A Mini Cooper S Sidewalk in for roof clean and reproof -- jet wash marks from a previous owner, chafed fold lines, mould inside from water ingress, blocked drains. The good news: the zigzag marks will be much less visible once the roof is clean and coated, and the fold lines have not yet gone through.
A Mini Cooper S Sidewalk -- lovely colour, nice wheels, but the roof is letting it down. Somebody at some point went over it with a pressure washer too close: you can see the zigzag pattern burned into the sides where the nozzle tracked across. Unfortunately that is permanent -- it has changed the texture of the fabric. However, once the roof is properly cleaned and treated with a waterproof coating it will darken and even out, making the marks significantly harder to see from a normal viewing distance.
The fold lines are chafed and starting to look thin in places. We have had Minis in here with complete holes through at exactly those points; this one has not reached that stage yet. Getting the grit out now and keeping it coated should prevent that happening.
The Interior and the Leak
Water had been getting into the back of the car -- blocked drains are the usual cause. When the drainage channels behind the hood fill with debris, water backs up and finds another route in. This one had gone in behind the back seat and created enough damp for mould to grow in the interior stitching, with some staining on the leather. We cleaned the rubbers and applied a rubber conditioning product to all the door and boot seals to restore suppleness and improve the seal, flushed all the drain channels, and detailed the interior.
The metal strip at the back of the hood had started to ripple and perish -- this is common on Minis of this age. A new one screws on easily; we recommended the owner order one.
Why Roofs Go Green
The green growth on a dirty roof is actually two separate things: green lichen (Chrysothrix Chlorina) and patches of white or yellow lichen (Xanthoparmelia and Caloplaca Thallincola). Both grow on the organic matter -- dirt, tree sap, dust -- that collects in the fabric fibres. Clean the fibres and remove what they are growing on; the lichen comes with it. The green comes off relatively easily with repeat washing; the white and yellow spots need a good scrub.
No single cleaning product is a magic bullet. We have tried cleaners with enzymes; even those do not work as well as a proper brush and some effort. An anti-fungal detergent designed for convertible hoods will kill the organisms, but removal still requires scrubbing. Products like Renovo Fabric Soft Top Cleaner are what we would recommend -- they are made specifically for this material and the company specialise in hoods. Once it is clean, a waterproofing coating with anti-fungal properties helps prevent regrowth.
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