This is probably a bit early in the season to start thinking about snow and ice, but once it hits, where I live, we have to deal with it on-and-off all winter. I'm worried about roadsalt getting behind the felt liner inside the wheelwells. Obviously spray the best I can the felt itself but should I worry about what might be accumulating behind? Those of you in Texas and Calif never have to worry about this stuff :frown2: Ric
I wonder about that myself. Maybe the best thing would be to remove them each spring, and wash things out real good. Mark
I think youll be fine. Some say to Scotchguard them but I tried that and when it comes down to it.... those wheel-wells suck for winter. Just powerwash regularly and they'll keep clean
I looked into what's involved to remove the felt to clean behind it, and its not really feasible. Hopefully MINI knows what they're doing with the felt. They do have a 12 year rust protection warranty and if the rust is going to be a problem I should see signs of it well before 12 years. Thanks all!
Felt in the wheel wells? No need to worry about the "felt" wheel well trim lining because as soon as the snow gets in the well, the "felt" will fold, come away from the plastic wheel trim and get ripped off by the ice. Stop and pick it up off the road. The BMW-mini dealer suggested that moisture was the culprit. ut:
I think I may have found a cool product... wonder if will solve the carpeted wheel well problem in the snow.... I know I HATED trying to get the freezed on snow out of mine... Ross Nanotechnology's NeverWet superhydrophobic spray-on coating - YouTube
That stuff looks pretty cool Adam. It might help, but I wonder how long it will stay there with the spray off the wheels blasting away at it. Babs last Audrey had felt like liners similar to the ones on an R56 & we never had any issues. The felt really did cut the noise down, especially on a gravel road.
Maybe you could put this Ross Nanotechnology's NeverWet superhydrophobic spray-on coating - YouTube on our convertible tops.
Maybe we should buy this Ross Nanotechnology's NeverWet superhydrophobic spray-on coating - YouTube to put on our convertibles.
No someone just had posted it in another forum I frequent. The new Toyota is all plastic and pretty water resistant inside and out so I have no need for the stuff lol. If I still had the MINI it would be on my wheel wells though. I like the convertible top idea as well, pending any discoloration.
I am in the Philadephia area and the DOT loves to use salt and this new crap they spray called "Grime" on the roads. It is like liquid salt and gets on everything. When I clean my car in the Winter (once a week) I blast the wheelwells with a power washer at the "do it yourself" carwash. I use any cheap silicone Tire Dressing I can find and I spray down what I have left of my rear inner wheelwell liners. FYI I have a lowered mini and I cut about 3/4 of the rear liners out. I cleaned and preped the whole area and sprayed the inside rear wheelwells with 2 layers of rubberized undercoating. Its also a great sound deadener when the roads are just wet. Yes, I drive this car year around and even in the snow. 6 year's / 70K and no rust. Pictures here: http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/member-garages/8680-mistress-2005-mini-mcs-jcw.html