I was out-of-town driving a rental truck the other day and spotted a MC, IB/W. It was more than unwashed, it was the dirtiest car on the road. Now I would like to say that the beauty still shown through, but that's not the way it hit me. I guess it's the first time I've ssen a Mini really uncared for. Don't get me wrong, my MCS has been in the woods and gotten mud slopped on her. And I drive my Mini everyday, she is not my garage-hobby. But never has it been allowed to accumulate road dirt, dried on crud, wheel grime, etc.. In fact, I clean my Mini everyday, she always leaves the garage sparkling. What are we to think of someone who would not take car of their Coop'?

 

<<Do you let your Mini get dirty?>>

Never!!!! :smile:...lol

My neighbors all tease me that..... I will eventually wash all the paint off the car.

Peace,
D

 

D,
I'm with you. My garage exists so I can keep my car clean. I have seen one dirty red MINI and about 200 clean MINIs in my area. The dirty one was sad

 

>>I was out-of-town driving a rental truck the other day and spotted a MC, IB/W. It was more than unwashed, it was the dirtiest car on the road. Now I would like to say that the beauty still shown through, but that's not the way it hit me. I guess it's the first time I've ssen a Mini really uncared for. Don't get me wrong, my MCS has been in the woods and gotten mud slopped on her. And I drive my Mini everyday, she is not my garage-hobby. But never has it been allowed to accumulate road dirt, dried on crud, wheel grime, etc.. In fact, I clean my Mini everyday, she always leaves the garage sparkling. What are we to think of someone who would not take car of their Coop'?

I feel your pain...I wash mine all the time and I harrass all my MINI friends on how dirty teir cars are. Now before we all meet which is every Friday night they are washing their cars before the arrive.

 

The MINI cooper is always kept clean, I try not to wash it all the time because of swirl marks and use a California duster and Meguiars quick detailer to keep her tiptop. The other day a big thunderstorm with hail was coming through town and I rushed home and put her in the garage and then took my truck back out to make sure she was safe. My truck did not seem to mind he knows his place in life as a common foot soldier.

I also have a 61 classic mini that I don't ever let see rain or any elements for that matter. It is always waxed and ready to take to a car show. That’s more to fight the dreaded rust beast then to keep him totally clean for shows, I only take him to one or two shows a year. Every classic Mini suffers from rust in some way you need to be so careful with them it makes you really appreciate the new MINI and modern car engineering.

 

Well, if you don't let it get dirty, you can never clean it Since most of us drive our MINI's, we all get them dirty.

however...
"A clean MINI is a happy MINI."

 

Chow!

Donna
donna@dcmetrominis.org

 

Sorry to say, but I haven't had time to wash my MINI in over a month, but have no fear, I use indoor valet parking at the airport and they have a full service detailing shop. So she is alwways nice and clean, even in the winter.

X2

 

It's been a dry summer here in Dallas so Noah has stayed pretty clean. Even so, the MINI gets washed every Saturday morning, mainly to get the brake crud off the white wheels. I put another coat of Zaino on about once a month and the finish looks great, if I do say so myself. :smile:
Wings

 

Well my MINI stays very clean all the time, except when multiple days of rain are called for. That hasn't happened much here in north Texas during July/August (like Wings said), so the car was showroom shiney 99% of the time....and my MINI lives outside all the time. I, too use the duster and the quick detailer between washes. I've been cleaning wheels every two days. Its so bad that...a confession here...I've memorized the domestic and business sprinkler cycles in my neighborhood in order to avoid nasty puddles as I motor about. Wouldn't want to get those wheel wells messy! (sigh)...I have no life. Actually, keeping my MINI spottless has been a fun, relaxing "manual labor" project and the rewards are worth it.

_________________
'03 IB/W Cooper

 

This is a great topic for me today. I have never been one to wash a car - always hated doing it. If it needed a bath it went through the $5 car wash and I called it good.

Well, when I left work yesterday I just couldn't stand the way Monty looked; dusty and his wheels were no longer nice and white. Like Donna said, we have been having lots of rain and dirt has just been sticking in the 2 days I've had him

So I made a quick run to Walmart and picked up some Meguairs (sp) shampoo, washing pads, terry cloth towels, Invisible Glass, Meguiars liquid wax, and one of the spray on detailers. I was ready to head home but there was a touchless car ways across the street and I just couldn't stand to have Monty looking dusty for one more second. So I went over there and gave him a good power squirt and wiped him down. Lookin' better but not perfect. I then went home and gave him a full bath, cleaned his windows inside and out, washed his dirty feet, dried him off, and, since water is beading very nicely, just gave him a good detail spray and buffing.

WOW!!!!! He looks better than he did at the dealership! I was so proud of him that I pulled him out onto the street where there was still some sunshine and took pictures of him from every angle.

I tried to figure out how to work his car cover but I'm going to need help with it the first time so he remained uncovered and got drizzled on last night - still looked good this a.m., though.

I have a feeling he is going to be one clean MINI because I really enjoyed it; misquito bites, sweat running into my eyes, and everything. He's so tiny it doesn't take that long and the reward of seeing him glisten made it sooooo worth it. I have seen the light!!!

Laurie

 

wash it every week, more often if it gets rained on...

I parked next to a Cooper at a Baskin-Robbins two weeks ago and the owner, a young lady in her twenties, had the car full of trash: candy wrappers, used kleenex, and assorted half-eaten Twinkies.. it broke my heart. I actually thought about rescuing the car, but I'd have ended up in jail or an asylum... would anyone come visit?

 

I am soooo guilty of the dreaded DMS (Dirty MINI Syndrome). Thanks to Ryephiles long post in the deailing forum, I know what I can do to fix the problem. :smile:

 

Ok, a few thoughts...

My MCS is trashed right now as I've been on the road for 5 weeks. Where were you when you saw this MINI culprit? Cause it could have been me...

 

I wash Mr. Tumnus every weekend. If it rains inbetween, I'll clean his bum. And if he gets too much bug guts on his nose, I'll clean that off as well.

A few more coats of Zaino will go on this weekend.

 

I bought my MINI 6 weeks ago and only washed it twice since then.
While I like it when it sparkles I think some road dirt and brake dust give it some character.

As much as I love the car, I have always looked at cars as "tools" to get me from place to place ... and as OM TOAST said:

 

My poor mini is always dirty, it's black and it is very hard to keep clean. It gets hit by sprinkler water every mornig so it gets nasty fish scale like water stains. I'm a very busy person and have very little spare time for things like washing my car so I've taken it to the car wash 2 times and both times I discovered scratches on it afterwards. The first time I didn't know what to think, now I know I'm going to a different car wash. Honestly, if I get some spare time I rather go ride one of my bicycles or motorcycles. I'll try to stop at a car wash for u guys and my mini more than once a month, besides I like looking at my mini when it's all clean and sparkling. Even if it only last a couple of hours. I didn't want a black car but it was on the showroom floor all badass looking, ready to take home. Couldn't pass it up, no regrets. It's all good.
I just met D-MINI-ERO yesterday, he can tell you how dirty my car was. I was embarrased, his car was so clean you could eat on it.
Hey D, hope you weren't too offended by my dirty car.
It was cool meeting you, your car looks badass.
Thanx again for meeting a complete stranger who wants to listen to the exhaust system on your car.
Don't forget I want your borla if you get the new alta.

Sorry folks, I'll shot my yapper.
:smile:

 

When someone kicks up a cloud of dust in front of me, I'd take evasive manuevers if I can. Otherwise, we'd have go home and dust off

 

I agree...for people who are real busy its nuts to obsess over keeping your MINI spotless. For me, and probably a few others, cleaning has become a bit of a hobby. My life is pretty well booked up at times, too, but I have to shut down once in awhile. If cleaning your MINI is fun...its great! If its not...ugh, what a chore! I haven't ever had a car I baby as much as my MINI, so I'm having fun with it.

 

Hi, I'm Markus and I'm a MINI-motor-holic.

I confess, Celeste, my 03 MCS, is DIRTY, dirty, dirty.
She has white 16" V-spokes that are now almost black.

 

>>D,
>>I'm with you. My garage exists so I can keep my car clean. I have seen one dirty red MINI and about 200 clean MINIs in my area. The dirty one was sad


Minihune,

How did you get the lower grill in black on the stock bumper ? I was told the aero front end was needed to use the lower half.

I apologize to all for thread highjacking, but his looks perfect, and I want one !!!

 

Dirt is a part of Motoring. Brake dust is too.

Yes I wash Blubelle, but not every day, she's a car for cryin out loud. There are some times that dirt is cool, kind of like a merit badge. On long trips, I prefer not to wash the car until I get home. Nothing quite like washing out Oklahoma dust, Texas sand and Georgia Red Clay all over the driveway. Looks like Jackson Pollack was over doing some of his artwork.

You can be too obsessive with keeping your car clean. Just use it, enjoy getting it dirty and clean it from time to time.

 

It okay Markus I think we can get you into a program.

Actually I remember the first publication I got from MINI. It said to wear your dirty car as a badge of Motoring! Motoring is way more fun than cleaning, our mom's could learn that one!

 

Filthy dirty!
My wife is always nagging me to keep the car clean. Clean only lasts for ten minutes!

 

My parents live on a dirt road in the mountains. Of course mine gets dirty. We are trying to recover from a 100 year record drought, so I don't wash it as often as I want. Let's just say my Mini is taking one for the team.