Red MINI spring clean detailing day(s)

[AndyP & Lenore]

Just spent the past two days detailing the two MINI's. To be honest, the Blue MINI just got a quick wash and dry. 99% of the time was to pamper the red MINI.

So to give it the spring treatment I did the following:

Snow foamed the car with a mixture of 25% G101, 25% snow foam, 50% water.

Left that on for 10 mins. Power rinsed. Hand wash with noodle MF mit.

Sprayed lower car sections with Tardis. Left that on for 5 mins. Washed off with shampoo and power rinsed.

Clayed each panel at a time using snow foam as a lubricant. Used Sonus green clay.

Full wash down using CG Maxi Suds. Dried completely using MF towel from Costco.

So, on with the polish.

I used Menzerna finishing polish and a Meguairs G220 UDM. Sprayed the pad and the car with some Megs quick detailer to give plenty of lubrication.

I seldom put the polisher up about speed 6. At that speed it's pretty freaky as it is. And I figured that would be getting the work done anyway.

No pics of the polish, so you're just gonna have to imagine it. And trust me I did polish the car.

Once all the polishing was done the car was washed and dried thoroughly.

Then one coat of Blackfire Wet Diamond wax.

That was day one done. So off to bed.

Next day. Another full wash and dry. Another coat of Blackfire wax.

Then the wheels. I used R222 which is the same as P21S alloy wheels cleaner. It did a not bad job, but there's still some stubborn brake dust deposits I need to get stuck into. Gonna have a go at claying them off when I have more time.

Then all wheels were given a coat of Poorboys Alloy Wheel Sealant. And the tyres were treated to Blackfire Wet Diamond tyre gel.

Then all the black plastic was treated to Autoglym Bumper Care - does a terrific job.

Then all the windows were treated to Autoglym Glass Cleaner. This stuff is also excellent.

Job Done.:thumbs up:

The Before pics:

As you can see, it wasn't exactly filthy. But it did need a good detail to get it back up to standard.

http://www.reachercreatures.com/detailing/march_detail_1.JPG

http://www.reachercreatures.com/detailing/march_detail_2.JPG

http://www.reachercreatures.com/detailing/march_detail_3.JPG

http://www.reachercreatures.com/detailing/march_detail_4.JPG

[AndyP & Lenore]

Some in progress pics:

Snow foamed with the chemical mix.
http://www.reachercreatures.com/detailing/march_detail_5.JPG

Taped up ready to Polish.
http://www.reachercreatures.com/detailing/march_detail_8.JPG

I cut the clay bar in half. So here you can see the result of claying the whole car. The bit on the left is the bit I used. As you can see, there wasn't that much in the way of impurities and tar etc. that needed to come off. but it did leave the metalwork nice and smooth.
http://www.reachercreatures.com/detailing/march_detail_10.JPG

[AndyP & Lenore]

And the final result.:thumbs up:

http://www.reachercreatures.com/detailing/march_detail_11.JPG

http://www.reachercreatures.com/detailing/march_detail_12.JPG

http://www.reachercreatures.com/detailing/march_detail_13.JPG

http://www.reachercreatures.com/detailing/march_detail_14.JPG

http://www.reachercreatures.com/detailing/march_detail_15.JPG

http://www.reachercreatures.com/detailing/march_detail_16.JPG

[GCA3N]

Nice job, car is looking amazing, got to say that is one of the bad things about having a silver car, you cannot get that type of result, very nice.:cool:

[Ivano]

You missed a bit..... :smilewinkgrin::smilewinkgrin:

Wow!!! What a finish, well worth the time and effort.

I do like those new JCW Wheels :thumbs up::thumbs up:

[rpn]

Very nice.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w214/rpn48/woot.gif

[Bumble]

Looking good Andy! Looks like plenty of elbow grease.

[audrey]

Looks great love your car :thumbs up:

Used that Autoglym Bumper Care on my car the other day for the first time best its ever looked well pleased :yes nod:

[Smitty]

Looking good Andy - hopefully the weather doesn't take a turn for the worst again, and you can enjoy the shine!! :thumbs up:

[Gismo]

Erm, aye, good job i suppose, not up to the standard of the king of shine though :Whistle:

[N12 JLK]

nice and clean, havnt the time these days with the puppy to spend time on ours.

[Mini Ecosse]

Good job Lenore, well done :Whistle: :thumbs up:

[Craig]

well done sir.... :thumbs up::thumbs up: wish I had 2 days to spend on the car.... :frown:

[AndyP & Lenore]

Cheers everyone for their kind comments.:thumbs up: All except Alan, of course.:knife:

Craig, this was probably the only two day period in the entire year when I (Lenore) didn't have something else planned for me on at least one of the days, so just luck really.:argh:

Stephen, Lenore didn't touch the red MINI. In fact after 1 1/2 days hard work she had the audacity to come out, look at it and say; "Very nice, but I thought it looked fine before":frown:

A.:D

[GCA3N]

women;) can't live with them, can't live with them.....:eek:;)

[Gismo]

after 1 1/2 days hard work she had the audacity to come out, look at it and say; "Very nice, but I thought it looked fine before":frown:

A.:DI was thinking exactly the same thing :rolleyes:

[Stewart]

Spray the Tardis, sounds just what I need although I could dab the AG Glue & Tar......but using a spray so much better....

If say you were inside doing the dials what would you use......anal i know but its clear plastic I take it, blooming swirls on my one.:rolleyes:

[Crombers]

What's the difference in the two sets of photos.

A) 1 red MINI

B) 1 red MINI

:confused:

:rolleyes:

(2 days :eek:, after half a day I would have chucked it :D)

[AndyP & Lenore]

What's the difference in the two sets of photos.

A) 1 red MINI

B) 1 red MINI

:confused:

:rolleyes:

(2 days :eek:, after half a day I would have chucked it :D)

But, Crombers, the B) MINI is sooo much cleaner and shinier and smoother and lovely looking than the A) MINI.:cool:

A.:thumbs up:

[AndyP & Lenore]

Spray the Tardis, sounds just what I need although I could dab the AG Glue & Tar......but using a spray so much better....

If say you were inside doing the dials what would you use......anal i know but its clear plastic I take it, blooming swirls on my one.:rolleyes:

When you say inside doing the dials, are you talking about the instrumentation on the dash? If so, I wouldn't use Tardis on that. Waaay to strong. Maybe some G101 diluted 1:20 and a microfiber cloth.:thumbs up:

A.:D

[Stewart]

sorry the Tardis was for the outside :D

going to polish the windows inside and out with carlack stuff and seal so i dont need my wipers so much as the water jumps off the window and then going to use my Aerospace 303 on the dash and plastics inside...from what it says on the back it does the lot.

[AndyP & Lenore]

Haven't used any of those products mate, so can't comment on them.

We use G101 diluted to 1:20 for the inside trim, not sure what Lenore uses on the likes of the dials. If I'm honest, probably just a damp cloth. How did you get swirls in them?:eek:

A.

[Mini Ecosse]

not sure what Lenore uses on the likes of the dials. If I'm honest, probably just a damp cloth.

A.
I was right, it is Lenore that cleans the cars.
You just stand back and take the pictures :lol::lol::thud:

Stephen

[zimbo]

Looking good Andy, I have always loved your Red mini from the day you got it (except for auto trans of course) cracking job :thumbs up: ....but you missed a bit, on the front number plate holder :frown: :lol:

[AndyP & Lenore]

I was right, it is Lenore that cleans the cars.
You just stand back and take the pictures :lol::lol::thud:

Stephen

Lenore does the inside. I do the outside.:thumbs up:

A.:D

[Stewart]

mate, How did you get swirls in them?:eek:


Its nothing bad its just very light, not sure if it was me cleaning the chrome surround or the car came with them….In honest truth its me being anal as you cant see them unless the sun is hitting the dial at the right angle………………

[RyanK]

nice work, car looks awesome!

[AndyP & Lenore]

Its nothing bad its just very light, not sure if it was me cleaning the chrome surround or the car came with them….In honest truth its me being anal as you cant see them unless the sun is hitting the dial at the right angle………………

Aye, I know what you mean, that would annoy me too. Hmmmm. What's best to get them out then?????:confused: Tricky one, because you'd want to try anything on another piece of plastic/acrylic first, to make sure it's not gonna make it worse. I wonder if a furniture polish might work. Sprayed onto a cloth then applied, not directly onto the plastic. But try it somewhere else first, for gawds sake.:hand:

A.:D

[AndyP & Lenore]

nice work, car looks awesome!

Cheers Ryan.:thumbs up:

[gauldrymini]

WOW car looks awesome!:clap:

Nice alloys...

Andrew

[Crombers]

But, Crombers, the B) MINI is sooo much cleaner and shinier and smoother and lovely looking than the A) MINI.:cool:

A.:thumbs up:

Really :eek:

Does it do the MINI 'thing' any better though :rolleyes: ;)

[ianking]

Very nice Andy.
Good gloss.

Did you do the engine bay as well?

Really need 2 days to machine polish mine. Ive still never done it yet. Just cant seem to get the time.

[AndyP & Lenore]

Very nice Andy.
Good gloss.

Did you do the engine bay as well?

Really need 2 days to machine polish mine. Ive still never done it yet. Just cant seem to get the time.

Cheers Ian.

I think I may have rushed it, if I'm honest. The machine polishing work only took about an hour and a half. Like I said on the 'phone I still have some very faint scores. So I think next year I'll need to get set up with deeper cut pads and polish and then finish it all off with the pads I have and the Menzerna. I'll speak to you before I do that though.

A.

[ianking]

Yeah maybe you were a bit quick with the polishing. You have got to give it time to break right down. This takes even longer with the P.C style machine you have. I use a rotary and to machine polish a MINI takes me about 5 or 6 hours of polishing alone if the car isnt in too bad a state to start with.

[Gismo]

I use a rotary and to machine polish a MINI takes me about 5 or 6 hours of polishing alone if the car isnt in too bad a state to start with.:eek: wonder what mine would take :Whistle:

[ianking]

Its prob that bad seeing as you never wash it. There shouldnt be that many swirls on it.
However the washing and claying stage would take hours as there will be lots of bonded contaminants on the paint.

[Gismo]

Its prob NOT that bad seeing as you never wash it. There shouldnt be that many swirls on it.
However the washing and claying stage would take hours as there will be lots of bonded contaminants on the paint.Cool, erm, that's a compliment, right :Whistle: :D

[zimbo]

Cool, erm, that's a compliment, right :Whistle: :D

Claybaring alone will cost you a fortune... :Whistle:but if and when you do decide to get your car started/done and if I am available :D i will gladly come along and give you a hand if so desired...

[Sheilz]

Was looking through the threads looking for one that would point me in the right direction of what to get in terms of pampering for the new 'un and thinking that this is why I decided on red. The finish is just awesome. This is as good as Ian's one. Need shades to look at it. Some standard for us novices to aspire to.

[AndyP & Lenore]

Shielz, very kind comments indeed:thumbs up:. But alas, Ian's cars are always significantly better "dressed" than mine.

A.:D

[Hamish]

wow... top job Andy, next time I'm gonna take in a movie, I'll give you a shout and drop mine off mate... your hired! :p

[NorthSea888]

Professionally done...... :thumbs up::thumbs up::thumbs up:

[Stewart]

:sad:just reminded me that my roof needs machine polished..found a wee scratch today that will machine out no problem if i cant get it out by hand with a light polish.

Its on next years list to grab somone that knows what they are doing and get it done.