Can this top be restored ?

apexhittinbull · 10-29-2017, 03:44 PM

Recently purchased low mile M roadster, Paint is great, drivetrain so far is great
Interior and the top condition is below par.
I assume PO left the car topdown parked outside for weeks and months.
Pillar& back leather trims are shrunk.

My main concern is the what looks like top mildews and molds.
I gave it a RaggTopp clean treatment yesterday with no real differences.
Orederd a 303 cleaner today hoping it will work.
O yeah, the top motor is inop as well which I plan to tackle later on.

Can this top be saved? Does it need some kind of fabric paints?

GuidoK · 10-29-2017, 04:18 PM

Try soft soap (you know, the old fashioned jelly blubber that comes in a tub) and a firm brush. Thats probably the strongest you should use.
And cleaning is best done with warm water, so wet with warm water (not really hot), brush with soft soap and clean of with warm water.
If you have a shopvac that can also suck water, you can use that with an upholstry mouthpiece to suck out the soap+molds:

(still rinse with plenty of water afterwards)

As for colouring you can also try a dye, maybe in a spray bottle, and then rinsing it off.
Dyeing also best done with warm water (opens up the fibres).
A dye is just a colour that soaks into the fibres, whereas a 'paint' forms a layer around the fabric. A dye cant flake off over time imho.

But there are also special fabric paint spray cans (no experience though with both of them)

Also check if your draincanals are still unclogged or you'll be buying a new roof motor pump in a few months.
The pump is located in a reservoir of the draincanals, so if there's standing water, in will ingress into the pump motor.
The outlet of the drains are located near the rear wheels (search the forum)

apexhittinbull · 10-29-2017, 09:46 PM

Some use diluted bleach to soak and use 303 or soap applying 303 afterward.
Think I might try this Brit restorer if thorough cleaning does not work.

http://www.renovointernational.com/p...op-reviver.php

Wish I got a shop vac but warm water is avail hence I'll try that.

Thank you, Mr. Van GuiDoK

garz747 · 11-06-2017, 04:00 PM

Ive heard of a product called forever black lol - its a gel dye - worth a try for $15 !

Vanne · 11-07-2017, 05:30 AM

give this a go, did wonders for my z3 soft top, Renovo

Huz-Z · 11-07-2017, 10:17 AM

Looks like buddy is using the same goop on his hair too.

StickMon · 11-07-2017, 01:57 PM

Just For Men, Soft Top Formula.

apexhittinbull · 11-07-2017, 06:31 PM

hahaha

but yeah the link for the youtube clip is the product I'm considering Renovo reviver.
Bit hesitant as I already spent $$$ on RaggTopp and Aerosol but guess I'll have to shell out again.

Jfotogiz1 · 01-26-2018, 06:38 AM

I have not tried to restore yet but I have heard different stories for
Forever Black FB813 which is fairly inexpensive. Renovo seems to be the product of choice for BMW fans, but is a bit more expensive. Replacing the top I was told for my 2003 would be over $2000, not sure I want to spend that and not sure I would want to tackle the replacement myself.

10-29-2017, 03:44 PM	#1
apexhittinbull New Member 18 Rep 27 Posts Drives: E85 M Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Can this top be restored ? Recently purchased low mile M roadster, Paint is great, drivetrain so far is great Interior and the top condition is below par. I assume PO left the car topdown parked outside for weeks and months. Pillar& back leather trims are shrunk. My main concern is the what looks like top mildews and molds. I gave it a RaggTopp clean treatment yesterday with no real differences. Orederd a 303 cleaner today hoping it will work. O yeah, the top motor is inop as well which I plan to tackle later on. Can this top be saved? Does it need some kind of fabric paints? Attached Images
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10-29-2017, 04:18 PM	#2
GuidoK #buildnotbought 10847 Rep 4,892 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i ESS TS2+ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tinkering in the garage iTrader: (0)	Try soft soap (you know, the old fashioned jelly blubber that comes in a tub) and a firm brush. Thats probably the strongest you should use. And cleaning is best done with warm water, so wet with warm water (not really hot), brush with soft soap and clean of with warm water. If you have a shopvac that can also suck water, you can use that with an upholstry mouthpiece to suck out the soap+molds: (still rinse with plenty of water afterwards) As for colouring you can also try a dye, maybe in a spray bottle, and then rinsing it off. Dyeing also best done with warm water (opens up the fibres). A dye is just a colour that soaks into the fibres, whereas a 'paint' forms a layer around the fabric. A dye cant flake off over time imho. But there are also special fabric paint spray cans (no experience though with both of them) Also check if your draincanals are still unclogged or you'll be buying a new roof motor pump in a few months. The pump is located in a reservoir of the draincanals, so if there's standing water, in will ingress into the pump motor. The outlet of the drains are located near the rear wheels (search the forum) __________________ Z4 3.0i \| ESS TS2+ supercharger \| Quaife ATB LSD \| Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear \| Schrick FI cams \| Schmiedmann headers+cats \| Powerflex/strongflex PU bushings \| Vibra-technics engine mounts \| H&R anti rollbars \| KW V3 coilovers/KW camber plates \| Sachs race engineering clutch \| tons of custom sh#t Last edited by GuidoK; 10-29-2017 at 04:32 PM..
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10-29-2017, 09:46 PM	#3
apexhittinbull New Member 18 Rep 27 Posts Drives: E85 M Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Some use diluted bleach to soak and use 303 or soap applying 303 afterward. Think I might try this Brit restorer if thorough cleaning does not work. http://www.renovointernational.com/p...op-reviver.php Wish I got a shop vac but warm water is avail hence I'll try that. Thank you, Mr. Van GuiDoK
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11-06-2017, 04:00 PM	#4
garz747 Captain 286 Rep 679 Posts Drives: 07 Z4MC 01 330i 18 X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Ive heard of a product called forever black lol - its a gel dye - worth a try for $15 !
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11-07-2017, 05:30 AM	#5
Vanne Down Under!! 1621 Rep 4,294 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4MC Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Dubai iTrader: (4)	give this a go, did wonders for my z3 soft top, Renovo __________________ 2007 EuroSpec Z4///MC - Building/Developing Z4 GT3 Powered by
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11-07-2017, 10:17 AM	#6
Huz-Z Brigadier General 851 Rep 4,057 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0si, 328 XDrive, X5 35i Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Looks like buddy is using the same goop on his hair too. __________________ Huz-Z BMW Z4 3.0si Roadster. Montego Blue Metallic. Premium and Sport Package.
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11-07-2017, 01:57 PM	#7
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	Just For Men, Soft Top Formula. __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts.
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11-07-2017, 06:31 PM	#8
apexhittinbull New Member 18 Rep 27 Posts Drives: E85 M Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	hahaha but yeah the link for the youtube clip is the product I'm considering Renovo reviver. Bit hesitant as I already spent $$$ on RaggTopp and Aerosol but guess I'll have to shell out again.
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01-26-2018, 06:38 AM	#9
Jfotogiz1 Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2003 BMW Z4 2.5i Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Saratoga Springs NY iTrader: (0)	Raggtop I have not tried to restore yet but I have heard different stories for Forever Black FB813 which is fairly inexpensive. Renovo seems to be the product of choice for BMW fans, but is a bit more expensive. Replacing the top I was told for my 2003 would be over $2000, not sure I want to spend that and not sure I would want to tackle the replacement myself.
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