Just a reminder - Next Saturday is our detailing session at Detailers Paradise from 10:30 to 1:00. Detailers Paradise store is located at 1745 South Broadway about a mile south of I-25 on the west side of Broadway.
Right now there are 12 MINIs signed-up for this hands on workshop conducted by our friends at DP and instructed by the "Queen of Clean" herself, Ms. Heather Martinez.
If you are interested please be sure to sign-up on the calendar at: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=2008-4-19&c=2

Jonathan has volunteered to let us fondle his seat ... er ... seats for the interior demo of leather care.

 

Are there still spots open for this?? I would love to attend. I have quite a few detailing questions about my new MINI!!

 

Yes, sign-up on the calendar and show up on Saturday!

 

BTW, for anyone else still interested in joining us this Saturday, there is no limit to the number of people who can participate. So sign up on the calendar anytime and see you at 10:30am on Saturday!

A couple of other notes about this event...

• We will focus on interior care: vinyl, leather, glass, plastic, cloth, etc, as well as convertible top care.
• We will provide coffee and snacks throughout the morning for all.
• We will have a few items on special sale for the day- just for MINI5280 members!

I hope to see you all this Saturday for some fun and learning!

-Heather

 

again, I am sad I have to work :(. I still need to swing by to get the stuff to protect alcantara, as the car is only one panel away from being fully complete

 

A truly educational experience. Huge thanks to Heather (and Nick) for their time, facility and brain dumping.

 

I'll second that! I learned a lot today - Thanks Heather & Nick.

I have a few more photos on my Flickr site here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maybeef...7604630249985/

 

Definitely a great time! Thanks to Heather for all the time she spent showing and explaining all the products. It was fun doing all the comparisons between products. The long-standing water marks on our bonnet stripes are pretty much gone now! Thanks Detailers Paradise (Heather, Nick and the doggies) for a great afternoon. Just took a few pictures...Rich, Teena & RUDEBOX
http://picasaweb.google.com/marblebo...ailersParadise

 

Well My first MINI5280 outing was great!!! Very informative!! Thank you Heather!! BTW Prima products RAWK!! I did a little exterior detailing today and used almost everything I bought yesterday. Great stuff!!

 

My new (to me) Mini has a bunch of road schmutz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schmutz) and I have yet to give it a killer detailing, and want to do it right so I don't have to strip it down again to do it over.

BTW, you Mini guys are awful. I've had my Mini for three weeks and am already scoffing at the marks left by the previous owner on the wheels, and considering buying new (only stock for me) ones or some used ones. I've turned into a Mini snob in record time.

No one told me this thing would be a hobby! (I'm totally ok with it too)

 

Rooster, we have nothing planned with DP until next year which will again rotate back to exteriors. There are a few of us into detailing in MINI5280 so depending on where in the Denver area you exist, you could ask for help from one of us. Also if you read the Detailing Forum there is plenty of juicy info on the how's and how not's - it can be overwhelming but worth it.
If you can limp along till August, one of the best detailers in the country should be at MITM again. Richard (AKA OctaneGuy) Lin was at Copper last year and I'm hoping he will be there this year. He does workshops and will also detail your MINI for a price. DP should also be there again so Heather can offer helpful insights as well.
Let us know where you are located and maybe we can set up a session.
Chuck

 

I'd like to setup a geek / work session on detailing with you guys. Maybe just an excuse for getting those of who need to to set a date and get it done! I am in the Westminster / Broomfield area.

BTW, just posted a top level post about my experience with clay bars. Couldn't find much in here (5280 that is) about them. Hope I didn't offend the forums gods..

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=138383

 

No offense I'm sure, but the Detailing Forum has tons of clay bar info.
I like the idea of a detailing Saturday this summer sometime. Let's kick it around with others.
Chuck

 

I'm definitely in if available. Let's pick a date early so we can avoid conflicts. The DP interior event was a fantastic learning experience. I look forward to another.

 

Count me for this too. I'm always in for more detailing.

 

I would envision this as simply an informal GTG at someone's house. People can bring their PCDAs, polish & wax and towels. We could start with a wash, cover clay use, move to polishing and then wax. We could pool our resources and share products, tools & tips.
I'd offer my house except that our driveway is short and would not fit more than four MINIs (even sideways).

 

PCDAs? I think you need the OCDD handbook to translate this. Personal Car Detailing Accessory's? Portable Cable Direct Applications? errrrr, ummm, Plump Cloth Diapers for Automobiles?

Sounds like depending how many are interested we would need a small parking lot with hose access, or someone who has a big driveway. Another approach is we could do just one car, similar to the DP event.

 

So I live up north, on a corner lot, which would be great for washing, but bad for waxing (full sun) I can check with a friend to see if we could use his large garage (business) that could fit at least 8 minis... Might also ask up at Jeffco airport to see if we can use a hangar. I'll check after I get back from vacation.

 

PCDA
Politically Correct Dumb A$$
Platonic Couple Doing Aspirin
Possible Carrot Demiglaze Allergy
Pontiacs Can't Deliver Anything
... or more correctly,
Porter Cable Dual Action

As for waxing in full sun, I've got a 10x10 & and 12x12 tent that I could bring.
One at a time may take too long (takes me at least 8 hours to do a full wash/clay/polish/wax)
We will need power, shade, water, tunes & beer. Toss in a burger or two and you got yourself a nice little detailing day.

 

Love the PCDA's

Not one at a time, just one. Basically, we all bring lawn chairs, margarita's and watch you for 8 hours. Occaisionally we'd pepper you with questions...

Actually what I meant was we only detail one car, similar to the interior event at DP. Whether everyone participates or just watches, lots of questions would be answered and tips and tricks passed about. Not saying this is preferred, but if it proves difficult to find a place big enough for multiple cars it would be a way to share the wealth.

So basically the next time your going to detail your car, invite us all over to watch.

 

BTW, a few weeks ago when I washed, clayed, polished & waxed it only took me 6 hours.... I must be doing something wrong.

 

I usually take the wheels off at the same time to clean the wheel wells and to clean and wax the rims. That's a good two hours.
So I'm not too keen on this watch Maybee work proposal. I did like the margarita part though!

 

Wow, that's a long day. I can see doing this once a year, but I would do the wheels a different day, like when I'm touching up the trim. One thing high on my mod list right now is replacing my brake pads with ceramics. I can't stand how fast my wheels are black after I clean them.


I don't even know you, but I knew you'd like that one.

 

So in today's wonderful, rainy weather, a co-worker just came in and complimented how nice the roof of my convertible top looked...He thought there was ice forming on the roof but in fact they were gorgeous little beads of water from all the hard work of this detailing session.
Teena

 

Finally, my hard work on that Saturday afternoon has paid off.