Gave my Cooper S a quick wash when I first got it, then didn't see it for about 6 weeks, yesterday after driving around in crappy weather it was minging.

This morning I lost a few hours washing it and cleaning the interior. Its highlighted some of the scratches that I want to get sorted, but was happy with the results. Going to see what a local detailer wants to give it a proper going over to give me a good base to work from and get rid of the swirls it's picked up.

Wipe all over the interior with ArmourAll Dash Wipes
Hover entire interior
Clean pedals
Sprayed behind the front arches, the nose and screen with Autoglym Active Insect Remover
Rinsed with hose
Two bucket wash going around the car working down from the top with MER High Shine Shampoo
Rinsed with hose
Washed wheels with MER High Shine Shampoo
Rinsed with Hose

20mins later I came back once it had dried
Buffed paintwork with Turtle Wax Extreme Nano-Tech Speed Wax
Buffed glass & lights in and out with Turtle Wax Clear Vue Glass Cleaner
Sprayed tyres with Autoglym Instant Tyre Dressing
Sprayed exterior plastics with Turtle Wax Black in a Flash Matt

Stood back and finally got to admire my new car.

Looks fantastic Tom, DS comes up lovely when it's nice and clean doesn't it!

Speak to Tom at TK Detailing (club sponsor), I'm sure he'll get rid of the swirls etc for you no problem, his work's brilliant

Thanks Ian, I really really like the colour. Wheels dont stay clean for long though and aren't easy to do!

I'll keep him in mind, ta!

The webspokes are a real bugger to clean aren't they, quite fiddly!

If you do contact Tom (other than via the forum), make sure you let him know you're an SnM member, as you'll get bit of a club discount then

Excellent, thanks for the heads-up.

Labour of love I think, I had to have them! It's just trying to get right into the split and as I've got oversized hands, I get some mega cramp getting in between the spokes!

Mind you, they're not as bad as the 17s on my Dad's A6 in the background...

Looks good

Thanks.

It'll be covered in dust this time tomorrow though;

Park around the front at work and it'll be filthied by dust from trucks in the yard and my boots.

Park around the back and it'll get slightly less dusty, but I'll only have to pick gravel from the footwells, though there are some nasty speed humps.

Can't win!

Its looking good mate

Nice work I've had 2 dark silvers and they do look great when sparkling

Looking good! Dark silver does reward a good session doesn't it! I'm on my second DS car too now.

Waugh-terfall wrote:

Thanks.

It'll be covered in dust this time tomorrow though;

Park around the front at work and it'll be filthied by dust from trucks in the yard and my boots.

Park around the back and it'll get slightly less dusty, but I'll only have to pick gravel from the footwells, though there are some nasty speed humps.

Can't win!

I'd be looking at rubber mats, the MINI ones lip up the sides of the footwell so contain the rubbish then just lift out, look at mine next time

Nice one Tom!

You've missed a bit

I must get round to washing my car (again)...  

love the overhead shots!

Nice and shiney!

You'll be driving round at 5mph through fear of getting her dirty!!

I spent nearly 8hrs cleaning mine before MitP just to cover it in flies and brake dust on the convoy up  

Cheers guys, got to keep 'em looking clean and mean!

My last car was grey too, really liked how it looked in the sun when clean.

Platty wrote:

Nice and shiney!

You'll be driving round at 5mph through fear of getting her dirty!!

I spent nearly 8hrs cleaning mine before MitP just to cover it in flies and brake dust on the convoy up  

My commute is 95% Dual-Carriageway (10mi) each way so I'm buggered before I begin! Trying hard not to brake too, difficult when the drive to the office joins the DC with no on/off slip!  

Looking good!! You've done a great job there.

I use britemax blackmax polish on mine before I wax it and it makes a real difference especially on the darker colours. Waxtec quick seal is also a good product to use as it also helps get rnd of any watermarks that you may have missed.

Tk tom cleaned mine a while back and his work is fantastic. He's also useful for information on what to use to get the best finish and can also supply it too.

Nice - can't beat a shiney car.

Looks great Tom  

Makes me feel guilty; FAB hasn't been washed since MITP  

GarryS wrote:

Looks great Tom  

Makes me feel guilty; FAB hasn't been washed since MITP  

You gave yours a rinse off at the RR day though

GarryS wrote:

Looks great Tom  

Makes me feel guilty; FAB hasn't been washed since MITP  

Cheers Garry, I'll probably wash it again at the weekend! Get yer buckets out!

nortonski wrote:

GarryS wrote:

Looks great Tom  

Makes me feel guilty; FAB hasn't been washed since MITP  

You gave yours a rinse off at the RR day though

Only the wheels Harry; just to get tyre fitter grime off!

I'm just about to start cleaning mine again. Bought even more stuff to do it.

Let's see what I can do with the little scratch and dent some licentious mouthbreather just put in the door...

Just gave it another good clean as it's got to keep company with Aston Martins tomorrow. After a week sitting in a gravel car park at work with all sorts of trucks thundering about it was very dusty, and the neighbourhood cats seem to like walking all over it. I have since warned them...

I should probably wash the chalk dust from my bike, it's been about a month and a half...

Looking great there Tom!