03-12-2024, 03:04 PM | #46 |
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04-06-2024, 09:38 AM | #47 | |
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04-06-2024, 12:38 PM | #48 | |
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I had an E85 years ago. With the same use case, I treated the roof about once a year. If you daily drive it or it's parked outside regularly, it'll need it more often.
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04-07-2024, 08:59 PM | #49 |
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I use 303 Protectant on my soft tops...easy spray on / wipe off and water beads. Once applied, black tops look nearly new again. Use it perhaps 2x a year.
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04-08-2024, 11:06 AM | #51 |
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What are the washing tips for soft top , never owned a convertible and want to know how to wash the soft top as part of regular car washing schedule?
Can you apply pressure washer to rinse Can you apply car soap Can you scrub the top with a mitt?
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04-08-2024, 11:24 AM | #52 |
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I’ve got a friend with a 911 with a grey fabric top and he ruined it with a pressure washer thinking he was doing good. In my experience running two sided tape over the top gets off all the debris that collects on a black top. I don’t think a mitt hurts although most kits use a brush. I need to brush up on this process via YouTube before mine comes. It’s been 15 years since I’ve owned a convertible and I’m sure methods have changed.
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04-08-2024, 11:53 AM | #53 |
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Use a clothes lint roller. Very effective in my experience.
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04-08-2024, 11:54 AM | #54 | |
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04-08-2024, 11:56 AM | #55 |
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04-08-2024, 11:59 AM | #56 |
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04-08-2024, 12:29 PM | #57 |
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Hose off with a garden hose not pressure washer?
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04-08-2024, 12:31 PM | #58 |
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04-08-2024, 01:46 PM | #59 |
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I’ve owned seven convertibles, six were soft tops, two BMWs - a couple for more than 7 years.
They are designed to get wet and be in the elements. Obviously, they will last longer if you baby them (I’ve never gotten close to having one leak). Even an occasional touchless car wash with all the harsh chemicals are not going to have a significant negative impact (or even, dare I say, a touch car wash). If you garage your car, even better. Here is my $.02. I would never use a pressure washer with a pressure attachment directly on a soft top. It’s likely to tear if you are not careful, as well as too deeply clean (take off the protectant). However, I’ve used automotive foaming car wash products (chemical guys for example) with a foam cannon (low pressure) without any issues. A car wash mit isn’t going to hurt anything either except if it sheds on the roof. I like a soft brush and a soft top specific cleaner. As far as waterproofing treatments and cleaners, the BMW brand ones works fine. I’ve gone the route of mostly using Chemical Guy products and think thier product are great. I’ve used 303 too. They all work. How often you need to reapply depends on your individual situation - if water isn’t beading very well it’s probably time to apply a fresh coat. For me, I just do it once a year during the summer. I’m sure I could get away with less often. With any of the protectants, take precautions to keep it off the paint. Once dry the stuff is hard to get off (think bad water spot). |
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04-12-2024, 08:32 AM | #60 |
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It's a car in the end. Convertible or not, you can drive in the rain as much as you want. Just don't put the top down while it's still wet.
I did coat mine so unless it rains for an extended period of time, the water beads off of it. |
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04-12-2024, 04:07 PM | #61 | |
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If you get caught in a rain and have to put the top up for a while then put it back down for the drive home? No problem as long as you put it back up to dry after arriving home. |
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04-14-2024, 10:46 AM | #62 | |
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Indeed, if there's a water repellent on the top, a few minutes of brisk driving sheds most of the water...
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04-14-2024, 01:02 PM | #63 |
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I don't do anything special with the tops. Have not had any issues with long term tops up to 13 years in personal experience.
The top on the 135is was 9 or 10 years old when the picture was taken. Was traded in a year later for the M4C Wash it along with the rest of the car with car soap & use a hose to rinse it off. Agree don't keep it down if it is wet, that said I try not to put it down wet. Have found the Moonlight tops dry very quickly compared to the standard top.
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Westside Guy5729.50 Wynnsiensheng816.50 |
04-15-2024, 02:35 PM | #64 | |
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I doubt anyone uses a lint brush to "clean" their top but only to remove debris on the surface. Suggesting water just makes mud is woefully incorrect as is the suggestion that a leaf blower is more effective. That's almost as bad as if one were to suggest a leaf blower will remove dirt from the paint more effectively than water. Using your floormats (carpeted) analogy, blowing or vacuuming doesn't get all of the dirt out (but is a good first step), easily proven (especially light colored mats) by subsequently hitting the floormats with carpet cleaning solution and/or water rinse as a second step, watching the dirt (remaining after the leaf blower) flow away. I typically use only a water rinse except when water isn't enough to remove everything (rare because it is garaged). Top cleaners can be a bit harsh on the fabric protectant so should typically be followed up with a fabric protectant. Furthermore, simply wiping the top with a microfiber towel after applying top cleaner is a big no. The towel doesn't remove all of the cleaner chemical from the top's fabric. I've used most/all major convertible top cleaners and every one I've encountered instructs you to rinse with water afterwards, and for good reason, to ensure all of the cleaner has been removed from the fabric. Cleaner solution remaining in the fabric would continue to break down any remaining protectant. Last, I have a moonlight top on my '22 Z4 that has a rougher texture than the black top. As such, I can't use microfiber towels on it for anything (I've tried several brands) because the towels catch on the top's surface, leaving fibers that I then have to remove using other means such as a horse hair brush. As mentioned in my earlier post, Haartz (the top fabric manufacturer) provides clear and sound guidance on cleaning the top. https://www.haartz.com/cleaning-guid...h-top-cleaning |
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04-15-2024, 04:29 PM | #65 | |
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https://www.carpro-us.com/microfiber...towel-28-x-40/ |
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04-15-2024, 07:43 PM | #66 | |
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BMW sells products
BMW makes a soft top cleaner and a also water beading protector/renewer. I bought them from the online place in MD.
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