The rubber strip that runs across the top of the windshiel - I guess it's the weatherstripping for the ragtop - is looking pretty awful. Dry, worn, white/gray areas. This 2005 MCSc is new to me, but sat for at least a year, maybe naked in the Florida sun??!? Can I renew this rubber with some kind of stuff? I think the 303 aerospace protectant would be a good thing to use to prevent further damage, or if you're starting with a new(er) car.

Thanks!

 

Try BlackWow. A very, very, very little goes a very long way. You can look in the detailing forum for write-ups and photos.

 

I think Black Wow is more for plastic. If you want to revitalize rubber, get some spray (aerosol) silicone. NOT silicone grease. Just silicone. The brand Solder Seal makes it and it comes in a blue and white can. Spray a little on a rag and wipe it on the rubber.

 

I don't use their wax any more but this Zymol product is glycerin based and is perfect for that rubber strip and all the rubber seals. The bottle will last for a long time.

http://www.zymol.com/zymolseal85oz.aspx

 

Miata people for a long time recommended either this Zymol product or "303 protectant" for their vinyl soft tops. I use it there and on all rubber seals, and on the dash.

I've used Zymol for years. Expensive but works the way you'd want it too....no oily residue....minimal rain run off. Note this product recommends application to a warm surface...heated by the sun is GOOD. I've never found it on a shelf but buy online from manuf' or a Miata site.

303 is popular in the aviation and boating worlds so you may find it at a local store that serves those markets. I've tried it but preferred Zy .... it's good, I just like Zy better.

 

The VW Eos guys have a lot of trouble with seals (relatively, don't post how great your Eos is, please). VW sells a small bottle of DuPont Krytox that makes the rubber stuff nice and soft. As of a year or so ago they had not found a cheaper source. They seem to me to have the same type of rubber seals as we do.

I would not use any silicone on anything flexible. I know this was common practice once, and Armor All still kills dashboards with it every day, but it apparently the solvents with the silicone remove the "plasticizers" from the plastic, making it brittle. That's second hand from a chemical engineer prof. at Rice, but watching Armor All users cry over cracks in their vinyl is first-hand. Maybe Warped knows something I don't, but it seems there are safer alternatives.

 

I have used Mother's Back to Black, on the plastic and rubber parts of my BMW and have not had any bad effects. I would say give it a try, did wonders on my siding.

 

Krytox is an excellent alternative that didn't occur to me until you mentioned it. When I was still working shipboard, we used Krytox on all of the Viton O-rings that we installed in HP air systems. That being said, we also used silicone grease on other, lesser pressure systems.

I recommended the Solder Seal spray silicone because, as I'm told, most of the rubber seals on the windows/trim on cars are silicone rubber and it makes sense that silicone liquid would refresh that and make it more supple or at the very least, less brittle.

Years ago my mother had a Chevy Venture van. The driver's side window would stick and try to jump the tracks going down. I took the door apart and looked at it and couldn't find a reason why it was doing that. Then I felt the rubber window guides. They were dry and as hard as a brick. I knew that Armor All would make it even more brittle within a week so based on the logic in the paragraph above, I sprayed it with silicone, left it apart for a day then re-applied it again and the rubber had become softer and the window didn't hang anymore. It also made the window motor sound as if it was under substantially less strain when the window was moved up or down. I attribute that to the tracks being lubricated but then, 5 years later, that window still works perfectly.

 

so tell me if I armor alled the intorior of my 07 MCc is there a better product to use for the dash and trim in the car that won't look wet ar gett on things in the car or me? I plan on keeping this car a long time and want it to last. Also what about the black on the outside of the car?

 

For the dash and interior (vinyl) items; Prima Nero, and for the trim (exterior): Black Wow. Detailers Paradise (a Nam sponsor) sell these items. They work and will give you the look that you want.

 

+1 plus the price is right.

 

prima slick works well, but needs applying 1x or 2x per month

 

If this is trunk and door seal type rubber, take a look at gummi pflege.

 

Einszett Gummi Pflege was designed for rubber seals. You apply it let it sit and either wipe off the excess or add more if it's not enough. It is truly a very good product.

 

Can anyone tell me if they have replaced the chrome trip around the convertible top?
Mine is dry rotting and the dealership will replace it for $450?

THanks!

 

$450 for both sounds right... and shouldn't take too long.

The problem is they'll break again as they're made too thin.