[MisanoblueZ4]

Just finished my first hand wash and I’ve read about never putting the top down wet. Simple enough, but is there an allowable range?
Are we able to drop the top after a washing or rain storm as long as standing water is gone? Or does the top need to be completely dry to the touch (not even slightly moist?

Might be a dumb question but living in the southeast pop up showers happen often in the summer.

[StanDiego]

Originally Posted by MisanoblueZ4

Just finished my first hand wash and I’ve read about never putting the top down wet. Simple enough, but is there an allowable range?
Are we able to drop the top after a washing or rain storm as long as standing water is gone? Or does the top need to be completely dry to the touch (not even slightly moist?

Might be a dumb question but living in the southeast pop up showers happen often in the summer.

Don't leave it down for extended periods such as overnight.

[Westside Guy]

I have owned convertibles since 1994 and have always waited until it is totally dry.

[MisanoblueZ4]

Originally Posted by StanDiego

Don't leave it down for extended periods such as overnight.

Yes I’ve been putting top up and not leaving it down overnight.

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

I have owned convertibles since 1994 and have always waited until it is totally dry.

After washing I left it outside and due to sun angle about half the roof felt totally dry to the touch within about 15 mins, parked it in the garage and just checked it….feels dry even on the shady side from earlier.
Guess with dry air the top can be dry and ready for top down within 1-2hrs after rain/washing.

[khp3655]

What about after driving in the rain? Once the storm passes or reaching dry areas, keeping the top up until dry seems like overkill and buzzkill. Soaking wet is probably not a good idea but after a few minutes of air drying, it would seem to be all right — as others have noted, just don’t leave it down for long periods while wet.

[Balr14]

Originally Posted by khp3655

What about after driving in the rain? Once the storm passes or reaching dry areas, keeping the top up until dry seems like overkill and buzzkill. Soaking wet is probably not a good idea but after a few minutes of air drying, it would seem to be all right — as others have noted, just don’t leave it down for long periods while wet.

Keep the top up until it is dry. Period. Mold/mildew will start very quickly in a warm damp piece of cloth. Didn't you ever put on a tee shirt or use a towel that didn't smell quite right? It's just a little mold/mildew because the items weren't 100% dry when they were put away. The best way to get rid of it is bleach. Gee, I wonder how that would work on a convertible top?

[perryinva]

That’s one of the reasons to keep the tops waterproofed with periodic applications of top conditioners. It looks like the moonlight tops would dry faster? I wish mine had that, saw one, finally, and I liked it! I try to wait until completely dry as well. My Z3 originally had a tan top, and in 4 years shiwed a lot of black streaks eventually, that don’t come out, and I wonder if the occasional putbdown wet might have forwarded that. I replaced it with a black top when the 2nd window zipper separated from the fabric, after 6 years. Even DIY, that wasn’t cheap.

[MisanoblueZ4]

Originally Posted by Balr14

Keep the top up until it is dry. Period. Mold/mildew will start very quickly in a warm damp piece of cloth. Didn't you ever put on a tee shirt or use a towel that didn't smell quite right? It's just a little mold/mildew because the items weren't 100% dry when they were put away. The best way to get rid of it is bleach. Gee, I wonder how that would work on a convertible top?

Well here is a problem, if you live in the southeast in the summer between rain storms and relative humidity there is going to be alot of time checking the moisture level on the cloth roof lol.
Glad to have a garage, my other car and work van always have dew on them in the mornings, that would essentially eliminate and top down driving to start off a day.
Hmmm maybe I shouldn’t judge those vert owners who have the top up, they could just be mitigating top being damp!

[stlcdr]

I’m going to go with StanDiego with this: don’t leave it down, wet, overnight.

But then, what does ‘wet’ mean? There’s a drop of water on it to water streaming off it? Morning dew, I’ve only dealt with a couple of times. A few minutes driving with it up should be ok to dry it off I suppose. Got where I was going, put the top up. Didn’t really worry about it.

I’ve got caught in more than a shower, then put it down when the sun came out. After 30 minutes driving, put the top up when parked. After washing it I’m usually parking it overnight in the garage, anyway, but a couple of hours later it feels dry.

[Westside Guy]

Bair14, are you actually serious about using bleach?

I would never consider this for any color!

[khp3655]

I heard once somewhere that bleach can cure coronavirus too! Something about direct injection. Maybe that's what is needed to clean the z4 top? /s

[BEAR-AvHistory]

For FWIW have always had a Convertible since my first car in 1960. Keep it up till its dry even after driving through rain & then getting sunny. Fact is in that circumstance a top will dry quickly but not 10 minutes quickly. Also think, am not sure, will check after the next rain but the Moonlight top may dry quicker than the base top.

Have never had to replace a top even on cars held for 13 years & living outdoors. Two BMW's were in the long term group a 2004 sold in 2012 & a 2013 sold in 2021. Both Moonlight.

[GerryC]

I haven't been caught in rain often, but I usually just leave the top up until the next time I drive it. But the last time I washed the car I was surprised how fast the top dried. I didn't try to time it, but it was dry and I was still trying to get water out of the door jambs and wheels.

[Balr14]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Bair14, are you actually serious about using bleach?

I would never consider this for any color!

Of course not! But, that's what you use to kill mold/mildew. So, don't let it start on you convertible top. I found that out many years ago when I bought a neglected Viper. Top smelled awful and it took a lot of time and effort to get rid of it. I'm sure that was a huge factor in the price I paid for it, so I can't complain to much.