Last week I washed my 04 MCS because it was a great day in western PA, nearly 60 degrees. I put her in the garage. Later in the week a friend came to visit who had not ridden in the new Mini so I offered to take him for a ride. It was raining and crappy at the time. He said "I'd hate to see you get your clean car all dirty just to take my out for a quick ride." I said "Thats OK, I'll "Get" to wash her again". After the ride, my friend made tha comment that he had heard many people say they "had" to wash the car but, he never heard someone say they "Get" to wash their car. I didn't realize that I had phrased it that way. After thinking about it I told him, in my many moons on this earth I have owned a bunch of cars, most of which were new and considered very good rides, even a couple of Minis (65-S and 67-S) and this MINI is the first that I really look forward washing.
How lucky are we

 

We are lucky, I usually "get" to wash my MINI every weekend.

 

"getting" to wash my car in the winter is sometimes a challenge, and I've been known to push the limits, even attempting to wash when the temps are below freezing, but the sun is out. My family and neighbors think me "excessive" or "obsessed", but it is almost painful to see any of my cars dirty !

The exhilaration of seeing a "showroom" clean car in my gaarge is my reward and the pain goes away until I have to pull it back into the elements.

 

>>"getting" to wash my car in the winter is sometimes a challenge, and I've been known to push the limits, even attempting to wash when the temps are below freezing, but the sun is out. My family and neighbors think me "excessive" or "obsessed", but it is almost painful to see any of my cars dirty !
>>

I do the same thing. It is sometimes a challenge to get the car washed and dried before it freezes but it always looks better than when I started.

 

Great question :smile:
I live in NY..on LI
During the spring , summer & fall..... I can honestly say I hand wash my MCS nearly eveyday.... as long as it's not raining. I wax it nearly as often :smile:

During the winter months (where we are now)... I have this strange hand/brush washing technique ..that occurs I'd say conservatively... 3 times per week :smile:
I fill up buckets of lukewarm water/lite soap mixture...and wash the car with an extremely soft brush.
I use the same bucket/brush approach...... to rinse.
I finish with a chamois wearing rubber insulated gloves.
I am afraid to count how many times I actually fill up that bucket o water :smile:

Now everyone repeat after me....OBSESSED...rofl. :smile:
I absolutely can not stand looking at a dirty car...
It just makes me... cringe!!!!

Peace,
D



_________________
I own a 2002 MCS w/ alot of stuff on it.

 

>>Now everyone repeat after me....OBSESSED...rofl. :smile:
>>I absolutely can not stand looking at a dirty car...
>>It just makes me... cringe!!!!
__________________
Cleanliness is next to godliness.....and next to impossible too. Kudos from one Dennis to another for trying.

 

I am in NY as well and had the Cooper dirty for almost a month. I actually feel it ads some character to the car ... really ... like I've been through some hellish rally or something.

But I did get to handwash it this past Monday, so it should be good to go for another month. I am not for washing cars often in 30 degree weather.

Summer ... that is a different story.

 

>>I absolutely can not stand looking at a dirty car...
>>It just makes me... cringe!!!!

===>I'm with ya, D

 

I'm fortunate that I don't have to drive my Mini in crappy weather. But after taken her out for a ride, the first thing I do is use my compressor to blow off every square inch of the surface including the brakes, wheels and tires. Then I roll her into the garage where it's "slightly" warmer and finish her off with the California duster. Then if there's any speck of smuges (I think it's the spent rubber from the tires..always on the side of doors LOL), I'll use Griot's Speedshine then she's good as new

OBSESSED? Join the club

 

I get to wash my MINI everytime I drive it. I missed one time and my wife saw a mark on the hood(bug guts) :smile: ,this is fantastic in the winter

 

i don't particularly like washing my cars, but do like to keep them clean
and enjoy it more when i drive a clean car...so i do it anyways. not
as a chore or anything, but as part of owning a fun car. :smile:

 

I "get" to wash mine a couple of times a week.
It makes me happy. :smile: :smile: :smile:

But how about automatic car washes? I avoid
them... but when I occassionally do use them,
I only go to"touchless" car washes...

Who's with me?

God speed.

 

Hey Dennis,

Your technique is rather good given the weather.

>>During the winter months (where we are now)... I have this strange hand/brush washing technique ..that occurs I'd say conservatively... 3 times per week :smile:
>>I fill up buckets of lukewarm water/lite soap mixture...and wash the car with an extremely soft brush.
>>I use the same bucket/brush approach...... to rinse.
>>I finish with a chamois wearing rubber insulated gloves.
>>I am afraid to count how many times I actually fill up that bucket o water :smile:
>>
>>Now everyone repeat after me....OBSESSED...rofl. :smile:
>>I absolutely can not stand looking at a dirty car...
>>It just makes me... cringe!!!!

And no, you are just a normal MINI person that enjoys the look of a nice clean MINI.
I won't tell you what I do cause then you'll want to do it too.
But if you ask around, I usually keep my MINI pretty clean.

Erik808,
I do notice that your MC is always looking new. Great job. Keithy is another one.

 

i'm lucky enuff to wash once a week. more than that, forget about it. no ways, impossible, not enuff time with 1 f/t job and 1 p/t job, travel time of 1-2 hours daily, and surf time.

still i thought once a week would be good enuff, but beastmaster saw the rear of my mini inbetween washes and couldn't believe how dirty it was even with once a week washings.

now once a week is a humungo change for me, as i took my p/u thru the automated car wash maybe once every 2-3 months. wax maybe once a year. wash the bed, never, unless you count the auto car washes. but then that's why i got the spray-on liner. no need worry about the bed rusting from my ocean gear.

but buy the mini and i'm a changed man, kinda.

 

I am an over 60 OF and I have never handwashed any car I have ever owned. As a teenager I did wash the family car a few times, because Dad made me do it, but my own car -NEVER. Then I bought Cousin MINI.

She gets handwashed about every week or 10 days. Love makes us do things we never thought possible!

 

I get to wash my car all the time. I will not bring it to a car wash ever. i have "Ice Fishing" Mittens to wash it when it gets really cold. :smile:


My Neighbors thing I am nutes when it is 20 degrees out and I am washing my car.

 

Its been raining here so I dont "get" to wash my car...but I usually wash her every week or so.

 

>>Erik808,
>>I do notice that your MC is always looking new. Great job. Keithy is another one.

===>My wash bucket calls twice a week

 

It's currently illegal to wash your car in your driveway in Vegas. We have water restrictions going. Commercial carwashes are not allowed to run unless they are the kind that recycle their water.
But in general, Alice has only been hand washed once.

 

Dennis,
Thanks for sharing your technique. I am new to a cold climate, and did not know what to do, especially living in a high rise condo, but this place does have an area for washing your car with 4 or 5 water faucets. I will try your technique. Peace

 

Nice thought. I "got" to wash mine yesterday. But it's raining now and will continue to do so through the weekend. Now I'm just hoping for another decent weekend to wash "Wilson" again. I'm adding a heater to my new garage so I'll "get" to wash my Mini year round. For now, I continue to use a method very similar to Dennis'

 

>>I "get" to wash mine a couple of times a week.
>>It makes me happy. :smile: :smile: :smile:
>>
>>But how about automatic car washes? I avoid
>>them... but when I occassionally do use them,
>>I only go to"touchless" car washes...
>>
>>Who's with me?<<

 

This is why I love my heated garage with a drain. I wash my mini about once a week , wash my pickup and 4 runner about twice a month, wash my landcruiser almost every time I drive it. But the mini and landcruiser always get waxed at least once a month, the other two about twice a year.

 

Yeah, I have never looked at washing my Mini as a chore. I love how it looks when I'm done!

 

During the spring, summer, and (most of) the fall, I get to wash my MINI. I love it, I've always loved washing my cars. It feels very therapeutic, and seeing the end result glistening in the sunlight is very rewarding. During the winter, I get to watch my MINI cruise through the carwash, and I get to see everybody else's reaction to my truly unique automobile. :smile: