Thought I would ask the experts about this one!

My MINI is a week old and in need of a clean, but I want to make sure I'm using the right lotions and potions.
Having read the forums, it's clear many of you rate Autoglym products highly, so I have already bought some of their shampoo, glass cleaner and vinyl/rubber cleaner.
I asked the shopkeeper about the Wheel Cleaner and he said it was good for removing the black carbon dust from the brakes? Why is this better then soapy water?
Also, can someone recommend a good polish and/or wax?

Thanks for any advice
Sally

There are a couple of places where this has been covered, try these threads:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7576

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6839

Having said that, I can tell you that just this week I did the entire detailing thing (clay bar, wash with dawn to remove old wax, and then applied three coats of the Zaino system of polishes) and I'm very happy with the results. I've been reading posts about Zaino for at least a year, wondering if it was an Internet scam. It's not. The car looks amazing -- certainly better than the day I picked her up from the dealer. Here are a couple of pics:

http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/tcmini/cooperzaino1.jpg
http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/tcmini/cooperzaino2.jpg

Your Cooper looks fantastic.

I'm also a Zaino fan.

Cheers :)

You know what I like about the Zaino? I think it's actually keeping my car cleaner. I really do think their claims about repelling dust and what not may be true. I've done a lot of driving this weekend, and the car still looks like I just waxed it -- despite the fog and dust here. And yes, in a single day we really do have fog and dust, SF is a weird place :-).

Originally posted by tcmini
You know what I like about the Zaino? I think it's actually keeping my car cleaner. I really do think their claims about repelling dust and what not may be true. I've done a lot of driving this weekend, and the car still looks like I just waxed it -- despite the fog and dust here. And yes, in a single day we really do have fog and dust, SF is a weird place :-).

Who's the Zaino dealer around these parts?

go to the the Zaino web site and print the order form, I'm pretty sure they'll ship their products overseas. They are well worth the money, a lot cheaper and easier to use than Zymol or anything else out there. Their web site is: http://www.zainobros.com . If anyone is interested I'll search and post the URL for a comparison some guy(not a professional) did on all of the major waxes available on the US and he felt that the Zaino gave the best results. Good luck with your detailing!

piperpilot, sorry just realized you are in California, I had looked at your flag and thought you were in the UK.

Originally posted by fred-guido
piperpilot, sorry just realized you are in California, I had looked at your flag and thought you were in the UK.

No problem! I'm just another transplant (originally from Sussex, England) - been out here about 12 years.

So you'd recommend just ordering Zaino via mail?

Yes, I would order it via email. Make sure you read their online instructions before you order because they have several different products that one may use together or you may just use the wax alone. It all depends on how much of a detailing nut you are.

Originally posted by fred-guido
... It all depends on how much of a detailing nut you are.

From my point of view, I'm just trying to keep my beloved MINI looking sharp.

From my wife's point of view, I'm completely obssessed with my car and spend time cleaning it when it's already clean!:D

Thanks for the info.

Originally posted by SMH
Thought I would ask the experts about this one!

My MINI is a week old and in need of a clean, but I want to make sure I'm using the right lotions and potions.
Having read the forums, it's clear many of you rate Autoglym products highly, so I have already bought some of their shampoo, glass cleaner and vinyl/rubber cleaner.
I asked the shopkeeper about the Wheel Cleaner and he said it was good for removing the black carbon dust from the brakes? Why is this better then soapy water?
Also, can someone recommend a good polish and/or wax?

Thanks for any advice
Sally

:p Always new my anorak past time would come in handy one day. Autoglym is excellent but even better and cheaper are Blue Coral Waxes & Washes. Dirty wheels just use warm soapy water but never use anything but proper car washing soaps. Your Fairy liquids are full of salt and other unfriendly paintwork chemicals. Another tip for you is buy one of those woolly sheep looking sponges as they hold far more water than a normal sponge and also are far less abbrasive on the actual paint finish thus reducing those unsightly rings cars get in no time at all.

Buy a Hydro Blade which is a modern day car body wiper and once you have hydro bladed your MINI's body you can then leather off any remaining water drops literally in a minute of two where the blade doesn't quite hit the spot....

Don't use a real leather but a good quality man made leather with tiny holes..Autoglyms are excellent and last forever. Good Luck :D

PS: Don't forget all you free be washes everytime your dealer has to rebuild the MINI :p So thats once a month you won't be cleaning

Originally posted by daro911
....Your Fairy liquids are full of salt and other unfriendly paintwork chemicals.....

Translation for American readers: "Fairy liquids" refers to a UK brand of dishwashing detergent for hand washing dishes. In the US, this would be a product like Joy or Dawn. :) These are awful to use for car washing as they stip right off the paint.

Thanks those who advised about products etc. Have now bought and used virtually the whole Autoglym range and am very impressed. My husband was out using them at 5.30am this morning before it got too hot - it's my car but he's just as besotted as me!

Cheers
Sally and her Crispy Clean Cooper

all these cleaning threads. I'm feeling jealous. I tried polishing mine, once. Started, not a cloud in the sky, got the polish on - by the time I'd got it to a car wash the rain had nearly taken it all off. :(