Im currently using Meguires Gold Class Endurance on my 2011 MCS tires. I have used this product for the last few years and really like that it lasts quite a long time. My only complaint now is that even when I wipe as much off as I can I still get a little fling off from it. Of course this lands on the gray plastic wheel arch moldings and creates dark little spots. Im looking for something that can clean this off easily without damage to the plastic. Right now Im just using some Meguiers Quick detailer to remove it.

Also what is the best method to keep these gray moldings looking new? Its my one and only main complaint about the Mini exterior. Its a pain to keep clean and looking like it should after awhile.

 

Pre-WOW, or any other plastic cleaner will do it. I like Einszett Plastic deep cleaner.
http://www.detailersdomain.com/1zein...-reiniger.aspx

This stuff will not fling, but most likely not last as long as the Meg product.
http://www.detailersdomain.com/adams...-supervrt.aspx
You might also want to try one of the tire dressings that don't fling.

 

That looks like the deal then. Any idea of some non-fling tire products?

 

I use 303 Aerospace protectant. I spray directly onto a cloth, then wipe the tires. I'm not sure if you are looking for a glossy tire or not--the 303 gives a moderate gloss, which is what I prefer.

http://www.303products.com/

 

I have the 303 already, I might give that a shot next time. I normally use that in the interior.

 

I use it on the interior also, and that's where I started it . . . One day I read the lablel closely and it mentioned use for tires and black trim, so I tried it. I also use it on other black trim/parts like wiper blades and the black trim that meets the base of the windshield. It imparts a nice sheen, but is not too shiny.

 

Mother's Back to Black worked real well for me on the plastic wheel arches. I had a little wax on the upper edges, nothing else worked to get it off.

Dave

 

Any one try this, Gold Class Trim Detailer

 

First off you need to realize that the ability to maintain rubber versus plastic are different. Using a tire dressing on the plastic might give you the look you want, but if you've ever noticed that the way your tires stay shiny and black is that the tire dressing stays sticky and wet. Put on a product that dries, and your tires won't be shiny.

Endurance is especially this way.

Mother Back to Black doesn't have cleaners in it, so any wax that was removed was either masked (and will return once B2B wears off) or came off from the friction of your applicator.

Black Wow was created to solve these problems. It provides a matte finish that absorbs into the plastic arches and skirts and stays there longer than other products. Initially it goes on shiny, but once you wash the car, what didn't absorb and is on the surface is removed, leaving behind the matte black finish. Black Wow includes a small amount of cleaners to make it easier to remove wax/polish stains, but Pre-Wow was brought out to permanently solve that problem more easily.

Meguiar's Gold Class Trim Detailer is easy to use but will need to be reapplied each time you wash. I just worked on a customers MINI where I applied Black Wow back in November, and I left some spots where it wasn't applied and 3 months later, the treated side is still beading and dark black.

Yes it works.

Lots of NAM vendors sell it including Way Motor Works, MINI Mania, Detailers Domain, and Alta Performance.

Richard

 

I was hoping you would chime in on this one.

I have not used anything to protect or add shine etc to the gray plastic wheel arches only cleaned off the fling with some Quick Detailer. Im really thinking about using my 303 on the tires from now on since I don't care about the shiny look but just want them black is all. That way I should not have to deal with the fling off from the Endurance.

So from what I gather if I do have dirt, gunk etc on the plastic arches I should use some sort of cleaner like posted above and once in awhile something like Black WOW, correct?

 

Someone suggested to me using a gel-based tire shine, rather than a water based one, which will eliminate the sling. I've seen many "no sling" tire shines found in any auto section of a specialty or department store. I'm a nut about having my tires as shiny as possible when I fully detail my car, it's the icing on the cake for me, and it definitely is annoying when the grease gets onto the wheel arches, so if you still want to keep your tires shiny, I'd try the gel-based products.

 

Cool!

Remember that most dressings/trim products are not cleaner dressings. It's usually one or the other and part of that is for marketing reasons to have two separate products and another part is that sometimes the ingredients in the cleaner might react or degrade the performance of the dressing.

For example, Pre-Wow removes Black Wow, so it's best to make sure Pre-Wow is dry before doing Black Wow.

Black Wow will outperform tire dressings and Mothers B2B in terms of looks and durability on plastic trim. It's a lousy tire dressing, so don't bother using BW on tires. The technology behind BW is different from all the rest. In simple terms, it readily absorbs but fights with all its might to not get kicked back out. That allows it to persist and last a long time except on very porous materials like rubber.

Richard

Endurance is a gel based tire shine. The trick to most tire products is letting it dry properly. Don't just put it on and drive off. When I work on a car, I wash it, thoroughly clean the tires using Meguiar's Tire Foam and a nylon brush, air dry it, then dress it, then work on the rest of the car. This way by the time I'm done..after 12+ hours, the tire gel won't sling.

I used a variety of tire dressings including Prima Nero (not specifically a tire dressing but works well), Meguiar's Insane Shine and Hot Shine in aerosol formats are best, Meguiar's Hyper Dressing (water based), and others. Give it time to dry, these don't sling.

 

Great tips I will try them in the future!

 

I've been using this stuff for years on my bikes, leather jackets and the black molding on any of my vehicles. I started using it on the Mini as soon as the arches started to look crappy. It holds up much longer than anything else I have used (literally months) and will not wash off or rub off on you once it dries. However it is harder to put on, but the end result is worth it. You can buy this stuff on ebay cheaper than the company sells it for. DocBaileys