Does the Mini do well in the standard American car washes ?

Thanks,
floyd

 

I have to say no car fares well in a car wash. Whether they pass through without any obvious damage (i.e. broken antenna, licence plate mount ripped off, scratches, broken mirrors, etc.) it's still a slow death for the paint's finish and let's face it, they're made for an average size sized car, so MINI will prolly come out with some missed spots.
Also the two weak spots in car wash design are poor wheel coverage and a tendency to miss any rear flat areas which are a MINI's two worst areas for dirt collection. Chances are you'll have to re-do those areas again anyway.

Just my $0.02

 

I've got my nomex on so flame away! I don't believe in the purists stance that my MINI will never see an automatic car wash. There, I said it. Mine will see a "touchless" car wash, usually a couple times a week, even in winter as long as the temp is above 20 degrees. I hate a dirty car but I don't have the time or the facilities to hand wash it. I know I'll hear from the doomsayers that the high pressure water will ruin the car, the electrics ect. I've never had a problem or a leak and Im on my 3rd MINI. I check everywhere including the battery box and no water. I use clean rags for the post wash wipe down with no to minimal scratching. The MINI is well made vis a vis leaks/seals. I do wax every 2-3 months, quick details in between and a quick calif.dust-off (at least the rear hatch) daily. I respect you Zaino guys but I just don't have the time/set up to do that. My MINI still looks good most of the time. I would advise anyone to stay away from those "gentle" brushes, cloths or anything else that touches the car. They're murder for scratches. Anyway, have at it! I'm cool and clean!

 

I'm with you, MINIMAXX! I live in an apartment complex (ahhh, freedom from the old money pit) and can't wash mine in the parking lot so I, too, take it to a "touchless laser wash" - especially in the winter. I just chamois it off and she looks pretty good if you ask me. Beats the road salt and sand eating away at the frame and body. During the warm months I take it to the power wash place down the road from me and hand wash with a bucket then spray it off. The MINI looks great if you ask me.

 

NEVER take your MINI through a track-ed car wash (The ones with tracks on both sides of the tires and a roller to push the car through the track). The inside track will damage the rear shock boot and that can dammage the rear shocks.

ALWAYS use a trackless wash.

Touchless may not be better than the Cloth car washes because the high pressure that Touchless uses may force itself into the cracks around the doors and up into the seals and cause rust.

Best is a hand wash. But that isn't always an option. I like cloth wash and touchless.

 

You can use the hand wash places, just remember to use the high pressure sprayer to spray off the brush before you use it.

MiniMAX: It takes me about 1 hour to apply Zaino Z5 and it protects your finish for about 9 months. That's worth making the time to wax twice a year in my opinion. Zaino is a huge time saver because of how long it lasts.

 

I too live in an apartment. It's a downtown hi-rise so you'd think washing would be a major PITA, but I found a faucet down in one of the lower levels and a bit of free space not near other cars (MINI doesn't need much space) so I'm able to wash anytime I please. Added benefit: the temperature down on P3 is always a constant 70º so even in the dead of winter, I can wash Simon in comfort and drying is a snap. Take a look around your complex, maybe there's a faucet for landscaping or washing the driveways or something like that. Where there's a will, there's a clean, happy MINI.

 

Agree: NO drag-thru types

Disagree: Touchless ALWAYS better than those swinging Octopus cloth wipes. Those things are nasty, full of grit, swirl, scratch machines. Someone else mentioned to spray off those hand brushes. Well, yeah but you can never get out all of the grit left behind by Bubba and his mud machine 4X4. So, that is a last resort and then only for my wheels.

 

Thanks for all the advice.
One thing I learned here, is "no drag through track systems".
What other kind are there ? Don't they all track you on through ?

 

We go to a wand wash and use our own washing mitt. NEVER EVER use the foamy brushes, sandpaper has less grit

Mark

 

The car is SO tiny that if you cant hand wash it once a week, you got some scheduling issues. that sucker would take 15-20 mins to wash by hand at most, and thats with the 2 bucket showcargarage.com way using a delicate lambs wool. Drying doesnt have to be perfect, it would be better than a car wash drying however.

you will hairline scractch a car instantly first pass in a touching car wash.

ew.

A forced jet one will remove any wax you ever put on, they use detergents instead of hand power to remove grime. I cant imagine what that does for vinyl and plastic. it must dry them out to death. (moldings, arches, tires, etc)

 

in the winter,I shut off and drain my outside faucets so they do not freeze....so I go to the local automatic-car wash place and use their do it yourself with a wand bay....as long as the temp is above 33 degrees...takes a lot of quarters tho.....to save on using extra quarters, I will sometimes fill up a bucket with warm water that has a tight sealing lid and bring that to the do it yourself bay so I do not have to waste a few minutes waiting for the bucket to fill....that way I can use my own car washing soap (NXT wash) and not rely on their stuff( which might be like Dawn for all know)

 

So does everyone else in the snow belt. That should not deter you from washing.

Just take a bucket of warm water/auto wash and go over the car. If the temp gets above 32 degrees, turn on the water for a rinse. If not, get some microfiber towels to rinse and then dry the car.

you can also use just detailing spray for light dirt. If your talking salt ... well, thats another story.

 

When I need to wash mine in the winter, I go through a touch less wash (trying to avoid the single set of pipes in the floor used to guide tires).

It does a fair job but I still come home and wipe it down with damp towels to finish the job.

 

I use the local 'do it yourself' wash and only use the spray jets, etc. and not the brush since I'm worried it'll scratch the paint, lol... However, I have noticed water on the indoor sills (where the 'mini cooper' logo in silver is) when I open the doors... Is this supposed to happen?! I noticed it happend after a heavy rain the other day too! Since I live in an apt. complex, I cannot really manually wash my car there... So this is a way to keep it clean, and then I can wash it thoroughly when I visit my parents. Although that can be pretty spaced out throughout the year!

 

That exact thing happens to me too, every time!

 

Use Quick N Easy Wash. You don't need a hose.
http://www.protectall.com/qelg.htm

 

So....we use half a cap for our MINIs?

 

Has anyone taken a convertible thru the touchless car washes?

 

I haven't taken a MINI cabrio through one, but I used to take my Jeep Wrangler though one and it was almost comical. I'd make sure everything was sealed up as tightly as possible, then sit on the center console as I moved down the track, trying not to get sprayed by water coming in through various places (around the windows, etc). Then when it was over, I'd hop out and wipe down the inside AND outside.

I would venture to guess that the cabrio is a little tighter than a Jeep, though!

 

Took Nigel (BRG/W 2006 CVT) through a hand carwash today, basically it was like one of the automated jobs only gutted out with a bunch of guys with high power hoses and sponges standing along the sides. Very lo-fi, but it was very effective, my boy looked fresh as new afterwards (mind you, I had the dupont paint protection stuff done before delivery). Even my white rims look sweet.

I'd never seen this kind of car wash place until we moved here to north Jersey a couple of months ago but they are everywhere up here...

Even met another Mini owner at the car wash, nice couple with a Dark Silver/B Mini.

 

I'm lucky, have a new touchless car wash about 4 blocks away. There are about 8 do-it-yourself bays that require $1.50 in quarters and 2 of the no-touch bays that cost anywhere from $4 to $6 depending on how elaborate you want it. For $4.50 I get a decent wash with plenty of soap, adaquate rinse, plus wax and and anti-spot rinse. Takes another 10 minutes to whip out the chamois to wipe it down and it looks show-room new when I am done.

I have also used the high power wand in the do-it-yourself bays without any problems. Anyone who considers that type of wash to be too "damaging" to their delicate little Mini should consider having the car sealed in a sarcophagus and turned over to a museum curator to insure it is properly preserved for the 4th millenium.

 

I hand wash every weekend. I will take my baby thru the carwash, but only if I'm pressed for time. And then, it still doesn't clean my wheels very well. Once, I took it in and went too slowly over the undercarriage wash and almost drowned her out. I couldn't get her started for nearly 15 mins. After that scary episode, I try my best to avoid the car washes.