Ok thought I would start a thread to see how many Hot Orange owners:cool: we have here on MINI2,
I have only ever seen one other locally now that one seems to have gone out of the area.
heres mine,:D now please show me yours, would love to see what you peeps do to yours


also is there a Hot Orange Owners Club?

Bez,

Here's ours!!!

Like you too have not seen too many in the flesh, actually only 2!!!!

http://i706.photobucket.com/albums/ww62/Gazzer1uk/th_DSC_0522-1.jpg (http://i706.photobucket.com/albums/ww62/Gazzer1uk/DSC_0522-1.jpg)

I have started to detail and am going for the ultimate shine and condition. The car has part leather seats with the orange fabric which looks ace, also the dashboard is walnut and the doors are that brushed aluminium/silver with chrome trim. We didn't buy her new but this choice is quite fetching. Only thing was that the roof was blue, we've now changed to black, so if anyone wants a blue roof.....

http://i706.photobucket.com/albums/ww62/Gazzer1uk/DSC_0121.jpg


My good lady has in the tradition of things also named her.... quite appropriately "Pumpkin!"

Nice one Gazzer1uk, must say the shine is nice and deep, must get me one of those detailers, must agree blue roof on Orange just does not go, the one local to us had the blue roof.
Think i'm going to have the mirrors caps colour coded as the chrome ones have pitted already after 3 months of ownership, also having the arches and bumper trims colour coded this summer.
very original name ours is called Nemo, well it goes with the orange theme

Bez,

Thanks for the kind comments. I knew diddly squat about detailing but its all common sense although experience is a big thing as there are millions of combinations. And I think it can be something that gets excessive!! However I am finding it therapuetic and the kind comments we have had about the shine really make it worth while. Of course it makes the good lady feel good too;)

Re the shine, it was achieved by doing a proper thorough wash and dry and then I used a sealant by Chemical Guys, called Mirror sealant..... Application and buff off, took about 1/2 hour but gave that silky smooth wet look, used Clean Your Car - car care products UK (http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk) to supply.

Have to say though your shine is particularly impressive too, the detailers look at reflections to judge and yours are great!!!

Re your pitting, there are a few treatments that you could try which might resolve the problem, can I suggest you try A world for detailers... (http://www.detailingworld.co.uk) and log onto the forum there and ask the question on how to treat??? There is a worldly wealth of info out there and how to correct and prevent problems like this, possibly cheaper than changing them........

There is also a lot of other info on there about detailing which basically is good washing, cleaning and caring techniques that generally come down to good preparation and quality products.......


I think Nemo is an apt and cool name too:)

I also like your array of lights, you've gone for a more punchy aggressive look, which Nemo holds well, were a bit softer due to the lady ownership!!!!

All the best, if your ever up in Warwickshire give us a shout!!!

Gaz

Count me in as well! Piccies later. Don't see too many around where we are now, but regularly saw THREE others in Cardiff :aargh:

Might not have it much longer though. Need more space for the wife, so may get a Focus CC...?

I see quite a few hot orange here in Australia...its a pretty common colour for a convertible here me thinks... :D

Hi All - I'm the proud owner of a hot orange with blue roof (sorry for those that don't think it's cool :)). I got Oscar from new and just had to have the navy roof with orange and navy interior, it is a bit different and I still love it. I've chromed the poor chap to bits and just about to put some decals on ready for Silverstone. I have converted many friends into mini lovers too and wouldn't drive anything else. Went for a test in the new cabrio this weekend and sorry gonna stick with the proper S and not the Turbo didn't float my boat. Anyway would love to join a Hot Orange club if there is one. Always wanted the 4 spots but was concerned they would not look good but seeing yours has changed my mind so will be getting him some in near future. Hope pic uploads as I'm pretty rubbish at this stuff x

very nice ;)

Hi Cazzywaz,

Very nice car, "Pumpkin" must be a twin!! What colour is your dash, ours is Walnut which I thought might be a bit austere but actually really compliments!!

The blue roof is definately a personal thing, I really liked it but my good lady felt black better and now "Pumpkins" hair is coloured, it does go well and she is pleased which of course is what counts!!!

It does mean I have a blue canvass roof in excellent condition should you want to have a spare, do make me an offer!!!!

Re the pictures, its not has worrying or as hard as I initially thought and some help got me through.

If you set yourself an account up on photobucket (it's free) then you can use their tools to upload the pictures you want to the photobucket site. When they are displayed on there, if you hover the mouse over an image a little dialogue box comes up. In there it gives various file types for use, the one you want is the "img" item. If you click on the code, copy it and the simply paste it into the reply thread box on this forum (i.e in your reply) it will pick up the image and put it in the post, and you will get a full size high quality image stuck in the body of the text.

I have just added another pic of Pumpkin to my original post following a good cleaning session!!!!

If your stuck give us a PM and I will happily give some more guidance on how to do it, as its great to see the cars at full size!!!

Somewhere somehow perhaps we ought to start an Orange Owners Club!!!

Cheers,

Gaz

Hi Gaz et al

My task for weekend is to polish Oscar to within an inch of his life and put some decent pics of him on here (thanks to your help, I will email if this techno callenged numpty can't cope). Forgetten the name of my dash I remember sitting with the salesman when choosing and I just wanted to get it ordered, I was that excited that I couldn't think straight in the end I went for grey shiny stuff I think its Petina (but could be wrong) anyway photos will show you what I mean. Reason I looked at new cabrio is if I had my chance again would have had some other stuff added, but so not into the new version and no Hot Orange so I'll keep Oscar. Gaz if you have the time do start a hot orange club it would be cool to get a load of us at a meet in a pub and as it is only Cabrio's that come in Hot Orange the sight of all that shiny orange would be awesome, especially on a hot evening


Thanks for messages good to meet you all, love Caz and Oscar xxx

Caz,

I agree a small fleet of Orange Convertibles would be quite a sight!!!

Can I reccomend you check a website out called Detailing World, hints tips tricks and help about how to get the max out of your loving attention to Oscar!!! A world for detailers... (http://www.detailingworld.co.uk)

If you search for Mini Convertible, lots of brill stuff and you will at some point find Pumpkin going through her process and some really good advice on techniques, as Hot Orange is truly a passionate and Hot Colour that deserves the attention!!! I have the same screen name there too.

OK so let's ask which county the UK guys are from, I am Warwickshire based.

Gaz

Hi Gaz

Thanks again for the tip been on the site and totally confused. I am normally a take Oscar to Sainsburys and let the Polish guys do their stuff kinda person. When the sun is shining I do the following, wash with wash and wax, rinse with hose, use a wheel brush on wheels, chammy off till I can see my face in it. So you can see I'm a total novice here. Can you give me some real base line pointers on best products and how to use. I purchased one of those round polishing machines a while back which is gathering dust in my garage, is that a good tool to use or will it cause damage????

I am from Hampshire and envy you being in Warwickshire such a lovely part of the country but not a million miles away should we ever get a convoy of Orange Cabrio's together.

Thanks again
Caz

Hi Caz,

Ah Know the fair county of Hants quite well, born in Aldershot,lived in Farnborough for a while, moved up here 24 years ago....

Yes I had forgotten how bewildering Detailers world can be too many TLA's.......!!!!:confused:

OK, the secret of washing the car and getting the best finish is to avoid damanging the paintwork, sounds simple but we all do it.

Principle is based on making sure no grit gets washed in. Most if not all cars have a clear glaze over the actual paint, and this over time gets scored and scratched. Under sunlight and other lights this coat gives little or large swirl marks all over. Not most think, its clean but the detailers think, ghastly. It is in fact damage but most accept it. However if cleaned treated and polished, these marks go and the finish is to die for. Hot Orange is a classy colour and getting the paintwork up to standard will really make the motor stand out.

Now, polishing machines are really good but they take time and practice. The orbital ones are more powerful and in use generate a lot of heat, heat is good but too much is very bad. The dual action ones generate less heat, and so on balance are easier for beginners.

Put Oscar out in direct sunlight when you can and view the paintwork, see if you can see swirls and stuff.

You could do things in stages, learn and practice, or you could choose a less demanding route. However, like most things, if you get the preparation right, the treatment really works well and importantly lasts.

"Pumpkin" is yet to be polished with a machine, I am planning this when the weather is a bit better unless I can find a friends garage.

The trick is to stop the particles of grit getting used in washing and causing the swirls, and I can take you through the techniques of that. Once at that stage you can work out what treatments you could use........

You can spend a lot of money and TIME on this though, so one option is to get a professional "detailer" to get you up to standard, and you can maintain from there, or you can give it a go yourself. I spend less time each week but have to say it took me a while to get her to standard even though she was very clean to start with!!

Wheels.

Use a non acidic wheel cleanser, I am currently using Bilberry, its a natural cleanser, smells great and can be used without worry about attacking the wheels. Spray this one the dry wheels before you start.

1. Pre wash and soak.

You can omit this stage but it makes things easier, if you have access to a pressure washer. You use a special attachment lance and a bottle of special foam stuff. You totally soak the car in this foam and leave it to dwell between 5 adn 10 minutes. It will lift and loosen dirt and make the full wash easier as well as getting rid of some of the grit, our enemy!

Now use a middle stiff brush to agitate the wheels, get into the nooks and crannies. When you've finished this, I normally spray Bilberry again and allow to dwell on the wheels.

2. Once pre washed or to start the washing process a pressure washer is a good idea, use the shampoo mix and wet the car, and then use the high pressure to rinse off. Always have the jet at an angle of around 45 degrees to the surface else you can grind the dirt in, as opposed to forcing it off.

3. If you have not got a pressure washer, then simply use a hose and get the car fully wet.

4. 2 bucket method of washing. Get a good quality wash mitt, throw your sponge away, sponges hold the grit in the surface. A mitt can be microfibre or lambs wool Use one bucket full of a good quality car shampoo, and one to rinse. You can use plastic grit guards but if not, simply rinse out the mitt once you've washed a panel, or if you have the grit guard rub the mitt against it so the grit falls out to the bottom of the bucket. Only dip the mitt into tthe top 1/3 of the buckets though to avoid picking the dirt and grit up again.

5. Rinse off using a pressure washer and or sheet the water. Use a hose pipe and run the water along a panel so it spreads out and forms a sheet which then runs off the car better.

6. If you going to start improving the condition, now use what they call Clay. You can buy it as a kit, Meguiars starter clay kit is a good one. The clay is a bit like blue tac, and you use a lubricant and rub the clay all over the car, glass, wheels (not tyres etc) ensuring it does not rub the surface but glides over the surface. It picks up little contaminants and grit that have bonded to the surface and improves the finish, if you rub your hand over the paintwork before and after, its rough before and silk like after.

7. Now you will need to wash and rinse/sheet the car off again.

8. Dry Oscar. THROW AWAY THE CHAMOIS!!! I bet you can guess why now, the grit particles will get caught in the chamois as you friction dry the car.... yowch! Use microfibre towels, place them on the surface and pat dry. You will be amazed how this works and in no time at all the car will be dry.

9.If your going to polish now is the time to do this, but that is an art and one I am not qualified to lead you through yet!!

10 If you have polished you can now use a post polish cleaner.

11. Assuming you have not polished here is a good bit. You can use a glaze which has a small amount of filler in it. You can apply and buff off by hand once dry and it will mask a lot of small swirls. Use an applicator and when dry buff off with a microfibre cloth.

12. Time for a good quality wax. I have used Dodo Juice Orange Crush, smells nice, easy to apply and really brings out the orange.

13. After 24 hours, add another coat of wax, if Oscar is out to the elements at night assuming it has been dry use a Quick Detailer spray and microfibre cloth which will take any dust or overnight grime away before you add that coat.

14. You can even top the wax with a sealant!!!

Now, the door shuts, hinges, under the bonnets can be cleaned using an All Purpose cleaner, grease can be removed with a de-greaser and the hood with a cleaner and proofer. Don't forget the glass and lights too, and then thank goodness its a Mini!!! Imagine a Volvo, I do as that is my car, Pumpkin is the wifes car!!!!!

Right, that is the basics and happy to answer questions....

As for products, I use:

Meguiars Gold Class Shampoo - ace stuff thick and full of suds
Karcher Pressure washer - does the patio too!
Autobrite Foam Lance and Snow Foam - accesory from Autobrite
Bilberry wheel cleaner - spary on wheels not tyres!
Sonus Miracle dry Microfibre drying towels slurps the water off the surface can be used on the roof too
Assorted microfibre drying, buffing towels from Ebay or specialist car cleaner
Vikan Wheel brush - use when wheels are wet and in bilberry
Meguiars wheel brush bigger brush
Detailing Brush - small 1 round good for nooks and crannies
Chemical Guys Mirror Wet Glaze After claying but before waxing
Meguiars microfibre applicator glaze applicator
Meguairs foam applicator wax application
Poor Boys wheel sealant once clean and dry effectively a wax for wheels stops brake dust build up and make it easy to clean the week after!
Meguirs Hot Tire gel use a foam applicator, nice and wet looking
Autoglym Vinyl and rubber conditioner use on the trim strips, inside on the door trim etc and under the bonnet
Dodo Juice Orange Crush soft Wax wonderful stuff and smells nice!
Dodo Juice Red Mist Post Wax sealer after waxing just that little extra bling
Meguiars Glass Cleaner solid good stuff
Autoglym Hood cleaner and proofer good for keeping the hood in the righ condition
Meguiars Clay Kit lubricant, towl and two clay bars, good value
Meguiars All purpose Cleaner best stuff on earth, use everywher fabric 101 dilution, under the bonnet and wheel arches 5:1 cleans everything
Chemical Guys Orange Degreaser use under the bonnet, wheel arches carfully around hinges, read instructions on this wont hurt but could damange paint if not used properly.
Meguiars Microfibre wash mitt use for the plastic trim on the car
Sonus Lambswool wash mitt use for the metalwork
Autosol metal polish use on the exhaust pipes.

It's quite a shopping list but like most things start at the basics, get two good buckets and grit guards, Meguairs gold class, your wash mitts and microfibre and you will see a difference to what you normally do and build up from there!!!!!

Most of the stuff I have bought off the web, I have used Clean Your Car and have been pretty happy with service and prices, lots of stuff on their site and some specials offers every now and again. Be warned though, some of it is expensive and you can spend a fortune.... I have, but I reckon you will get that back in the long run, let alone the viewing pleasure!!!!

Blimey got lost in that post!!! Better get on with some work now!! I am not an expert, but this is what I have learnt and you can see the results, which I think are pretty good!!!! If you have any questions just ask and I will do what I can to help, these are great motors and looking after them really is quite jolly fun!!!!!

Gaz

Hi Gaz

Wow this is awesome, got my work cut out if I'm going to get Oscar up to scratch (excuse the pun) and compete with Pumpkin. Had a look for some local detailers and not much around but expect that's the best way forward have him professionally detailed then maintain. He spends a lot of his time in the garage anyway so should be fine once got the shine on. Thanks again and I now know where to come for any further help. Now need to research how to set up a mini club!!!!!! :-)

Welcome Cazzywaz, Oscar looks great, and a brill name too, is it inspired by those great tropical fish Giant Oscar, we had them when we were younger and were the friendliest fish we ever had, they would even eat from our hands.
The colour of roof is a personal thing, the main thing is you love it, and it goes with your interior, must agree with you on the new S convertible, supercharger for me too, the only thing I like about the new model is the lower roll over hoops, oh and the wheels.
The spotlights were off eBay from jonspeed racing £48 a pair with stainless brackets, go for it there not wired up but were just added as we too love the chrome, we've even changed the boot handle to chrome as the S has colour coded trim, thinking about getting the chrome air scoop next and chrome fuel cap but apparently not available for the S, roof motor in the way
Gazzer1uk, wow you've gone from novice to a expert in no time, is this now your full time job? maybe you fancy the job of starting the Hot Orange Owners Club UK, as I have no expertise in web page building but would love to do it, just don't know how. Managed to get the chrome mirror caps to come up a treat, thought they had gone past there sell by date but as new now
My wife got me one of those detailers for my birthday but must admit have still not used it
Well we have three confirmed Hot Orange Club Members now, oh by the way our county is Nottinghamshire
come on everybody don't be shy show us some pics, surely there are more than three of us (sorry rhoobarb no pics yet)

Hey Bez,

Good to hear from you, and thanks for the kind words. Still not an expert but learning and I could not do it for a full time job, its hard work!!! But the results are great and one gets that little internal kick when someone asks how you get your car that clean!!!

Re a Hot Orange Club, well we three could become the founder members!!! As in setting it up, really not too hard these days, lots of tools around to do it, the first thing is to get a free domain off the web somewhere and then using something like Microsoft Front Page you can create the various pages and stuff, and use Photo Bucket as the source of images.

I play in a band, have a look at our website as an idea. This was firstly created using MS Front Page, but now I look after it I manually edit the code for changes, although most of this is simply text. The big thing is to get the layout and linkages right and it goes on from there, else you go from page to page to page etc, if your interested in doing it, I am sure I can offer some help. How about if I see if I can find a free domain in the first place, we may even be able to cascade of this site?

IF so then the first thing would be to take a look at some other enthusiasts niche web sites first and see how they do things and go from there.

With only 3 or 4 to start should not be too onerous not like this site which gets a lot of attention. Hope this is within the site rules too, would not want to irk or anger anyone!!! Maybe the mods can advise and maybe even help us define this offshoot!!!

Well if we have Hants, Notts and Warks we could always meet up for an Ice Cream in Stratford Upon Avon some time in the summer!!!

Cheers for now,

Gaz

Hi Gaz, I know what you mean with the little kick, but doesnt it pain you when someone says "nice shine" then rubs thier fingers along bonnet when theres a little coating of dust on there.
re web page just set one up for my classic project last week :- project mini - Home (http://projectmini.weebly.com/index.html) this is a free site and to be honest found quite easy to use maybe we could do same for Hot Orange Owners Club just for fun, tell me what you think, send me a link to your site mate.
Stratford Upon Avon, sounds a nice place for ice cream, but burger and ice cream sounds better, maybe we will all meet up sometime this summer during the 50th celebrations
all the best Andy (BU51 BEZ) by the way Bez is my wife, as its her car during the week and both of ours at the weekend

Hi Andy,

There is a theme here you know, I am presuming Cazzywaz is indeed of the fairer sex, meaning these three Orange beuaties are in the ownership of the femal contingent!!!:smile:

Yes sorry forgot to post the link!!! The AAWB (http://www.aawb.co.uk), funnily enough I am Gaz on there too!!!

I just looked at your site, and its great!! Just the job for a Hot Orange Owners club. Looks like you have your work cut out on the Blue Job!!!:biggrin:

My first car in 1983 was BHO 518J, a mini clubman estate, when I met my wife she had an orange Mini, one of the reasons I knew she would like Pumpkin!!!

I think if your willing you should just go for this and set the club up!!!

I live close the national Motor Heritage centre, its about 20 miles from Stratford, have to see if they are doing anything for the Mini celebrations too and we could all meet up there.

Caz, are you in???

My wife took her other car to the dog walking nature reserve (black Labrador and English setter who are totally banned from the mini!!!!) and felt a shock as drove into the car park was an Orange Convertible with Blue Hood..... She said it was dirty though, so seems there may be another lurking around.....

I really must get on with some work today!!!!

See you later,

Gaz

thanks Gaz, first site i've done, but here's one for us Hot Orange Owners Hot Orange Owners Tribe - Home (http://r52hoot.weebly.com) let me know what you think of name etc and any advice anybody can give would be grateful, will do more over next couple of days with pics and the like

TOP JOB:) Well done Andy!

I love the name too, its a Hoot and of course yes, were a tribe!!!

I will select some pics for uploading, they're on photobucket and then maybe can get uploaded.

I guess a drive for members would be a good thing!!!!

Very fast work though and it looks really nice, sophisticated as befitting!!!!

Wonder if we can find out how many Orange's were sold in the UK from BMW..........

Then we would know the potential size of the group:cool:

Catch you later!

Gaz

Gaz, pm sent

Hi Andy and Gaz

I am indeed female so looks like all three of us as founder members of The Tribe are female, wonder how many male Orange owners there are? My boyfriend loves driving Oscar though he is a new Clubbie owner (having just sold Chaz the red car in my pic) so likes to get the wind in his hair every now and then. Stratford would be a great meet and I'm up for that, I will also be at the Silverstone weekend if either of you are going.

Andy, as for Chrome Oscar has the full interior chromed, bonnet scoop, air intakes, fog lights and rear light, stainless steel mesh things (can't think of proper name) front and rear below bumpers, think that's it. Still waiting for Minipirate to come up with my decal designs but I'm thinking silver flames down the side but we will see. I named Oscar after Oscar Wilde as he is a Wilde child the alternative name he has is LFB (Little Fat B.....d) because I've been done for speeding twice in him.

Guys this is an absolute pleasure meeting you on here and look forward to other chats with you either on Mini2 or the Tribe. Really going to try to get some decent Oscar pics this weekend but wont have started with the detailing yet.

Bye for now
Caz

Hi Caz,

Thanks to Andy really for sorting HOOT out, as your all female owners I guess that makes you all Hooters Girls.....:eek:..... oh dear now I am in trouble!!!!:D

Make sure you get pics of Oscar before any detailing so you can compare!!!

I have emailed BMW today to see if they can let us know how many Tribists exist in the country, then we can see the potential size of the group, I am guessing it is not that many!

Pumpkin is chromed interior, grille, headlight surround, boot lid, but not the scoop or anything. Andrea, good lady owner of Pumpkin is also interested in some decals to the sides, so interested in what you come up with too.

I have added a page to the site called Clean and Sparkle and the idea is to help other Hooters to give their precious little One,Cooper or S the extra bling factor.

It would be great to have an Orange Day somewhere!! Let's keep in contact and see where we end up at!

I will also be interested to see the various ages of owners, I am deffo middle ages (45 nearly) so this is a shot at reliving the youth!!!

Good to here Mr Cazzywaz is a Clubbie, they have cetainly changed since mine, which was semi automatic, cruise controlled and climate controlled..... it used to leap out of 2nd on whim and had a hole in the floor which would let cold air and moisture in and if you went above 60 the temperature used to rise so you had to back off!!!!

Sorry to hear you've been nicked by the boys in blue or been in candid photogrpahs, it really is easy to do, and of course the S does inspire active driving.........

See you later,


Gaz

Hi Gaz & Caz maybe you should of called him Little fast B.....d, oh thanks Gaz for your input on the Tribe (HOOT) apppreciated, have you both tried the other side yet, theres a linky on our site on home page
all the best Andy

Hi Andy,

Sorry did not understand your bit above about links and dark side????

By the way Gaydon is 6 miles from where I live, in July, Ice creams,:D are you displaying there???

Oh hang on you've edited the site...... refresh..... aha:biggrin: I will try, we need to do some recruitment!!!!

Cheers,

Gaz

Not displaying but would be nice to have all our cars parked together for the day, would be a nice photo oppurtunity
Andy

And then maybe a BBQ at my house!

Gaz

Hi Guys - well Gaz I've started to try to get Oscar somewhere near to how Pumpkin looks and will upload photos on here first (hopefully if I can). Took loads of your advice and got all that Mongers stuff from Halfords, they had it all on 3 for 2 but still spent nearly £70. Rights so he's been washed, clayed, tyred, and first coat of wax and looking beautiful, let me know what you think. Bez the Gaydon meets sounds like fun, will definitely try to make it up there if I can, like you say to have the three Hooters cars together would be a great photo opportunity. I'm going back on to Hoot in a mo to check it out and the other Mini2 pages as well.

Bez thanks again for setting up the Hoot site looks fantastic and I'm sure there are going to be other members lurking out there.

Hi Caz,

Have you not been busy!!!!!??:D

Clayed as well, excellent stuff, how did you find it all?? Can you feel and see the difference yourself??

This can be an expensive sport, but the chemicals and compounds and liqueids blah blah, tend to be used sparingly and so last, I only just got me new shampoo bottle and I use a lot!!!

Pumpkin had a less detailed wash this week and a second coat of Dodo Juice red mist, it kind of blings the wax!!! Its good and smells soooooo nice too!

When I dried her I got hairs off the microfibre so Andrea my wife things I have gone totally OCD as was outside with the packing tape getting them off the roof!!!! Works though!!!

Sun out today, roof could be down!!!

I also read on the Gaydon site that owners clubs might be able to get free admission............. wonder what constitutes an owners club, would us HOOTers get in for free??

If you need any help with your pics let us know, really looking forward to seeing Oscar!!!

Just thought, Pumpkin is definitely female, but Oscar and Nemo both boys........

Gaz

Glad to find this thread , we pick up our new baby a 2005 Hot Orange Cooper Conv on Saturday. Just wanted to say Hi , will post more info and pictures when we get him, Think its a him called Dylan ....... :rolleyes: