very damaged soft top

[SHEEDI]

We all have those marks, some people have lighter and some have more. i believe these marks occur when the area is rubbed hard againts something while top is down.

[ANUSTART]

Their response makes sense. If you're driving with the top down, where there's pressure, it will burnish the material. So, as they said, as soon as you get it looking the way you think it should, it will rub and go back the way it was. Just part of having a ragtop I suppose.

[nemex12]

so, we should try methods to save our tops.it looks like a whole bunch of us could benefit from it

[ZStig]

most of us already are conditioning the top..

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by hogzilla

Their response makes sense. If you're driving with the top down, where there's pressure, it will burnish the material. So, as they said, as soon as you get it looking the way you think it should, it will rub and go back the way it was. Just part of having a ragtop I suppose.

It kinda sucks guys, but I'd take a ragtop with a few burnishes and shiny spots any day of the week over a hardtop vert and all the associated weight that goes with it that contraption. You have the best of both worlds here--a ragtop for fun in the sun (or shade) and a car that hasn't added 300 lbs for that whole retractable hardtop thing.

Enjoy!

[beta]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

It kinda sucks guys, but I'd take a ragtop with a few burnishes and shiny spots any day of the week over a hardtop vert and all the associated weight that goes with it that contraption. You have the best of both worlds here--a ragtop for fun in the sun (or shade) and a car that hasn't added 300 lbs for that whole retractable hardtop thing.

Enjoy!

Agreed. At first I thought the E89 was the best of both worlds: a coupe when you want it, and a roadster when the sun shines (without taking into account looks and other considerations).

But then I checked their forums, lots of rattles and squeaks. You also have to choose between having a usable trunk and having your top down. On a big car like a 3 series convertible this isn't an issue, you always have the back seats. But on a roadster that has a glove compartment that barely fits a (small) pair of gloves, it really wouldn't work out for me.

[ANUSTART]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

It kinda sucks guys, but I'd take a ragtop with a few burnishes and shiny spots any day of the week over a hardtop vert and all the associated weight that goes with it that contraption. You have the best of both worlds here--a ragtop for fun in the sun (or shade) and a car that hasn't added 300 lbs for that whole retractable hardtop thing.

Enjoy!

Completely agree.

[nemex12]

sure guys, I wouldnt want it any other way, in fact when I bought my car I already knew the e89 which was just released at that time but I didnt like it at all, specially with that hunchback that wont let me call it a roadster

Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle

most of us already are conditioning the top..

what do you mean? do you mean using products that would solve this issue? Ill try the products mentioned here but it doesnt sound like those marks dissapearing is a sure thing

[bhoch]

my '07 has some shinny spots.. some "use" marks, but overall it looks just fine. I keep it clean, use Raggtop on it and people can't believe it's almost 5 years old. Personally, I think a few marks on the top are not really an issue. Heck, if you put it down/up a few times it will have some creases/marks on it. These tops are remarkably durable and tend to last very well over time. I think the key is keeping it clean as dirt (dust from driving past construction zones, etc..) will just rub/grind on the fabric as it goes up/down and causes a shorter life.

Although the top on your car looks a little bit of the "road hard and put up wet" type, I think, with continued cleaning/protecting of it it will be just fine.

[CFoote]

I too have some wear marks on the top (in fact, a lot of them are in the same areas as the pictures). As others have said, this is a fact of life and while its nice to have everything 'new' and spotless, wear will happen whether we like it or not...just enjoy the car and drive

Chris

[SHEEDI]

i vaccume the top every weekend and dont wash it often. Vaccume suck the dirt out of fabric; i tried to avoid using lot of checmicals on fabric; lots of chemicals can also reduce the life of fabric. Just vaccume your top every weekend. i use this cordless vaccume and it has lots of power to suck the dirty of top and inerior.
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-F...9352148&sr=1-1

[Donovan303]

I looked closely at my top this morning. My car is a 2.5 2003 model and I have the same marks to a slightly lesser degree. I also have some small shiny spots in two places. I treat my top with this kit: http://www.autogeek.net/303fabcontop.html and I think it looks great considering its age. I have a much older top on my 1962 MGA made of the same material that has always been treated with 303 but doesn't get quite the same amount of use and it is in as new condition.

I'm of the opinion these tops will last a very long time if kept clean and protected.

Cheers,
Donovan

[WAMz4]

There is always this option - http://www.bavauto.com/shop.asp - $899 and will be just like it rolled off the line in South Carolina.
Ok BAVauto doesnt copy and paste so well.
Its a brand new fabric replacement top.

[CFoote]

Originally Posted by WAMz4

There is always this option - http://www.bavauto.com/shop.asp - $899 and will be just like it rolled off the line in South Carolina.
Ok BAVauto doesnt copy and paste so well.
Its a brand new fabric replacement top.

Hmmmm my parents live about 10 minutes from Bavarian Auto, next time I head up there I will stop in and see if they can crack open the box to see what type of quality this is. The factory top is $1800+

If we can get it for half price, that's great to know if anyone ever needs one.

Chris

[nemex12]

doesnt sound that bad, Id be willing tobuy one if its owm quality
EDIT:sorry,I meant oem

[CFoote]

Originally Posted by nemex12

doesnt sound that bad, Id be willing tobuy one if its owm quality

They say it is. Give it a shot and let us know...

[m3griff]

Originally Posted by nemex12

doesnt sound that bad, Id be willing tobuy one if its owm quality

I guess I don't understand some of these replies. Any black top is going to show these kinds of wrinkles and marks - and pretty quickly! It is fabric stretched over a moving/folding frame that is exposed to 80-100 degree temperature swings and large shifts in humidity! This is the "price" you pay for a convertible top. You can spend big money for a new top, but the new one will soon look like the old one.

Just keep it cleaned and protected with some of the excellent suggestions in this thread, and ignore the few minor marks that it acquires. RELAX and enjoy the car.

[WAMz4]

Originally Posted by m3griff

I guess I don't understand some of these replies. Any black top is going to show these kinds of wrinkles and marks - and pretty quickly! It is fabric stretched over a moving/folding frame that is exposed to 80-100 degree temperature swings and large shifts in humidity! This is the "price" you pay for a convertible top. You can spend big money for a new top, but the new one will soon look like the old one.

Just keep it cleaned and protected with some of the excellent suggestions in this thread, and ignore the few minor marks that it acquires. RELAX and enjoy the car.

Thats like saying - why buy new shoes cause there just going to get worn and scuffed. You can clean and polish them too but new shoes make you look good and feel good, plus every knows new shoes make you run faster. Its a wear and tear item. All wear and tear items can be replaced. New floor mats, new tires, new roof. Why settle for old when new is availble.
My top is going on 6 years old and doesnt look that bad, it only started showing real wear the last 2 years. I'm not ready to buy yet, but the day I walk out to may car and think, "Damn, this car would still look new if it werent for that faded scuffed rooftop" Its gone.

[beta]

^^^^ +1

[antennahead]

I am going to need to replace mine in the near future as well. It has a small burn hole in it that doesn't leak, but looks like crap........ including some scruffed up areas around the burn area. As usual, the stealership 500 miles away didn't disclose it, but had a fabric repair that didn't last covering up the hole. I kept the car because it only had 13,000 miles on it and was mechanically perfect. That's a great price for the top, assuming the quality and fit match OEM. The cheapest "fabric only" OEM I have found was Partz Direct, at $1,300 .................. still $400 more.

John