Anybody experience anything like this. It appears to be some type of grease/lubricant. I've opened the bonnet, and there doesn't appear to be anything near it. Everything else in there is clean, so no broken seals. It only appears to be coming from where the arches connect to the body.

It's gotten a bit warm out here so now it's streaking down the wheel arches. It's clear and pretty slick. It comes out right at the area the bonnet pivots upward from the body.

Any help is appreciated. I've got a call into the MA and will be seeing them the week after next.

thanks.

 

It's wax. very annoying stuff. It's coming out of the bonnet most likely.

Look under the bonnet and you'll probably see places where it wasn't all washed away at the VDC. some is up in crevices where you can't reach it and over time it'll slowly ooze out.

 

It's cosmoline that's sprayed ALL over to keep the car safe in transit. There's some pictures in this thread.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=21112

 

You are finding the remnants of the protectant that MINI uses on the cars during shipping. It's a wax-like substance called Cosmoline, it softens with heat. MINI uses a steam wash to remove the protectant. SOme inevitably remains and will ooze out when weather gets warm. It's harmless, though a bit of a hassle when trying to keep the car clean.

 

Thanks, I was a bit concerned and thought this may be the case. I've also got the heavy wax stripes on the front bumper too, but at least I think I know what that is. They are going to detail again.


How long does it normally take to finally get all flushed out?

 

Noticed the same thing going on with my car. Now that the weather is hot it must be getting hotter in there when combined with the engine heat.

 

Thanks for the post and the answers, I was about to post this myself after having noticed it for the last week or so...

 

I hear that stuff goes well with crackers. Yum!

 

dont be gripeing about the last renenents of the Cosmoline. It is an excellent rust protectant, if it stays within the channels of your Mini over the years, you got an extra bonus.

 

true, but it doesn't help the molding any

 

But the stuff comes off so easy with a good wash, Moulding will shine up and look its best for months with AEROSPACE 303 UV PROTECTANT. I would not let the dealers touch my car.

 

Hate that stuff! I got it running down the back of my hatch tonight! Yuck!

 

I've had some too. Hate it, but hate the thought of shipping it over the salty atlantic without it even more!!

 

Any recommendations on getting this stuff off? It's getting worse? I've washed it a couple times, then actually went to a good car wash and no luck on it's removal.

It's now running down in quite a few places on the wheel arches, and the front bumper. Seems to be isolated to the bonnet area.

thankse!

 

I got a dose of this melting when I got into some Ohio HEAT last weekend. Washed the car, scrubbed that area in particular, but (like my friend from Sac-town) couldn't get it all the way off. What should we do?

I'm a little scared to go on the detailing forum and to get into those fancy products.

 

Okay, the detail shop at my MINI dealer (the guys who do final prep these cars) use a solvent of some sort that is apparently readily available at hardware stores. The guy gave me some to clean up any residue I may find. A WORD OF CAUTION.....I have no idea what this stuff really is and would not apply it if I didn't trust it. If it were me I'd call the dealership and talk to somebody who knows exactly what to get. In my case, the detailing guys knew way more about it than the MAs but that probably varies from dealership to dealership.

 

My MA told me that MINI's aren't shipped in cosmoline. I know that contradicts everything that has been said here but she forwarded me an email form a MINIUSA rep when she asked him about it. I just wanted to see where they put the stripes on the car since it seemed weird that they would do it at the factory and the dealer said that the MINIs arrive with stripes. Is it possible that they just put that stuff on in between panels?

 

My car had the same stuff dripping down the wheel aches and head lights the dealer said it was something to do with rust protection .They said they had a someone in early this week saying their mini was crying

 

it's afterbirth... lol...

nah, just pick up some Meguiar's NXT Speed Detailer and it will come right off...