MINI2 - MINI Forum - View Single Post

rellik666 · Aug 13th, 2006, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Ingredients:
1 Meguiars Quik Clay Kit (~$25 I think)
1 bottle of Meguiars Deep Crystal #2 Polish (~$15)
1 bottle of Bowdens Own Auto Body Perfection* (~$30) (* or any other decent quality wax as you see fit, I just really like this stuff)

2 or 3 microfibre polishing cloths (the Bowdens ones are awesome, but about $20 each, the meguiars ones are fine too, and about $10)

a couple of microfibre applicator pads or the round meguiars foam applicator pads

Wash the car thoroughly.

If you haven't polished/cleaned/waxed etc in a while (say > 6 months, check by running the back of your hand over the paint, it should feel as smooth as glass) clay bar the car first following the directions on the box (use HEAPS of the spray that comes with it). The paint will feel like glass after this. Important: if you drop the clay bar, throw it out. I usually break the clay bar in half so if I drop half, I've still got the other half. If it's a cold day, chucking the clay bar in the microwave for 5 seconds or so will soften it up nicely.

polish the car with the deep crystal stuff using straight motions (imagine air flowing over the car as you drive, and go in that direction) with an applicator pad, with moderate pressure (Important - don't get this stuff on the black plastic, it's a ***** to clean off, masking tape is your friend). polish lots, with moderate pressure, letting the polish do the work, not the pressure of the pad. remove polish with a clean microfibre. This stuff is safe to use, it's not aggressive, and while it does remove a tiny bit of clear coat, we're talking fractions of a micron, and clear coat is about 60-100 microns thick. I've been using this process on our Astra since new, it's now 6 years old, and I've not had any issues. In some ways the Astra's paint actually looks better than the MINI when it's clean....

WAX the car with the Bowdens (or whatever you've chosen), doing a small section at a time (1 panel at most, I usually do 1/2 a panel), again using straight motions. With the Bowdens apply it thinly and wipe off while it's still wet, using a clean MF. Other products may vary, e.g. NXT you should apply it all over the car, and then leave it for an hour or so to 'bond' with the paint.

optional: go over the car with another clean MF and some Quik Detailer (it comes with the quik clay kit, or the Bowdens stuff is VERY good as well) to give a final shininess.

Bake for 20 minutes, serve with chips, and enjoy.

usual disclaimers apply, but this is basically the process I go with.

I follow the MickyD rules of cleaning and my car always comes out really clean and shiny and the paint work is soooooooo smooth. I do it about once a month and wash it once a week. It soon adds up once you have bought everything but it is definately worth it. Esp if you have a car that showa the dirth like me!

Aug 13th, 2006, 05:41 AM	#3
rellik666 Keeping The Top Off! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Melbourne Local Time: 11:08 AM Posts: 583 Offline	Quote: Ingredients: 1 Meguiars Quik Clay Kit (~$25 I think) 1 bottle of Meguiars Deep Crystal #2 Polish (~$15) 1 bottle of Bowdens Own Auto Body Perfection* (~$30) (* or any other decent quality wax as you see fit, I just really like this stuff) 2 or 3 microfibre polishing cloths (the Bowdens ones are awesome, but about $20 each, the meguiars ones are fine too, and about $10) a couple of microfibre applicator pads or the round meguiars foam applicator pads Wash the car thoroughly. If you haven't polished/cleaned/waxed etc in a while (say > 6 months, check by running the back of your hand over the paint, it should feel as smooth as glass) clay bar the car first following the directions on the box (use HEAPS of the spray that comes with it). The paint will feel like glass after this. Important: if you drop the clay bar, throw it out. I usually break the clay bar in half so if I drop half, I've still got the other half. If it's a cold day, chucking the clay bar in the microwave for 5 seconds or so will soften it up nicely. polish the car with the deep crystal stuff using straight motions (imagine air flowing over the car as you drive, and go in that direction) with an applicator pad, with moderate pressure (Important - don't get this stuff on the black plastic, it's a ***** to clean off, masking tape is your friend). polish lots, with moderate pressure, letting the polish do the work, not the pressure of the pad. remove polish with a clean microfibre. This stuff is safe to use, it's not aggressive, and while it does remove a tiny bit of clear coat, we're talking fractions of a micron, and clear coat is about 60-100 microns thick. I've been using this process on our Astra since new, it's now 6 years old, and I've not had any issues. In some ways the Astra's paint actually looks better than the MINI when it's clean.... WAX the car with the Bowdens (or whatever you've chosen), doing a small section at a time (1 panel at most, I usually do 1/2 a panel), again using straight motions. With the Bowdens apply it thinly and wipe off while it's still wet, using a clean MF. Other products may vary, e.g. NXT you should apply it all over the car, and then leave it for an hour or so to 'bond' with the paint. optional: go over the car with another clean MF and some Quik Detailer (it comes with the quik clay kit, or the Bowdens stuff is VERY good as well) to give a final shininess. Bake for 20 minutes, serve with chips, and enjoy. usual disclaimers apply, but this is basically the process I go with. I follow the MickyD rules of cleaning and my car always comes out really clean and shiny and the paint work is soooooooo smooth. I do it about once a month and wash it once a week. It soon adds up once you have bought everything but it is definately worth it. Esp if you have a car that showa the dirth like me!