Jaguar XKR Convertible: Roof Cleaning Service

A Jaguar XKR convertible with a beige roof -- and the light colour was doing the car no favours. It was hiding a significant amount of green staining, grit in the fibres, and fold-line wear that a darker roof would have shown up more clearly. The stitching along the fold lines was looking threadbare; not through yet, but getting close.

There is also a scratch down one side, a dent that a dent man could address fairly easily, and the wheels could do with refurbishment -- there is corrosion around the bases. Gary's assessment: it is a genuinely nice car in a lovely colour, generally well cared for, and it would not take much to get it into excellent condition. The owner came in for the roof; we would love to have it back for the rest.

The Cigarette Burn

After cleaning and drying the roof, Gary spots what looks like a small burn mark -- possibly a cigarette flicked out of a car window and landing on the roof, or a previous owner who smoked. He makes a point of noting it on camera: "I don't smoke, and I'm the only one who's been working on this." It is under a lip so most people would not notice it, it has not gone through the fabric, and it is not something that cleaning caused. But it is the kind of thing you want documented before the car goes back.

The Result

The roof came up remarkably well for a car of this age. A few fold-line marks remain -- those are permanent once they are in -- but the green growth and the dirt are gone, the fabric looks fresh, and the two-year hydrophobic nano-coating is on. The owner also took advantage of a special offer running at the time: Autoglym Ultra High Definition Ceramic on the bodywork, which gives twelve months of protection and a good shine. It is not a permanent ceramic coating, but it is a quality product for a year's protection.

See our convertible roof cleaning and restoration service.