Ok, you all are giving me crap a out top down action. So, here Lil Raggi at his finest. As well, if you can read it, it reads 414 miles I believe, dementia setting on again.

Bill

 

She's a beauty Bill, I'm really digging the red stripes What are your thoughts coming out of your R56?


-Steven

 

The JCW? Yes there's a noticeable difference, but this guys only got 414 on the clock, just a partial break in. I've run him up a couple of times, while there is definite owner there, the torque is missing. Probably the bigger turbo. I'm going to wait before going much? He needs more break in time. Live got a Helix inter cooler on order, probably do a hot and cold pipe mod, that'll get rid of the turbo silencer and later your exhaust improvement. That should bring it up to close to what my guy was.

The handling is another story. This roadster handles do much better its rediculous. Like on rails, with very little nose dive. It's a fun tide do far, even with the automatic, which has some good points of its own. Oh yes, I haven't even tried the Sport Mode yet. I won't until I have at least a thousand miles on him. It's going to be a good ride, that I already am sure of. Thanks Steve.

Bill

 

On Saturday I finally got around to giving the roadster a wash/wax. Also installed my summer tires and black mirror caps. What a difference the summers make over the no-seasons. I can't wait to put the 18s on the 1er next weekend.

The weather was great on Sunday. We did a few hours of top down motoring to the bmwcca meeting 30 miles away.







And today I curbed a rim took a right turn too close ... avoiding a mom taking a photo of her baby in a stoller in the middle of the street Damage was super minor and I've already sanded and painted the chip

 

Looking great!

I finally became a complete obsessive this weekend and did a wash, claybar (truly frightening for a first-time user, feels so wrong...) and paste wax. It was almost dark when I finished so no photos yet. I'll try this evening if it didn't get too dirty coming to and from work today.

 

Have to tell how the claybaring went. Lind if petrifies me to think about it.

Bill

 

Paul .... Roadster looks awesome!!


Ok : everyone is starting to wash and wax...
So, what products should I use on the outside?( paint, rag top, etc)
Inside? ( leather , dash, instrument glass )
I was lazy with Bimmer ; not with this baby !
John

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

Paul-

Roadster is looking great Did the clay bar application surprise you with what came off the paint? Nice exhaust by the way


-Steven

 

guys, thank you

I used the BMW brand soft top cleaner with my cabrio and will use it for my roadster. For water repelling, 303 has a spray that is compatible with our soft tops (I don't remember what it's version is - there are 2 I believe and the other one won't work).

Also when I had the cabrio, I used a giant lint roller (bough it target). It's about 10" wide and works great on the soft top picking up brake dust, dirt, etc.

Terms of wax, I was using up the rest of my Prima products. Banana Gloss is super easy to apply and remove. I don't have a random orbital. Not sure what brand I'll go with once this stuff is gone.

Inside, I love 1Z Einszett Cockpit and 1Z Einszett Rubber Care Stick “Gummi Pflege”. BMW used to sell a Gummi Pflege, but it was banned here in the US.

I'd be interested in hearing what others use.

 

Steven, Hehe you noticed It sounds and looks great! Thank you

 

It took me a while to work up the courage to do it. The kit I got (Mother's) comes with
- the clay bar, which is a sticky substance that feels like a cross between plumber's putty and that stuff you can use to stick posters up on walls
- the lubricant, which comes in a spray bottle like Windex
- a microfiber towel (and you can never have enough microfiber towels...)

Here's what I did. I'm sure there are better how-to's by people who really know what they're doing, but this worked for me.
- I washed the car with some dish soap to help get rid of the spray wax I'd been using over the winter. Then it was clay time...
- You spray a small section with the lube, then wipe it with the kneaded and flattened clay. I was terrified the first time, but you soon gain confidence. When you do the first couple of strokes on a new section, you can feel it "drag" as it shears off the contaminants, then it becomes easy as it glides over clean paint with the help of the lubricant. At that point, if you look at the clay you can see dirty streaks. Flatten the clay out, fold it over to trap the dirt inside, then flatten out again and you can use the now clean surface on the next section. Wipe off the excess lube with the microfiber towel, and move to the next section. Be careful near the edges of your stripes, if you go from paint to stripe you can end up leaving a little clay behind. I tried to always go from stripe to paint, or to go along the edge rather than at 90 degrees to the edge. If you do end up leaving some clay behind a gentle rub along the edge with the bar will pick it back up.
- Once I'd clayed the whole car then it was wax time, with paste wax and a microfiber pad to apply, then microfiber towels to wipe off. After the clay you don't need a "cleaning" wax, just a straight wax is all you want (so I found out from Detailing 101 on here and from the Interwebs). Car looks amazing, the Lightning Blue really shines.

I only used one of the two clay bars from the kit, and probably half the bottle of lube. I might have over-lubed it in my paranoia, but better safe than sorry the first time! I think the clay I used is good for some more use. The kit says that it includes enough for six uses, but I think that's a bit optimistic especially regarding the lube.

I think it's worth doing, the car is way smoother and shinier now than with the spray wax I had been using (Meguiars Quik Wax). I don't think it's the difference in wax alone that would explain it, I really think the clay helped. Even before the wax the car looked as good or better than new.

 

Lulu now has a sister. Her name is Julep. 2 MINI's in one garage is the way it was meant to be.

 

Excellent! Roadster+Clubman=perfect!

 

You got that right!

 

Congrats Frig! Awesome color I miss having 2 MINIs in our garage...

 

[QUOTE=Paul;3715810]guys, thank you

I used the BMW brand soft top cleaner with my cabrio and will use it for my roadster. For water repelling, 303 has a spray that is compatible with our soft tops (I don't remember what it's version is - there are 2 I believe and the other one won't work).

Also when I had the cabrio, I used a giant lint roller (bough it target). It's about 10" wide and works great on the soft top picking up brake dust, dirt, etc.

Terms of wax, I was using up the rest of my Prima products. Banana Gloss is super easy to apply and remove. I don't have a random orbital. Not sure what brand I'll go with once this stuff is.

I'm going to use 303 for canvas tops, not what's for vinyl tops. Prima products for the wax, cleaners and clay bar for serious cleaning.

 

hemisedan - Nice PW Roadster with JCW aero Kit


MINI has a soft top cleaner and a kit with repellent. With the repellent the water just beads right off and makes cleaning your soft top afterward very easy.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/83120413109/




Care kit:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/83120417503/

Soft Top Repellant - ( 250 Ml ) Priced Each

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/83120417504/




+1 on the lint roller trick to get fuss and dirt off, I find that people using a wool mitt or any other wash mitt that lints the top collects the lint and the roller works great.

 

More pictures of my Black Roadster JCW, this time with the top down

 

Looking good. I always, kind of laughed at the open cars, but not now. Drove home at lunch with the top down. Yes, it gives you a different feel.
Bill

 

Thanks Hemi, your car looks great too. I like the red stripes, I might put some on my car too

 

Nice looking Roadster! MB is my favorite color now. Next MINI will be black and a JCW!

 

It's amazing how many roadsters have a buddy clubman in the driveway...



My roadster doesn't have a name yet.....




Jack is my wife's clubman..


Andy

 

Thanks Paul, you are right MB is a great color, but PITA to keep clean

 

Paul, great pictures.

What are your summer tires?

Andy

 

Locomini,

I had a black Miata, yup it is tough keeping them looking good....

They sure are pretty though.....

Bill I like those red stripes..

Andy