The difference between polishing and waxing is that polishing removes material whereas waxing adds material. Too much polishing, as several posters have pointed out will wear out your gel cost. On the other hand, plenty of waxing will build up a finish which can be cut back from time to time without damaging the gel coat. Of course, the other alternative is to paint your top with something like Rustoleum. This has been done by a few VW poptop owners but I think they got pretty bad before needing this treatment!

compound the roof with grp stuff once a year and polish every 6months I use something different to autoglym.. and do it by hand, so not to over do the compound

used to polish grp roof every month but it was the wrong product hence why the shine and protection never lasted, and really too much effort..to keep doing hence now using the uv grp polish..

and am failing on the side walls in which have used grease lightening (even on windows), 3 times since may..it does make a good job.but does wear off with the rain alas I will get round to it
normally do the 3 polish method with meguairs once or twice a year but not been fit enough..

good quality micro fibre cloths do make a difference

P


the tar on roof could be chimney soot, spider x fly poop

To be honest there is NO quick fix to getting a nice finish. You'll need to wash your "pride & joy" and I don't mean jet wash it needs doing by hand and possibly more than once! Do not be tempted to either polish or wax before your Eriba is clean, I like the Aldi caravan cleaner others like Fenwicks etc.

I did'nt have to "cut back" (T Cut etc) the metalwork, nor would I, as our Eriba was just a year old when we purchased it from Lechlade, and as such was delivered reasonbly clean.

I used Harly wax, which is a paste, available on Ebay from a guy near Tiverton, it is imported, very easy on and off, great shine and durability!

I did T Cut the roof and as far as I'm concerned I'd do the same again! The picture I put up just before sale was'nt a specially taken photo of a van for sale, it was how I chose to keep our "pride and joy" it stood outside all year round with no cover! Stayed dry inside with no condensation or SMELLS!

I'm still waiting for photo's of other 11 year old Eriba in similar condition!! No takers, still resting my case, M'lud