Convertible Top Issue

[GaryPSU]

I took my '06 SLE convertible through a brushless car wash a couple of weeks ago. I got the full service including the spray-on "wax". Since then, the fabric top no longer beads water. It looks and feels fine otherwise. Could the wash or "wax" have removed a protective coating? Should I be concerned?

[yar02169]

I don't recall mine ever beading up water. It gets wet, and keeps me dry, it only drips on me if I have the side window cracked, but that's life without a drip edge. I do find that it's a pain to clean the rear window.

[GaryPSU]

Mine beaded water like crazy before going through the automatic car wash. Actually, it took too long to dry. Now I can lower the top sooner since it drys more quickly.

[PXLpainter]

I've got some Ragg Topp on order - should be her next week so I'll post pics and try it out and report to you guys...

[GaryPSU]

I saw a negative comment about RaggTopp on Amazon, but that was for discolorization on a light colored top, if I remember correctly. That wouldn't be an issue for our black tops, Pxl. Does your top still bead water?

[swindler]

I've been using RaggTopp for about a year (black top, btw) and although it seems to make it bead some, the top will still soak water if there's any appreciable rain (which we haven't had here in Texas for about three months ). I can't say that the top has ever beaded water that great. Kinda like those windbreakers that will bead the light rain for a short while, but eventually soak you to the bone.

I use RaggTopp to protect the top from the sun as much as to repel water. I'm just trying to make it last as long as it can. And although I've never taken my car to an automated wash - I do get tempted. It's hard to get the time. I'm more worried about damaging the top than I am water leaking from the high pressure spray.

[PXLpainter]

I don't think the cloth top is supposed to actually "bead" water per se, rather distribute it downward to the liner and our the back. A healthy top should remain evenly colored and "new" looking wet or dry.

I do see a little beading after a car wash and the clear coat protectant is all over the car, but it drains rapidly and dries within an hour.

Just washed mine today and gonna go buff and polish a bit and treat the leather before heading out with the top down and a cigar!

[WXman]

I have the tan top and have used RaggTopp lately (I've only had the car for a few months anyway..). I have not noticed any discoloration. It will bead the water for several weeks and after that, I've re-applied the protectant spray.

[Down2TheC]

Fresh off the lot mine beaded. But that only lasted 3-6 months. Now it looks like it's soaking it up but I've checked and it's not. I think that look is just that the water is distributing evenly across the fabric. Sheeting, I guess, would be the opposite of beading.

It's all just surface tension anyway and does not really matter. The fabric is treated such that it won't absorb in. Worry about it in 2010.

[MrMikeL]

I apply RaggTopp once a year. I should probably do it twice: once after winter and once right before winter. Even after treatment, the water beads up only for a few weeks, then it soaks. I believe this is normal behavior for canvas tops.

[MCOjerry]

Yeah, mine beaded for a while when new...but it doesn't anymore.

I always take mine to have someone else wash it. It's to damn hot here to do it myself.

I don't think it's anything to worry about.

[PXLpainter]

Water shouldn't bead too long on a canvas top, because that means the pores are clogged in the fabric. Ragg Topp protectant should work like Scotch Guard - doesn't keep it from getting wet, but it conditions the mesh and protects them from stains that soak into the fibers themselves.

[vice]

I just got my 2007 convertible 7/27 and put Ragg Top on it 1 week later. It is really for uv protection and to protect the stitching which from the reading I did on the internet is the weak part of a top. If you have not used it, it is in a spray can and makes a mess. They tell you to wipe it off windows and paint right away. It does not come off that cleanly. They tell you to put on 2 to 3 coats the first time. After the first coat I decide I need to find a way to keep this stuff off the rest of the car. This worked well, use painter's paint on all areas around the top. I taped paper on all the windows. I got 2 1/2 coats out of 1 can of Ragg Top. After I was done and it was dry, I pulled the tape and paper off. Worked like a charm. My top is black and color stayed the same.

[MCOjerry]

I just got my 2007 convertible 7/27 and put Ragg Top on it 1 week later. It is really for uv protection and to protect the stitching which from the reading I did on the internet is the weak part of a top. If you have not used it, it is in a spray can and makes a mess. They tell you to wipe it off windows and paint right away. It does not come off that cleanly. They tell you to put on 2 to 3 coats the first time. After the first coat I decide I need to find a way to keep this stuff off the rest of the car. This worked well, use painter's paint on all areas around the top. I taped paper on all the windows. I got 2 1/2 coats out of 1 can of Ragg Top. After I was done and it was dry, I pulled the tape and paper off. Worked like a charm. My top is black and color stayed the same.

WOW...that wounds like WAY too much work!

[PXLpainter]

I just got my 2007 convertible 7/27 and put Ragg Top on it 1 week later. It is really for uv protection and to protect the stitching which from the reading I did on the internet is the weak part of a top. If you have not used it, it is in a spray can and makes a mess. They tell you to wipe it off windows and paint right away. It does not come off that cleanly. They tell you to put on 2 to 3 coats the first time. After the first coat I decide I need to find a way to keep this stuff off the rest of the car. This worked well, use painter's paint on all areas around the top. I taped paper on all the windows. I got 2 1/2 coats out of 1 can of Ragg Top. After I was done and it was dry, I pulled the tape and paper off. Worked like a charm. My top is black and color stayed the same.

I think you meant "Painter's Tape" - Not "Paint", right?

And which 1/2 of the top got that last 1/2 coat of the Ragg Topp?

Gonna try mine out this next weekend - just got it in the mail today.