Washing the roof/convertible top?

P

PaperSniper

Member
 West Tennessee, USA
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! :o

Doug
 
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
 
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 :thumbsup:
 
mr.tourette said:
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
Click to expand...

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! 8)
 
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 said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
PaperSniper said:
dr_john said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
dr_john said:
PaperSniper said:
dr_john said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
Click to expand...

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.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that info.
 
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.
 
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.
 
PaperSniper said:
mr.tourette said:
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
Click to expand...
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! 8)
Click to expand...
 
i get it coated twice a year by my detailer, and other than that I don't touch it, when its a bit dirty i use some demineralized water. and gently dry it with a cheap fiber cloth (not the fluffy yellow ones, because those leave bright yellow hairs on your roof :D) .
 
rdm05z4 said:
PaperSniper said:
mr.tourette said:
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
Click to expand...
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! 8)
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Thanks. I have them on my shopping list. However, I was hoping for something a little more simple to use for this old, lazy man. :oops:

I may try this one: RaggTopp Convertible Top Fabric/Vinyl Cleaner.
 
To be honest I used to vacuum the roof on my E85 more often than washing it. When I washed it, I used autoglym shampoo and a stiff brush, and lots of water afterwards. Always turned out ok! For really green or dodgy bits, I’d sometimes use a mild kitchen cleaner. Other than that...I didn’t do much to it!
 
There are a few video guides but Larry at Ammo NYC explains it really well.

https://youtu.be/vmrKCKXx9FM

Like others the wet cleaning is not something I do every time I clean the car. I would more often vacuum and lint roller it. But there is the occasional bird bomb which requires a wet clean.
 
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