meguires extractor brush for the top (i have a convertible)
the super bundle from DP rocks and Heather was of great help setting everything up

 

Thanks. I will be placing my order tomorrow

 

chickenbrain, I have a question about the 303 protectant: do you find that it's appropriate on most if not all the Mini's interior surfaces (sans the seats, of course)? I'm vascillating between the Nero and the 303.

 

I have used 303 on almost every surface in my MINI including my seats for over 2 years (my seats are leatherette). The 303 cleans & protects everything nicely without adding an annoying shine. My passenger seat is used by Petey the 70LB puppy 4 days a week & it looks as good as it did the day I bought the MINI

 

70 LB puppy?!?! It's name should be Godzilla! I've never used 303, but I have only had good experiences with Prima's Nero. Protects the surfaces in the car (can use it on just about everything) but doesn't make then slippery.

 

I use the 303 on the dash because I read somewhere that 303 has a lot of UV protection. I love the way Nero looks on the tires. Sorta satin finish rather than hi-shine. I guess it's personal preference. My son likes really shiny tires.

 

I used to love shiny tires, but I recently had a photo shoot with a car I detailed and used Nero on the tires and I have fallen in love (quite literally) with the Nero finish. Looks sooooooo gooooooooood.

 

I placed the order tonight. I figured once I got the call today that my MINI was at the dealear, I should get this order in.
Another question (sorry, but I'm a newbie). Where do I get a grit guard? Is that something that needs to be ordered online? Or is it something I can pick-up in a local auto parts store or Target?

 

I've seen them at auto parts stores, but not at Target.

On a "DP shopping list" note, I used my new black lambswool mitt today...niiiiiice.

 

I am actually on a crusade against shiny tires. They look so tarty and cheep like a $2 ... never mind, but you get the drift. So just say no to the glazed donut motif - go natural!
Here is my opinion on the black mitt for what it is worth; I prefer to be able to see anything that might be stuck in my mitt. Even with two buckets and grit guards you will occasionally get something (a bug bit or grass) stuck in your mitt. With the natural color it is easier to preen your mitt and pull these scratch makers out. I'm afraid that a black mitt would be more difficult to keep clean.
BTW - the skinny pads are way good!