I finally got to detail a Mini !!!

S

stilez

New member
...and I think I want to buy one now :D



I absolutely love this car. Ever since it came out, I have liked everything about it. Everyone always hated on me for that but I never cared, I think its such a cool little car. The interior is no smaller than my Integra, just the trunk is...No biggie for me, but anyways...



I did this Mini for a very nice family. It's a 2003 with only 3800 miles on it. However, it absolutely ate up my clay bar. The sides (doors and rear 1/4) and the tail end were really contaminated with brake dust, exhaust dust, and just plan dirt. You could blatantly feel it with your hand. Also, someone put their door into the drivers door as you can see from the dent. I think they or they had somebody compound out the scuffs because it was VERY dull there (no reflections whatsoever). I polished that out for them. They were absolutely thrilled with how it looked before I began even polishing it (just wash, did the rims, tires, wells, and clay).



First up was the interior. Pretty messy for an '03 with under 4k miles, but then again they has younger children. No before pics, but I did my oxy mix on the mats and carpet. Water:Woolite on everything else. 303 to protect everything, Lexol to condition the seats. Gliptone Glass Cleaner on the glass.



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Onto the exterior, like I said, a mess. I had to start this one at 4pm (owner's request) so I had to motor through this job ( :lol ). I did it with great efficiency and really pushed my limits today, but I felt very confident how I left it. Total time - 3hrs 40 mins. My final processes were:



-Mother's Gold Wash

-Wolfgang Clay

-#80 Speed Glaze w/Polishing Pad

-VM w/Polishing Pad

-EX-P by hand



*Simple Green to clean rims, tires, and wheel wells

*Armor All on tires, in wells, and on all plastic trim

*VM on all lighting

*Rain-X, then Gliptone Glass Cleaner on windows





Before

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After

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Couple of sexy curve shots

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Can some Mini owners chime in on their views on the car in their honest opinion. I really to like this car and am serious about getting rid of my teg in place of a Mini S if I can get what I want for the teg and find a reasonably priced/conditioned Mini.





Thanks and Enjoy!
 
Wow, looks incredible! :up How do you like EX-P on dark colors?



Gotta love those Minis, I "looked" at one when I was buying my 4R, they're so much fun to drive!
 
great motoring! :D really nice job on a great car! it looks like a Cooper S model, with the blown motor. no personal experience, but after watching "The Italian Job" (the one with Marky Mark), they look like they have good handling. well, they should since BMW makes them. ;)



are you sure the smaller trunk won't be a hassle, like when you have to haul around your detailing supplies or ghetto water supply? :p
 
GSRstilez said:


I did this Mini for a very nice family.
Click to expand...



I'm happy you kept the Keebler Elves looking good! ;)





Awesomes works. It needs window tint seriously though. :)



I like the Mini, but I don't know, I like the Mazda 3 a lot. After driving one I fell in love. :o
 
I do not own a mini,however I know quite abit about them. I really do like them first off. The motor was deveoped by rover and chrysler,hence there is where the rumor starts. The base 1.6 is only 115 hp and the supercharged S is 163 stock. The S model runs in G stock and the base model runs in H-stock in autocross. They handle very well.
 
As a former Integra owner, I can tell you the MINI Cooper S is a better car all around. The Integra used to be my favorite FWD platform of all time; now the MINI is.



The stability and handling are actually both "bigger" and "smaller" respectively. You wouldn't believe how stable the car is at 130 mph (5ht gear gets you to 132; 6th is too tall for max speed).



The only thing I don't think is the size of the rear trunk (I wish the rear seats had 2 inches less room, and they gave that to the trunk instead), and the horrible run-flat tires (MCS only).



Its easily the best car you can get today for under 25K.
 

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Yes the run flat tires are heavy and the wheels for that package not very good looking. Aftermarket wheels would be the first mod I would do to this car.
 
My friend has a Cooper S and I love that car. He lives in Shanghai so it is my job to ensure that it gets driven regularly.



Personally I find it attracts too much attention (his is bright red with stripes) but driving it is a pleasure. If I was to buy a second car I would consider a cream Mini S with a pulley for the S/C, and some AC Schnitzer deep dish wheels!!! drool
 
Thanks for the kind words everyone :)





I was very happy with VM/EX-P on that color. It left a very, very wet shine as you can see. I had a full flash shot on the hood, but it didnt come out. I can say though, that the metallic flakes were very vibrant.



After looking at a few online, I will not be able to afford it right now. College, a girlfriend, and an appartment get the best of me, but my girlfriend gives me plenty of satisfaction, so I'll be ok til I graduate.



Maybe then I can get one :)
 
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