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Cosmoline (Clear/White/Yellow "Grease") Staining Wheel Arches?

Discussion in 'Cooper SE' started by methorian, Jul 13, 2022.

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  1. Jul 13, 2022 #1
    methorian

    methorian Well-Known Member

    I've seen other posts about this, just not sure if on this forum specifically, but was wondering how many of you have had your wheel arches black plastic stained by cosmoline drips from the hood? With the heat now I've got tons of the crap flowing out of my hood and going down my wheel arch plastic, and slinging down the side of the car (seems to be drivers side only for now).

    Cosmoline is an anti-rust grease like substance that BMW loves to coat cars in before shipping. Seems like it pretty permanently stains the black plastics as well. You can remove using de-greasers (though this will likely cause your black plastic to bloom) and then follow up with some 303 to "mask" the stain, it'll show itself again in short order.

    I've seen some old posts on Mini forums suggesting the only real solution is to get the black plastics replaced under warranty, but that just seems ridiculous to me.

    Just curious how many other SE owners here have the same issue.

    Here's main big drip on my drivers side wheel arch. I've cleaned it with some de-greaser and then used 303, but there's still some coming out:

    IMG_2010.JPG

    You can see it still on the paint where I missed cleaning as well:

    IMG_2014.JPG

    Super annoying stuff!
     

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  2. Jul 13, 2022 #2
    Wreckless117

    Wreckless117 Well-Known Member

    Illinois
    Yea I had some too and was wondering what it was and chalked it up to some sort of anti-rust coating.

    I personally wouldn't use a degreaser on the plastics, too harsh imo. I usually just use my usual ceramic waterless wash and it comes off with a bit of scrub, and then since it's off, the ceramic properties help keep it from getting too "engrained" and wipes off a bit easier the next time. Amazing how hard the stuff can get tho!
     
  3. Jul 13, 2022 #3
    methorian

    methorian Well-Known Member

    Yea, I didn't use too much degreaser, but probably won't be doing it again. The stuff is very annoying and just keeps coming out!
     
  4. Jul 13, 2022 #4
    chrunck

    chrunck Well-Known Member

    Albuquerque, NM
    I haven't noticed any on my SE yet, but my wife's Clubman had an ungodly amount come out on both sides. Haven't had much luck dealing with it.
     
  5. Jul 13, 2022 #5
    Carsten Haase

    Carsten Haase Well-Known Member

    I was wondering what that stuff was, very annoying! I used some black plastic restorer to hide it better than the 303 does but it's still slightly visible
     

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  6. Aug 13, 2022 #6
    Denise C

    Denise C Active Member

    Colorado
    Did you guys take it into mini and have them fix it? For her clubman…


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  7. Aug 13, 2022 #7
    chrunck

    chrunck Well-Known Member

    Albuquerque, NM
    Nope. Probably should have, but that ship has sailed.
     
  8. Aug 13, 2022 #8
    polyphonic

    polyphonic Well-Known Member

    This junk continues to ooze out 2 years later.
     
  9. Oct 31, 2022 #9
    Tetrodotoxin

    Tetrodotoxin Member

    Chattanooga, TN
    I was just about to post about this. I use Chemical Guys VRP to "cover it up" but I look forward to any input on how to stop it.
     

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  10. Oct 31, 2022 #10
    methorian

    methorian Well-Known Member

    There was no "stopping" mine, it continues to leak out of various places. I've tried elbow grease, various chemicals (most of which will whiten the black plastic), and other methods to no avail.

    VRP will "cover" it up for a bit, but it still shows. My plan is to live with it for another summer and then warranty it for replacement plastics.
     
  11. Oct 31, 2022 #11
    teslarati97

    teslarati97 Well-Known Member

    Do you think a hairdryer to warm up the plastic/cosmoline and then wipe away with mineral spirits on a cotton swap would work?
     
  12. Oct 31, 2022 #12
    Rexsio

    Rexsio Well-Known Member

    New York
    Maybe we should look a days / years when a SE was manufactured.Mine is December 2021 as 2022 model and I pic up a car on January 3rd 2022 and I never experienced any stains on wheel arch my milage is 4200 miles . BC88A849-C881-45BB-B10C-090225ABDCDA.jpeg
     
  13. Oct 31, 2022 #13
    Quiet Mini

    Quiet Mini Well-Known Member

    Take it to the dealer and have the plastic replaced under warranty.
     
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  14. Nov 1, 2022 #14
    pictsidhe

    pictsidhe Well-Known Member

    Huh, I was wondering wtf that stuff is. I clean it, it's back a day or two later.
     
  15. Nov 3, 2022 #15
    Tetrodotoxin

    Tetrodotoxin Member

    Chattanooga, TN
  16. Nov 3, 2022 #16
    Qisl

    Qisl Active Member

    Plano, TX
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  17. Nov 4, 2022 #17
    methorian

    methorian Well-Known Member

    You can do a search for "mini cooper cosmoline" and you'll see many many posts about it (BMW uses it as well, my partners X5 PHEV has had a few drips, but it's all on painted surfaces so it doesn't stain anything).

    There are definitely means of removing it, the problem is that it basically stains the black plastic on Mini's, and I haven't really seen any means of restoring the plastic (fully) once that happens. There are even auto products specifically made to remove cosmoline and other "transit coatings", but they are generally promised safe for painted surfaces, not plastics, and you risk discoloring the plastic using them in my opinion.

    The consensus seems to just be to warranty it, if you can.
     
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  18. Nov 4, 2022 #18
    Tommm

    Tommm Well-Known Member

    Mile High
    Have you tried pressure washing it? There is a TSB that has the hood removed, a process to drip it out, then reapply less. When I picked up the car the detail guy (who didnt get to touch mine) suggested a pressure washer, and if that doesnt work warranty.
     
  19. Nov 8, 2022 #19
    Qisl

    Qisl Active Member

    Plano, TX
    Can paint protection film be applied to the plastic wheel arches?
     
  20. Nov 8, 2022 #20
    teslarati97

    teslarati97 Well-Known Member

    You could try but because the wheel arch surface is rough all the dirt will just end up getting trapped on the PPF adhesive side.
     
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