North American Motoring

Mini Cooper: How to Wash, Wax and Detail Your Car

Here are some helpful steps and hints should you tackle this job yourself.

By Jeffrey Bausch - June 3, 2016

This article applies to the Mini Cooper (2001-present).

Now that the long winter is behind us, and we're just beginning to emerge from a messy spring, it's a great time to wash, wax, and detail your Mini Cooper. The Mini Cooper, by design, is a standout vehicle. A thoroughly cleaned, waxed, and detailed Cooper is what draws second and third looks. If you're lining up a car cleaning for this weekend, here are some tips and suggestions on how to do a thorough job.

Materials Needed

  • Car soap
  • Bubble brush
  • Washing mitt
  • Car wax/clear coat spray
  • Rain-X glass polish or other window cleaner
  • Access to a hose
  • Microfiber towels
  • Buffer and buffing pads (optional)
  • Plastic bags
  • Engine cleaner

Step 1 – Rinse, soak, and scrub the exterior

Pretty simple, right? To get a nice finish on the exterior of your Mini Cooper, start out by first rinsing it down with a hose. Next, use soap (of your choice – there are a million out there, but don't use dish soap, use actual car soap) to spray down the car, then begin scrubbing the soap over the exterior with a washing mitt or microfiber towel. Follow-up by using a bubble brush on the wheels only – never use this on the body. Rinse everything off when you're satisfied with cleaning.

Figure 1. Douse your entire car with water and soap.

Pro Tips

  • To maintain the look of your vehicle year-round, wash it every two weeks, and wax it once a month. Do not use dish soap to clean your Mini Cooper, as it will corrode the paint.
  • Park in the shade while cleaning your car to prevent water spots from drying quickly.
  • If you want your wheels to really shine, purchase a wheel cleaner and spend a few minutes scrubbing it into each wheel with a brush.

Step 2 – Polish the windows

Leaving your windows shiny and streak-free is an important step. Apply Rain-X glass polish or a glass cleaner of your choice and work it into the glass with a towel to the point that it is almost dry – do not allow it to dry out. Don't forget the side mirror glass! Dry immediately with a clean towel to prevent streaking.

Figure 2. Either spray a towel with glass cleaner and then apply, or spray directly onto the window surfaces.

Step 3 – Dry with towels and apply wax

Use microfiber towels to dry the remaining surfaces, then apply a wax/clear coat spray to the body, one section at a time. If possible, purchase a hand buffer and apply the wax to the buffing pad, then move the buffer over the paint in circular motions. Whatever you do, take your time with this step. A wax job done too quickly is an eyesore, and defeats the purpose of your taking on such a project. Most wax/clear coat spray products come with more detailed instructions.

Figure 3. A hand buffer is a must if you really want to obtain shine for your Mini Cooper.

Step 4 – Clean the engine bay (optional)

If your engine bay is particularly dirty, consider cleaning it too. Use plastic bags to protect the electrical areas of the engine from water.

When protected, spray dirty engine bay surfaces with an engine degreaser of your choice. Allow to sit for a few minutes and then rinse with a light mist of water. Reapply cleaner and rinse as necessary. You can even use a small brush to clean hard-to-reach or especially dirty areas. Finish by drying with a towel, or letting it air-dry. You can even turn on your engine to aid the drying process.

Figure 4. Use an engine degreaser to clean accumulated dirt in the engine bay.

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