Mini Coopers at Meguiar's NXT Garage!

[Mike Phillips]

Today is Mini Cooper "NXT Day" at Meguiar's Garage!

The Mini Cooper owners are an incredibly enthusiastic crowd with at least two owners showing up as early as 7:30am!

And as soon as they arrived, people started taping off their trim in preparation for giving their finish the NXT treatment!

The weather's a little overcast, so the pictures are a little dark, but with any luck the sun will poke its head out and will see the finish on these Mini Coopers *Pop* later this afternoon!

Mike

[Mike Phillips]

Here's a picture of Todd taping off his Mini...



Todd remembered from the last how-to clinic here at Meguiar’s that before we machine polish the paint, it's a good idea to use Painters Tape to tape-off hard to detail areas, or areas prone to staining or splatter.

For example:

* Pebble textured plastic trim
* High points
* The gap and the felt, (or rubber), around the sun roof
* Cracks, crevices, and body seams that are hard to detail

He actually brought his own tape! We try to keep plenty of Painters Tape on hand should you attend a Meguiar’s How-To clinic.

[DETLMAN]

This was absolutly an awesome event ! Mike and Mike did a great job !

I hope the people inside meguairs notice the hard work they put into these events !

I just want to say thanks Mike, Mike and Meguairs for having us today I think everyone had a very good time.

[Mike Phillips]

Here's Bob, taping-off his Mini,

[Mike Phillips]

Here's Brian helping another member tape their car off,

[Mike Phillips]

Here's another shot of the parking lot outside the Training Garage at Meguair's. The day started out kind of overcast and cloudy, but by the time we finished the Tech Session inside and then came outside to start detailing Mini Coopers, the sun was peeking out and the clouds started rolling off to the horizon.

[Mike Phillips]

The car hobby provides plenty of wholesome and fun opportunities that families can share in and participate as demonstrated by this club member with his daughter,

[Mike Phillips]

While these NXT Garage events are not Potlucks, Lonnie was thoughtful enough to share his catch-for-the-day!

Fresh Albacore Tune spread with crackers!

Thanks Lonnie, your a true car enthusiasts, Sports fisherman, and a gourmet chef to boot!

[Mike Phillips]

While EVERYONE else is inside attending the Tech Session with Mike Pennington, at least one person thought it more important to remove the dust from their Mini Cooper.

For shame!

[Mike Phillips]

One of the members offered her car for use to demonstrate how to remove swirls and scratches.

Before starting the demonstration, we first removed the above surface bonded contaminants using Meguiar's Quik Clay System.

After removing the bonded contaminants, we then proceeded to buff one half of the hood using,

* #83 Dual Action Cleaner Polish
* The Meguiar's G-100 Dual Action Polisher
* A yellow W-8006 foam polishing pad

For removing swirls and scratches, we set the variable speed polisher to the 4.5 setting.

After buffing one half of the hood and removing the #83 residue, we then applied NXT Tech Wax, using a new, clean W-8006 foam polishing pad on the Meguiar's G-100 Dual-Action Polisher on about the 4.0 setting.

We allowed the NXT Tech Wax to dry for approximately 15 minutes and then wiped it off effortlessly and pulled it outside for everyone to inspect.

If you look closely at the hood, you can see where we taped off a section using painters tape, and then covered one half with a soft clean towel to prevent splatter from getting onto the before side.

[Mike Phillips]

Before starting the demonstration, I quickly explained how Meguiar’s diminishing abrasives break down as you buff the finish with the dual action polisher.

It is important to remember to buff the product long enough to insure that these diminishing abrasives have completely broken down.

It is also important to apply medium pressure when using a cleaner/polish like the #83 Dual Action Cleaner Polish in order to generate enough polishing action to remove the scratches and swirls.

If you apply to little pressure, you will not remove the swirls and scratches. Knowing how hard, or light to push on the dual action polisher comes with experience. Of course, a good hands-on demonstration helps too, and that’s what these classes are all about.

[Mike Phillips]

After applying the #83 DACP, and then applying and removing one coat of NXT Tech Wax, we removed the tape down the middle of the hood and removed the towel.

Then, the owner pulled the car out and into outdoor light, so that everyone could inspect the results for themselves.

[Mike Phillips]

After everyone else had their turn, the owner inspects the hood for herself to see the before and after.

[Mike Phillips]

After inspecting the results and having everyone agree, the difference between before and after was like night and day, we pulled the car back in and went over the entire car with #83 DACP followed by NXT Tech Wax.

4-5 people jumped in to help out and we quickly turned this car into a Glistening Gemstone

[Mike Phillips]

If your careful, you can use the dual action polisher to get into tight areas, just take your time, and watch what your doing.

Here I'm applying NXT Tech Wax to the lip of the rear section of the roof, just under the Mini roof wing.