[MINIMEOW]

Helo, I just purchased a convertible MINI and I am scared to take it to a regular car wash. I don't know much about convertibles, so any advice on taking care of a convertible would be greatly appreciated!

[liznkev]

hi,

Dont take it to an automatic car wash, you'll end up with marks and scratches on the paintwork, that goes for all cars!

Dont use a pressure/jet washer on your car either! If your car is new, the roof will be water tight, if its a couple of years old, re-proofing products are available i.e. Meguiars, Autoglym, etc.

Just use a reputable brand of car wash shampoo and hand clean it, rather than use circular washing techniques - like mr miagi!! - lol....use 'straight line or parallel washing.

I've got a 07 convertible and just tend to wash the bird ***** off as and when it happens, just on the local area of the roof and not the whole roof.

hope this helps!!

[burns863]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIMEOW (original)

Helo, I just purchased a convertible MINI and I am scared to take it to a regular car wash. I don't know much about convertibles, so any advice on taking care of a convertible would be greatly appreciated!

I am not well up on keeping clean softtops but can help with the rest. Although one product that will be good to use on your roof is some 303. See polishedbliss.co.uk

Cleaning:

1) Dont ever use an automatic car wash for any car
2) Use a wash mitt, never a sponge
3) Use 2 buckets

[Mini Cab]

Not disagreeing with what you guys are saying, however, I have been using a car wash now for 2 years and no problems, perhaps I have just been lucky.

Really do not have the time to do it by hand.........................

[jkjn]

Quote: Originally Posted by MINIMEOW (original)

Helo, I just purchased a convertible MINI and I am scared to take it to a regular car wash. I don't know much about convertibles, so any advice on taking care of a convertible would be greatly appreciated!

Show it the love it deserves and wash it by hand

[jkjn]

I've had my convert for 6 weeks now. to clean the roof I just use the vacum cleaner to get most of the dirt off of it and wipe anything else off with a damp cloth

[NeuroBeaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by liznkev (original)

Dont take it to an automatic car wash, you'll end up with marks and scratches on the paintwork, that goes for all cars!

Quote: Originally Posted by burns863 (original)

Cleaning:

1) Dont ever use an automatic car wash for any car

I can vouch for the wisdom in this advice through painful personal experience. I've never taken my Mini through a carwash for precisely this reason... however when I had it in at the dealer for some warranty work, they put it through an automatic carwash without asking for my permission or giving me any advance warning that they were going to do it.

Their carwash did a crap job of cleaning the car anyway, and when I got home later and cleaned it myself (by hand, of course), I realised there's now a faint scratch that now runs from the nose, up the bonnet, all the way over the roof, down the boot door, and over the back bumper. Directly on the centreline of the car. I went back to the dealership to complain and they flatly denied that their carwash damages cars. They said they put £70,000 BMW M cars through there, so obviously it was just fine for my little Mini One - obviously the damage occurred after I had left the dealership. ********. That was automated carwash damage if ever I've seen it, and I've never used one.

Now, whenever getting my car serviced, I leave strict instructions - on pain of violent , prolonged, and excruciating death - not to wash my car. The dealership is under no illusions that if they ever take my car through an automatic carwash again, it will be the last they ever see of me.

Always wash by hand, with tender love. That's how your Mini will like it.

All the best,
Andrew.

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mini Cab (original)

Not disagreeing with what you guys are saying, however, I have been using a car wash now for 2 years and no problems, perhaps I have just been lucky.

Really do not have the time to do it by hand.........................

Right give us the keys now, you shouldn't be allowed a MINI if you are taking it into one of those things!

[rellik666]

Quote: Originally Posted by jkjn (original)

I've had my convert for 6 weeks now. to clean the roof I just use the vacum cleaner to get most of the dirt off of it and wipe anything else off with a damp cloth

That is how porsche recommend you clean your soft top!

Prolongs the colour, helps prevent those white marks and keeps it supple.

Avoid getting car shampoo on the roof if you can as this may remove the waterproofing of the fabric.

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by rellik666 (original)

That is how porsche recommend you clean your soft top!

Prolongs the colour, helps prevent those white marks and keeps it supple.

Avoid getting car shampoo on the roof if you can as this may remove the waterproofing of the fabric.

the autoglym stuff is good for cleaning the soft tops, and putting the waterproof back on them

[Mini Cab]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey (original)

Right give us the keys now, you shouldn't be allowed a MINI if you are taking it into one of those things!

I don't see the point in getting quite so paranoid over a car Sure, I love driving my Mini about but when I discovered some little sh*t or shites, had used the front bumper to step onto the bonnet and left two really large indentations on the bonnet, I suppose I gave up being quite so fussy about it.

However, I have bought some Autoglym, so as soon as I get a reasonable weekend PLUS some spare time, then I will treat the roof.

[dsakko]

My Z3 (emergency backup whilst my Cooper spends most of its life in workshops having the gearbox rebuilt) I wash at coin operated car washes.

- high pressure soap, foam brush, high pressure rinse, low pressure spot free rinse on the paintwork
- low pressure rinse (no soap), foam brush, low pressure spot free rinse on the roof

Comes up looking like new every time. But I can never get the paintwork totally clean without doing it by hand. Only problem is I risk a $315 fine (1st offence) or $5000 fine (subsequent offence) for washing by hand whilst the drought is still going on here.