How do the convertible owners out there wash their cars? I understand that hand washing is ideal, but how many take theirs to a carwash and just spray down the outside with soap and water?

I don,t ever use a car wash.I always hand wash it.I know some people do use them!I know its important not to get car wash on the top.It will damage it.

I am new here so I will start with a trick for cars with cloth tops. After I wash my car and dry the rest of the car off, I let the top dry in the sun. I then use a lint remover such as the kind you use to remove cat hair or other stuff of off clothng. Use long sweeping motions and your top will look like it is new.

I don,t ever use a car wash.I always hand wash it.I know some people do use them!I know its important not to get car wash on the top.It will damage it.

This is not true. A quality car wash soap will not damage your convertible top. Dishwashing soap would and probably the stronger soaps used at a car wash, but not a car wash soap used for hand washing.

After you get your top clean you should protect it too to maintain it's color and water repellency. I really like the Ragg Topp for fabric protectant. It's a bit of a PITA to use because it's an aerosol can and you don't want the protectant to get on the paint.

And don't use any soaps that have gloss enhancing properties. These contain oils in them and will make the top a dust magnet.

A car wash where you put the quarters in and wash the car yourself is fine. I would avoid a gas-station style car wash that has the big rollers. i would avoid those even if i didnt have a vert though.

i usually dont have a reason to soap up the soft top though. i always rinse it, but rarely scrub it. i also let it air dry as opposed to drying it with a towel of some sort.

Car wash. No problem.

If you have a white top, you can white wall tire cleaner, it works great.

This is not true. A quality car wash soap will not damage your convertible top. Dishwashing soap would and probably the stronger soaps used at a car wash, but not a car wash soap used for hand washing.

After you get your top clean you should protect it too to maintain it's color and water repellency. I really like the Ragg Topp for fabric protectant. It's a bit of a PITA to use because it's an aerosol can and you don't want the protectant to get on the paint.

Bmw says it does.

Avoid using pressure washers on the roof. Just rinse it down when you wash it if it's not dirty, if it has moderate dirt on it buy a cleaner such as Autom Glym Fabric Top cleaner or Ragg Topp. However, like MikeyC says, always use protectant after you have cleaned the top with the previously mention products.

+1 for using a lint remover. I used the roller kind and it was AWESOME. I had used a hand wash mitt with laundry soap last time I washed, and it left a lot of lint on the black top.

The roller REALLY cleaned up the top a LOT as it picks up the dust as well as the lint.