Now that the first snowfall has already fallen on the ground, and the salt trucks have come out in force, keeping the grime off my MINI has become an impossible task. Fortunately my building allows me to wash the car in the heated garage, but the grime seems to just build back by the next day. I hate to say it, but I'm almost thinking of merely being philosophical about and leaving the dirt on until summer comes about. Does anybody have any suggestions about keeping the car clean in the winter?

 

You're already doing what I do in the winter...wash it when you can (and you have a heated garage for the job, too!).

 

Clean the windows at least, thats what i do, at least youre in a heated garage, it sucks trying to wash your car and having the water start freezing almost right away

 

My answer, just don't drive it.

I may take mine out this weekend, yeah right.

 

Being in college is hell on trying to keep your car clean. I just wait until I can get home and hand wash it.

 

Usually after a snow, a cold front comes thru. Timing is everything. If you wash it too soon before everything freezes, you'll get sprayed and dirty right away. The trick is to wash it (touchless of course despite the anti automatic car wash puritans) as the cold front comes thru so that pavement slush and water has frozen up. The roads tend to stay frozen or dry until the next snow/front comes thru. That way, you have a couple days or more of relative cleanliness! Take it from a Wisconsin Pro.

 

I recommend buying a daily driver beater car. That way you can keep your MINI clean and out of the elements.

 

IMO, there is no sense in not enjoying a MINI all year (unless it's your flawless weekend toy). It is durable and realtively inexpensive, and with snow tires you have no trouble in bad weather.

As for keeping it clean, I'd argue that it's better to clean off the grime with some regularity as opposed to leaving it on all winter. I'll usually wait for a day when the temp is above freezing and go to a self-serve car wash and spray off the dirt and then follow up with glass cleaner and some quick detail spray for the paint. Having a set of winter rims is also key to keeping the summer ones nice. Rims take some serious abuse from salt, or if you are having too much fun in the snow and accidentally tap a curb or two. Oops...

 

Check out THIS THREAD in the Detailing 101 forum. Happy Motorng!

 

Hrm... we are not talking about a $90,000 porsche or other super car... I love my MCS as much as the next person. Buy the mini and drive it. Its affordable and fun. Park your expensive cars in the winter. I hate having a dirty Mini but once you clean the glass it helps a lot.

 

To some of us like me, it is an expensive car. I bought it to drive & drive it I will, come, rain shine or snow. Not in hail if I can help it.

 

My 03 Cooper has over 83k miles, with lots of those miles in temps well below 0F. Drive the car, keep it as clean as you can without freezing off your fingers, and enjoy the little beast

Mark

 

Back in '99 my brother-in-law and I bought 1999 Saab 9-3's. During the winter I would freak out over salt and schmutz, he did not care. Every spring he'd detox the car and to my amazement his paint was always pristine. Maybe there is something to be said for just leaving is alone until it warms up again.

 

I take mine to golf on a Saturday. There's a couple ofkids who do hand washes for £4 (about $6), I go play golf or hit some ***** on the range, come out and it's done.

 

mine is spotless too.

my civic and legacy are white... they were blue and black
respectively a week or so ago. i might wash it next
weekend.

btw, pressure up to 38psi and turn your tires every other week
using your hands. minimize flat spots. i turned mine today.
also charge up your battery every other week too. mine was
charged earlier this week. as you can see, my cars are spotless.

 

My dad always told me that a horse is safe in a barn, but thats not what horses were meant for. I think the same can be said of a MINI. Yes it is very nice and clean tucked there in your garage, tires turned and battery charged, but thats not what a MINI was made for. Drive that car! Then clean it and then drive it again.!
Mine is a daily driver and it gives me something to do on the weekends (most weekends here in CO are nice enough to wash your car). Either by hand if it is really warm like today or at the spray car wash if it is cold. Now having said all that I will say that I now have several rock chips that I need to repair with my Langka stuff, but they will be nearly invisible when done.

 

do you ride a horse in the rain and snow?
hehehe. thanks, but no thanks. i respect that yours is a
daily driven car. that's great. thats not how I play this hobby.

 

Touchless car-wash FTW $4 here and it gets 95% of the crud off, the balance comes off with Quick and Easy Wash, no hose required.

 

I haven't driven my mini since we got snow and ice a week and a half ago. I'm lucky enough to have a 4-wheel drive for that kind of weather conditions.
But I think I'm going to get to drive my baby tomorrow, the ice is melting and the snow is all but gone.

 

Be careful about the touchless and DIY quarter washes. Most have a water tank and they recycle water using filters. Problem is that the water becomes a salt water bath here in Michigan. Not good.