Any others have this soft top issue?

[mike519]

I have a tan top and it has two black marks on the top which I have traced to where it folds down and rubs just slightly against the weatherstripping at the edge of where it folds down and the trunk.

Anyone else experience this and if so, what did you do about it? I have tried RaggTopp cleaner and protectant and it did get rid if it slightly but within a couple weeks was back, obviously. I assume something needs to be adjusted so that it doesn't rub.

Any advice?

[DataStream18]

Get a black top?

[Huz-Z]

Perhaps road dust and grime is accumulating on the weatherstripping. I assume you mean the rubber strip between the roof and the trunk lid, below the rear window.

Can you give it a cleaning, gently, with mild soap and warm water? You can get at that area better if you partially lower the roof, so the canvas there is slack.

My roof is black, so this would not be apparent on my car. But I hope a cleaning will help you out!

[mike519]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Perhaps road dust and grime is accumulating on the weatherstripping. I assume you mean the rubber strip between the roof and the trunk lid, below the rear window.

Can you give it a cleaning, gently, with mild soap and warm water? You can get at that area better if you partially lower the roof, so the canvas there is slack.

My roof is black, so this would not be apparent on my car. But I hope a cleaning will help you out!

Yeah, that's the strip.

I have cleaned it to the point of almost gone but with every up and down, it wears on the top a little more. Its almost like something is out of alignment just a hair.

Thanks for the input.

[Shipkiller]

The rear weatherstripping just pulls off. Maybe it has shifted a little.
Why don't you try to re-seat it?

[Lark]

I have this problem exactly. In two places on the left and right immediately behind the solid front portion of the soft top that creates the "shelf" as the top descends into the well wear spots are emerging. The reason is that the top at those points no longer folds as it should because of wear and stretching of the fabric. I was told by two convertible top specialists that it is a common problem as the top gets older and there is nothing that can be done short of replacing the top. One did suggest that the rubber strip be removed so that they do not rub anymore and he has seen that done as a stop gap short of replacing the top.

I did notice that there are two "straps" on both the left and right side that appear to aid in pulling the top taught against the solid front portion. One is elastic and is sewn onto the top at two locations. It has obviously lost some of its elasticity. The other is a solid strap that is attached by stitching to the top and by a screw through a grommet to the top framework. I am sure it has stretched also. Has anyone tried to take the slack out of those straps to see if it helps? Any other words of wisdom?

[wiseguy]

I have the exact same problem on my tan top (black marks from trunk rubber). I can't keep it clean, so I'm thinking of dying the top black. At 6 years old, it is faded between the ribs anyway, so maybe that will help hide the age.

[Lark]

It is actually wearing two holes in the top. Which raises another question, is there any flexible sealant that I could put on the wear spot? Thought of the usual things like silicone, etc. But I think those are too viscous and wouldn't adequately permeate the cloth and seal and protect. And need something a little more substantial than RaggTopp. Thoughts?

[wiseguy]

Mine weren't holes, until the dealership took a whack at cleaning one of the black marks. Now I have one slight hole and 2 black marks. The good news is the top material isn't the waterproof layer; the canvas protects that layer, so though its ugly, the roof won't leak from a minor hole in the canvas.

I have no suggestions on a sealant. I think that would look worse than the hole.

[beta]

This might be an option.

[wiseguy]

Originally Posted by beta

This might be an option.

Wow, that is a great price. Has anyone on the forum bought and installed one of these? I'd like to know how it looks/fits compared to the original.

[R1robot]

I have the exact same problem as Lark and my top is black, I would rather leave it alone as mine is already showing signs that its going to tear soon i suspect. Only advice i can offer is to have money and time on the side to replace the top. Following Shipkiller's lead, it should be simple but time consuming:

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333198

[Lark]

Last night I used safety pins to take up the slack in the two straps I described above to see if it would pull the top taught when it retracted. It doesn't. I think I am just going to live with it for as long as I can stand it and then replace it.

[rsutoratosu]

same problem.. there are some convertible repair places by me.. when it happens ill prob buy the black one and have them install it

http://www.blueskycar.net/ - NJ

http://www.autointeriors.biz/ - NY - very expensive but does great work.

[IN10SS]

Same thing here. Pretty noticable on a tan top. Not worn yet but I spent about 30 minutes cleaning it only to have it return the very next time I used it. Tried cleaning rubber strip but that helps only a little if at all. I may see what car looks like with strip removed. Any downside?

[Malficetophe]

Sorry for the thread Necro, but I'm having this issue myself currently with my 2003 Z4. I spoke with several upholstery repair shops, as well as a couple of different BMW dealers, who all pretty much stated that there was no fix for this problem aside from complete top replacement. They claim that the slickness on the Rubber seal has worn off and the only real fix is to replace that seal which requires taking the entire top off. Has anyone tried any kind of vinyl patch on those weak points? I'm about to try that myself so I was curious if anyone had had luck with it.

[JAS1169]

Yea, I have this same problem.

However, given all of the other endless serious problems Z4's have with there roof's I can not strongly advise enough against fooling with a working roof.

I'm not being a wise guy in any way, and when I purchased the car about 12 years ago the black area initially bothered me as well. However, then I began reading posts on all of the Z4 Forums and about 25% involved roof failures in some manor. The Black area on my roof became a smaller and yet smaller problem as I read the daily postings of roof problems.

My turn came two years ago when I got the daily double; my motor died and the emergency release red cable failed (happens all the time) which means I couldn't lower the roof which is necessary to remove it. I thought I was truly screwed until I read on a UK Z4 Forum on a thru the trunk method of pulling the motor with instructions for a D/I/Y. I am now facing a Hydo line change but, since I relocated the motor to the trunk I know I'll be able to move the top.


Other than attempting to wash and clean it, I honestly wouldn't in any way fool with a working top.

[Yapakanichi]

Does a towel between the two not fix the situation?

[racerbruce]

Noticeable on a black top as well....I have two marks where it has rubbed a small shiny spot....I fought to get the top re-aligned while under the initial BMW warranty and the stealership would not support it; I've learn to live w/it; it's not wearing deeply, just abraded the top to the extent that it's noticeable at certain angles.