Made in Germany
1. Background information
1.1 The different types of top
1.2 Top fabrics
2. Cleaning convertible tops
2.1 What to look for
2.2 The perfect product
2.3 Correct application
3. Waterproofing convertible tops
3.1 The problem
3.2 The solution
3.3 Correct application
3.3.1 Waterproofing textile tops
3.3.2 Waterproofing synthetic tops
4. Caring for the convertible rear window
4.1 The outside of the rear window
5. Caring for leather
5.1 What you should pay attention to
5.2 Cleaning
5.3 Care with jojoba oil
5.4 Correct application
Driving open-top is fun. And a convertible is also a real eye-catcher visually. To keep it beautiful for as long as possible, a convertible needs special care. Unlike closed vehicles, the convertible top is often not made of metal and – like the interior – is regularly exposed to environmental influences.
If the soft top is not cared for, it will become very dirty over time. It fades and becomes unsightly. The interior is also increasingly exposed to environmental influences such as UV radiation due to open driving. If you take care of the interior, the equipment remains protected from embrittlement and fading of the materials. Help your convertible look good.
The classic, flexible convertible tops made of PVC or fabric – so-called soft tops – have been increasingly replaced by hard tops since the mid-1990s. Convertible tops made of metal, which consist of two or more parts and are folded up and stored in the boot. Hard tops have the advantage that they wear less and are insensitive to snow and ice. Soft tops need more and, above all, regular maintenance.
Standard plastic
two-ply canopy material made of cotton as a backing material with a synthetic coated outer side.
Standard fabric
Classic fabric soft top consists of a cotton bottom fabric, an intermediate layer of rubber and a top fabric of cotton blend.
Original material
This is the term used for materials used in the original equipment of a vehicle. They come directly from the factory supplier or are faithfully reproduced using computer technology.
US acrylic
A material similar to the high-quality soft top fabric “Sonnenland”, but simplified. US acrylic is very lightfast.
Sonnenland-Dralon fabric
The brand name "Sonnenland" stands for a particularly high-quality three-layer canopy material with a highly lightfast outer fabric made of polyacrylonitrile (Dralon) and an intermediate rubber layer made of butyl rubber. This noble fabric is used as standard by major brands such as BMW, Mercedes and Porsche and remains “like new” for many years.
2.1 What to look for
The majority of convertible tops consist of a three-layer top material. Soft tops are made of a cotton base fabric, an intermediate layer of rubber and an outer layer of synthetic material such as PVC, acrylic, polyacrlynitrile or – most commonly – cotton blend fabric.
The upper layer of the soft top can become very dirty over time. The dirt stubbornly settles due to the rough, soft surface and can only be removed with difficulty.
Cleaning products for these soft tops must have a strong cleaning power on the one hand, but still act very carefully on the material so as not to put additional strain on it. Most soft tops have only low abrasion resistance. Too aggressive cleaners can therefore easily impair the colour depth and surface structure.
The ideal cleaner is therefore gentle on the material and yet reliably removes the most stubborn dirt.
2.2 The perfect product
We recommend A1 Convertible Soft Top Cleaner. It can be used for all types of soft top fabrics. Thanks to its power foam formula, the cleaner cannot run down the slope of the soft top. The product has an optimum effect. Since it is applied very sparingly, it is also extremely economical. Its special active ingredients get to grips with even stubborn dirt and at the same time protect the soft top material and make the fibres ready for subsequent waterproofing.
2.3 Correct application
A1 Convertible Top Cleaner: Download product information
Weather influences such as rain, wind and UV radiation regularly affect your convertible top. It increasingly fades and loses its water-repellent effect. The upper layer of the soft top fabric is rough and soft. Dirt can easily and stubbornly adhere to it. Removing it is time-consuming and can damage the soft top. Any intensive mechanical cleaning can also damage the material. Regular waterproofing of the soft top ensures that dirt cannot adhere firmly right from the start.
A1 Convertible Soft Top Proofer provides superior wetness protection for all textile convertible tops. This prevents it from soaking up moisture and it dries again more quickly. Its integrated UV protection prevents fading. The special formula ensures a long-lasting effect and effectively repels dirt and oil.
A1 Convertible Top Waterproofer: Download product information
3.3.1 Waterproofing textile tops
The upper layer of textile soft tops consists of a cotton blend fabric or a synthetic fibre material such as polyacrylonitrile, also called Dralon. For these textile surfaces, waterproofing with A1 Convertible Soft Top Proofer is ideal. It coats the soft top with an oil- and dirt-repellent layer. The adhesion of stubborn dirt is reduced and cleaning is made much easier. The risk of damage to the surface due to the removal of strongly adhering dirt is reduced. Aggressive dirt such as bird droppings is successfully repelled. The integrated UV protection prevents the material from fading. Thanks to its long-lasting effect and specially coordinated formulation, your convertible roof remains protected against the penetration of moisture for a long time.
Tip:
A1 Convertible Soft Top Proofer is excellent for waterproofing tents or awnings with textile surfaces.
Please note:
The active ingredients of the A1 Convertible Soft Top Proofer wrap around each fibre and line up next to each other like a multitude of small umbrellas during drying.
In order for them to do this optimally, please observe the following tips:
3.3.2 Waterproofing synthetic tops
Synthetic tops have an upper layer of soft PVC. They are also known colloquially as vinyl and artificial leather soft tops. Waterproofing agents such as A1 Convertible Top Soft Proofer, which are based on fluorocarbon resins, are not suitable for such tops.
Soft PVC consists of about 40% plasticisers. They are essential for the elasticity of the plastic. If they leak out, e.g. due to UV radiation, weathering or attack by chemicals, the material becomes brittle. The dyes integrated in the plastic are also destroyed in the process. It fades visibly. For the lasting care of plastic soft tops, A1 Plastic Protectant has proven to be very effective. It penetrates deep into the material and prevents the plasticisers from escaping. The material remains permanently supple and is protected against embrittlement and cracking. Slightly matt or faded soft tops are given a rich, deep colour refreshment again with A1 Plastic Protectant. In addition, it allows water to bead up on the plastic soft top and thus protects it from moisture and the effects of the weather. A1 Deep Plastic Care is available in Matt and Shiny.
A1 Plastic Protectant Matt: Download product information
A1 Plastic Protectant Shiny: Download product information
Why is rear window care important?
Rear windows have been made of glass in almost all convertibles for about 4 years. A dirty rear window can cause considerable visibility problems, especially at night. This creates a safety risk that can easily be eliminated by regular cleaning.
Dirt such as insect remains, dust, silicone, wax or diesel soot continuously settle on the outside of the convertible rear window. Over time, they form a dense film of dirt that significantly restricts visibility, especially at dusk, due to strong light scattering from the cars behind. Many windscreen cleaners are not able to effectively remove this milky smear film. In addition, scratches and blind spots appear on the convertible rear window over time due to environmental effects and aggressive dirt. If you do not care for the windscreen regularly, these will impair visibility and reduce driving pleasure.
The most important properties of leather such as its tensile strength, elasticity and weight are influenced by the balance of water content and fat content of the leather.
Leather should have a water content of 14-18%. However, if the fat content in the leather increases due to the use of one of the e.g. car seats, the water content decreases.
Other external influences such as heat, moisture, UV radiation or dirt also take their toll on the leather. The dirt penetrates the leather’s natural weave fabric and blocks its pores. The result: The leather becomes brittle and cracked.
The deep-seated dirt in the leather pores should be removed thoroughly and gently without changing the original colouring.
ensures a pore-deep cleaning and thus prepares the leather ideally for a subsequent treatment with .To slow down the ageing process of leather and to keep leather valuable and elastic for a long time, we recommend A1 Leather Care based on jojoba oil. It keeps the leather supple and resistant and provides lasting protection against fading.