SoftTop Maintainence

[looloo]

Anybody would like to share how each go about keeping the roof in shape and the water out?....because i have no brilliant idea.

[t_k]

Anybody would like to share how each go about keeping the roof in shape and the water out?....because i have no brilliant idea.

303 Aerospace Protectant is supposed to protect the vinyl top from UV radiation/fading etc and keep it looking nice and black. I bought a bottle but I've been to lazy to use it yet!

Shinetsu grease for the seals to keep the water out. Need to order a tube of this for myself as well.

[Nephilim]

For the soft top, I roughly follow the steps in this guide: http://thedetailinghandbook.com/Convert ... _Care.aspx.

I'm using 303 too but my top is looking rather uneven/patchy. It's either I didn't buff it off properly or I need to get a proper applicator (I'm using a soft sponge that I got from Homefix some time back to apply).

[SL_77]

Where did you guys buy the 303 from? Need one myself.

[jellyfish]

i'm using RAGGTOP protectant, very easy to apply and it gives a deep matt look, best part it don leave black streak lines when it rains

Sian part is you need to order it from the states

[Tanzy]

I'm always used BMW Softop Impregnator. It works very well and is not difficult to apply. Used it on my Z4 and S2000 with great results. I coated my S2000 soft top when it was 6 months old and more than a year later, the top was still waterproof. The liquid contains a soluble waxy water repellent and once you are done water will bead off your top. One bottle can easily last you years. It's available from PML parts department.

All you need to do is follow the instructions on the bottle to dilute the stuff into a container/bowl. Making sure your soft top is clean and dry, apply the dilute stuff on the canvas with a sponge, please soak the liquid into the fibre and not just wipe on a superficial film. Have a damp cloth at the read to wipe off any excess that drips on to the bodywork. It's not harmful but it does leave a hazy stain which when dry is a hard to remove. Hopefully, you have choosen a nice hot day to let the Impregnator dry. [/b]

[t_k]

i'm using RAGGTOP protectant, very easy to apply and it gives a deep matt look, best part it don leave black streak lines when it rains

Sian part is you need to order it from the states

No local stockists? Was thinking of trying this cos 303 streaked on my previous DC5 when I used it on the plastic and rubber trim..

[jellyfish]

i'm using RAGGTOP protectant, very easy to apply and it gives a deep matt look, best part it don leave black streak lines when it rains

Sian part is you need to order it from the states

No local stockists? Was thinking of trying this cos 303 streaked on my previous DC5 when I used it on the plastic and rubber trim..

yalor i still have some remainder of the 303 left on the shelf, to what i know no stockist carries them

[encomium]

303 Aerospace protectant is available in Singapore (you lucky people) i just called up Advance Canvas Industries and they're sending a bottle up to me in KL.



http://www.adcanvas.com.sg/

[EKen4]

I'm always used BMW Softop Impregnator. It works very well and is not difficult to apply. Used it on my Z4 and S2000 with great results. I coated my S2000 soft top when it was 6 months old and more than a year later, the top was still waterproof. The liquid contains a soluble waxy water repellent and once you are done water will bead off your top. One bottle can easily last you years. It's available from PML parts department.

All you need to do is follow the instructions on the bottle to dilute the stuff into a container/bowl. Making sure your soft top is clean and dry, apply the dilute stuff on the canvas with a sponge, please soak the liquid into the fibre and not just wipe on a superficial film. Have a damp cloth at the read to wipe off any excess that drips on to the bodywork. It's not harmful but it does leave a hazy stain which when dry is a hard to remove. Hopefully, you have choosen a nice hot day to let the Impregnator dry. [/b]

I'm using that too to similar results.

[bigtree]

For Cleaners, I prefer Raggtopp (Raggtopp win by size and price over BMW's cleaners).

As for protectants I'm using Duragloss. Duragloss gives a matt black finish. BMW has a very waxy look when it is wet and patches can be seen if not evenly applied over the roof.

Raggtopp finishes with a greyish black look.

303 - Can't comment coz havn't try yet.

[Ayeamgood]

You can get raggtop cleaner and protectant at diygurus.com It's a local website

[t_k]

Raggtopp finishes with a greyish black look.

Hmm... any other users of Raggtopp agree that the finish isn't black enough? I'm thinking of switching to this but I dont want a greyish top!

[J-AP2]

I think this post can be a sticky, since 95% of people are still on soft top and this topic gets repeated.

[nob]

I too am using the ragg top.
For me it works great. Once coat of the cleaner and regular coats of the protectant would maintain the condition of the top.
I feel that the Ragg top is aimed at maintaining the condition of the top like leather conditioners.

Heard of the 303 before and many people swear by that too so I guess its worth a try.

As for the dark coating used by the Beamers, I think the top of the beamers are Fabric tops while the s2k is a vinyl top. Hence the effect of the protectant would differ. I haven heard of any adverse reaction if you use a fabric top protectant on a vinyl top so i guess its one of those marketing gimmicks to disect the consumer buying behavior ;p