I know I shouldn't, but my 05 XK8 is dirty. It's very cold here in DC area and all outdoor faucets are off for the winter. We have no self-washes in the area and I am tempted to use a touchless car wash with claimed natural cleaners to get the grime off. The car has not been driven in road salt. I am not sure but don't think the wax function can be disabled. Any advice? I hate seeing this car dirty. The top is dark blue.

 

Been awhile luvmyk9! good to see ya back! I cringe to think of your car going thru an automatic wash, but you do what you have to do. Touchless is better than the kind that rubs everyone else's dirt on your paint type, though I doubt it will get as clean (there will be film after drying most likely). I used to take mine to a self wash (you know, the one with the brush and wand, pay $1 for like 5 minutes?) and I would fill up a bucket of hot soapy car suds at the house, take it there, do a good rinse, wash with my suds, then rinse again with the wand. I'd use like $2 or $3, but nobody but me and my sponge touched the paint. Is it so cold that even these 'self-wash' facilities are closed for winter?

 

Every once in a while I drop in and read. Good to see you on line too. There is only one self wash that I know of and I,ve lived here all my life. It is in a bad neighborhood (really bad). Seems those car washes are big in the south, my brother in Cape Canaveral has a few. We joke about opening one in this area with heated water - with all the top dollar cars in DC and the beltway it would probably make a fortune. Then again, many of those folks wouldn't know how to wash a car by hand. There is a place I know that does hand washes for $50.00 and up that's a wash only - not a detail. Maybe I'll check across the bridge in MD for a self serve wash before I go to a car wash.

 

You should never use a detergent on the canvas top unless you are going to re-treat it. It should only be rinsed off. I will not take it through a car wash. There are some car washes that offer hand washing and that is where I take mine. We are under water restrictions and I have not been able to wash my car at home for 2 years.

 

2 years ! WOW. I am scraping the car wash idea and widening the search for a self service wash in a safe area.

 

I have a question -
1.Can I run my TAN convertible soft top for my 2003 XK8 at an auto car wash, even if it is touch free?
2. Will it ruin/dirty the TAN coloured top?
3. Advise please. Thank you.

 

1. Yes, but why?
2. Probably
3. Don't do it.

If you don't have any other way to wash it, use one of the self wash places. I would then use a bucket to do the top with a hand brush (NOT the foam brush attached at the wall).

 

 

I'll take your #3 advise - I won't do it. Not worth the risk ruining the TAN top. Appreciate your advise. Thank you.
I may have to just go to one of those self wash or wash at home myself from now on.

 

Get yourself some Bilthamber Auto Wash. The smallest of small drops in a bucket and watch foam up. I can wash my car quicker than I could drive it to a car wash.

Perhaps you could clean and re-proof the top at the same time? Dead easy to do.

 

Welcome to the forum jennykropiklim,

If we had a prize for resurrecting the oldest thread, you would have just won it. 9 Years 6 Months!

Please follow this link New Member Area - Intro a MUST - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum to the New Member Area - Intro a MUST forum and post some information about yourself and your vehicle for all members to see. In return you'll get a proper welcome and some useful advice about posting to the forum.

Graham

 

Thank you for your advise and recommendation.

How do I reproof my TAN coloured top?

 

3M 303 seems favourite.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ioning-118792/

 

Thank you so much Norri. I am looking online to buy it now.

 

Thank you FrankC for recommending the Bilthamber Auto Wash. I'll look online to buy it. Appreciate it.

 

As for doing your roof, reproofing it etc. You might find this an interesting read. Going from a green roof to a really good roof. https://www.jaguarforum.com/showthre...l=1#post796370

Another bit https://www.jaguarforum.com/showthre...=1#post1084082

https://www.jaguarforum.com/showthre...=1#post1084368 Sorry about the lack of photos in this one. Briefly the host changed its address and the forum does not allow me to edit articles after a month so I cannot re-link.

 

me, as long as there are no salts on the road it is driven, often with the roof open with the temp in the 30's. nothing like that nice warm winter sun, heated seats on, side windows up and heater set to maximum. very refreshing, especially going over some bridges. yes, the car will show some wear, but keeping up with maintenance keeps it nice.

regarding convertible roofs, detergent is not the enemy as long as it is mild. i use either Dawn or Seventh Generation. Dirt that you do not lift out of the fabric will cut fibers and increase wear. never coat something unless it is totally clean. just make sure that you rinse it well. AFTER washing and allowing to dry those reusable sticky rollers work wonders.

my cutoff for cold temperature is about 34 F, mostly because the hydraulic system does not seem to like it very much. this engine runs very well in the cold, starts great even at 20. one day have to write a rather funny post about something that i did one cold morning.

 

Your right about not washing the roof in an acidic soap. I recommend Johnson's baby shampoo. Its PH neutral neither acidic or alkaline. After all they would'nt want babyies dissolving in their baths would they.