Hardtop issues Painted vs MIC

[Badrap]

Is MIC an acronym?

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[BigBlue7]

Is MIC an acronym?

Molded-in Color

 

[Badrap]

Molded-in Color

Thanks.

 

[CWGrisw0ld]

"Many Imperfections and Cracks"

 

[bbb2021]

Now if one were to sand it down and get it properly painted, would that hold? Or are we dealing with a more of a structural issue here?

 

[zking504]

2025 Badlands SAS 4 door with the painted black top. Starting to find out aftermarket roof racks are not compatible with the painted tops. I’m having fittment issues with my TrailRax roof rack. It’s split the rear outside accessory mount at the seam and the mounting brackets do not fit correctly in the accessory mount location. Working with TrailRax to sort the issue out. RCI website says their roof rack is not compatible with the OEM painted hardtops. From RCI when I emailed them: “Unfortunately, the issue with our roof rack on the OEM painted topper is not one that we've been able to make a revision for as of yet. The issue presents itself in a "delamination" of the roof over time from the tension on the adhesive.”

so if you intend on putting a roof rack on a painted hardtop, I’d wait.

 

[Figmo]

Then, there are people like me. MIC black top. No cracks. Fingers crossed.

So, apparently, it's not a given that ALL MIC tops will develop cracks.

And, if the day ever comes where that starts happening to mine - I'm unconcerned. I restored the top on my Jeep Gladiator after it was involved in a roll over. Multiple scrapes down to the substrate and two fist sized holes in it.

Just patched it up with some fiberglass filler, sanded and painted with roll-on bedliner. Two coats of clear over the top for UV protection. That was a year ago and it still looks better than new!!

So if the day ever comes I'll just do likewise to the Bronco top.

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

2025 Badlands SAS 4 door with the painted black top. Starting to find out aftermarket roof racks are not compatible with the painted tops. I’m having fittment issues with my TrailRax roof rack. It’s split the rear outside accessory mount at the seam and the mounting brackets do not fit correctly in the accessory mount location. Working with TrailRax to sort the issue out. RCI website says their roof rack is not compatible with the OEM painted hardtops. From RCI when I emailed them: “Unfortunately, the issue with our roof rack on the OEM painted topper is not one that we've been able to make a revision for as of yet. The issue presents itself in a "delamination" of the roof over time from the tension on the adhesive.”

so if you intend on putting a roof rack on a painted hardtop, I’d wait.

Is the OEM rack the same for all model years? Also wondering if the OEM rack could eventually cause the same problem on a painted top. I removed mine almost immediately after bringing it home but was thinking of reinstalling it for a planned trip next month.

 

[BroncoChallenger]

Only thing we have done to the MIC top on our 2 door is hand wash and spray wax. It lives outside 100% of the time and has since August 2024 (with the exception of ONE night when a thunderstorm came through that was dropping some pretty good sized hail). No cracks, no delamination.

Has anyone done a study on what factors the MIC failures have in common BESIDES how they're manufactured (which, I don't disagree, is questionable)? Are owners taking them through car washes (owner's manual says not to)? Are owners waxing them with a hand-applied wax? Are they more common on vehicles driven aggressively, either on-road or off?

I pose these questions because lightweight removable hard tops are ALWAYS in danger of being damaged - it's the nature of the beast, you make something light enough and it starts to become fragile, which means they need to be cared for delicately. It is worth investigating. I just don't have the time.

 

[Buck N Bronc]

Now if one were to sand it down and get it properly painted, would that hold? Or are we dealing with a more of a structural issue here?

Had the MIC top on my OBX painted two years ago (Heritage clone) and I've had zero issues. To be fair though, I never remove the top.

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