looking after the roof

[Fidgits]

I'm thinking I should be looking after my soft top roof, can anyone reccomend any products that will help keep it nice and extend its life?

[Cuzza]

Renovo or AutoGlym do something too IIRC

Edited by Cuzza on Thursday 28th August 10:03

[mr wiki]

I used the Auto glym stuff on my roof, after 3 years of ignored care (previous owner) they roof came up really clean and now beads water. Make sure you do it before you wash the car, as this horrible black dirty water runs 'out' of the top and down the car when you car cleaning it.

[Bill K 111]

Word of caution. I bought the Autoglym kit (a cleaner and a protector) The cleaner worked ok and smelt nice too BUT I found that when you put the Autoglym protector on afterwards...the car smells like a telephone box if you know what I mean. I'm not doing that again.

[Stu_00]

I just did my using the Autoglym Cleaner & Protector kit. Couple of points,
Cleaner seems to work well. The protector is very messy and once on glass and bodywork is a pain to get off - So I would do it off the car now, also left some marks after drying, but I suspect that with a more even application that it would be fine.

Good thing is now tho the water just beads off, and with all this dam rain thats got to be a good thing!

[mr wiki]

Bill K 111 said:

the car smells like a telephone box

Do you often go round sniffing telephone boxes?

[Fidgits]

cheers guys, is the autoglym the stuff to get then?

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

Stu_00 said:

I just did my using the Autoglym Cleaner & Protector kit. Couple of points,
Cleaner seems to work well. The protector is very messy and once on glass and bodywork is a pain to get off - So I would do it off the car now, also left some marks after drying, but I suspect that with a more even application that it would be fine.

Roof off, blue 2" masking tape on bodywork, roof back on, do job, reverse process. If you're getting lots of the protector running off though, then you're applying too much at once. I didn't have any run off on mine when I did it. Did a fantastic job of it.

[Stu_00]

To be honest I like the cleaner but as said above I think there is probably a better protector around.

Worth spending a bit more on it, as it as marked my roof a little - but that still maybe down to the user.

Fidgits said:

cheers guys, is the autoglym the stuff to get then?

[mjoy]

I use 'mer' car shampoo and wash soft top with brush. The car is outside under a rain proof cover.
The soft top is still like new.

[jb111s]

No no no no no!!!

Don't use autolgym.

Get some renovo, you paint the roof & it comes up looking as good as new, much, much better than autoglym (assuming you have a black softtop).

[garfy]

Used Autoglym hood cleaner on my golf roof just prior to selling it to get our elise and it was pretty good, although difficult to get rid of stubborn stains such as green mildew!!!

Have used Renovo proofer several times and it is fantastic at repelling water and smells fine. I would take the advice given earlier tho and apply it when the roof is off the car. It is almost like water and runs VERY quickly, so risk of getting it on paintwork and glass. Just apply with a brush and allow time to dry. It was recommended to me by a top notch upholsterer who restores interiors of all sorts, vintage jags astons etc. Apparently Renovo do a range of products incl cleaner and restorer. I will be using this on our new elise roof ready for winter.

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

Garfy.

[beez]

+1 renovo!! Great stuff

[bogie]

I just give it a good wash with soapy car cleaning stuff, then a re-proof with some tent waterproofing stuff like Nik Wax from a camping shop - that does the trick, no need to blow £20 on some 'special' stuff for the roof

[Fidgits]

wheres the best place to get this Renovo?

[Beachbum]

Fabseal (SP?) is also another option. Available from most camping outlets. Used to proof tents and the like.
Doesnt change the colour of the fabric, can be sprayed or brushed on and dries very quickly. Have not used it on a Lotus roof yet, but everything else I have used it for it has been brilliant

[Stu_00]

Do you think brushing the autoglym stuff maybe an idea - or shall I chuck it and try something else?

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

Well, I think you're the only person that'd had a problem with it, so maybe it's your technique As I said, if you're at the point where it is running off then you've put far far too much of it on.

[Stu_00]

Thought so ! I will try again

LivinLaVidaLotus said:

Well, I think you're the only person that'd had a problem with it, so maybe it's your technique As I said, if you're at the point where it is running off then you've put far far too much of it on.

[R-Racer]

Ill recommend the use of a shower cape. My motor is out in the elements 24/7 & my roof is as good as new,£90 well spent!