Cleaning Roadster Roof

[Jimmy Gee]

I washed my car at wkend but whilst I was washing the roof I just wondered a couple of things...

Is it ok to powerwash the hood at a reasonable distance?
Is it ok to wash it with the same shampoo (regular car shampoo with wax) as the rest of the car?
Is it ok to work the shampoo into the fabric with a microfibre mitt?

Im not interested in all this detailing business but just wanted to make sure im not damaging the fabric in any way or making it look dull over time. I am planning on treating the hood at some stage but im just waiting for the better weather.

If anybody has any tips, advice it will be much appreciated

 

[seanodwyer]

Hi,

I would be very careful about using a power washer on the roof. I admit I do use one on mine, but my "Power" washer is very feeble (€45 Tesco job) and I use it on the weakest spray setting. Get a proper cleaner for the roof, I used AG upholstery cleaner for the first time on mine last week and it came up a treat, I would recommend this. Also, avoid normal softtop conditioners as the Z4 roof is designed to work differently to other softtops, in that it is designed to let water through the fabric. I use a sponge on my roof when wet and a soft brush when dry.

Have fun!

 

[a11y]

Also, avoid normal softtop conditioners as the Z4 roof is designed to work differently to other softtops, in that it is designed to let water through the fabric.

Could anyone elaborate on that one? I've heard it mentioned before but was never sure quite why this is, and also what would therefore be the best protector to use. I've used the AutoGlym cleaner and protector on mine for the past 2 years without any issue, and it's a protector that makes the water "bead" so certainly doesn't let it through the fabric.

I was actually searching about fabric roof protectors on Detailing World at lunchtime and the ones that come up again and again are:
Nanolex
I1 Smart Fabric
Fabsil (not sure on that myself!)
Renovo

At the moment I'm considering the I1 Smart Fabric stuff, but it has major beading properties. It does claim to coat individual roof fibres though which sounds like it still lets the roof breathe, so should be OK for the Z4 roof?

Sorry to gatecrash and potentially make this a more indepth thread than the OP wanted :lol:


But my take on your Q's:

Is it ok to powerwash the hood at a reasonable distance?
I don't like a powerwaher on ANY part of the car - normal garden hose is powerful enough IMO.

Is it ok to wash it with the same shampoo (regular car shampoo with wax) as the rest of the car?
I just use water mostly but used regular shampoo last time due to excess winter grime...

Is it ok to work the shampoo into the fabric with a microfibre mitt?
That's what I use, although folk on detailing world seem to suggest a soft nail-brush...

 

[pvr]

I found this video good:

http://www.palmbeachmotoring.net/ascg-videos/raggtopp.html

 

[andysat]

This is my dilemma also,should i use a product that beads well even though the roof is meant to be permeable? :?

 

[Ewazix]

This is my dilemma also,should i use a product that beads well even though the roof is meant to be permeable? :?

I've had many convertibles but not a BMW with this fabric system before so have been wondering the same thing. I'm thinking of playing safe and getting a BMW roof kit unless anyone knows of a parallel (cheaper) product made by the manufacturers who supply BMW?

 

[GAZA62]

To the OP i would say no to all 3 would never use a power washer on my car especially on the hood i think it says this in the manual but i could be wrong.

Would never use regular car shampoo on a soft top especially a wash and wax.

Re the mit only thing that touches my hood is an AG Synthetic Chamois for drying but lately i let the top dry naturally after washing with a hose just water

Re protection i used AG kit first year no probs then Renovo but had a lot of mildew after snow this year shes naked nothing at all after cleaning with BMW cleaner and be interesting how much mildew i get without protection plus as said above need to learn more about permeable tops

 

[Jimmy Gee]

Thanks a lot for the replies

pvr - cant get that video to work

sean, a11y, gaza - how much are the different cleaning products that you have tried? And where is the best place to get them... internet?

 

[pvr]

hmm, just tried the link again and all good for me.

In summary, it shows how to clean and protect the roof.

 

[seanodwyer]

Jimmy, I paid €12 for my bottle of AG upholstery cleaner at a motor show before Christmas. But Halfords should stock it

 

[Jimmy Gee]

Cheers sean il have a look for that ive heard a few people mention it now.

Just another quick question if you dont mind, once you have cleaned the roof do you treat it with anything to protect it?

 

[seanodwyer]

I don't because of all the debate on here about allowing it to soak in. But to be honest I do have a nagging doubt over it. I think I may give in and buy the BMW conditioner.

 

[un1eash]

Get yourself the Autoglym Roof kit, it works really well and theres enough to do the process 3-4 times and lasts upto 6 months.

I would mist the roof to get it wet then use the supplied sponge to work in the shampoo, then you rinse until all the foam and shampoo has gone. The last step is to spray on the protector, i use to use quite abit but the results were excellent. Not the best picture but you can see how the water sits on the roof. Beeding on the roof

 

[D6GMB]

Have used Renovo on both the Z4's i have owned.Gives very good beading and bird sh!t can be easily washed off leaving no marks.
I power wash my car and the roof but dont blast the roof at close distance also my washer has a variable strength lance.

 

[BluZiff]

Get yourself the Autoglym Roof kit, it works really well and theres enough to do the process 3-4 times and lasts upto 6 months.

I would mist the roof to get it wet then use the supplied sponge to work in the shampoo, then you rinse until all the foam and shampoo has gone. The last step is to spray on the protector, i use to use quite abit but the results were excellent. Not the best picture but you can see how the water sits on the roof. Beeding on the roof

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/un1eash/Z4/P1000093.jpg[img][/quote]

but as others have said its not supposed to bead o the roof the roof is supposed to be permeable.

I personally think a good clean down and possibly something like an upholstery cleaner once in a while to stop any growths growing.

 

[Jimmy Gee]

Thanks again

 

[un1eash]

Why is it meant to be permeable? It can still breath it just stops water and dirt getting into the cloth.

 

[Anonymous]

I washed my car at wkend but whilst I was washing the roof I just wondered a couple of things...

Is it ok to powerwash the hood at a reasonable distance?
Is it ok to wash it with the same shampoo (regular car shampoo with wax) as the rest of the car?
Is it ok to work the shampoo into the fabric with a microfibre mitt?

:

1 - yes - but only at an acute angle, this cleans most stuff off including bird sh1t, same with the body work
2 - better to use a recommended cleaner, but only if really necessary, the above should be enough most of the time.
3 - as above, I wouldn't use car shampoo.

re pressure washing, I have done this for 3 years on my hoods, I even snow foam it on occasion, Z3/Z4, never had any problem with the fabric, never had green mould or leaks,. no doubt others will tut tut.

 

[GAZA62]

Thanks a lot for the replies

pvr - cant get that video to work

sean, a11y, gaza - how much are the different cleaning products that you have tried? And where is the best place to get them... internet?

Here you go mate AG Kit can be bought in Halfords

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_185456_langId_-1_categoryId_165682

Renovo here http://www.renovointernational.com/

 

[fraserbottomley]

I don't power wash mine as it can seperate the fabric (probably low risk of this but I don't like to chance it).

I just use johnsons baby shampoo (the blue one) and a nail brush - as reccomended on detailing world and some other forums. I've never got round to sealing the roof yet but I have a tin of Fabsil waiting to do so. Fabsil's originally designed for tents, but again comes highly recommended from numerous other forums.