last year i noticed when i went to the automatic car wash place near where i live a little stream of water would leak in and run down my driver side window, i have a 05 roadster didn't know if this was common, sometimes seems worse than others think it would be covered to get a new top or something.

 

I wouldn't take a roadster through a car wash . . . ever.
Considering the high pressure and unnatural direction of spray, it is probably nothing IMO.

 

I couldn't even consider taking mine through an automatic car wash but I also don't think that it's wrong to do so. It's just a personal preference and it is quite enjoyable for me to hand wash a car. Mine's hand washed and even then I sometimes get a dribble down the inside of a window. Probably not much to worry about. Certainly not worth taking the chance of getting a worse fit from a new top.

 

yeah i hear ya, i usually hand wash too just sometimes notice my car is dirty and can't take it and don't have time so ill run through the car wash. i would say its about 9 hand washes to 1 automatic but sometimes feel the need, just wondering if it occurs with others.

 

I get a very small amount when hand washing in the driveway (my cars never go through an automatic wash - I always wash them at home). It isn't anywhere near as bad as my 1999 Miata was though.

 

must be a common problem, not nearly as bad as my 94 mustang gt, that thing i would put towels down when washing it

 

This happens to my '05 roadster too.

BUT, for the love of God, wash it by hand, or find a cute girl to do it for you!

 

I may let a cute girl watch me wash it but I probably would not let her actually wash it. Just me.

Now, I may rethink my decision if either the lady in Gary's avatar from last week or FP's car washer were possibilities.

 

and i thought i was the only one, whats up with this they couldn't get a good enough seal just bugs me that its done it since day one a brand new car.

 

Frameless windows and a soft top - tough to get a completely waterproof seal with that combo since the rubber weather stripping has to have some give to it. One thing I haven't tried yet is closing the passenger door with the window down, then rolling it up and comparing that to just closing the driver's door with the window up (rather tricky to roll both windows up after exiting the car).

I get just a little dribble or two on the inside of the window and, since I'm going to wipe down the inside windows when I wash the car anyway - along with the door jambs, sills, under hood and trunk - I figure it's really no big deal at all.

EDIT to add: seriously, unless the thing leaks so bad that you get wet when driving in the rain, I don't see an issue. Even in a heavy rain storm you aren't getting a pressure wash at the point where the glass and weather strip meet so there should be no leaking under those conditions. But I don't drive my car in the rain so I'll never know!

 

I find that wind noise goes down appreciably when I roll the windows down and then back up after getting in the car - It must add just a bit of seal - would probably help in a car wash too.

 

both windows can be rolled up at the same time on my roadster when i hold down the button to put the top up, i think you have to push it couple times both windows go up at same time by using that button, like when i put my top up if i let off the button then hold it down again they go up yo have to hold it though its not automatic, just tap it a few times see if they do anything.

 

i have found that the crossfire is more watertight if you do the following:
1.roll both windows up
2.open and close each door (this re-seals them with the top.
3.wash car.. try this and see if it doesn't help.

 

I've actually had hardtops that would leak a bit around the windows in a car wash. If everything was air tight, you wouldn't be able to close the doors. The fine automobiles are small enough that washing and waxing takes very little time and it allows mose time to appreciate the finer things.

 

Your roadster should not leak at all. I went through this this past winter with my 2006 roadster. It is a warranty issue, if yours is still under warranty. They replaced all the door seals and it still leaked. Turned out there are some seals that are only accessible by removing the dash. They did the work and it hasn't leaked since. I read in another thread on the forum that the replacement door seals were redesigned because of this issue.