Hope this isn't redundant--I've done lots of reading here but want to make sure I do this correctly.

I'll be taking delivery of my new MINI in December, which is deep winter here. Should I just wait until Spring to do a thorough "first wash" with Dawn, clay bar, etc. Epic wax, etc.,--or is it important to find a way to do that as soon as possible? Until I do the "first wash" routine, should I attempt to spray off the road grime, salt, sand, at a manual car wash with just water or, alternatively, at a touchless car wash (which always uses soap and some sort of protectant)?

Don't want to get off to a bad start!

Thanks!

 

If you plan to get snow and ice on your car and you care about your paint, then I would say it's imperative to get a good coat of wax on the paint as soon as possible.

Soap is used to help break down and lift off accumulated dirt and mud on your car. Hitting it with just water is better than nothing, but IMO, if you're going to hit it with water, then wax it, the possibility of rubbing a still dirty car and hurting your paint is very likely.

That is, if you just want to rinse it off, then fine, but I wouldn't go rubbing on the paint as what happens when you dry it or wax it.

Although the dealer probably applied some temporary protectant on the paint, you can't be sure it's going to last your entire winter.

Richard

 

Thanks, OG. I'll try to do a thorough first cleaning/waxing at the earliest opportunity.

 

i hope that's not next spring.