2025 MIC Top Question

[J-Lugster]

My February 2023 build , 23' Wildtrak 4 door , Just clocked 25K on miles, The MIC top is getting replaced tomorrow. My ?? is do they use the old glass or do they come with new glass? Does anyone know if you can / under warranty will they allow for color match HT replacement? Thanks!

They remove the old glass and reinstall it.

As far as replacing the MIC top with a painted hardtop, I haven't heard of anyone getting that done but it is a question that anyone in this situation should be asking.

That is the real solution for Ford and I would be quite happy to pay the difference in price.

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[Ducati1098]

Does anyone know if you can / under warranty will they allow for color match HT replacement? Thanks!

No, Ford will never do that.

 

[WildTrak23]

They remove the old glass and reinstall it.

As far as replacing the MIC top with a painted hardtop, I haven't heard of anyone getting that done but it is a question that anyone in this situation should be asking.

That is the real solution for Ford and I would be quite happy to pay the difference in price.

Same here. I'd gladly pay the difference

 

[Broncory]

Nov 2023 build, badlands SAS 8k miles purchased in July 2024. First crack noticed 2 days ago

 

[WildTrak23]

Well my local Ford dealer didn’t remember to get the sound deadening panel, so they have to order that piece. They are only replacing the the rear top section. But they don’t reinstall the rear side glass they are sending it out to a local glass shop on Monday for that.
same with the Wildtrak lower side decal which is peeling lose. They are replacing it as well. But have to send it to a decal shop. So I’m in a loaner until then.

 

[jrollo7]

 

[ctskier]

Still waiting for my rear panels to be replaced. Probably should check with dealer.

 

[Jacoozzie]

So I ask this question as a perspective buyer, I currently have a 24 Rubicon X. My 3rd wrangler so I know most of the issues with Jeeps (it's usually one of the batteries). What are the issues and causes of these top failures? I've been looking at broncos and scrutinizing the hard tops but I have not found any issues with the ones I've seen. Is this a case of some / a few issues, or most are failing, or it takes several years to develop, happens in cold or hot climates etc.

I can live with having to reinforce tie rods (minor issues - unless it's breaks on a trail ), but the idea of needing a new top, and not being able to easily get one concerns me.


Thanks

When you think you're MIC is safe... it's not. Those cracks will rear thier ugly heads, it's only a matter of time

 

[Denis85]

So new to all of this, this forum has been so awesome. SO you guys are saying that the MIC and the painted hard top (specifically the shadow black version) are constructed differently? I just assumed they just pained a MIC top whatever color was requested.

 

[J-Lugster]

So new to all of this, this forum has been so awesome. SO you guys are saying that the MIC and the painted hard top (specifically the shadow black version) are constructed differently? I just assumed they just pained a MIC top whatever color was requested.

Yes, totally different manufacturing involved in the both.

The painted hardtops are made in more of a traditional manufacturing process.

The MIC top were supposed to be state of the art manufacturing with materials meant to make it much lighter than the regular tops (like Jeep uses). That state of the art material however, turned out to be corrugated cardboard with a resin topcoat.

In theory if the manufacturing process was consistent then perhaps this MIC top from Webasto would have been a winner. In practice there appears to be quality control issues at Webasto that result in a very unreliable product where we're all starting to realize that all of these tops will fail.

The question of the day is when they will fail.

 

[Denis85]

Yes, totally different manufacturing involved in the both.

The painted hardtops are made in more of a traditional manufacturing process.

The MIC top were supposed to be state of the art manufacturing with materials meant to make it much lighter than the regular tops (like Jeep uses). That state of the art material however, turned out to be corrugated cardboard with a resin topcoat.

In theory if the manufacturing process was consistent then perhaps this MIC top from Webasto would have been a winner. In practice there appears to be quality control issues at Webasto that result in a very unreliable product where we're all starting to realize that all of these tops will fail.

The question of the day is when they will fail.

awesome info! thanks!

 

[jrollo7]

Yes, totally different manufacturing involved in the both.

The painted hardtops are made in more of a traditional manufacturing process.

The MIC top were supposed to be state of the art manufacturing with materials meant to make it much lighter than the regular tops (like Jeep uses). That state of the art material however, turned out to be corrugated cardboard with a resin topcoat.

In theory if the manufacturing process was consistent then perhaps this MIC top from Webasto would have been a winner. In practice there appears to be quality control issues at Webasto that result in a very unreliable product where we're all starting to realize that all of these tops will fail.

The question of the day is when they will fail.

The painted top like tge white Heritage top are not totally different. The honeycomb material is the same and just painted over. Look at the inner roof around the latches and you’ll see that.

 

[BigFootie]

The painted top like tge white Heritage top are not totally different. The honeycomb material is the same and just painted over. Look at the inner roof around the latches and you’ll see that.

While the construction is similar, it’s not just a mic top painted over. There is still a cardboard honeycomb but the outer layer seems to be significantly different which can be seen just by the weight difference which can’t be explained by paint alone. Someplace on the forum is an explanation of the difference. Mine is now 1 1/2 years old and looks as good as the day it was born.

 

[jrollo7]

While the construction is similar, it’s not just a mic top painted over. There is still a cardboard honeycomb but the outer layer seems to be significantly different which can be seen just by the weight difference which can’t be explained by paint alone. Someplace on the forum is an explanation of the difference. Mine is now 1 1/2 years old and looks as good as the day it was born.

It is more than paint but the honeycomb unfortunately is its base. Hoping the applied painted top layer substance is a barrier to the typical cracking honeycomb cardboard MIC roof issue.

 

[heavyD]

The painted top like tge white Heritage top are not totally different. The honeycomb material is the same and just painted over. Look at the inner roof around the latches and you’ll see that.

It's the outside that matters not what's inside. The outer shell (the main source of issue with the MIC top) is different for the painted tops. It's a different finish and different material at least on the white tops.

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