Tweet
I am detailing a Mini Cooper S on Monday. This will be the first time I have detatiled anything in probably a year (my car look like h*** right now). I have just been too busy with school. Anyways, it is green with black stripes, got the rally lights, everything as far as I know. Any tips for these cars? I know some of you have 'em.
- If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
-
-
Re: Mini Cooper Detail on Monday
My baby loves nxt on last.
-
Re: Mini Cooper Detail on Monday
I'm pretty confident that Richard Lin is our resident expert with hundreds of Mini Cooper Details credited to his name and having taught at least a dozen "How-To" classes on the topic. Let's see if he'll chime in...Originally posted by roushstage2 View PostComment
-
Re: Mini Cooper Detail on Monday
Thanks Mike! MINIs are a lot of fun to work on! They might not have as much surface area as larger cars, but there is plenty of opportunity to be thorough and complete!
First off, lets get the lingo straight and this will also impress the owner! The only "green" color for an MCS is known as British Racing Green. There was a discontinued light green known as "silk green" but this was only for the Cooper not Cooper S. This is metallic. The rear hatch area is known as the boot. The front hood is called the bonnet. The bonnet release is on the passenger footwell, pull it to get to the engine. This car is front wheel drive with a 4 cylinder 1.6L supercharged engine. To release the catch on the bonnet, there is a lever on the right hand side (driver side)--when viewing from the front just by the headlights. Push this up to release the bonnet catch.Originally posted by Mike Phillips View Post
What color is the roof? Is it white, black, or body color?? If it's white, you're in luck, but if it's black or body color, then you got some swirl removing to do!
Since they have black stripes (assuming standard fare bonnet stripes), their roof is probably either black or body color.
The black trim on the right and left side of the windshield are plastic. These swirl very easy so use the PC to remove the swirls!
Let me tell you a little bit about MINI owners. If someone is hiring you to detail their MINI, they probably aren't a typical owner who thinks their car is just transportation. However since you're in school, MAYBE the owner isn't all that picky, and is just expecting a basic wash. That isn't to downplay your experience, but rather trying to understand the owners frame of mind. There are MINI enthusiasts who are anal and really care about every detail about their car and won't let even family members touch their car, and then there are non enthusiasts who like the car, but aren't obsessed.
Are you detailing this by hand or with a PC or RB?? If you're working by machine then by all means make sure you thoroughly tape off the MINI. Here are some examples of a recent MINI restoration:
Because you are dealing with an MCS, the bumpers will be easier to work with, as there will be less chrome. However if he has a factory aero kit, then all the plastic trim are painted, and taping off those portions may not even be necessary.
Remove the bonnet grills. These pop out with a credit card when pushed from the back side closest to the windshield.
Find out what wax they have used. Most will be using Zaino, a lot fewer will be using Zymol, Griots, maybe Meguiar's, or maybe none at all.
The dirtiest part of the MINI is the boot. Dust and dirt collects on here and if they don't clean this often it will feel rough as sandpaper. Make sure to have lots of clay on hand.
The exhaust tips will be sooty. Make sure to have lots of NXT Metal Polysh. Use this for the chrome door handles and the chrome gas cap as well and headlight surrounds and rally lights.
The arch trim around the wheels gets old really fast. Make certain you don't get any wax or polish on this. Assuming you've taped it off, this shouldn't be a concern, but if you do get it on there, use either #39 or #40 to remove it. #40 is excellent for all the plastic trim on the MINI for cleaning and protecting. Make sure to thoroughly clean the side skirts below the door. Open the door to clean these, and get all the areas.
Here is what neglected trim looks like on a MINI
After you're done polishing and waxing, don't forget to clean the door sill, door hinges, boot lid areas and under the bonnet.
Although this is also a Cooper and not an MCS, there is no difference. You get the idea.
When you get to the interior, don't forget crucial things like the airvents, the collect lots of dust!
I can go on and on, lol, so feel free to post any questions you've got.
Richard
Originally posted by roushstage2 View PostComment
-
Re: Mini Cooper Detail on Monday
Octane guy, My bonnet grills are looking kinda dull. How do you recommend treating them? Also, I am not sure what to do with the bonnet stripes, Polish, wax? Is it okay to hit them with the PC? or do you tape them off. I am one of those anal MINI owners you speak of.Comment
-
Re: Mini Cooper Detail on Monday
I'm one of those anal owners too. =)
Pop out the grills. If you have a 2002 to early 2003, it releases from the front. 2003 and onward are released by inserting a stiff card or vinyl applicator squeegee from the rear. Just press down and they pop up. You can tell the difference between the grill styles by whether there is a foam backing behind the grill. For early grills, the foam is most likely completely deteriorated by now.
I like #40 to clean and dress the edges. The grills themselves are hard to dress using this method. If they are really in need of cleaning, just spray some #39 on them, and use the Meguiars detailing brush to scrub it. Then dress using the aerosol Trim Detailer. The trouble with using a cream type or white dressing cleaner is trying to get all the residue out of each honeycomb area. The aerosol Trim Detailer prevents that.
Spray and drench the back side, then the front side and wipe off any excess.
Re: bonnet stripes
Don't buff them too aggressively. They will lose color. The two tone factory stripes are printed or atleast they aren't made from 2 pieces of solid vinyl.
You can buff on them lightly, but be very gentle. Its better to replace them if they get too swirled or tatty looking.
For black stripes, just apply a vinyl dressing to even them out and call that good enough.
Richard
Originally posted by mini44 View PostComment
-
Re: Mini Cooper Detail on Monday
I thought I had replied before, but it is no longer here, or never was so...
It is a British Racing Green Mini Cooper S with a Black Roof and Black Rally Stripes. It also has headlight washers on it (They are little oval looking pieces on the side of the headlight that pop out and spray washerfluid on the headlights)? Do you know what those are? I am one of those owners with my car, I know what you mean. It is my friends father, who mostly just enjoys the car, not obsessing over it like we do. He usually has the mobile detailers come over and do their thing, but he wants a better job done this time. He knows that I will take as much time as necessary to do it right.
Anyways, popping the bonnet grills out is a very good tip. I will be using the PC and taping everything off. I plan on claying, hitting it with #83 in a few spots, #80 over the entire car, and then #21. I am also dutsting and dressing the interior.
Comment
-
Re: Mini Cooper Detail on Monday
Yep those are the self leveling Xenon lights, they come with headlight washers--which are just water jets. They come on with every 3rd pull of the water jets when cleaning your windshield. They mostly get the car dirty as you drive!
I have them on both my current MINIs, but I don't use them for that very reason.
Sounds like you have a good plan. The black roof will be swirled out as will the window trim pieces as mentioned earlier. If he's got a black roof then he's also got black mirror caps--and these can be buffed out with the PC as well. Of course the mirror caps might be chrome which is also an option. Other possibilities are checked, british flag, or carbon fiber. All of these are plastic, so buffing is the same.
As I mentioned previously, there are lots of plastic pieces on the MINI, and the arch trims look especially bad if you get wax/polish on them, so beware.
Good luck!
Richard
Originally posted by roushstage2 View PostComment
-
Re: Mini Cooper Detail on Monday
Just got back. Spent about 6 hours. I know, I know. Pics!!!! Well, the weather wasn't cooperating today of course, so I just got a few in the garage. I will see if any are good. Started sprinkling as I was washing. The chrome wheels were black. Sprayed them down with Gold Class Chrome Wheel Cleaner. Cleaned up nicely, except some etching? from the brake dust sitting. Claying pulled a lot off, especially on the back. Hit a few spots with #83, then the entire car with #80. Took a lot of water spots out, but there were some deep ones that wouldn't come out. I also got rid of about 80-95% of the swirls. A lot of the scratches that are left, were deep. Topped it off with NXT. Put NXT Tech Protect on all of the trim and tires. Pulled out the bonnet grills and sprayed them down with protectant. The only thing that left it looking kinda ugh were the black rally stripes that had really bad water spots on them. All in all, it was a good experience. It was my first paid detail. Not too bad considering the alternative of sitting around all day. Lost a part of a clay bar and a polishing pad in the process. The customer was very happy with the car. Told them to give me a call if they see anything that needs to be touched up.
Comment
Comment