It looks like the perfect product!

 

From the reviews I have seen on other forums, it works well. It isn't as easy as 1,2,3, like their website claims. You put some on your finger, put a dab on the chip, rub it with your finger, wait for it to dry a bit, then "buff it out".

The problem with this, as you can see when you click on "See How It Works" on their webpage is Picture 2.

With almost any chip, there is a recessed area. If you just put a dab of paint in there and buff it out, it covers up the steel, but not the divot/impression in your paint. So, if you want to do it right, you have to go over it 3 or 4, or sometimes more times.

It works well, but is way more involved than they lead you to believe.

 

From what I have read on that banned MINI forum it sounds good. I have used a Lanka kit on our Subaru & was less than pleased with the results. I will give this one a try. To do it right takes time.

 

I've been touching up rock chips "the old fashioned way" for years, so now I own dozens of previously repaired chips on the Aero bumper cover and bonnet with various incarnations of divots and blobs, along with the dozens of unfilled chips on the Aero bumper cover that are somewhat disguised because the underlying material is similar in color to PW.

I imagine using this particular product in the correct manner could easily end up being a multi-day project this winter. And what to do with the previously filled chips? Gouge out the blobs and start over? (Some are sizable.)

I guess I could try this on all of the new chips and leave the old ones alone. I've already resigned myself to the fact of a complete repainting at some future point since I'm keeping my '05 forever and would like to keep it "showable." I haven't reached my threshold of pain yet, but I'm closing on it...

Oh, and after that repainting (whenever it occurs) the car will not be moved one inch until outgassing and a clearbra installation are complete. I will never again purchase a daily driver that isn't wearing a clearbra.

 

Gonna do a massive detail this week.
Today was under the hood. Nothing fancy just wiped off as many things as I could.
Tomorrow I'm going to hit the MINI with some clay bar (finally) and wax. Any suggestions on techniques and/or how long should this take to do. I've heard it can take 6hrs ! If thats the case does anyone want to help?
After that will be my stinkin' rims. I have a Mr. Clean Eraser, let's see what that does.
Then interior detail & trim.

 

I detailed my Wife's car when we got it. No clay bar, but she picked up the Clay bar about 3 weeks ago. Of course, we have to get the bumper and part of the hood repainted, so the clay bar is gonna wait.

As far as the Magic Eraser, watch it...Foam melamine is wicked stuff. It will take the finish and anything else off your rims if you aren't careful. If you were closer, I'd help, but I'm about 2 hours from the Quad Cities.

I've got some Turtle Wax Ice wax that I used on my Lancer. It just swirled and swirled and would never come off. I washed my car a good 6 times until it came off. I don't know if I used too much, but I just kept trying to buff it out and it would never buff out.

 

I too have many old repairs to the bonnet. A paint pen has been the routine. On return from Iowa I see that your bugs are made of depleted uranium & have really added to my pock marked bonnet. I thinking I should consider them as beauty marks & leave them there at this point.

Next car gets a clear bra before it hits the streets for sure.

 

ViperGTS
As far as the Magic Eraser, watch it...Foam melamine is wicked stuff. It will take the finish and anything else off your rims if you aren't careful. If you were closer, I'd help, but I'm about 2 hours from the Quad Cities.


That's good to know. Maybe I'll just let it be rather than to try something new and have it backfire in my face again.
BTW, Armor All makes this spray-on for rims to help repel brake dust and grime etc. Don't even bother with it. It seems to attract more than repel and its even grimier than before.

No word on how long to clay-bar eh?

 

Well, I just ended up doing everything and that took 5hrs.
It was kind of enjoyable. I went thru about 4 or 5 bottles of water and 3 shirts. I hope I lost 5lbs from all the sweating I did. My friend stopped by as I was finishing up and he asked "Are you going to take it for drive?".
I replied "No way, it'll get dirty."
And now it looks likes it might rain. Oh the Irony.

 

I know what you mean!

Rain worries are unjustified, me thinks.

 

I should have italicised that enjoyable comment.
I didn't mean it as I enjoyed it, I kind of enjoyed it. It was a lot of sweat and a lot of work. Cooler weather would have been nice.
I enjoyed the end result. Now I wish I would have done this on Friday.

 

Im getting ready to sell our 06 mini if you know anyone interested let me know, Thanks, Mike

 

We'd need some more information.

Wanna trade for an 09 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS?

 

I bought a stool on wheels for when I clay bar. I also have it up on jack stands which makes it a little higher. I allocate the whole day. Usually Mother's Day with my son. Good Mother-son activity. He takes the wheels off and on for me.

 

i dont have room for another car

 

Just received Adam's In and Out spray - what a great product! Aerosol, for plastic, rubber etc. sprayed some hoses and covers on engine also on wheel wells, gets everything back to a nice rich black. http://www.detailersdomain.com/adams...doutspray.aspx

 

Is anyone game for an impromptu MINI run to the Cassville Ferry this weekend?
There's nothing on the calendar and somebody's gotta be itchin' to drive.

On a side note...My buddy might in the market for a car. Trying to talk him into an '02 Y/W with 51k/m for $10K.

 

Saturday, we are headed over to Wheaton, IL, for the Chicago Reptile Expo. And on Sunday, I think we may be going to Eagle Point Park in Dubuque, IA. We'd love to meet up with some EIM peeps. Just let us know!

 

These are not my photos of the Balducci Run but they'll suffice.
Follow link here ---> Mini Cooper's at Balducci Winery

 

Thanks for the link...enjoyed looking at them even with the watermark. Looks like you had a nice day.

Too bad I can't migrate them to the website--the dude wants $8 per pic! IF they were carefully staged portraits I could understand; and he's got some nice pics in his other galleries but...c'mon man...his Balducci pics are just snaps. Very low of this guy IMHO to try and gouge folks for them.

 

Your might spot your MINI in my video

http://animoto.com/play/eOIvaNv8kQnbd9qsr0qzRA

 

I had similar problems with Ice. If my towel found the tiniest bit of water in a body seam or whatever, it would leave a trail and I'd have to buff it all out again. It seemed like the car had to be absolutely dry in order to use it.

Tried Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Wax this weekend and was thrilled with it. Just sprayed it on and wiped it off and it left a great shine. I couldn't believe it was really that easy.

 

That's really cool!

 

That's a sweet video clip. You managed to dig pretty far back into the archives for a few of those pics. Brings back fond memories of some of our good MINI times together, back when EIM was just a baby.

 

I enjoyed it. Nice work. Thanks for the memories!!