BoCRon

Welcome! So what do you use Adam's on? Pics are always welcome . Annette

Welcome! I'm with you on the spouse thing, except for me it's my husband . Luckily for me my husband just got a brand new car and wants to keep it looking that way. Annette

Ok, based on the title of this thread I thought it was going to be like ones on the MINI club sites, where you list the "names" of your cars . Here's my list, there are sections where I was totally being a girl and had no idea about the year or precise model of a car. I put that down to my MOM years when I had toddlers and babies and wasn't fully functional due to years of sleep deprivation. 1970something Ford Country Squire station wagon (parent's car actually) 1979 Datsun pick up truck 1984 Nissan pick up truck Beginning the mom years- 1989 Ford Aerostar van (sold) 1996 Infiniti J30 (lease, turned in) 1998 Volvo Station Wagon (traded in) 1999 Dodge Durango 2001 PT Cruiser (still have) 2006 MINI Cooper S (El Kabong) 2011 MINI Cooper S (Gokart Mozart) 2015 MINI Cooper S (Witchiepoo) Not very exciting compared to the impressive lists here. Now if you ask me to list dogs, I'm thinking I'll stun some folks . Annette

I think the issue with mine was that it actually etched the plastic. By the time I figured out it was a substance dripping from the car and not left over water ruining my SVRT application it had been there for years. On my friend's car, the dealership immediately offered to replace the trim so she said sure. I think when she saw the permanent mark on my MINI she got worried. She has ordered the APC and will keep on top of the new trim. But I'm hoping the fact that the dealership flushed out said areas will mean it's a non-issue for her. Annette

I have been using glass sealant on front and rear from day one. The MINI is famous for having a "dirty boot". Something about the way the back end is designed lends itself to terrible dirt collection. So I learned early on to keep it well coated and the dust blows off for the most part. Also, I find the act of claying and sealing the glass to be therapeutic. Easy job with big rewards. Maybe that's why I got out of the habit of using washer fluid and such. Annette

So I recently sold my '11 MINI Cooper. Overall in great condition. When the guy that bought it got home with the car (a 1000 mile drive!) he texted me to ask if I knew what was wrong the with washer jets. I told him I had no clue, that I don't know that I'd ever actually used them, at least not on purpose. I started wondering if this was a regional thing. Here in the south it seems that using them is counterproductive, in the heat the washer fluid just bakes on the glass making a bigger mess. In the winter we get mostly rain so no need for extra fluid. I also get the feeling that using them regularly damages the glass somehow, and you end up with a permanent pattern of the wipers on the glass. I also hate how they spray water/cleaner all over the roof and such. When I do MINI club drives or events (the Dragon, Road Atlanta track days) I always travel with glass cleaner and a few microfiber cloths and clean as needed. The rest of the time the car is garaged or gets washed regularly. I felt bad that I had no idea they didn't work but he said it was probably not a big issue and not to worry about it. So for those of you that do use yours, do you just put water in the reservoir or do you use something special in there? Annette

I posted a thread recently with odd drip marks we couldn't get out of the black plastic trip on a MINI. According to my brethren on the MINI club site it is actually cosmoline. I read somewhere that it isn't supposed to be used anymore but some brands are still using it in very specific places, under the hood itself (not in the engine bay, but the actual hood) seems to be the most common. On the one I posted the dealership has ordered new trim and is replacing it. They are not admitting that it is cosmoline or anything else for that matter, just replacing the trim. Annette

I first got into detailing in 2001 when I got my red PT Cruiser. At that time I was introduced to Zaino products. While it produced good results, the process was way too labor intensive and I burned out on it and switched to easier stuff. Next came my white MINI, I still had Zaino in my arsenal so used that for a while. On a white car it was much more forgiving so I stuck with it until that car was totaled. The replacement vehicle was a dark blue metallic MINI. I had switched to Prima products about year 2 of the white MINI, so started out with that. The blue was way less forgiving and I tended to get less excited about detailing. I discovered Adams somewhere in there and got into detailing again as I found the forums and the videos made it easier to get good results. Now I have my current MINI, which is a flat paint in a lighter color. Way easier when on a time budget. Also, my husband got a new MINI at the same time, along with one of my best friends. Having other people to detail with makes it more fun for sure. Annette

I just sold my '11 MINI Cooper S, Mozart. I spent the past few weeks on here bugging everyone with detailing questions and just want to thank everyone for their time and patience. I know it takes time for you all to read these newb posts and then formulate an answer. I just want you all to know I appreciate the effort you all put in here! The guy that bought my car bought it sight unseen. Like me, he is an enthusiast who lost his beloved MINI in an accident. He has spent the past 6 months haunting the MINI forums and all the online car sales sites searching for just the right car with all the right factory options. After a few phone calls and emails back and forth we came to a deal and he wired me the money and I fedexed him the paperwork. Lots of trust there and I wanted him to be happy when he finally got to see his new car. I spent the past 2 weeks detailing Mozart inside and out. I asked many questions here to help with restoring some things and just generally making every inch look his best. I wanted the new owner to fall in love with Mozart and feel like he got the best deal ever . I know it's odd, and maybe a girly way to look at it but I wanted Mozart to go to a good home. I'm sorry to say I didn't get some great pics after the detailing was all done. Hopefully he will be posting on the MINI site soon and I can add some final pics to my album. Here's a shot of me with my daughter as co-pilot on The Dragon. Here's a shot of Mozart with his new New York plates, looks so odd to me! Backing out of my driveway for the last time . And away he goes. Have a great life up north, Mozart! Annette

My husband and I generally wash our cars together. I've set up a detailing cabinet for each of us. I ended up buying 2 bottles of HG&G so we don't have to keep waiting for the other to share the one bottle. As it stands we have barely used 1/4 of each bottle so I think it will last until Christmas at least. At that point I'll buy a gallon to keep refilling. Annette

Waiting for matte black or hot pink .

Yes, I guess that curbed would be the correct term, couldn't think of it. This is my 4yo '11 MINI that I will be selling so don't want to put significant money in the wheels. I also just remembered I have a pack of black "rim blades" which are rubber things you stick on around the edges. I'm guessing that would do the trick as well. Annette

So I've done Deep Wheel cleaner and good cleaning on my '11 MINI wheels. They are a glossy black wheel. I have a few rubs on the edges. Is there anything special about doing wheel touch ups? I was thinking I could just go to Autozone or something and get a glossy black paint touch up pen. I think it is actually a BMW color, but wasn't sure with wheels if I should get anything special or what. I'm hoping to get this done and then apply a coat of Quick Sealant as my final step. Annette

Thanks! I was close, I was guessing Last Stage Process or Product .

From a hobby detailer here, I can do one of my MINIs in about 4 hours (exterior only). I don't even want to think about how long it takes to do our Nissan Titan, last time I had both kids help and it took at least 6 hours for 3 of us! My kids at the time were 15 and 20, so they were actually working at it. Also, what does LSP mean? I have done a search and no results and it's not in the abbreviations sticky. Annette

So one of the things that got me into detailing my own cars was the lack of reliable or available detailers in my area. A few years back I gave my daughter a "full detail" on her car for a Christmas present. I told her that we would find someone to come out and do her car and while they were here I'd have my husband's truck done as well. As we own our own business that is on our property and is basically open 7 days a week I needed to find someone who could come out and do the cars on site. I called 4-5 detailers in my area who were all listed as mobile operations. On each I got a voicemail, which I expected. I left a polite message stating were I'm located and the services I was looking for on 2 vehicles. I wasn't going cheap, I was looking for a good sized package and was realistic about my expectations (I thought). I didn't get a single call back, not from a one! So I'm wondering, is there just way too much business to keep up with, or do detailers just prefer doing the Mercedes, Corvettes and Maseratis that seem to proliferate my area and don't want to do "regular" cars? Or are there certain models that they just avoid? I understand that, as in my business as a dog trainer there are certain breeds I just don't want to work with and as busy as we are I have the luxury of turning down the business. But I do call everyone back and refer them elsewhere if I don't think we are the right fit. Annette

The pics showing the problem are not my MINI. But I did have a similar issue with my '11 R56. But nowhere near the amount that is on the one in the first post. On my '11' I had streaks on the same points on my trim but never took the time to study where it came from, I just assumed it was a result of water dripping on my trim after applying a product. It took a couple of years but I eventually got rid of it. The drip must have run out of whatever and I just kept cleaning it.

Ok, I took some pics of the areas on my MINI. Since my MINI is a bright color it was a bit easier to point it out. Here's a shot showing the 2 points at which the drip in emanating. And a shot with the hood up showing the 2 points the drip is coming from. You can't see from the pic but there is a little opening at each of these corners.

I was actually thinking it is cosmoline.

I will take a pic of my MINI with the hood up to show the points. It is not detail related I'm pretty sure. All she did was clay, wash and use liquid paint sealant, followed the next day with a coat of H20 G&G, none of which has this consistency. It's like thick vegetable oil. The all purpose isn't touching it. Annette

This is on my BFFs brand new MINI. She just completed her first ever detail and thought she'd spilled something on the car somehow and asked me to take a look when she was over. I noticed she had the same "spill" in the exact same places on both sides of the car so figured it was not that. Anyway when you lift the hood, there is a place at each corner and this mess seems to be dripping from it. When you lift the hood there is a small opening at each of these corners and you can see there is this clear oily stuff just ready to keep dripping. I figured it out when I pressed on the hood a bit and created more drip! Needless to say it's made a mess out of her trim and I'm thinking it will be a pain to get off. When I thought about it I realized my R56 had grease dark spots in the same place and I always thought it had to do with me dripping the liquid wax or something when I was detailing. But mine were nowhere near the extent of this. She is going to the dealer on Tuesday so will have it looked at. But when she gets it back (assuming they don't replace the trim which is what I told her they should offer to do) I'm wondering how to best clean this up. She has been cleaning it with Adams all purpose cleaner for the past 2 days thinking it was an error she made.

I just take a trip up to The Dragon and let Killboy get a great shot of my car. Bonus all around . Annette

I am a dog trainer by trade and have used Metro products for years, they are very well known in the kennel and grooming industries. I have the Vac n Blo as I bought it for use in my kennel. I went with the Sidekick for the garage as I didn't feel the need for another large unit. Regardless, you will be very happy with it and will probably find many other uses for it. On a side note, I think my original Vac n Blo is close to 10 years old and nary a problem. The only thing I've done for it is buy a replacement piece for the hose connector as it finally gave out. Storing it in the Georgia heat isn't the best I guess. Annette

Took me a few days as I have to work in bits and pieces. Here's the process so far, Day 1 Clayed, top to bottom, including the glass. Washed. Dried Applied a coat of Adam's Paint Sealant to painted surfaces. Applied a coat of Adam's Glass Sealant to all the glass. Rinsed and then applied a coat of Adams' H20 Guard and Gloss (I LOVE THIS!) Day 2 Cleaned interior surfaces with Adams Leather & Interior cleaner. Applied a coat of Adam's Leather Conditioner to leather portion of seats, the dash and doors. Day 3 Light wash and dry. Thorough wheel cleaning and dry. Applied coat of Adam's Quick Sealant to wheels. Applied coat of Adam's Super VRT to tires and rubber trim around roof. Applied coat of Adam's Quick Sealant to all the hard plastic trim. Going forward I can just wash and use the quick detail during drying. I will re-apply a fresh coat of H20 Guard and Gloss every few washes. I'm really pleased with my results and hope that doing this when it's brand new will protect the various finishes.

Thanks! I am getting to work on it now. I just finished a wash and did the wheels, so here is my progress so far. Isn't there a long thread somewhere for people to post pics of their finished cars? I could have sworn I saw one but can't find it anywhere. I don't want to start another redundant thread .