How to look after your soft top

B

billy2020

Member
Hi Z4 lovers
Recently got my own 2008 Z4 and loving it stacks. Such fun and going to aim to keep mine as original as possible with some soft upgrades.
One question for now is how best to look after and maintain the top as I have seen some advice not to pressure wash it – ever and to treat it
Also , whats everyone's opinion on pressure washing the rest of the car etc
B
 
Hi there, as an ex mx5 owner and now z4 roadster I can tell you that you need to look after the hood, not monthly cleaning or treatment needed but perhaps twice a year. Renovo and Maguirs are often recommended (vids on you tube with guides) and other products from halfords and the like - use a brush to agitate if needed. I have used Fabsil gold as a post clean treatment to keep it in good condition - applied with a small painbrush. Pressure washing is best avoided in my view. Good luck :thumbsup:
 
Mine gets Hoovered using a soft brush attachment. Plus any bird pooh ect gets cleaned off straight away.
 
Autoglym stuff works...

Vacuum the roof
Rise
Apply cleaner
Scrub following the weave
Rinse
Apply cleaner
Scrub following the weave
Rinse
Let the roof dry off a bit or dab with a microfiber towel to get most of the water out
Apply waterproofing
Clean the windows as the waterproofing is worse than tree sap on glass or bodywork

Also clean the rubbers at the boot and pay extra attention there when cleaning as the green bits will come back.

Buy yourself an over sized car cleaning nail brush for cleaning the roof.

Some folk have used Milton fluid stuff for the algae.
 
Ref pressure washing. Personally I have never had a pressure washer near any of my car's. Not even the daily sheds. Saved it for the patio. :wink:

Oh and if you can keep the Zed in the garrage and like me you will never no what green algae on the roof looks like. :D
 
Used properly, a pressure washer is a fantastic tool for making car washing easier and safer for your paint. There is a reason almost every professional detailer uses one.

Using the pressure washer, 90% of the dirt can be removed without touching the car. If you were to try and clean dirty paintwork with just a wash mitt, you will scratch and swirl it.
It does depend how much one cares about the appearance of their car though. There are some people that clean their car with a gritty sponge and some fairy liquid. We all have our own preferences!

I can't think of any good reasons not to use one. Just have to be sensible with it. Bear in mind your car is designed to do well over 100mph but not in reverse. So don't spray high pressure water the wrong way across delicate seals or up the exhaust! :wink:
 
Jfgoldfish said:
Used properly, a pressure washer is a fantastic tool for making car washing easier and safer for your paint. There is a reason almost every professional detailer uses one.

Using the pressure washer, 90% of the dirt can be removed without touching the car. If you were to try and clean dirty paintwork with just a wash mitt, you will scratch and swirl it.
It does depend how much one cares about the appearance of their car though. There are some people that clean their car with a gritty sponge and some fairy liquid. We all have our own preferences!

I can't think of any good reasons not to use one. Just have to be sensible with it. Bear in mind your car is designed to do well over 100mph but not in reverse. So don't spray high pressure water the wrong way across delicate seals or up the exhaust! :wink:
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Agree with this. I have a Bosch one which works well with the snow foam and then I use it to rinse all that off as well. You don't have to buy one of industrial standards, so pick one with not too high a pressure output. I also make sure I angle the water to the panels at about 30-45 degrees rather than blast straight at them. Having used pressure washers for over 20 years to clean my cars, including my show standard 2.8i Capri, I can safely say I've never had an issue with them. As with a lot of things it boils down to personal preference and the ability to use tools correctly.
 
Exactly, no harm in using a pressure washer to wash down the car before using a mitt and shampoo. Helps to remove mud and grime from muddy wheel arches and places you cant reach. Most allow you to turn the pressure down when rinsing in any case.

In terms of the roof, I’ve used the Autoglym cleaner and protector and find that works well. I tape off the glass with some newspaper, just in case any gets on there. It keeps it protected and waterproof. I’d say a proper treatment like that, twice a year, would suffice, otherwise a clean with a brush or a vacuum would be sufficient in keeping it clean and looking good.

They’re pretty durable things and were tested to withstand harsh weather and temperatures, so I wouldn’t be overly concerned.

Can we have some photos of your Zed please! :D
 
As long as you have a wide fan on the lance, a pressure washer is no danger to the soft top - just don't go holding the lance a few inches from the fabric as that will leave squiggles over your roof. Stay a few feet back with a wide fan and it's good to go. I've used a bog standard APC diluted right down and a nail brush to scrub the fabric and it comes up great. Only do it twice a year mind.
 
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