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Removing mould / algae from soft top
- Marlon
- Lifer
- Posts: 10899
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:13 am
- Location: Lancs.
- Contact:
Removing mould / algae from soft top
Been putting off this job - spots of green mould/algae that have appeared over the last 6 months needed cleaning.
I asked how to treat this on the forum ages ago and the following was the method recommended by most, so had a go this afternoon:
These were the areas that needed looking at - the roof wasn't covered with spores just localised as shown:
Bought a box of these from Boots £1.35
Used 2 tablets in half a bucket of cold water - left them to dissolve for 15 minutes then gave it a good stir
Used a dish brush to go over the whole area and a toot brush to concentrate on the spots:
Half opened the roof to get inside the folds and below the car body:
End result:
Will probably repeat again as a couple of stubborn spores are still very faintly showing, but overall I'd call it a success
I asked how to treat this on the forum ages ago and the following was the method recommended by most, so had a go this afternoon:
These were the areas that needed looking at - the roof wasn't covered with spores just localised as shown:
Bought a box of these from Boots £1.35
Used 2 tablets in half a bucket of cold water - left them to dissolve for 15 minutes then gave it a good stir
Used a dish brush to go over the whole area and a toot brush to concentrate on the spots:
Half opened the roof to get inside the folds and below the car body:
End result:
Will probably repeat again as a couple of stubborn spores are still very faintly showing, but overall I'd call it a success
Gone: 3.0si 2008 E85
911 997 Carrera S
- MT94
- Member
- Posts: 174
- Joined: Sun May 14, 2017 4:01 pm
- Location: London
Removing mould / algae from soft top
This is a job I will be doing in the next few weeks might have to try this way on my car as yours has come up l just need a dry weekend which is probably asking a bit much , good job on your car nice to see before and after.
Matt.
Matt.
2004 E85 Z4 2.2i Titan Silver
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- Lifer
- Posts: 4069
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2013 8:27 pm
- Location: Stourbridge
Removing mould / algae from soft top
Reason why I wouldn't have another soft top.
I have used bathroom mould killer on a caravan awning, not sure if that would be any good on soft tops.
I have used bathroom mould killer on a caravan awning, not sure if that would be any good on soft tops.
- Gaffa22
- Member
- Posts: 407
- Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 9:31 am
Removing mould / algae from soft top
I've used this and it works ok
Admittedly it was on a Honda but i suspect BMW soft top material might be nearly as good
https://www.autoglym.com/convertible-so ... mplete-kit
Admittedly it was on a Honda but i suspect BMW soft top material might be nearly as good
https://www.autoglym.com/convertible-so ... mplete-kit
2010 E89 35i DCT
2017 Honda CBR1000RR fireblade
2016 Honda VFR1200F
2017 Honda CBR1000RR fireblade
2016 Honda VFR1200F
- Russ59
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1670
- Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 4:49 pm
- Location: Mansfield Woodhouse
Removing mould / algae from soft top
I need to give this a go, I gave mine a good scrub on Saturday with soapy water but it's still got faint green marks when you look at certain angles.
Will the strerilising solution stop the green mould coming back or is a short fix?
Will the strerilising solution stop the green mould coming back or is a short fix?
2005, 3.0l Toledo Blue, sports seats, sports suspension, ZHP, MFSW,4 clear spot rear lights, clear side repeaters and third brake light , 19" AXE EX14 wheels, DIY carbon badges, interior parts gloss black wrapped, rear spoiler
- Gaffa22
- Member
- Posts: 407
- Joined: Wed Aug 16, 2017 9:31 am
Removing mould / algae from soft top
With the Autoglym kit the final proofing solution seems to do the trick
mine has not gone green since I cleaned and treated it 3 years ago.
It makes the water bead off like a wax so the algae does not get a chance to grow,
plus it makes it so much easier to keep clean.
2010 E89 35i DCT
2017 Honda CBR1000RR fireblade
2016 Honda VFR1200F
2017 Honda CBR1000RR fireblade
2016 Honda VFR1200F
- Russ59
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1670
- Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 4:49 pm
- Location: Mansfield Woodhouse
Removing mould / algae from soft top
Gaffa22 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 18, 2017 9:43 amWith the Autoglym kit the final proofing solution seems to do the trick
mine has not gone green since I cleaned and treated it 3 years ago.
It makes the water bead off like a wax so the algae does not get a chance to grow,
plus it makes it so much easier to keep clean.
I've got the Autoglym kit to put on so hopefully that will cure it.
I've also got some black liquid shoe polish to add to it, which I read from a post quite a while ago, says will bring the colour back.
2005, 3.0l Toledo Blue, sports seats, sports suspension, ZHP, MFSW,4 clear spot rear lights, clear side repeaters and third brake light , 19" AXE EX14 wheels, DIY carbon badges, interior parts gloss black wrapped, rear spoiler
- Marlon
- Lifer
- Posts: 10899
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:13 am
- Location: Lancs.
- Contact:
Removing mould / algae from soft top
It is worth mentioning that the outer layer is not supposed to be waterproof - it's designed to be porous so the material can fully dry without moisture being trapped.
The second 'butyl' membrane layer takes care of the water-proofing. Many people swear by water-proofers on the outer layer that form beading when it rains but that is not how the Z4 rag tops were designed to work.
The second 'butyl' membrane layer takes care of the water-proofing. Many people swear by water-proofers on the outer layer that form beading when it rains but that is not how the Z4 rag tops were designed to work.
Gone: 3.0si 2008 E85
911 997 Carrera S
- jock156
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2426
- Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2018 5:54 pm
- Location: NORWICH
Removing mould / algae from soft top
My job first thing tomorrow morning!
Quick question, retract the roof half way back first or do the roof fully folded then retract?
Quick question, retract the roof half way back first or do the roof fully folded then retract?
- Marlon
- Lifer
- Posts: 10899
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:13 am
- Location: Lancs.
- Contact:
Removing mould / algae from soft top
full roof, then retract and do the folds
Gone: 3.0si 2008 E85
911 997 Carrera S
- jock156
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2426
- Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2018 5:54 pm
- Location: NORWICH
- jock156
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2426
- Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2018 5:54 pm
- Location: NORWICH
Removing mould / algae from soft top
Well that didn’t take too long! To be fair I’m not that impressed. Maybe my expectations were set too high.
Yes it is cleaner but I think I will need to do it again.
Yes it is cleaner but I think I will need to do it again.
- Marlon
- Lifer
- Posts: 10899
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:13 am
- Location: Lancs.
- Contact:
Removing mould / algae from soft top
Takes a couple of goes and even then there are faint spots left deep in the fabric if you look closely
Gone: 3.0si 2008 E85
911 997 Carrera S
-
- Newbie
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:14 pm
- Location: Pickering, North Yorkshire
Removing mould / algae from soft top
Just spent the last few hours giving my roof a clean - Started with Milton fluid and a pan cleaning brush to work it well into the fabric, let it dry and then gave it a good rinse..... The amount of dirty water that came off it was amazing! So much that the whole car now needs a good wash and wax!
I've now just given it a good going over with car shampoo (again using the pan brush to work it into the fabric), and then another good rinse - Even more dirty water all over the car!
So I'll see what it looks like when its dry....
The roof is slightly faded in places anyway, so as long as it looks like all the mould is gone, I'll be giving it a good going over with liquid shoe polish to hopefully restore it to a more even colour - I have to get the old girl looking good for the summer
Regards
Eddy
I've now just given it a good going over with car shampoo (again using the pan brush to work it into the fabric), and then another good rinse - Even more dirty water all over the car!
So I'll see what it looks like when its dry....
The roof is slightly faded in places anyway, so as long as it looks like all the mould is gone, I'll be giving it a good going over with liquid shoe polish to hopefully restore it to a more even colour - I have to get the old girl looking good for the summer
Regards
Eddy
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- Newbie
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2017 6:14 pm
- Location: Pickering, North Yorkshire
Removing mould / algae from soft top
The milton fluid etc seems to have done the trick, no sign of any mould/algae now. I was hard work, but well worth the effort.
Just need to get some liquid shoe polish now to finish the job.
Regards
Eddy
Just need to get some liquid shoe polish now to finish the job.
Regards
Eddy