Man there's snow on my car and i'm not sure i like it... Due to the water restrictions i haven't been able to wash it for months. It was a regular Sunday ritual. You know, cut grass, wash dog, wash car and cook burgers. Just like everyone else, right? Am i going to have to break the law? A few laps around town tomorrow with this bad weather and my car will look like it's been dating a snow plow. This is my baby and it needs to be clean.

please send advice or OCD pharms ASAP

 

When I lived in NY my winter ritual was to use a high pressure car wash 1 or 2 times a week to keep the salt off. Then a detail come spring.

 

I am on work/vacation in FL. Did we get more than a dusting? My kids are all upset because they missed the once a year snow!

 

we got a good 3-4 inches here in Clemson. There cant be anything more fun than a College campus when it snows

 

That was one of my best days in college. I was at NC State and we had about 8 inches one night. we all thought class would be canceled so we partied hard that night. Classes weren't canceled but we didn't go anyway.

we need pics of the fun.

 

By the Student Center, Not many people out yet

 

did you still have class today?

 

Yeah, they started at 10:00, I got out of my 8:00 econ class so I was ok with the result. It wasnt too bad this morning, just really sloppy.

 

Chris, I don't use them, but what about Autobell and those kind of places? (I'm on a well, so I just use my own water, sparingly, but as required)

 

I've been to the "do it yourself" place but i don't like the idea of using that brush that was used to clean a trailer full of muddy 4 wheelers before i got there. I'll try the pressure washer tomorrow if it's not 35.

I'm going to the BMW Performance Center for some fun on Saturday and i want my car to look good. Chances are i'll be the MINI there.

 

I was wondering about driving schools or courses that i might look into around the Charlotte area on toward the summer. I am expecting an 08 MCS in the next few weeks and would like to spend a couple of months getting to know it and then take some Mini-specific driving training. Nothing too hard-core -- I just want to learn how to handle it the way a Mini should be handled!

Thanks for any info you could give me and, yeah, I know I'm off topic so...

We got about 2 inches of snow beginning around 11:00 last night and then nothing else but rain all day today. Schools in Rock Hill delayed 2 hours and released 2 hours early due to pre-planned exam schedule. No school tomorrow or Monday per pre-set calendar.

 

My car is so not used to this!!!!



I am just glad I am not there... I am in AZ. Its cold here but nothing like it is there.
Isnt it true that this is the first snowfall you all have had in like 6 years?

 

Really the only MINI specific school that's out there is Phil Wicks. He'll be dong a School at VIR this year. This depends on your definition of hardcore. It's a driving school with speeds well over 100. Other than that you can check out the Petty Safe Driving school. It's more of a defensive driving school but you get to push your car and get it out of shape to learn the limits. Nothing over 40mph here for the Charlotte schools.

 

hope that helps.

 

Thanks, Bluesmini! I think the Petty School sounds like just my speed!

 

Washing your car in times of water restrictions can be manageable. Here's how I make it happen...

I have two 5 gallon buckets from Home Depot with lids and Grit Guards, and I fill them up with HOT water from the bathtub at home, then seal them with the lids. Check to make sure you have them sealed tightly, of course, before loading into the boot.

I take three 1 gallon buckets that I take to the car wash empty. They stack together easily, and don't take up too much space in transit.

I fill a small storage bin with all my washing supplies (MF wash mitts, gel bug & tar remover, Goo Gone, P21S gel wheel cleaner, wheel wash mitt, wheel brush, Zaino Z7 soap, Megs Gold Class soap, Dawn soap, claybar, clay lube spray, latex gloves, etc.), and another small container holds my MF waffle weave drying towels.

Once I have all the above items packed and ready to go, I fill my pocket with quarters and head up the road to the local DIY wash place. Unload all the stuff from the car, and get everything set up.

I pour some Dawn into one of the small buckets (for wheel cleaning), and fill that bucket the rest of the way with the hot water from the 5-gallon bucket. I also pour hot water into the 2 other small buckets as well. Pour some Z7 soap into the remaining 2-2.5 gallons of hot water in that same 5-gallon bucket.

Then, I turn on the water, give the car a good soak and rinse, and use the high-pressure spray (about the last 10 seconds of time on the clock) to fill the small Dawn bucket with suds.

Then, I clean the wheels, using the 2-bucket method (two small buckets here). One small bucket contains Dawn, and the other contains water. When you have completed the wheel wash, rinse all the wheels, and I typically rinse/soak the entire car again, just to make sure I get most of the dirt off before I begin to wash with the mitt. I also save the last 15 or so seconds on the clock for filling the Zaino soap bucket with suds.

I wash the body of the car next using the 2-bucket method (remember you still have a full 5-gallon bucket of clean hot/warm water to use as the rinse bucket). Rinse very well afterwards.

Pack all your supplies, load them up, and begin to dry the car. If it's really cold out, you may want to save the drying step for when you get home and get into a garage. That is fine, but just remember that dirt, etc. loves to fly up and stick to the boot, especially when it's wet. You may want to use your wet wash mitt (or Hydro, Slick, Speed Shine, quick detail spray, etc.) to wipe it down before drying the boot.

Water restrictions not broken, MINI cleaned. Problem solved.

 

Chris,
Awesome stuff lol.. It truly is amazing what we will do for our cars!

 

I just hide in the backyard and do it, or sneak down to Doc's he is on well water. Right now its warmed up to a cool 23 from the low of 12 last night and the snow on my car is now ICE on my car and not melting to fast. Going to be heading out in a short so I will sling the Ice off going around some corners!!! Trace we have had a small amount of snow twice this past week. About 1 inch the 1st time and 2-4 depending on where you live the second. About every 10 years and we are due, we get 10-16 inches and we all sit home a couple days til it melts, no salt or snow plows for the secondary roads, just the warmth of mother nature!

 

Only snowed for about 30 min. on Saturday, and then it stopped. Needless to say we were well short of the 1-3 inches the predicted for Clemson.

 

OK, i've been breaking the law. I broke out the pressure washer yesterday and sprayed down my car and my brothers. they looked bad. Not much better now but most of the visible salt is gone.