I got a 07 mcs a few months ago and it is my first car. I have been on this forum for about a month now and read a lot of threads. I like to keep my car looking good. I usually wash it every 2-3 weeks with dish washing soap
and wax it once a month with turtle wax do you think this is good? Is there a better wax I should use or soap?

Thanks!

 

Glad that you're into taking care of your car. My 2¢ since you asked: Dish soap strips the wax. You can get some good car wash solution at WalMart, Target, or your local auto parts store. Meguiars is a good entry level, affordable product line. I used their Deep Crystal wash, wax, and quick detail products for years. There are some better, higher end products but you will pay more. It all depends on you and your budget but whatever you do stop the dishwashing soap asap. Enjoy your MINI...

 

You NEED to check out the Detailing 101 forum... all of these questions are answered there.

But, DooBahDoo is correct, washing with Dawn strips the wax

 

http://www.meguiars.com/estore/product_list.cfm

Here's a link to Meguiars on-line store...I've used their Deep Crystal and Gold Class products with good results.

 

I wash my car weekly, or at least try to. Keep in mind that a week of driving for me is about 600 miles.
I've been enjoying Mothers California Gold wash... it smells like bubble gum. Oh and gets the car clean.

I wax it every other month or so, but I use a quick detailer spray wax in between there.

Ps. Make sure to get some back to black stuff for the black trim and don't forget about the interior!

 

I wash my car at least once a week when it's warm out with Rain-X soap. But, it's getting a little harder to do since it's about 14 degrees out right now. I try to wax it about every 6 weeks.

 

yeah I just did the trim with armor all but I heard armor all is bad is that true?

 

sweet thanks for the link!

 

I have been detailing my cars for years. Definitely stop using the dish washing soap. Check out this company, I have bought products from them for years. They carry waxes that are more expensive, but you only have to put them on once every six months to a year. They also offer complete instructions on detailing your car. It is very informative. Happy detailing.
http://www.properautocare.com/

 

I use Griot's Garage products exclusively. I don't see many on this forum using it but I like the results and it is easy to use. Twice a year I use Dawn detergent (56carnut is right about detergent for every day use but to prepare for polish and fresh wax you've gotta get the old stuff off first.) in a strong solution then clay bar followed by a machine polish then carnuba wax. Spray on wax after regular bath time with Car Wash and Speed Shine in between and for just dusting, a California Duster. Wheels get a heavy waxing to make getting rid of brake dust easier and of course all the black including tires are kept black. It's a lot of fun to keep it looking it's best at all times. Obsession is perceived by others who just don't understand. Be patient with them.

 

The MINI sure attracts grit to the boot - She needs washing all the time.

Get the Tech Wax 2.0 for unbelievable water beading and the Tech wash. Get a couple large micro-fiber towels and dry her off everytime too.

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/produc...?T1=MEG+G12718

That one bottle will wax your MINI many, many times.

 

An afterthought:
What ever product line you choose be it Meguiars, Mothers, Griot's or whatever, stick to that product line. Everything is formulated to work together from polish to waxing to cleaning. And don't waste your money on cheap dime store microfiber cloths. These guys have real ones that really do the job.

 

Again I strongly urge you to check out the Detailing section of NAM. There is some "questionable" information being thrown around in this thread, and all of this has been discussed ad nauseam.

Detailing 101

 

Thanks for the info guys I have one more question though. On my roof there are many small hard to see blemishes or something with the paint it may look like water or soap but its not I bought the car used and since the first time I waxed it I noticed it. There are some here and there and I tried to rub it off but its not coming off. My dad said it was old wax trapped under layers of wax but it also looks like it could be the paint going bad or something what do you think? pic below.

normally it is hard to see so i took pic with flash on.

 

You could try clay barring to get rid of anything that's left over.

 

They look like they might be hard water spots, maybe the car was allowed to dry in the sun and that could be the residue left behind.

There are people way better versed in detailing here than I, but I would strip the wax, clean the area with a 50/50 white vinegar and water solution, claybar and polish it. If it is mineral residue, the vinegar solution should remove it without damaging anything else.


Dave

 

But I bought my 2011 MCS three weeks ago and since thenwe've been hit by (at least by our Southern Standards) a horrible cold wave. 14 Degrees F this morning, highs in the low to mid 30s. How do you wash your Minis in extream cold weather ????

 

Time to break out the long red woolies. Start out with a bucket of pretty hot water then ya gotta dry it fast before the water freezes. Be prepared with some off the wall answers when your neighbors start asking silly questions.

 

Hot water and warm cloths... gloves work great too!

 

First, I agree with several people here who have advised you to check out the Detailing 101 forum. The people there are real knowledgeable. Getting the right products for your car, whether they be Meguiar's, Zaino, or Mothers, will keep your car looking great with less work. But as for your picture, those look like hard water spots to me. In South Florida, washing the car in the sun causes them to appear in record time. To minimize the spotting, I try to keep spraying the car after I have washed sections, and I always wash the roof last since I have a black roof and spots appear the worst on black. After washing and drying with waffle cloths, I always follow up with Zaino's Z-6 Ultra Clean Gloss Enhancer spray because it really does get rid of those pesky spots! And, the spray helps to keep the car super shiny between my Zaino waxings, which I try to do every 3-4 months or so.

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...CRVM_Offset=20

You probably need to start your cleaning routine with a good clay bar to remove all the residue and prior waxes, then pick the product you want (I use only Zaino or Meguiar's), and stick to those items! Also, Black Wow for black trim around the wheel wells, and 303 Aerospace Protectant for other areas, like tires, inside dash, and outside black trim at bottom of windshield.

Good luck!

 

Great topic. I also like to keep my MINI looking good, and would like to wash and wax it a lot more often than I actually do... Similar to the post above, it's 19° F at the moment, and although Moocher's got some dried road spray, I'm reluctant to run it by the spray wash and hose a very cold car down with hot water. (Actually - short of freezing the doors shut, can the finish be damaged by hitting it with hot water when it's really cold? I've never been sure about that, and have always preferred to err on the side of caution.)

As for spray washes, I only use them as "Plan B," and I never dry the car off after spraying, for fear of rubbing residual dirt into the paint. Normally I give the car a nice sponge bath using Armor-All Car Shampoo, keeping the entire car nice and wet throughout the process, and then clearing the bulk of the water off with a silicone water blade. The remainder gets wiped clear with one of those really absorbent faux-chamois things. Afterwards I use Mother's carnauba wax, and the result is quite good.

BUT - as has been discussed on other threads, once you get wax on the black trim you'll wish you hadn't. There have been different removal methods proposed, some involving peanut oil, peanut butter (no jelly...), and different cleaning solvents. So any advice RE: keeping wax residue off the black bits would be appreciated. (Yes, I know... read the detailing threads. I'll get there eventually!)

Another question - what's the best way to remedy marks caused by bird crap? Acid rain is nothing compared to our local birds... Even if you wash it off promptly, there always seems to be minor damage afterward.

As for wheels - which can look really nice when they're clean - I use a floppy brush and work it through the spokes. I don't use a wheel cleaner solution per se, just soapy water from the bucket. I do the wheels last, needless to say... I use the same floppy brush to wash the grille and the rear fascia grid panel.

I have yet to use any kind of black trim treatment, but I've considered it, and may yet. I just don't like black trim to look overtreated (read, "ArmorAll Shiny...).

Cheers, all -

Spridget

 

Since I live in NJ, in the summer, I'll wash mine every weekend (my neighbors make fun of me, they just don't understand ) -I have stains on my driveway from all of the tire shine. But since it's now currently the winter, I'm gonna have to grin and bare all of the snow grime and salt all over it And as other people have recommended, I'd get some good quality car wash and ditch the dish soap. You'll get some nice shine in addition to the wax if you use something specially made for cars.

 

Wash yes. Wax never. I leave it the professionals. Washing I like Griott's stuff. Full detail it goes to the pros who know what they are doing.

 

+1 Griot's Garage http://www.griotsgarage.com/