Flipping rain - my soft top is leaking!

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Oct 16, 2019
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Location
Hampshire
Car
CLK430 Convertible
All this rain recently has highlighted a leak in the CLK's soft top. I called into a local specialist this morning and after a quick look he advised that it is most likely the roof fabric itself that has gone porous. He recommended trying to reseal it as the first port of call.

To give him credit, he said he could do it for me but it's an easy job so I could have a go at doing it myself. I thanked him and promised to come back if I have further problems with it. Having read good things about Renovo I have just ordered a bottle of cleaner and a bottle of resealer with the intention of having a go this weekend...

I JUST WISH THIS FLIPPING RAIN WOULD STOP!!!
OK rant over! :mad:
:):)

On a serious note there are people in a much worse position than me. I have sympathy for anyone affected by this weather. In the grand scheme of things a leaking soft top is pretty trivial compared to a flooded house.
 
It's really easy to do. The stuff I bought for our last 209 (can't remember what it's called now) didn't take long to do. I jet washed the roof to get the dirt out (there was plenty of that) then used a paint brush to put it on being careful not to get it on anything other than the roof and that was it. It might be worth wiping the roof rubbers as well as they can get can hard over time and not seal properly. There is some specialist stuff to do it but I used warm soapy water.
 
The Renovo cleaner is very soapy - use a coarse sponge (I bought mine with the Renovo kit) to scrub it in well, keeping the surface moist with a spray misting of water, then leave it for a while, you'll be amazed how long it takes hosing it off to get to "no remaining suds"!! The reproofer is easy, but if you ever decide to go the whole hog and also use their re-colourant, beware, that stuff is thinner than water and gets everywhere, it's easy to get off the paintwork when wet but a pig when dry (ask me how I know!!). However, it does a really good job of re-colouring a tired ragtop, did my 968 cab just after I bought it, and 7 years (and a couple of reproofs later) cleaning bought it back up really well for selling the car!
 
Renovo is a bit of a horrible product, but will do a job. To do the job properly you need to:

Wash the roof and ensure any mildew is removed. No need for expensive cleaners. Diluted Milton's baby bottle cleaner for the mildew and Johnson's baby shampoo (the blue bottle not yellow) for the roof itself. But if you have bought something already then ok, but make sure it can remove any mildew as you don't want to be waterproofing over that.

You then need to leave it for 24 hours to thoroughly dry as you don't want to put sealer on a wet roof as it will reduce its effectiveness significantly.

Once dried then you use the sealant. I tend to use Fabsil as it is clear, easy to use and not an issue if it gets on the bodywork or windows as you can just wash it off. Also quite cheap. Renovo, especially if a colour enhancing one is messy. Best way to protect is to raise the back end slightly and put down newspaper and then drop it back on it. Similar for windows. To apply the water proofer, you can use a paint brush, much quicker to get a wallpaper tray and wallpaper brush and use that.

Again the car then needs to dry for 24 hours without getting wet again. I would then repeat if it hasn't been done for many years.
 
I use Renovo on my Boxster, works great never had any problems.
 
I also use Renovo (not on a MB) and found that masking off around the base of the roof was worthwhile (I didn't do it the first time I used it). I made a mistake the first time as I did half of the the roof first but found that after I'd finished the second half there was a noticeable line down the centre, so 'overbrush' to negate that.
 
I've seen many a thread about cleaning, colouring and reproofing cab roofs, opinion equally divided between Renovo and Autoglym as to which is best. Fabsil is good for proofing after a wash, especially the spray can variety, available from camping shops amongst others and IIRC cheaper than Renovo/AG. My own experience is with the Renovo products (all 3, cleaner, colourant and proofer). Do not open the roof for at least 24 hours after colouring or proofing, you'll get fold lines (ask me how I know, guess who did not fully RTFM!!).
 
Fabsil spray is not the best way to go, its messy and actually not good for your health to be breathing in, buy the liquid. It just doesn't come with the mess and overlap issues you have to work around with Renovo. Its just a much easier product to use. If you need the colour restorer then its not the right product though.

Good point about not opening the roof, should have mentioned it as is part of the reason for the 24 hour drying process.
 
Fabsil is purely a waterproofer - I had the spray can as I'd previously (and before buying the 968 cab) had to waterproof a tent, hence the spray can. Used the last of the can to give the roof a quick re-proof before a long trip, easy. Overlap issues only come with Renovo recolourant, not with the proofer - which I applied using a foam brush. First time was after the full clean/recolour treatment, after that it was either a top-up of just proofer or after using the cleaner then proofer.
 
Even a water proofer can become uneven if not left to dry properly, seen many a car like it. The spray can also look very patchy if having to do a roof which has not been done for a considerable time which is why the liquid form is a better option. As a re-proof for a maintained roof, then yes I can see it working OK.

The OP has already bought products, its making sure the job is done well that is important which means proper drying time between stages.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I'm minded to do it this weekend but the need for proper drying times (which I don't want to skimp on), makes me wonder if it is better to wait until the weather improves. I've just bought a car cover 'cap' and a couple of desiccant bags so hopefully no more water will get into the cabin.
 
Give it a dose of Fabsil as a temporary measure then once the weather improves go for the Renovo clean, recolour if needed and proof!
 
The OP is still much better off than the poor guy who parked his SL in a pub car park in Gloucester.
It was almost completely submerged, I saw it over on the Rover 75 forum.
 

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