best cloth top sealant ever?
- Thread starter shadowdrgn0
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Anonymous
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I need to take my car out in the rain if the roof is designed to let water through.
It doesn't go out unless it's dry....
Glad I don't live in a hot country.
It doesn't go out unless it's dry....
Glad I don't live in a hot country.
As others have mentioned, this is a dichotomy that bugs the heck out of me.wegras said:
I bought the BMW roof cleaner and sealant several months ago but haven't used it yet, partly due to crap weather and partly due to the fact that I'm just plain uncomfortable with the dilemma. It would be really nice to have some authoritative info on this.
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Anonymous
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I have never seen anyone comment they have had problems from sealing a roof. But I have seen comments about the green mould returning quickly following use of BMW product.
I used proofer lots of times on my Z3 without any issues.I know I did not suffer from mould or other problems on any of mine.
I have no second thoughts about using a proofer regardless of BMW designers. After all they prefer we use their sh*te springs and cracked alloy wheels
BMW may also have some interest in selling their own product.
I used proofer lots of times on my Z3 without any issues.I know I did not suffer from mould or other problems on any of mine.
I have no second thoughts about using a proofer regardless of BMW designers. After all they prefer we use their sh*te springs and cracked alloy wheels
BMW may also have some interest in selling their own product.
Hydrophobic products aren't sealants - otherwise as mentioned you would just spray latex / rubber on the roof to give it an actual seal:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hydrophobic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrophobic_effect
As way of explaining further, I and many friends have Goretex clothes and boots. The jackets despite being goretex (breatheable / waterproof) still have hydrophobic coatings on the outside of the jacket - water just beads off. The goretex layer is behind the outer fabric so has no effect on the beading off. However, the goretex layer is very fragile - if you want to wash & clean your jacket & boots you have to use special products including an impregnating agent. Of course you could clean them 'normally' but you'll find what we have - your boots are suddenly no longer watertight. Expensive lesson learnt.
Ultimately using a hydrophobic water repellent will still let the roof 'breathe'.
To put another way - no one has reported their roof breaking after using off-the-shelf products and canvas soft tops have been around for over 60 yrs.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hydrophobic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrophobic_effect
As way of explaining further, I and many friends have Goretex clothes and boots. The jackets despite being goretex (breatheable / waterproof) still have hydrophobic coatings on the outside of the jacket - water just beads off. The goretex layer is behind the outer fabric so has no effect on the beading off. However, the goretex layer is very fragile - if you want to wash & clean your jacket & boots you have to use special products including an impregnating agent. Of course you could clean them 'normally' but you'll find what we have - your boots are suddenly no longer watertight. Expensive lesson learnt.
Ultimately using a hydrophobic water repellent will still let the roof 'breathe'.
To put another way - no one has reported their roof breaking after using off-the-shelf products and canvas soft tops have been around for over 60 yrs.
To put another way - no one has reported their roof breaking after using off-the-shelf products and canvas soft tops have been around for over 60 yrs.
Yes canvas has been around for years. But our cars do not have a canvas roof. Mohair is a tough but also a frigile material. And BMW designed their cleaning products for good reasons!
If you sprayed this chemical on the roof, it may break down in the sun, and even crack the material. I wouldn`t want to chance that.
Stick to what has been prooven.
Yes canvas has been around for years. But our cars do not have a canvas roof. Mohair is a tough but also a frigile material. And BMW designed their cleaning products for good reasons!
If you sprayed this chemical on the roof, it may break down in the sun, and even crack the material. I wouldn`t want to chance that.
Stick to what has been prooven.
As I've posted before and extracted from BMW books the roof is actually 3 layers. The outer layer is itself 3 layers of poly-acryoniltrite fibres, polyethylene fibres and butyl rubber. Underneath that is a 15mm layer of insulating polyester (sound proof and warmth) and the final inner layer of polyurethane foam and polyethersulfone, for inside finish and insulation.
I have one of the oldest Zeds on the forum with near new looking roof (aside minor crease marks where it folds which can be brushed out) no mould, no rot, no frayed or worn fibres. For 9 months a year my roof cycles at least once a day and after 9 years no issues.
I treat with the correct stuff and don't jetwash it, scrub it, seal it, etc. and leave others to experiment with canvas sealer, renovation kits and any other snake oil that someone peddles on a video....
Your roof's, do what you want with them, but they cost a lot to replace.
I have one of the oldest Zeds on the forum with near new looking roof (aside minor crease marks where it folds which can be brushed out) no mould, no rot, no frayed or worn fibres. For 9 months a year my roof cycles at least once a day and after 9 years no issues.
I treat with the correct stuff and don't jetwash it, scrub it, seal it, etc. and leave others to experiment with canvas sealer, renovation kits and any other snake oil that someone peddles on a video....
Your roof's, do what you want with them, but they cost a lot to replace.
Yes - either the BMW kit or the Ragtopp 2 part cleaner and protector.
Dean-Z4 said:
OK fair point - this stuff is brand new and unproven. But I can't see a problem with any specialist canvas cleaners. The Z4 roof has been around since 2003 and there aren't any instances on this forum of 'I used X product and now my roof leaks'. There's references to algae, but that's regardless of the cleaning product used (seems to be due to where the car is stored and how often it's cleaned). Incidentally BMW don't produce their own stuff - it's rebranded 3rd party products. The roof itself isn't BMW either, it's made by Haartz who also make the roof for the MX-5 (also Mohair). Haartz officially certify Raggtopp - a hydrophobic coating for canvas roofs.
The day Haatz, who make the BMW roof and virtually every other in the world endorse and recommend this stuff I'll add it to my list. Until then it's a 'NO' for me. I don't spray my tent with Raggtopp, nor my shoes with Fabsil. Each product to it's tested purpose.
Boogle - our roof is not canvas and this product is super hydrophobic as opposed to just hydrophobic and their website clearly shows the vast difference (claimed).
Boogle - our roof is not canvas and this product is super hydrophobic as opposed to just hydrophobic and their website clearly shows the vast difference (claimed).