[z4viper]

Hi All,

I'm literally typing this while I'm at a weekend away at a resort, but I have so much anxiety leaving the G29 out in the rain!

I'm sure a top manufacturer like BMW have designed a car roof that can take some light rain, but I just care for my car so much I hate seeing the roof get wet haha! I'm so extra about parking, just everything really - anyone else act like this?

Which leads me on to my question, how do people care for their roof? What products do you use, I've seen a water proof coating spray which you can use to top up the waterproofing - but longer term i want to keep the roof solid, leak-proof and no sun colour bleaching!

Here is a link to the spray: https://www.halfords.com/motoring/ca...6g-836814.html

[Horseman]

If it makes you feel any better :: Z4 soft top is alot better quality than the rag top I had on my Eclipse convertible back in the day. That car was parked outdoors most of the time, took hard rain, light rain and even a little bit of snow and hail and never had an issue with it.

[TAZ007]

Originally Posted by G29dante

Hi All,

I'm literally typing this while I'm at a weekend away at a resort, but I have so much anxiety leaving the G29 out in the rain!

I'm sure a top manufacturer like BMW have designed a car roof that can take some light rain, but I just care for my car so much I hate seeing the roof get wet haha! I'm so extra about parking, just everything really - anyone else act like this?

Which leads me on to my question, how do people care for their roof? What products do you use, I've seen a water proof coating spray which you can use to top up the waterproofing - but longer term i want to keep the roof solid, leak-proof and no sun colour bleaching!

Here is a link to the spray: https://www.halfords.com/motoring/ca...6g-836814.html

The G29 will be my 6th vert and my 3rd BMW vert. In general, normal washing is ok. I am still on the OEM top after 6.25 years and no leaks with water still beading.

A few things you must do:

1. NEVER put the top down when it is wet.
2. ALWAYS store the car with the top up. Even overnight in the garage.
3. OFTEN check the rubber seals for tears, cracks, brittleness and replace as necessary.
4. UNDERSTAND you will be replacing the top every 6-8 years depending on cumulative UV exposure.

These are things all vert owners go thru. Rule 1 is there to prevent the top drying in a collapsed state and when you put it up, it rips. That was my first expensive mistake in my 98 Eclipse GST Spyder. Dealer wanted $2200 to replace and I had a local shop do it for $1700. Bottom line, haven't done it since.

You should be good, these are quality tops.[/LIST]

[Amadeo]

I use this and it looks like new.

[Horseman]

Originally Posted by TAZ007

The G29 will be my 6th vert and my 3rd BMW vert. In general, normal washing is ok. I am still on the OEM top after 6.25 years and no leaks with water still beading.

A few things you must do:

1. NEVER put the top down when it is wet.
2. ALWAYS store the car with the top up. Even overnight in the garage.
3. OFTEN check the rubber seals for tears, cracks, brittleness and replace as necessary.
4. UNDERSTAND you will be replacing the top every 6-8 years depending on cumulative UV exposure.

These are things all vert owners go thru. Rule 1 is there to prevent the top drying in a collapsed state and when you put it up, it rips. That was my first expensive mistake in my 98 Eclipse GST Spyder. Dealer wanted $2200 to replace and I had a local shop do it for $1700. Bottom line, haven't done it since.

You should be good, these are quality tops.[/LIST]

EXCELLENT ADVICE!!! I was one to follow these rules with my Eclipse as well. The No-no on this list that I did was drive top down when it was wet. I can't say it was often, but when/if rain let up I'd drop that top. Good to know.. won't be doing that with the Z4.

Always one for listening for any creaking, squeaking, crunching or popping every time top went up or down.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Have a protectant kit for the top I have never used. That said the 135is has lived outdoors 24/7/365 since 2013.



This picture was taken last year before I got the Z4. Have done nothing special & like the others wait till its dry before I put in down. Living in the south it goes up and down a lot. Car that the 135is replaced was a 2004 330Ci ZHP convertible. Same deal no issues with the top, no special care & it also lived outdoors.

[MarkB01]

I owned a Z3 for 18 years. Now, it was kept in a garage, but otherwise I treated it as a normal car top, washing it when I washed the car. After 18 years I had zero issues with the top. Given 22 years soft top improvement, I would say treat it like any other car top. You will be fine!

The only issue I ever had with the top (and have with my new Z4) is cat hairs. But I must bow down to my cat overlords.

[gasnet]

Originally Posted by MarkB01

I owned a Z3 for 18 years. Now, it was kept in a garage, but otherwise I treated it as a normal car top, washing it when I washed the car. After 18 years I had zero issues with the top. Given 22 years soft top improvement, I would say treat it like any other car top. You will be fine!

The only issue I ever had with the top (and have with my new Z4) is cat hairs. But I must bow down to my cat overlords.

I hope thats not frozen gray with a cat on top. Cant get scratches out on that paint. I keep mothballs around my garage to keep cats away!! yikes

[MarkB01]

Originally Posted by gasnet

I hope thats not frozen gray with a cat on top. Cant get scratches out on that paint. I keep mothballs around my garage to keep cats away!! yikes

Yes, frozen grey. But must live with the cat. So far, no scratches, just footprints.

[TAZ007]

Originally Posted by MarkB01

Yes, frozen grey. But must live with the cat. So far, no scratches, just footprints.

Good on the scratches.

With the cat living situation, is that happy wife, happy life decision?

[Amadeo]

Humm, I will be worried too for the soft top.
🧐🧐

[TAZ007]

Originally Posted by Amadeo

Humm, I will be worried too for the soft top.
🧐🧐

Nothing to be worried about, reference my comment above.

[Geradeaus]

I just recently read a piece from the manufacturer of soft top material concerning maintenance and they say you should only wash the top when it gets stained (bird droppings, tree sap, etc.). Before each car wash you should vacuum the top to remove dust and debris so that it doesn't turn to "mud". BMW suggests retreating the top with protectant after every third wash or so.

I treated my top with Chemical Guys cleaner and protectant (two different bottles) and it looked great with the water dancing around in small beads. I was washing the top with each car wash (about every two weeks) but with the above knowledge will now change my proces. It was a pain draping the car with plastic to keep the protectant overspray off the paint and I don't really want to do it again after only six weeks or so. My car is garage kept and when I'm on the road the top is always down (rainy season just starting) so my hope is it won't really need more than the quick vacuum.

I've seen opinions that using a sticky roller actually leaves some glue behind which will then attract dirt / dust more. For what it's worth.

[mcboatface]

Dunno. I’ve had many soft top convertibles over the years including my current seven year old A3 Cab. I’ve never done a thing to treat the tops, nor any special cleaning method. The A3 has been through more automatic car washes than I would have preferred and it still looks absolutely perfect. I had never kept a car for more than a year or two, but this is the perfect beach car and it still looks new. Can’t wait for the Z4 though.

The cars have always been garaged, but the top is down most of the time, sometimes for days at a time. Yes, this flies in the face of what many believe about top care, but it works for me and always has.

I don’t ever put the top down when wet though.

[Axix23]

I was always curious if they came make a hardtop for the z4. A carbon hardtop would be super sick.

[TAZ007]

Originally Posted by Axix23

I was always curious if they came make a hardtop for the z4. A carbon hardtop would be super sick.

The previous generation was a hardtop vert. When I was considering a new car in 2015, the verts I looked at were the M235, M435, and Z4. The later 2 had hard tops. That Z4 was too rounded for my tastes and the 435 had the exact same engine as the 235. I ended up with the 235 cause it was the best (lightest) performer and haven't looked back. That is until I saw the G29 during a service appointment and was blown away.

[Axix23]

Originally Posted by TAZ007

The previous generation was a hardtop vert. When I was considering a new car in 2015, the verts I looked at were the M235, M435, and Z4. The later 2 had hard tops. That Z4 was too rounded for my tastes and the 435 had the exact same engine as the 235. I ended up with the 235 cause it was the best (lightest) performer and haven't looked back. That is until I saw the G29 during a service appointment and was blown away.

Lol, I couldn’t afford a nice z4 so I got the poor man’s z4. Lmao 😂

[TAZ007]

Originally Posted by Axix23

Lol, I couldn’t afford a nice z4 so I got the poor man’s z4. Lmao 😂

Excuse me, but what is a poor mans Z4? Is it that Italian Miata?

[Axix23]

Originally Posted by TAZ007

Excuse me, but what is a poor mans Z4? Is it that Italian Miata?

The Supra lol

[jcard71]

Originally Posted by G29dante

Hi All,

I'm literally typing this while I'm at a weekend away at a resort, but I have so much anxiety leaving the G29 out in the rain!

I'm sure a top manufacturer like BMW have designed a car roof that can take some light rain, but I just care for my car so much I hate seeing the roof get wet haha! I'm so extra about parking, just everything really - anyone else act like this?

Which leads me on to my question, how do people care for their roof? What products do you use, I've seen a water proof coating spray which you can use to top up the waterproofing - but longer term i want to keep the roof solid, leak-proof and no sun colour bleaching!

Here is a link to the spray: https://www.halfords.com/motoring/ca...6g-836814.html

This is great.

GYEON Quartz Fabric Coat (120ml) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OORR5PS...p_mob_ap_share

[Kwajtrader]

Just echoing what others have said. My last two cars were convertible daily drivers and other than not putting the top down wet and garaging it at night with the top up, I just washed and dried it the same as the rest of the car and never had an issue. I did keep a lint roller in the garage in the spring for quick touch up.

[ejm3]

I'm the original owner of my 2012 135i convertible.
This was a big concern of mine buying the car.
But my original top is still in good shape.

Now this was never really a daily driver.
It doesn't go in the rain or snow.
Occasionally it might get stuck out in a shower or something but rarely.
Back when I was going into the office every day it would take it fairly regularly to work (75 mile round trip) especially when the weather was nice.

Its garaged all the time at home.

I never put the top down when its wet.
Its a black top it dries in no time if you leave it in the sun for a bit.

I don't really wash the top unless there something on it that specifically needs to be addressed. I bought some stuff to treat the cloth but never ended up using it. The top is almost as black as when I brought it home and dealer says it looks great.

But where I disagree with others is putting the top up all the time.
My top goes down in late April every year and essentially stays down until maybe mid-Sept. If it might rain I just don't take it.
I even [very carefully] wash it with the top down.

The top might go up a couple times during the summer if I get caught in an unexpected shower or if it needs to go in for service or something.
I also avoid taking it to sketchy neighborhoods and I leave no valuables inside.

My logic is this:
If the top is down, the UV rays won't eat away at the cloth.
Yeah the top is up in the winter but the sun isn't as strong and the car is not driven as much.

Second, I'm more concerned with the roof mechanicals than the roof itself.
Putting the top up and down 5 times a day is likely to stress both the top and wear out the mechanical (like the motors).

At the end of the day worst case its much cheaper to replace just the cloth top than both the cloth and the mechanical components.

Just my two cents based on experience.