Where can i get my cabrio top treated? Would a detailer do this? Looking for options other than doing it myself! I'm located in Central NJ if anyone has any specifics - otherwise, just an idea of who/where i could get something like this done?

 

I'll do it for you for $350. Just get on I70 towards Ohio - you'll be here in 8 hours ad the bottle of protectant and the wash is on me!

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Seriously... Doing the top is dead simple. Go to a marine supply place and get a spray bottle of the 303 Areospace sealent - costs like $15. Wash the top with basic car wash soap and rinse very well, then let dry (a sunny day actually HELPs you with this stuff). DO NOT DRY WITH A TOWEL or lint will get all over the top. If you do end up with any lint or hairs on the cloth, use a basic lint roller (the $3 tape kind) to get it off - the cleaner the better.

After it's dry, put some newspaper into the front seal (open the top a few inches, slideit in and close) and into the windows (open the doors and put 2-3 sheets across the top of the glass) - this will help keep the glass and trim clean. Then, just spray on between 1/3 to 1/2 of the bottle onto the fabric. Use a peice of cardboard (an old box panel will do fine) to protect the rubber trim around the rear window and rear side panels. Use extra on the rear, as all the road grime the wheels kicks up sticks in this location... If you get any on the rubber trim no sweat - just wipe it off with a cloth as soon as you can (if you leave it on it can discolor the trim after a while).

Then allow to dry in the sun - only takes about 40 minutes on a sunny day. test the top with a quick spritz of hose water - it should bead up and run right off the cloth. If it does not bead, wait another 30 min. and try again. Again APPLY IN THE SUN and it will dry really, really fast.

You're good until winter, maybe longer depending on how you store the car.

 

ImagoX, do you think the 303 works better or as well as the Ragg Top supplies that DP and others sell?

 

+1 on the 303... it works great for me... I haven't tried Raggtops... I suspect it's very similar. I just like the 303 products because they have GREAT chemistry behind them...

FWIW - the first time I used the recommended spray-on method for the 303 fabric protector, even using sheets, etc. for masking, I got a fair amount of overspray on any parts of the car that were NOT protected - even though it was a pretty calm day. And then I had to wash the car again and Hydro... Last time I did it, I used a soft bristle brush (like a 2" wide one) and brushed the 303 protectant on instead - seems to work just as well, and MUCH less stress as I didn't need to worry about masking...

I also found that it's good to use the lint roller on the top, while dry, in addition to washing it, before applying the protectant- even after a GOOD washing with 303 fabric cleaner, my lint roller got LOTS of road dust out of the top fabric before applying the new 303 protectant...

 

I'll be out in Altoona, PA visiting family in August, so i'll be halfway there, might be worth it

Thank you for the detailed instructions, i think more than anything i'm just nervous i'll screw it up and get spray all over my baby! I may just bite the bullet and give it a shot, since i don't have a garage and she stays outside all the time, i've got to do it! I've called a few detailers locally and while it wouldn't be too expensive, some of them gave me names of products i've never heard of before (or heard on here) - so i'm thinking its up to me!

 

You REALLY CAN do this - not hard - and if you use the brush-on method, it's REALLY EASY - took me maybe 30 minutes the last time.

 

Paul - I kind of like the thought of just painting on the 303, did you just dump the Fabric Guard into a bucket or something? I'm thinking that painting it on would give you a better chance of getting the stuff into the weave of the canvas.

 

Detailer's Paradise sells Renovo... a brush on top treatment.

I got that info and a glowing review of the product from bamatt... and she is a member of the OCDetailer's club so I doubt she'd steer me wrong.

Where IS she... surprised she hasn't chimed in yet.

 

You have to treat the roof the cabrio? how often does this have to be done??

 

My 303 treatments hold up really well so I'm not really in the market for a different product. It does take me a while to prep my MINI for the treatment though since I don't want any on my paint or rubber bits. Wind is usually not an issue here in Denver, but the stuff carries forever even with the squirt application so overspray is a big deal for me. The Raggtopp product is not an option (though highly regarded) since it is an aerosol. I might try the Renovo as an alternative, but if Paul paints the 303 on that would probably work best for me.

 

I treat about every 4 months or when the beading diminishes. Note that the canvas does not provide you with the waterproof layer to protect you from the elements, there is a rubber layer under the canvas for that. I treat the canvas just to help keep it clean.

 

Yep - I poured some in a medium sized plastic cup, and just went at it with the paintbrush. This allowed me to do it in the garage, in the shade, with NO overspray. A couple of drips that I kept a microfiber handy to wipe up, but othewise no worries. And, yeah, you feel like you're actually getting the product down into the fabric better with the brush, and it's easy to apply a little extra in high wear areas along the bars and seams... and NO taping, masking, etc.

While doing it, I was a little nervous because you can see that you're stroking it on... not really "brushmarks"... but you can see that it's not completely even coverage (of course not - you're brushing it on, after all). But as it dries, it looks PERFECT.

I, too, have had good results with the 303, and own a bunch of it, so not looking for other products now.

 

Great thanks for the info - I'll try it this weekend.
BTW, I think all waterproofing products really like to be cooked in the sun to increase the curing process. I'll probably do it in the shade and then move the MINI to the sun.

 

Wow!! Thanks for some fantastic information about convertible top cleaning. I've only had mine for a few weeks now, so it doesn't need it yet...but!!! I think I'll try to print this out for future reference!! Thanks again.

 

Yes I do highly recommend the Renovo. I have used 303 & RaggTopp also & I can't say a bad word about either of them. Out of the 3 I prefer the Renovo though as I have never seen the 303 or RaggTopp bead as heavily as the Renovo does (I have a Renovo beading pic that I am gonna get off my rear & post one day for y'all ). After using a paint-on product I will never go thru the hassle of spraying again. In addition to no overspray worries with painting on you can also be sure every portion of the top gets equal coverage & you can apply extra to the seams & egdes where a lil extra is needed

 

^ SEE !!! Told you she likes that stuff !!

 

That's an interesting place to keep pics. . .

By the way, love the new sig, CR&PW&JB

 

^ Why, thank you, eager !! Thanks to our resident cartoonist, COOPERation for his fine work !!

I'm working on a name change to match the sig. Add a MINI, shorten my name.

 

Yep - I bake mine in the sun after application.

 

If I keep on the same schedule, I will never need to seal the top. At the 10k service, they replaced my top due to white marks. If this keeps up, I shouldn't need to seal the top until after warrantee....

 

What is Renovo and were in Birmingham can it be purchased ? I have used the Raggtopp an it is a pain with the over spray , tapeand newspaper !

 

I've just treated my top with 303 using both technics, spray (middle section)& brush (outer sections). This stuff really works. After it's been dried, I poured some water on the top and it just runs right off. I was pretty amazed. It took me total of 40 mins.

 

I just did it and it turned out great! (303 Aerospace Protectant)

 

Did it last weekend with a brush and 303. So much easier than the spray technique and you can really work in to the seams and nooks much better.

 

Getting ready to do my top this weekend with Renovo and a brush.

I have a couple of slightly-faded spots on some of the joints near the rear of the top. I guess I can't expect this stuff to make it them black again. After all, it's not called "Renovo Back-to-Black".