As I plan to put my hard top on for the first time (aside a 2-day drive home from FL after the purchase in Apr), any suggestions / recommendations for the soft top before being folded for a few months).
What I found so far from various sites / channels:
1. Clean the soft top - which I did
2. Do nothing as the soft top crease will disappear under the sun in a few hours / days when unfolded
3. One owner had his / her hard top on for years but no issues with the soft top at all later (see #2 above)
I realize we only have a few folks here who have / had (e.g., foodbiker) the hard top but just wanted to double check - I will definitely try to extend the "soft top season" by fully leveraging the heat seater and the heater (the manual does say do not operate the soft top below 32F).
@Hoster987
- Again, congrats on the hard top purchase! You'll love it.
With four convertibles over the years (three of them with removable hard tops), here are a few thoughts about how I roll -- as there doesn't seem to be any definitive answers out there (YMMV).
I like to first GENTLY vacuum the soft top (using a duster attachment with my Dyson that has very soft bristles) to totally clean before putting the hard top on. A tape-based lint remover is great as well. I try to take great care to not brush it, lest soft top fibers may pill up. Ideally, I'll wash/dry it the soft top as well first. Two key things per cleaning is to neither use a ton of soap on any soft tops, nor ever put it down wet or damp. Storing a damp soft top will cause irreversible heartache.
Yes, creases should theoretically dissipate after the hard top comes off. However, for love or money, soft top creases and some lines/wear seem to be a part of wear. I generally don’t worry too much about how long the hard top stays on, once it’s mounted.
When mounting the hard top, ensure your manual center latch is in the correct position (unlocked) beforehand. In my former 987.1, I once scratched up the center female latch buckle as it was in the locked position and I tried getting it into place. I only realized too late what was wrong.
Clean the rear glass before mounting the hard top. It’s a lot easier to do a good job of that before it is on the car. Plus, remove the clear windscreen (if you have one) before you mount the hard top. You’ll want air circulation (defrosting) to get back there.
Before you latch down the hard top, make sure you’ve got the two front plastic centering pin covers (they fall off or are often missing), and attach the defroster wires on the left (port) side of the car. I usually remove the plastic cover that latches onto the roll bar for that.
HAVE SOMEONE HELP YOU. Don’t be a hero and try to mount or dismount the hard top yourself. The hard top may be light (45 lbs?), but those two rear pins will quickly damage your car. I have an E30 convertible with a hard top, and ask me how I know.
Good luck and enjoy!
Really appreciate your insights!!
