Hey everyone

This is my first thread attempt so please forgive the remedial level questions that I'm certain are about to follow. I'm a first time Mini Cooper owner (picked up my 2005 PS/MC, anthracite dash, doors and headliner, 16" 5 star rims, black bonnet stripes, this past Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, FL) and am curious about a few things. Some brief background which might explain my car care cluelessness. Lived my whole life prior to moving to South Florida in Chicago so I have taken trains my whole adult life to college and to work after college. Alright, now for the 2nd grade questions:

- what kind of polish/cleaner should I purchase for my non-painted exterior parts; rims, bonnet grill, etc.?
- what kind of waxing products and in between waxing spray shine products would you all recommend?

I'm so fond of this little bad a_ _ already that I'm sure I'll be wanting to polish it as much as possible in between waxes, hence the basic 100 level questions. I only have 120 miles logged onto my new Mini since Saturday but I'm completely whooped already. What a car! I can't stop smiling for crying out loud! What's up with that? Seriously, I can't stop smiling when I'm in my Mini or even just thinking about my new purchase. I knew that I'd love this car because it's been the only car that I've even thought about purchasing these past few years or so, and ever since I saw my very first one down here about 3 1/2 years ago, but I never thought I'd be completely hammered over it so soon. Alright, that's enough out of me, yada, yada, yada........bla bla bla.

Thanks to everyone who writes in to this site, huge help during this whole deciding/ordering/purchasing process.

Cheers

 

Welcome to NAM. :smile:

I'll leave it to some of our detailing gurus (paging Ryan) to fill you in on the products/techniques side of things, but I did want to say welcome. Your first post reminds me a lot of how I felt when I got my MINI over two years ago. It's a wonderful buzz isn't it? :smile:
Dave

 

Congrats on the new purchase!

Your best bet is to check the 'Detailing 101' forum - LOTS of opinions on 'what is best', but lots of good info as well.

 

Welcome MIKLOS!!! I can see your smile from here! After over two years of ownership, I have grown chipmunk-sized smile muscles! You will too!

Godspeed.

 

Congratulations on your new MC!

I have also bought 2 brand new MINIs from Crystal Neagle at Lauderdale MINI. Who was your Motoring Advisor?

Be sure to check out some of the local clubs: Broward Motoring Club (BMC), www.Sunshineminis.org (Florida MINI enthusiasts website) and www.minisofmiami.com, our local club chapter here in the Magic City.

I highly recommend ZAINO products for the paintwork care. Go to www.zainobros.com These are perhaps the best waxes/polishes and car care products in the market, barnone. My '04 MCS is 1 year old and since day one I have treated it to Zaino products. The paintwork (Chili Red) looks fantastic. Ditto for my wife's '02 Pepper White Cooper CVT.

Welcome to the family and hope to see you in one of our local events. By the way, Minis of Miami, is organizing the "Keys Run 2004" for October 9th and 10th. Check our local website under the events section for more info.

:smile:

 

I also highly recommend you getting a 3M clearbra installed in your car's bonnet, to prevent rock chip damage in your new Pure Silver paint. If you are interesting in exploring this possibility, I have the contact name of a very good installer up in Broward county.

Send me a PM for more details.

 

Which is better, aftermarket clear bra, or getting it as a dealer installed option? Which is cheaper?

 

Get the clearbra outside of the dealer. What the dealer installs is still aftermarket stuff but with added price markup.

 

Thanks!

 

Congrats on your new MINI! I love my IB/W MC with anthracite! I know there are many that will recommend Zaino, I mean, that's where I started as well when I first got my MINI one year ago. I bought the starter kit cause I had no clue where to begin.

But shortly after that I attended a Meguiars Detailing Clinic, and became hooked on the Meguiars NXT Tech Wax. At the time, it wasn't even released yet, so we were using it out of these non labeled bottles straight from the chemists. I also learned about using a PCDA (Porter Cable Dual Action orbital polisher) for applying and removing my wax. Essentially, such a tool gives you the ability to detail your car every month if you want, and buff out any scratches or swirl marks caused by daily cleanings.


http://www.meguiarsonline.com/

Besides the fantastic results, I like NXT cause it's cheap, and readily available from most consumer stores like Pep Boys, Autozone, or even Target.

I wash my car about once every 3 weeks and use Quik Detailer every day with microfiber towels.

Another tip, I started with Terry towels. I did my best to search out the best American made towels with high thread counts, as the Zaino people will say, and use them. Eventually, I found the Absorber at my local Target, and just use that instead of a chamois or terry towel for drying. It's lighter, takes up less space, and holds a ton of water. I also used to use a California Blade, but my Absorber has replaced that.

So the process is Wash using Meguiars NXT Car Wash soap, rinse and dry with the Absorber. If I'm waxing, then I use my PCDA with a polishing pad and apply the wax. Then I change my pad to a stiffer cutting pad and slip on a microfiber bonnet and buff the wax off.

Costco has an incredible deal on microfiber cloths. One dozen for $9. They are the thick variety, in fact, thicker than the kind that cost $7 a piece. I use these instead of any towels for wiping and drying.

To see what a PCDA can do with about 30 minutes of your time, look at the thread below from a recent garage clinic I held here in Los Angeles and see the Metallic Black MCS and the before and after pix. The results are pretty amazing, and this was using just off the shelf consumer wax and the PCDA which is currently on sale at Meguiars until the end of the month.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=30713

 

Thank you everyone for all the great washing and waxing tips, and for supplying me with some brand names. I'm still a little paranoid about washing/waxing/polishing it for the first time because I obviously don't want those swirls all over it. Here's a question for everyone, anywhere I could go that shows goofs like me how to detail a Mini? It's hard to believe that a 35 year old guy from a big city like Chicago can be this lost when it comes to basic car care isn't? Uh oh, did anyone catch that? I just called my Mini a "car". It's not really a car though is it? It's like a big slice of fun sitting on some very hip wheels. Alright, I'm getting emotional. I must stop myself from chatting about my Mini or before you know it'll be Thanksgiving.

I can't believe that I forgot to include this in my message from yesterday. Yes Cooper4us, I did in fact purchase my Mini from Crystal Neagle at Ft. Lauderdale Mini and oh my Gosh was she the goods! Sweet, easy to chat with, super helpful, extremely patient, all around tops for sure here in South Florida. And when I say "extremely patient" I mean EXTREMELY PATIENT! I'm sure it's not uncommon or anything but for me I had the most difficult time choosing a color because Mini just doesn't make a bad looking color. Each of the Mini's that I've seen in person and on some of the Mini gallery sites have all looked outstanding, unique, hip, fun, which made it very difficult for me to chose my first Mini color. The one day that I was there ordering it I thought for sure she was going to start landing rights on me, but nope, she just stayed cool and talked me down like a suicide jumper until I made my decision. Thank you Crystal! I also should mention to anyone out there that is thinking about purchasing a Mini to seriously consider going to that dealership and to her especially. I had visited all of the Mini dealerships down here in South Florida on more than one occasion and this one was head and shoulders above the rest. Honestly, no comparison. Sorry to all the other Mini dealerships down here in South Florida but you guys need some serious people skills work. You're too pushy, too salesey, you telegraph everying meaning you use all the lazy worn out sales jargin verbage crap that makes most people run and take cover. What's the sadest is that you have no passion for the Mini and how it differs from other modes of transportation. A few tips for you; stop hiring 8 year olds, stop the salesy pushy act, and actually take the time to listen to what the people are saying that visit your lots.

Sorry for the novel everyone and to Cooper4us. But yes, Crystal was my Motoring Advisor and she was tops!

Cheers

p.s. What's a PM, and what's this clear bonnet cover? Sounds interesting but I'm completely ignorant about it since I've never seen it or read anything about it.

 

PM means Private Message.

 

--->MIKLOS: Welcome to NAM and congrats on your MINI. Please check out The Detailing 101 Forum. The wheels, grill and other brightwork get treated just like paint, with care! Often you can use the same cleaners and waxes to get the look and protection you want. Please take some time to read through and familiarize yourself with the nomanclature and such, but don't hesitate to ask if you've got questions!

Cheers, and Motor-On,
Ryan

 

Um, Richard....Wanda is NOT metallic! She is Jet Black...a flat color! She may look metallic to you, due to all her road scars! LOL! Cosmos Black is metallic, but was only available in the Cooper, not the S.

Clover

 

...And Cosmos Black is no longer offered in the 2005 Cooper. Purple Haze replaces Cosmos Black.

 

Actually, Astro Black replaces Cosmos Black

 

Thank you Sir! I always keep confusing Purple Haze with Astro Black!