Cleaning Program Speccin' for Convertible

[Cadfael_Tex]

Appreciate Info on Cleaning Program:

(For my as yet undelivered BRG S convertible)

Mr. Clean Autodry (Flash) once a week (more if I get less lazy)

Wax 2-3 times a yea - would appreciate tips on this since it's been years since I've had a car I gave a d%mn about waxing. American products that do a good job and are fairly painless to use.

Tyre and Wheel Cleaning - completely clueless. I saw a comercial for a mother's? product that was a little buffing tool. Any suggestions here?

Interior - have the leatherette so looking for a good vinyl cleaner. Meguires probably.

Anything I forgot?

Does anyone else feel like Jar Jar Binks when using 'speccin' in a sentence?

[Rakey]

Meguires is pretty simple to use as you say, and it gives great results

I've been using the Gold Class wash and waxes for the last couple of years, but a fair few people have started saying the NXT stuff they do is great and gives a real deepness to the colour of their MINI's, so I am making a swap over to that later this week The lambs wool wash mitt is great, but don't use it on your hood, as it will look like you have had a dozen cats sleeping on it The wax application pads and polishing cloth make waxing such an easy job, so really recommend you get those

Other brands that are popular are autoglym or zymol, and again give good results Infact I use the autoglym artifical leather, and the trim cleaning gel, as those are hard to beat.

Main thing to do is to make sure you don't take it to a auto washing machine, those destroy your car and its paint work

[Cadfael_Tex]

Forgot to ask about products to keep the convertible top looking good.

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cadfael_Tex

Forgot to ask about products to keep the convertible top looking good.

I don't use anything special on mine, and haven't really looked into it.

I know BMW do a soft top care kit and so do Autoglym, but not sure if it is really needed. Suppose I should look into it a bit more

[Cadfael_Tex]

I wouldn't have thought about separate cleaning product for the cabrio top either except for the threads talking about wear with them. I don't know if it would help this problem but it might be worth looking into

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cadfael_Tex

I wouldn't have thought about separate cleaning product for the cabrio top either except for the threads talking about wear with them. I don't know if it would help this problem but it might be worth looking into

I guess roof wear is one reason I haven't really bothered with the hood

My first hood wore fast, and has been replaced, this one, is better, but still showing signs of marking, so why waste time and money of trying to protect something that will probably have to be replaced again

[meinamini]

For the soft top I would recommend the three following items.
1. A soft synthetic brush
2. A clothes brush (one of those ones you can flip around)
3. A dustbuster

I usually just hose my top really well and every 3 or 4 car washes (depending on how disgustingly dirty it is) I use car shampoo at about 1/4 strength (the other day I used NXT) car wash and a soft brush. You will be amazed at the amount of filth that appears from the fabric Then hose it off really well and dry with a chamois using a blotting action. When its dry take to it (against the grain) with the clothes brush, to remove any unwanted hairs etc & hey presto, looking good The dust buster is great for a quick tidy up around the rear window, especially if you have been on some dirt roads

It's wise to have the soft top re-treated with the water proofing agent once or twice a year, I will leave that to my dealers to do.

IMO dirt in the fabric adds dramatically to the wearing process

[AlanB]

For the convertible top (Br. "Hood") I bought the 3M 303 Aerospace cleaner and protectant kit for my MGB but have not yet used it. The Protectant is FANTASTIC on the dash board and from reports, really works to clean and protect "hood." Look at their Website.