Hardtop color restoration

[JWHIII]

I originally posted this last year in the "General Cosmetics" section but never received a response. Thought with the addition of the new vert section (!!!) I might be able to find someone to help out.

Just wondering if anyone has ever had any luck restoring the black color of their hardtop? Mine is currently looking kind of gray. I've found a couple of different products both of which are made for convertible soft tops but since the factory hardtop has a cloth covering I thought it would be about the same thing.

The first one I came across is Forever Black Black-Top http://www.foreverblack.com/products.html

the other one is Renovo Convertible Top Renew

http://www.topoftheline.com/converti...dye-renew.html

[///M42 sport]

http://www.autogeek.net/303aerprot.html And I've used vinylex with good results but it doesn't last long

[JWHIII]

Aerospace is really good stuff! I already use it on the dashboard and other hard plastic bits. I'm somewhat hesitant of using it on the top though. Someone in the past used something like Armor All on the top and every time the car gets rained on it would leave greasy run marks down the rear quarter panels and back glass. Have you tried this on a hardtop before with good results?

[rcsoundn1]

I used to use a armor all like product on my Suzuki sidekicks hardtop for the same reason. It worked great, until it rained, and then it would end up all over the car. I didnt care much since I worked at a car dealer and would just sent it through the car wash when this happened and start over.

[siggy]

I had very positive results using the "Renovo Convertible Top Renew", and would recommend that product.

[JWHIII]

siggy, did you use the Renovo product on your soft top or on a hard top? Does it remain oily or dry like a dye? Thanks for the advice!

[siggy]

Used it on my hardtop, about 5 years ago. Made incredible difference. Used less than half a bottle. It's a little messy to work with, and you should clean the top prior to application. It will dry normally. This is the product you want.

[siggy]

Attached images of Renovo product

[siggy]

[ATTACH]100443[/ATTACH]

[JWHIII]

That is awesome, thank you! Amazon has the three part kit (cleaner, reviver and proofer) for $83 so I think I'll just do that. http://www.amazon.com/Renovo-Canvas-...enovo+soft+top

Should I tape off the metal rails prior to applying the reviver?

Thanks again for the advice and pics!

[Cha Ching]

Holy sheep scrotum, Batman, that isht's expensive! Why don't you try a $15 bottle of, "Like New" you can get at Wal Mart first? I use it on mine and it looks great. Definitely happy with that product (although I can't vouch for it in the rain).

[KIRIEIW]

I screwed myself with my hardtop. I put on rustoleum's water repellent spray. Well I should have read the fine print saying "will leave slight white tint" because my top was grey after. After scrubbing off all the water repellent spray, my top was still left grey.

I had some "Klasse" vinyl restoration stuff laying around (I detail my interior with it, it doesn't leave that awful Mc Donald's french fry grease look after being applied) and it went back to black. I always loved Klasse, but after saving a $1500 hardtop from my mistake I'll always stand by the brand. Made in Germany, very high quality stuff. I bought it at my dealer but I'm sure you can get it online.

[KIRIEIW]

I don't really have any before or after pics, but when I first picked it up it was also pretty bad. I also realized I don't have any good angles of it on the car:

Untitled by Kevin O'Brien, on Flickr

IMG_2104 by Kevin O'Brien, on Flickr

[JWHIII]

KIRIEIW, Thanks for the heads up on the Klasse. Definitely made a huge difference on your hardtop (too bad you stripped off that sweet ass purple tint though). I'd never heard of Klasse before but looks like it can be ordered online for about $10. Description says it lasts 2-3 months. How often do you need to reapply it to your hardtop?

On a different note, it looks like the fabric on your top is starting to separate from the fiberglass behind the back side window at Hofmeister kink indention. Mine's starting to do this too. Any ideas on how to fix it?

[KIRIEIW]

That purple tint was pretty sweet wasn't it :D. You know, I I didn't do anything about the separation. I did a bit of research and someone on here use a heat gun to heat up the old glue and push the vinyl material that was lifting up back on the top. He also said he burned that material slightly if I remember correctly. I just decided to leave mine as is, I was to scared of damaging it.

As for how long the Klasse lasted for me, 3 months sounds about right. I would rarely ever put it on my hardtop as it just didn't need it. This stuffs awesome, and the top was really faded before and the klasse really brought the color back. Also, I found a pic of what it looks like right after application. I've sold the car with the hardtop some months back so finding pics is somewhat of a challenge.

Untitled by Kevin O'Brien, on Flickr