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e30 BMW Car Pages


e30 Convertible Care

e30 Cabriolets have fairly finicky tops (probably Haartz) that require a bit of regular maintenance to keep in good working order and ensure a long life.

Lubricating frame

My top was a bit cranky going up and down. I bought a spray can of white lithium grease/lubricant at Auto-Zone and with a piece of thin cardboard very carefully lubed all the joints and pivot-points (don't do this on a windy day!) Made a huge difference, goes up and down smoothly with much less effort.

Cleaning & Sealing a Canvas Top
Should be done twice a year to ensure water repellency and a long life.

  • Some Products
    • BMW OEM Sealer.
      I bought and tried it and was less than impressed. Expensive, a bit messy in application, and simply did not work well.
    • Haartz recommends Raggtopp Brand cleaners and sealers
    • "303" Fabric Guard
      I tried this after being dissapointed with the BMW product and was quite pleased. It is easy to use and works like a charm - also about half the price of the BMW product. Water beads right up and rolls off, and the top regained that nice black, new appearance.

Improving boot protective covering

Care of the Top Window

The rear window needs a bit of frequent maintenance to keep that "new" look. If your window needs work, start with a gentle application of Meguiar's No. 10 followed by another gentle application of the No. 17. Use the No. 18 frequently to clean and condition - I use it every time the top goes down.

  • Meguiar's Mirror Glaze No. 18, Cleaner/Polish for regular rear window maintenance. Use this regularly to clean and condition your clear window.
  • Meguiar's Mirror Glaze No. 17, Clear Plastic Cleaner for small rear window scratches
    Use this after the No. 10 to remove scratches and abrasion
  • Meguiar's Mirror Glaze No. 10, Clear Plastic Polish restores rear window optical clarity
    Use this infrequently to remove fogging and discoloration

Glue Residue inside Rear Window

On the inside of the boot BMW was kind enough to glue velvet strips to keep the window from being scratched against the metal. Unfortunately, over time the velvet degrades and the glue bleeds through leaving residue on the inside of the rear window. I stripped off the old velvet, removed the glue with goo-gone, and replaced it with velvet from a Craft store that already had an adhesive backing (just pull the tape backing and install.) BTW, the best way to remove the reside I found was spit and a fingernail, followed up with the Meguiar's 3-step clear plastic clean and treat process (#10 then #17 then #18.)

Repair Canvas Top

Replace Canvas Top

 


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