Washing the roof/convertible top?

PaperSniper · Post by **PaperSniper** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 3:08 pm

I garage my Z4 and it avoids 90% of the "nasty elements". However, at 6k miles and about 9 months, it may need to have its roof "washed" along with the rest of the car. The car itself has been washed several times in those 9 months, but the roof only received a water spray-off. The roof still looks new, but I think maybe it ought to be cleaned?

I have read that using using regular car wash shampoo isn't the best for convertible tops. What do you folks recommend for a car that only gets a bit of nasty weather on it? I have seen a couple of YouTube videos that look like FAR too much work for this old man!

Doug

mr.tourette · Post by **mr.tourette** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 4:52 pm

Auto Finesse Rag top was by a long stretch the best cleaner I tried on the soft top, far better cleaning power than autoglym, turtle wax and renovo which were the others I tried, reasonably priced too https://www.autofinesse.com/en/rag-top-cleaner-500ml

SV8Predator · Post by **SV8Predator** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 9:15 pm

Are there many E89s with soft tops? I must confess I've never seen one.

CryptoWhale · Post by **CryptoWhale** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 9:31 pm

As mentioned above, Auto Finesse is fantastic, use it with an upholstery brush and then a lint roller when it has dried will get it looking brand new

flybobbie · Post by **flybobbie** » Fri Mar 05, 2021 10:33 pm

One reason i went E89, the hard top. Couldn't put up with trying to scrape bird poo off a rag top.

PaperSniper · Post by **PaperSniper** » Sat Mar 06, 2021 1:19 pm

mr.tourette wrote: ↑Fri Mar 05, 2021 4:52 pm Auto Finesse Rag top was by a long stretch the best cleaner I tried on the soft top, far better cleaning power than autoglym, turtle wax and renovo which were the others I tried, reasonably priced too https://www.autofinesse.com/en/rag-top-cleaner-500ml

Thanks ya'll, I looked up Auto Finesse Rag Top cleaner. Sounds like the product is well liked here on the forum.....at least in the UK. A search on the internet here from the USA was in vain. I don't think I'm ready to order from overseas, so I will need to look for another product more easily obtainable. Appreciate the help, ya'll!

dr_john · Post by **dr_john** » Sat Mar 06, 2021 5:16 pm

I keep mine garaged, no problems apart from our cat likes lying on the roof and leaves footprints and ginger hairs on the top

I remove them by using a roller brush with an adhesive surface, available at most supermarkets. The surface of the roller is peeled off to reveal a fresh surface when used up, refill rolls are available. The roof fabric comes up like new.

dr_john · Post by **dr_john** » Sat Mar 06, 2021 5:19 pm

SV8Predator wrote: ↑Fri Mar 05, 2021 9:15 pm Are there many E89s with soft tops? I must confess I've never seen one.

None at all AFAIK.

But this discussion is for the G29.

PaperSniper · Post by **PaperSniper** » Sat Mar 06, 2021 7:41 pm

dr_john wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 5:16 pm I keep mine garaged, no problems apart from our cat likes lying on the roof and leaves footprints and ginger hairs on the top

I remove them by using a roller brush with an adhesive surface, available at most supermarkets. The surface of the roller is peeled off to reveal a fresh surface when used up, refill rolls are available. The roof fabric comes up like new.

Do you ever wash or rinse off your top? I've not washed mine since new, but I do occasionally spray it off with plain water. I have not used soap on it, or a tint roller or even a brush so far. Like you, my are stays in my garage except for the 5k miles I've put on it since July 2020. So far I have avoided tree sap, bird poo and the like.

dr_john · Post by **dr_john** » Sat Mar 06, 2021 9:21 pm

PaperSniper wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 7:41 pm
dr_john wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 5:16 pm I keep mine garaged, no problems apart from our cat likes lying on the roof and leaves footprints and ginger hairs on the top

I remove them by using a roller brush with an adhesive surface, available at most supermarkets. The surface of the roller is peeled off to reveal a fresh surface when used up, refill rolls are available. The roof fabric comes up like new.
Do you ever wash or rinse off your top? I've not washed mine since new, but I do occasionally spray it off with plain water. I have not used soap on it, or a tint roller or even a brush so far. Like you, my are stays in my garage except for the 5k miles I've put on it since July 2020. So far I have avoided tree sap, bird poo and the like.

No I don’t wash the top, but it gets occasional soaking in the rain!

My G29 is almost 2 years old now and the roof fabric still looks as good as new.

PaperSniper · Post by **PaperSniper** » Sat Mar 06, 2021 11:59 pm

dr_john wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 9:21 pm
PaperSniper wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 7:41 pm
dr_john wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 5:16 pm I keep mine garaged, no problems apart from our cat likes lying on the roof and leaves footprints and ginger hairs on the top

I remove them by using a roller brush with an adhesive surface, available at most supermarkets. The surface of the roller is peeled off to reveal a fresh surface when used up, refill rolls are available. The roof fabric comes up like new.
Do you ever wash or rinse off your top? I've not washed mine since new, but I do occasionally spray it off with plain water. I have not used soap on it, or a tint roller or even a brush so far. Like you, my are stays in my garage except for the 5k miles I've put on it since July 2020. So far I have avoided tree sap, bird poo and the like.
No I don’t wash the top, but it gets occasional soaking in the rain!

My G29 is almost 2 years old now and the roof fabric still looks as good as new.

Thanks for that info.

sw4nny · Post by **sw4nny** » Sun Mar 07, 2021 12:06 am

I have used Autoglym on both of the Z I have owed and found its a good product,also tried auto finesse my preference would be Ag but its not that the Af was a bad product just no better , so I stick with the one I know best.

John H100 · Post by **John H100** » Sun Mar 07, 2021 8:59 am

BMW sell a soft top care package for the G29, I guess it's the same kit for all their soft tops, comes in a rather neat collapsible bucket complete with sponge, cleaning liquid and a conditioning liquid....I haven't used it yet, came with the car as one of the freebies from the dealer.

TheGingerOneNI · Post by **TheGingerOneNI** » Tue Mar 09, 2021 4:15 am

My roof was cleaned and protected with gtechniq by my detailer and I just use an APC watered down to clean it as needed.

rdm05z4 · Post by **rdm05z4** » Tue Mar 09, 2021 4:38 pm

PaperSniper wrote: ↑Sat Mar 06, 2021 1:19 pm
mr.tourette wrote: ↑Fri Mar 05, 2021 4:52 pm Auto Finesse Rag top was by a long stretch the best cleaner I tried on the soft top, far better cleaning power than autoglym, turtle wax and renovo which were the others I tried, reasonably priced too https://www.autofinesse.com/en/rag-top-cleaner-500ml
PaperSniper- Do a search on Ragtop they do sell products here in the US. I have only used their products once before putting car up for winter. But so far so good. Products do have good reviews.

Thanks ya'll, I looked up Auto Finesse Rag Top cleaner. Sounds like the product is well liked here on the forum.....at least in the UK. A search on the internet here from the USA was in vain. I don't think I'm ready to order from overseas, so I will need to look for another product more easily obtainable. Appreciate the help, ya'll!

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