I was just wondering. My MA said that I should wait 6 months before I wax my new MINI. With todays technology and baked on finishes, is this still the case?

Are some of the polishes safer on new paint than other brands?

 

interesting--never heard of "waiting" to wax, i did it after about a week of having it in my posession

 

I think you are right. I remember in the "old days" if you had you cars body worked on or repainted by a local guy, they would say to wait to let the paint fully cure. But this is 2011, we have ovens and the like now.

Oh, and you had to walk up hill both ways to the body shop.

 

You can wax/seal the paint the minute you get your car home.
As said in a post above, paint is baked on in the factories so no need to wait.
Repaint is when you need to let the paint out gas. The paint does not dry, it hardens. More of chemical process than drying. For that reason most body shops will say wait 30 to 90 days (they seem to have different times) before sealing the paint.

If you have not read all of the good information from this section on the process you probably want to do that before you start.
If you have been doing your reading have at it.

 

Excellent reply Thulchatt. One more thing...the reason that finishes are baked at the factory and not the local body shop is simply that at the factory...you've got a car that isn't yet assembled with parts and chemicals that can combust or melt. Keeping that simple fact in mind, it's obvious why you would have to wait for the paint to cure from a body shop.

 

The only reason to wait to wax a new car is if there was some damage in transit that
required repainting at the VPC before delivery to the dealer.

Maybe there's something your dealer isn't telling you about the MINI's transit history...
much more likely there isn't and he just doesn't know what he's talking about regarding new paint and wax.

 

Digging up this thread because I had the hood and roof resprayed after a dump truck let loose a ton of rocks at my car. I'm thinking two weeks might be loang enough to wait but what do you guys think? should I wait 30 days or even 90?

 

30 to 60 days is the norm but it depends on environmental factors. Some painters say its not necessary to wait because they cures it with UV lamps before you picked it up. Since there is no way to tell, best practice is give it 30 days to finish out gassing. If you give it less you might not see any harm but you won't know till years down the line lol.

Richard

 

Thanks Richard! the boot is all kinds of swirly from the winter and a lack of polishing or waxing. Looks like i will be delaying my ritual easter polish till cinco de mayo.

 

Your MA doesn't have a clue. You can't seal and wax it soon enough.

 

Sorry, for the interjection of humor, but . . . My pappy said, "up hill both ways in the snow, barefoot and carrying a hot potato to keep your hands warm that was the only thing you could eat for lunch." A little country humor, but it got me my Mini.