Hey there...I just bought my Z, it's a blue roadster, and since this is my first convertible I wanted some advice. The top is black, and it's cloth, so things like bird **** and other stuff stick to it! I need some tips as far as best way to clean, best products to use etc...And one very silly question, can this be taken through the car wash??

Input is greatly appreciated!

 

Do not take it through a carwash, no. I never would atleast. Do some searching and browsing here on the roadster section and you will find all the info you need and more on cleaning. The top can stay looking brand new if you take care of it. I use Aerospace protectant on mine. If it looks like crap, let nissan put a new one on for you...also search and you will find info on this. have fun with the ZR, you'll love it and welcome to the forum.

 

You can take it through the car wash, but as with everything, you might get more water than you want, and it isn't all on the outside.
To clean the top, there are many different products on the market. Don't use ones for cloth though, as it is not cloth, but a synthetic.

 

I use 303 top protectant. Also be sure and keep the top up when parked for long periods of time like overnight ect.

http://www.303products.com/tech/inde...TOKEN=35114706

 

i use ragtop or 303 top protectant, also just wash the top with car wash monthly, and keep top up when i m not driving the Z...

 

I had all sorts of fun trying to find out what the roadster top is made of. The Nissan 800 number (one Kenneth Godfrey, who sounded suspiciously like an Indian from the Asian subcontinent) did some checking and called me back to tell me it's "canvas." A friend asked the sales manager at his dealer who said it was "cloth." The "expert" at an on-line purveyor of car-care products said it was "vinyl." I wrote to Haartz, the company that makes the material for nearly all convertibles sold in the US (but not the Z), and they said it was sourced in Japan but "definitely vinyl." Lastly, I checked the Wolfstein web site (they make RaggTopp products), where it says the top is made of "poly vinyl chloride."

http://www.wolfsteins.com/imports.htm

And isn't the top on Daytona Blue roadsters blue (as it is on my Pikes Peak White one)?

 

it is not vinyl, this has been discussed a ton of times in other threads.

 

Right. And the conclusion has always been that it is vinyl over a cloth base.

 

I just bought my white350z and my top is dark blue.

Hey why do you need to leave the top up while not in use?
The reason I ask is that ours is not a daily driver and i have been leaving the top down while garaged.

 

Leaving the top up keeps wrinkles, creases, etc. from setting in. Plus, if there's any moisture on/in your top, mildew could set in.

 

i prefer hand washing with microfiber towels. i use meguires nxt wax as well as turtles ice synthetic wax finisher in between. the paint will forever shine, just as long as hands don't touch the paint. sweat on hands can trap dirt on the clear coat. wolfsteins raggtop seems to be good for the top.

 

Hey you're in ca, you should come to this: https://my350z.com/forum/southern-california/182178-reminder-june-meguiar-s-z-day-in-irvine.html (if there's room)

Someone told me the stuff they use for canvas on boats is really good. +1 on the 303 stuff too. You can take it thru the car wash, tho I wouldn't do that to my car. I just look at those guys with the dirty terrycloth towels drying off cars and cringe. In vest some time and on some good product and you will be much happier with the results -- and save some money at the same time. Wash @ car wash $12, wash @ home ~$6. Detail @ car wash $100 detail @ home ~$20.

 

Only if you got the frost interior. Other colors got the black one.

 

What ever you do don't get wax on your top, you will never get it off. I tried blue dawn and alchol wich were reccomended and it didn't work

 

I have a PPW ZR and I have been using the RAGGTOP line of cleaning and protectant products and they are GREAT! My top looks AWESOME all the time (well on the rare occasion that it is up - in South Texas and we haven't seen rain in over a year so it is never up)!

 

Just to chime in with a few of the other posts. the 350Z roadster has a vinyl top not canvas or cloth. There is a huge difference between Cleaning your top and Protecting it. This is where all the confusion sets in. I use a Aerospace 303 cleaner to clean my top. This cleaner can also be used to clean canvas and cloth tops. However, the protectants for vinyl and canvas/cloth tops are completely different. The owner's manual states that you should "use a cloth top cleaner to clean your top". They should have just said "use a convertible top cleaner", because their previous statement leads owners to believe that there top is made with canvas/cloth.

 

303 stuff work great. it will leave top looking it's color for months of washing.

 

Currentyl I own a few convertibles. In addition to my 04 Z (cloth top) all my cars (300zx, sebring conv., 66 mustang conv, 64 mb 230sl conv) all have cloth tops. My miata has a vinyl top. I am a little older than many people on this sight, I have owned convertibles since 1966. I have never not owned a convertible.

I clean all of my tops with soap and water. I have never used a protective sealer. I leave my tops down for months if I don't need to raise them.

Have had zero problems with any of my tops. Just replaced the mustang top last year (39 yrs. old and benz top this year also about 40 years old). 93 300zx top is original and is in perfect condition.
I think some of you are over thinking these things.

 

This isn't meant to be a flame but all tops on all 350Z roadsters are vinyl .... not cloth.

The following is a email from The Haartz Corporation; the largest and most notable top producer in the world.


Thank you for your email and interest in Haartz convertible toppings. The top on the Nissan 350Z is a vinyl top. We do not produce this material as it originates in Japan.

We recommend using RaggTopp Cleaner and Protectant for care and cleaning of all convertible tops. You can get the RaggTopp line from Wolfsteins Pro-Series (www.wolfsteins.com) but be sure to specify the cleaner and protectant for VINYL topping, as they produce separate systems for cloth and vinyl. For more information on recommended care and cleaning, please see our website at www.haartz.com. Click on Consumer Info and then click on Vinyl Top Cleaning.

Sincerely,
The Haartz Corporation
Gordon Goodwin
Sales Manager - Exteriors