So, I should be getting a MINI sometime in mid-December.

Being as I live in Minnesota this would be a bad time of year to try and wash/wax/ect a car. This forum has a lot of people that agree on one thing - that these steps should be done in the first 50 miles of ownership. They also all agree it needs to be done before winter, especially where there are going to be very salty roads and an attatched garage to come home to every night.

This all adds up to me to dillema that I won't really be able to do anything for the car until Spring other than drive through touchless (although apparently some water-recycling nightmares make that an un-atractive option as well) car washes.

Any ideas? I haven't taken good care of a car's looks for about three years now as I just started giving up on my Cavalier when it was 10 years old. This car is supposed to be an 8-12 year car for us, so I want it to last and look good. I've read all the stuff about what to do over the last couple weeks, plus have a major gearhead friend here at work. My only concern is what to do for now. Will the dealer prep wash/wax be enough for the winter? If not, then what do I do to "fix" it?

 

That's a tough situation. Are you getting a clear bra installed at your dealer or at an aftermarket source? While others may have different opinions, I suggest them to anyone because they really help to keep the chips to a minimum. Other than chips, almost any other paint problem can be solved with careful cleaning/polishing/waxing.

I assume you don't have access to a heated garage. If this is the case, even the dreaded self-serve washes are better than nothing. You'll just be waiting until the warm weather to do the serious detailing... not a real big deal. ANYTHING that allows you to hose the salt/winter crud off your car will go a long way to keeping the paint in good shape - even the self-service car wash.

If you wind up taking your car to a self-serve wash, just use the rinse setting to rinse the car. I wouldn't drag anything over the paint either to clean it or dry it; just try to dilute/remove the salt as best you can. The brushes that are hanging on the wall of the self-serve are the WORST things ever created if you care about your paint. Don't do it.

 

I live north of you in Manitoba

I wash my MINI at least once a week at a wand wash, all winter.

I'm sure you can find one that charges by time, so you can spend some time getting some wax on the car, or at least some Quick detailer spray.

The wand washes I go to have warm air blowers to dry locks, latches, and such.

Winter is a hard time to keep your MINI looking good, but you can do it

But as stated before, NEVER USE THE FOAMY BRUSH.:impatient