From the FAQ:

"Premature Wearing of Roof

A number of cars are suffering with premature roof wear. There is a guide below with some preventative measures.

It seems the arm that is doing the damage can only do so when the hood is right down and it is pressed against the hood.
Operation of the hood and the movement of the car then causes it to rub against the hood and wear through, possible bigger problem for those with hardtops."

Wise words. With only 1200 miles up I started to see the very beginnings of this problem on my own S (As in starting to be able to see from the outside - with the roof up - the sharp-edged mark starting to press through the roof material being made from the inside - while roof down.)

Was looking at my MTB last week and noticed the Lizard Skins chainstay protector on it.... and . Here's a pic from www.ukbikestore.co.uk of the item (the 'jumbo' derivative) in question:



And here they are (well, one of them) VERY securely on the car:



Not bad! They are made of neoprene and, as such, have lots of stretchability (and will therefore hopefully for some time resist being worn through by the metal joint in question) and the velcro is WELL grippy. Just attach them on the straight(er) bit of the tubular assemblage they go on and then carefully slide them up over the joint (a bit of fiddling around required pulling the now attached sleeve out from the joint to get the sleeve over the joint between the back of the joint and the roof material). Keeping the thing aligned along its length is a bit tricky and took me a couple or three goes to get right to the point where the job looks tidy and even when fitted with minimal rucks and folds along its length. EDIT: maybe twisting them round so that the velcro strips are top side will make them last longer as in the sharp joint edges of the metal joint concerned will take way longer - if at all - to rub through this harder nylon part than the neoprene?

Mine are staying well put and I'm chuffed with this solution. The roof seems to fold down just as easily with them fitted as it did before.

I paid

 

Looks like a good option - having just had my roof replaced I'll look to purchase some of them - anything to prevent the wear and another big bill!

 

Thats a fantastic idea mate

 

Group buy?

 

I'll add it to the FAQ.

 

 

I've stuck a patch on the inside on the roof, probably too late now though, my roof is facked.

 

I've just been to get some from Halfords (

 

This is great, thank you...just going off to order some.

 

.... the pressure's ON now... I just hope these jobbies don't f uck up and split or something in a month or two

98