BoCRon

So in another thread a fellow MINI owner and detailer suggested I use the Quick Sealant on the black trim around the wheel arches and the bottoms of the doors and bumper/fender. This trim is a black plastic, slightly textured and matte. I just watched a video on Quick Sealant and did get my wheels done and may give my bonnet a coat to give extra bug protection. For applying it to the trim, do I put it on with an applicator and buff off like I'd do with the paint? Or do I spray it directly and then buff off like I did with wheels? I did do one small area and realized it never really needed to be buffed off like on the other areas so am wondering what the correct application process is for these areas. Annette

With mine I don't think it was due to rain. I did the car on Sunday. Monday I did the interior. On Tuesday the news was freaking out about these storms we were supposed to get that were said to have caused heavy hail damage in neighboring states. I moved all our cars under shelter at our kennel for the night. Wednesday morning my daughter and I moved the cars back up to the house and when I parked the car I noticed the streaks down the glass, sigh.

Exact same thing on my freshly detailed MINI! I spent hours cleaning it and came out to find the windows all streaked from the roofline trim. I cleaned it meticulously beforehand and used svrt in very modest amounts. Then wiped down after to get any off the surrounding areas. I haven't had time to fix it yet so am hoping it's not as big a hassle as it sounds like.

So did you trim down the Adams brushes? I'd like a way to get in the crevices in the seats so this may do the trick.

Nice hack. I am also impressed with how nice the wheels/tires look in the pic .

Not so much ingenuity as impatience. I had the Leather Conditioner but forgot to order any applicators. I was waiting for the order to come in but couldn't wait to start on my car so searched the house for some way to apply the leather conditioner and voila! It was a bit much to do the whole interior with those little sponges but I did discover how useful they are in specific areas. I like the rinseless solution. Since I don't use a water blade anymore I was going through too many towels. I will definitely try your method next time. Annette

I use women's makeup applicators to apply Leather Conditioner to the tight areas in my MINI. I also use them for applying SVRT to roofline and around wheel trim. They are just the right size. I can rinse them out and get a couple of uses from each one. Pack of 12 from Target is $2. I have the larger Adams applicators for everything else, but in a MINI there are a bunch of tight spots that need a smaller applicator. http://www.target.com/p/up-up-latex-free-cosmetic-rounds-12-ct/-/A-11008843#prodSlot=_1_10 Annette

And as to the wheels. Is it a good idea to use the Deep Wheel Cleaner as a first prep? I'm thinking the wheels are like the paint in that they probably picked up rail dust, salt water and general crud from the ride across the pond and up to Atlanta. Annette

So is the SVRT even needed on the trim on top of the HG&G? I can save the SVRT for the tires, which is fine with me. Annette

Thanks, Michael, for the input. According to the video, it's ok if I get the HG&G on the trim so I'm guessing the SVRT over the top of that is just fine. I've never used the Quick Sealant so am looking forward to trying it out. Annette

So my husband and I just picked up our new MINIs last week. We have been pretty busy so we haven't had much time to drive (not as much as we'd like anyway). On a good note, this means they've been mostly garaged while we get the time to do a full detail. I'm currently in process of cleaning up my old MINI to sell and see some mistakes I'd like to NOT repeat if possible. My biggest issue on the other car is the white residue in the black plastic trim and gutter line. I used a combination of Prima and Adams on that car over the course of 4 years. I thought I was pretty careful but apparently not so much. So I was thinking that maybe a couple of good coats of SVRT or Quick Sealant on those parts to begin with may offer some protection. I have done a coat of Paint sealant/Glass Sealant and treated the interior but that's it so far. I'm going to do a coat of HG&G this weekend so was wondering the best order to go. I was thinking a light clean of the plastic followed by a coat of SVRT or Quick Sealant. Then rinse the car off to do a coat of HG&G. Oh, and should I treat wheels and tires first or last in this process. They are brand new as well so I was thinking a light clean before protection. I have pretty much every Adam's product there is except the Patriot Wax and the Brilliant Glaze. Annette

Got it will do! Annette

So I watched the video on restoring gray trim to black. I got my cloth and some all-purpose cleaner and got to work. Just like in the video I was getting a pretty dirty, blackened towel after and was thrilled it seemed to be doing the trick. By the time I circled the car and got back to the beginning the white residue was all visible again. I did a second pass, this time using my little trim scrubbing brush. It was a bit better, but still the white residue showed back up. I have a few days until the guy buying the car is getting here, and while I don't think he'll notice or care, I want to send the car off looking it's very best. Should I just keep scrubbing away? I should get my order with the quick sealant tomorrow so was planning on doing the bottom plastic trim with that and using the SVRT on the roofline parts. Annette

Thanks, Jason! I will add 2 single softs to my cart.

If you were going to use a single soft and a double soft to apply the HGG which one would you use for which step? My husband and I tend to detail our cars at the same time so need 4 towels and 2 bottles of HGG total. I'm thinking we could buy 2 single softs to add to the collection and be able to detail in tandem.

I do, that is a very old pic. I have been slowly using up the Prima stuff and replacing with Adam's. I'm probably about 85% Adam's now and will be sending the remaining Prima stuff off with my daughter when she leaves for college. She will get my last bottle of Prima Mystique wash and Prima Hydro Spray. Annette

I was wondering about that. What would you suggest for padding? Is that something I can grab at a big box?

I haven't. Still trying to decide on final cart choice. This is my other option. I like the closed area on top, might help with dust control.

I have a "Detailing Corner" in my garage. It's a pretty good set up but not quite big enough for all my stuff. Also it's on the side wall nearest my car and isn't convenient for my husband to get to when he is detailing his car. I have a garage that has 2 doors with a small wall between the doors that I can fit a cart. This cart will most likely stay in the garage as our driveway is slightly sloped and our usual procedure is to wash and rinse in the driveway and then pull into the garage to finish in the shade. Here is my current detail corner- And here's the area between the 2 doors where I will park the cart. The compressor has been moved down to the kennel. Here's a cart I found at Northern Tool for $79. I can use the drawer for applicators and small brushes. And then I think I'll grab one or two of these to hold bottles and such.

Wow, that's good to hear. Up until recently I used a Prima product called Hydro. You spray a light mist over the freshly washed, but still wet car and wipe dry. I'm glad to hear it sounds like I can use the detail spray in the same manner.

Got it. I've never used the Adams detail spray so am looking forward to trying it. Annette

So the new MINI has had her first treatments done. I clayed, then did a coat of paint sealant followed the next day by a coat of HGG. Going forward on a quick wash type of day, what is the best way to continue on. Do I wash, dry and then do a detail spray? Or should I keep layering HGG? I have no problem continuing with the HGG as it was a very easy application and the results are well worth it, just not sure if it is needed or advised on a regular basis. I also have the Buttery wax but not sure I want to go there in the Georgia summer! My weekend plan is to do the wheels and trim with the Quick Sealant so will probably be doing a bath as well while I'm at it . Annette

Will do. Thanks! Annette

It does help me out, thanks!

I just ordered the 4" drill backing plate to go on my cordless drill. I'm not a pro like a lot of guys I see on here so this is not a regular thing. I'm not sure I will ever need this but want to have it in my toolbox. I tried to order the pad that goes with this but don't think it is available anymore. Can I order any of the 4" pads on Adam's site? Here's the link to the page showing the pad I was trying to get but can't find. http://adamspolishes.com/video?video_id=12 Annette