Don't worry I will have photos.

I'm really excited for her. I won't lie... I'm really excited too!

Seeing as how the car was ordered and only recently painted should I hold off showing her how to properly wax/detail?

You read about older cars that need time for the paint to cure (finish off gassing), and body shop work which states not to wax for 30-90 days.

Is that an issue with a freshly made MINI, or do they bake or do some sort of accelerated cure for the paint?

 

Congrats. Take your time to look it over carefully inside and outside before you take delivery. I took a friend who was not as excited as I was to help me look for problems in paint, body panel gaps, scratches, etc. Things can happen between the factory and delivery.

There have been a few threads with checklists. Here is one:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...05#post1434705

Regading wax, I don't think it is an issue. My dealer offered to wax it before delivery, but I asked him not to because I was adding my own stripes.

 

Between the post-paint "baking" at the factory, and the elapsed time between it being painted and being delivered, there's no need to worry about waxing/sealing the paint right after you bring the car home.

Don't forget the claybar! Even with a new paint job, "things can happen between the factory and delivery", as Robin said.

 

Thanks for the replies!

Considering everything that is done to the paint in terms of curing at the factory I didn't think it would be an issue to wax soon after production.

I already have a big detailing weekend planned for the Charger so I'm gonna try to get her to come over.

Although I have a feeling detailing without damage will be a yawn-fest for her.

 

Went by the dealer today to get her current car appraised 2000 Ford Focus. The MINI was there and awaiting delivery for Friday, had I known I would have brought my camera.

The car was in pretty good shape, but there was a scratch in the one of the bonnet stripes, which they are gonna take care of. The car wasn't nearly as clean as I expected it to be, I found that pretty disappointing.

That said I don't really want a dealership porter doing any detailing on the car. I'd rather do it myself as I teach SWMBO how to properly detail a vehicle without damaging the paint.

On some areas of the car there were small spots of dried gunk. Not really sure what it was. Thinking about it now I wonder if it was carnuba wax? It almost had that consistency.

Either way it doesn't matter, "Winston" as she has so affectionately dubbed the Cooper S will be getting a dawn bath, claybar, and three coats of Zaino in the coming week.