This 2006 MINI lives in the desert and is exposed to the worst conditions imaginable. The client had tried to schedule me unsuccessfully over the course of a year but our schedules kept conflicting. Then he got into an accident and had a local paintshop, recommended by his MINI dealer fix and repaint half of it. He said after the paint job that it just didn't have the same shine or look and wanted to know if there was anything I could do!









The swirls were not evident on the bonnet which surprised me considering the condition of everything else.


It actually looked ok!


This is a cleanup job for PreWow


Wheels needed cleanup


The rain gutters need help


Another job for PW


Is that a scratch on the boot handle?






Roof is dull




Cleaned up with PreWow. Note the uniformity, not just the darkness which is a temporary benefit of PW.






I spent about 2 hours claying the roof.


I polished the paint with my Makita rotary using an LC Orange pad and Prima Swirl. I worked from the passenger side around the back to the drivers side. As I worked the bonnet, I realized why the paint looked so dull. Half of this car had been repainted.


I told the owner that I could probably save the paint if I properly wetsand and compound the unfinished painted areas. Because there was clear bra on the bonnet, I had to wetsand around it. I taped it off.

Using my electronic PTG (paint thickness gauge), I took measurements and found the bonnet measured between 6 and 9mil. The passenger side was OEM and measured between 4.5 and 5, typical BMW/MINI thicknesses. Using 2500 Unigrit, I wetsanded the passenger side fender, compounded with wool and M105.


This is how the bonnet looked before wetsanding and compounding

This is a reflection from the original OEM paint, nice sharp and distinct. That's what we wanted the bonnet to look like.



Closeup of unsanded bonnet


Side by side of wetsanded/compounded side on right, and original side on the left. Can you tell how sharp and distinct the finished reflections are?

I removed the windshield washer jets. I had to remove the lining from under the bonnet, then unplug them. I lay a huge blanket on the engine bay to keep from losing any screws. I've done that a few too many times!


While I worked the exterior, my assistant Stephanie worked the interior. Many of you have talked to her when you called or emailed the shop.






The entire bonnet has been wetsanded, minus the clear bra area


Ready for compounding


Looking great!

Bonnet looks fantastic now

Using Black Wow, I restored the arches attached to the front bumper cover. Notice the Pre-Wow already worn off, but it was clean!

Difference between Black Wow and original but clean arches




PreWow on wiper arms


Much better


Pre-Wow on the rear wiper arm and followed with BW


Using the Trim Masking card on the R53




Working that drop in


Looking great with that single drop


Move the card and repeat


Finished in seconds


Tips were polished with NXT Metal Polysh.


All finished!


Sorry no daylight shots, the client had to race back to his work, 3 hours away at 3AM, by the time I finished. He will bring the MINI back to finish the wetsanding on the driver side door, and rear quarter panel. We will take proper pictures then!

All products used for this restore can be found at www.ShowCarSupplies.com

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I noticed there was also a car!

 

Huh?

 

At first glance it was hover MINI!




So what can be done for the now comparatively dull looking clear bra? I'd guess that the bodyshop just put it over their orange-peeled paint. Would removing the clear bra damage the paint?

 

Removing the clear bra won't damage the paint, but because it hadn't been on for very long, the client made the decision to leave it in place and remove it down the line. While the paint is dull under the clear bra, by the very nature of the film, that area will never look as good as the exposed areas anyways.

re: hover MINI
haha yep. I got a hover Clubbie too. The 1x10's kinda spoils the effect lol.