I was reflecting on Minihune's pix of his under the bonnet MINI - - - how nice, shiny and clean!!! Even the revving and whirring sound clean. And as Bill Green of Kahala Shell quoted from his mother, "a clean car always runs better," I wondered how many of you detail your MINI's under the bonnet. And if you do, what do you use?

 

I waxed every painted surface under the bonnet, door jambs, boot jamb, painted interior panels/pieces, and my current 2 sets of wheels Turtle Wax/Kit/Meguires or whatever is leftovers, for the wheels

Yes, I am a MINIAC....however, I don't wash my MINI as often as minihune

 

>>Yes, I am a MINIAC....however, I don't wash my MINI as often as minihune
That is because MINIAC does not = maniac.

How often do I clean? Can you say twice a day? Actually in the beginning it was more than that but the MINI is so small that it was fun and easy to do pretty quickly.

Now that my MINI is aged I do less and less but every once in a while, usually a few weeks I do a deep cleaning and will work on the interior, exterior, under bonnet, under chassis, and inside wheelwell (all mechanicals) areas.

Recently I took off my Quicksilver exhaust and did minimal cleaning of it before selling it. It was in great shape overall. Having excellent parts makes for easy cleaning.

During the times I do cleaning I am also inspecting and checking for wear. I know where problems are occuring.

Are other MINI owners equally nuts? Sure, I'm in good company.

So what do I do under the bonnet? Not much really, just use a clean microfiber towel and wipe down everything on a regular basis. Since I don't let things get dirty there is not much to do. Keithy also has an excellent MCS with spotless interior, exterior and under bonnet areas.

 

The Bimmer dealer's mechanic gave me a hard time for grunge under the bonnet when I brought the car back for loose nuts. This was the nuts that hold the decorative bonnet scoop on. I just wanted this logged as a quailty issue...I have nut drivers!

He said "Don't any of you MINI people give the car a bath more then once a year?"

The car had about 100 miles on it, but it was loaded with salt. His claim was a supercharged/intercooled car should be better maintained. Anyway, he told me I should periodically rinse the engine off. This is done with a COLD engine, start it up and spray gently while it's running. Don't spray water in your intake.

Wipe everyhing visible off with a rag. Don't burn your hands on the exhaust manifold. You can now drive away and freak out your neighbors with the big cloud of steam that'll rise from your bonnet scoop.

I spray under the bonnet periodically. I wipe off everything that's visible every time I wash the car. It gets wet in there from overspray from the regular washing. I also like to keep my intercooler and A/C condenser free of bugs. I spray the A/C condenser from the top down, trying NOT to drive stuff deeper into it.

I have not applied any chemicals under the bonnet. Especially, do NOT ever use silicone or Armor All around a running engine. It can fubar your oxy sensor.

 

>>The Bimmer dealer's mechanic gave me a hard time for grunge under the bonnet when I brought the car back for loose nuts.

Some mechanics are impressed if you do keep your engine bay clean. It's a sign that you are checking for problems or that you are nuts like me. In general it is nice to work on a clean engine.

Here is my engine bay after 1 year and more than 11,000 miles.

 

Man, you could eat off that surface.

 

>>I waxed every painted surface under the bonnet, door jambs, boot jamb, painted interior panels/pieces, and my current 2 sets of wheels :smile:

BTW, is there a one stop shop where you can find most of that stuff?

 

>>As a new MINI owner I'm trying to become more knowledgeable and care-full with my little MINI-24kt. I've usually used whatever cheapie stuff I could find on the outside, and never under the hood.

>>BTW, is there a one stop shop where you can find most of that stuff?
NAM sponsor-
http://www.nacarcare.com/

mini-t helped us with a group buy for Zaino products.

Microfiber towels we get from Costco or http://www.pakshak.com/ (ask keikilee about group orders)

And I thought this was a good read
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ic=8218&49

Have fun. A clean MINI is a happy MINI

 

Thanks, MINIhune. I've seen the web links, but I was hoping someone would tell me that if I went into WalMart and looked in a certain corner behind the toilet paper, I would find all this stuff.
Guess it's not that easy, huh?

 

I've been to walmart and Costco to look for things already.

Microfiber towels are cheap at Walmart but I did not find the quality to be as good. Costco microfiber is better and the pakshak is best but the prices reflect that.

Zaino is only sold through dealers.

Walmart will have various waxes/cleansers/and polishes. Take your pick.

 

>>Microfiber towels are cheap at Walmart but I did not find the quality to be as good. Costco microfiber is better and the pakshak is best but the prices reflect that.

nobias99,
I'm the pakshak queen, so if anybody wants, let me know! My prices are about 50% less than what's advertised on their website (pakshak.com I think). Let me know if you want to try some, no need be a group buy. I love the pakshak!

 

what do you all use for the wheels? especially white wheels?

right now, i'm out trying to find some p-21s that's supposed to be pretty safe yet effective for spray-and-wash-away applications. either somebody recommended it or i read about it on one of these links.

so far, i've been to car quest, daiei, redline. now that i think about it, i don't think i've ever seen any of the p-21s products in local stores. it might be available only online.

with my current wheels, the asa lw5's, it takes me longer to clean those guys than the rest of the mini.

i'll soon be trading in those guys for some stock x-lites in white. guarantee those are easier to clean than the lw5's.

 

Just don't scrub too hard. If you do, you may start to chafe.

 

Went to Daiei today and found that new Meguiar's NXT polymer wax that David Bynon is raving about.

See http://www.bettercarcare.com/articles.php?articleId=35


>>I've been to walmart and Costco to look for things already.
>>
>>Microfiber towels are cheap at Walmart but I did not find the quality to be as good. Costco microfiber is better and the pakshak is best but the prices reflect that.
>>
>>Zaino is only sold through dealers.
>>
>>Walmart will have various waxes/cleansers/and polishes. Take your pick.

 

Your highness,
Thanks for your offer. I just picked up a supply of Costco's yellow mft's. What color are the pakshaks? Maybe can segregate the uses.

>>>>Microfiber towels are cheap at Walmart but I did not find the quality to be as good. Costco microfiber is better and the pakshak is best but the prices reflect that.
>>
>>nobias99,
>>I'm the pakshak queen, so if anybody wants, let me know! My prices are about 50% less than what's advertised on their website (pakshak.com I think). Let me know if you want to try some, no need be a group buy. I love the pakshak!

 

pakshak towels come in blue/green/yellow and in different sizes. Hold off, and I'll bring some for you at the next meet.

 

nope, don't want no chafing. sometimes if i go commando though, i get a little rashy, especially if i'm hanging out at the beach all day in my surfshorts.

for me, only the best...pakshak.

for drying the moisture after washing though, i still like the waffle weave ones i got in my klasse kit.

 

kyle - You amaze me. I would have thought your towels were in like new condition or new in packages.

Going commando! I haven't heard that term in years!

_________________

 

Thanks Keiki for offering the cleaning materiel, and thanks Kyle for tips on what to do with it.

Softness, good. Chafing, bad!!!!!

>>pakshak towels come in blue/green/yellow and in different sizes. Hold off, and I'll bring some for you at the next meet.

 

you won't believe it but...i washed my mini last night. i did kinda hafta dust off the car washing gear.

and wouldn't you know it, today i drove into palolo valley to meet up with a potential white x-lite seller, and it starts raining back there. and i got that foam dust still blowing out from the relatively new milltek exhaust. when that stuff mixes with rain, the end result looks like those spaghetti strands of dust that collects in the corners of the house.

ontop of all that, the weather forecast is for on and off rain this week. perfect for water spots. especially when driving thru to ewa beach to mililani and back home.

btw, those white x-lites...were pretty much wasted with some curb rash on one side of the car and a crack probably from all those potholes in palolo. so, i guess i'm gonna hafta keep cleaning my lw5's every week. but i plan to get one of those paint brush thingies to get into the 99 crooks and crannies in'em.

 

Oh my! Fashion has its price. I feel your frustration, Kyle.

My son was looking through the MINI catalogue of upgrades for rims that he would like dad to get for our MC. He picks the ones that look nice to him - - - I'm picking the ones that look easy to clean.

>>you won't believe it but...i washed my mini last night. i did kinda hafta dust off the car washing gear.
>>
>>and wouldn't you know it, today i drove into palolo valley to meet up with a potential white x-lite seller, and it starts raining back there. and i got that foam dust still blowing out from the relatively new milltek exhaust. when that stuff mixes with rain, the end result looks like those spaghetti strands of dust that collects in the corners of the house.
>>
>>ontop of all that, the weather forecast is for on and off rain this week. perfect for water spots. especially when driving thru to ewa beach to mililani and back home.
>>
>>btw, those white x-lites...were pretty much wasted with some curb rash on one side of the car and a crack probably from all those potholes in palolo. so, i guess i'm gonna hafta keep cleaning my lw5's every week. but i plan to get one of those paint brush thingies to get into the 99 crooks and crannies in'em.
>>
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