Hardtop Fixing Centres

[Crispie]

Hi all,
I have a BMW hardtop in Topaz Blue for a Z3 which is currently for sale.
A buyer brought their Z3 round today (2.0ltr) to buy it away but the sockets on their fixing kit were wider than the pins on my hard top.

Can someone with an OEM hard top fixing kit help me out with understanding what is going on?
Can you measure the distance between the centres of the fixing kit sockets on your car?
I just measured my hard top and the pins were at centres 1190mm. Is this correct. I dont have my Z3 any more (June 2000, 3.0ltr) so can't check myself.

Are there any aftermarket hard tops with pin centres wider than 1190mm.
There doesn't seem to be any adjustment on the hard top, nor on the buyers fixing kit.
The buyers fixing kit didn't look like the one in the hard top manuals. If you look at picture 14 in http://www.waycoolinc.com/z3/essentials/fixit/hardtop/Z3hardtopDocumentation.pdf there are 2 bolts marked "i" that mount metalwork below the soft top hinge. My buyers fixing kit didn't go under the hinge but both around it (i.e. below and above).

thanks for your help
Chris

 

[David]

I'd say the issue lies with your buyer using an aftermarket fitting kit. Did they say where they got it from?

Yes there are a couple of aftermarket hardtops - Wiesmann and Hamann - but both are incredibly rare and it is unlikely the fitting kit your potential buyer has is for either of them.

From personal experience, the Wiesmann fitting kit is rather basic compared to the OEM one.

Sorry I can't be of more help re measurements.

David

 

[Antm72]

Does you roof have the rubber water channels on it or is it just a groove ?

 

[Crispie]

Rubber channels

 

[oldcarman]

Then you have an original BMW. There should be tags with numbers on the lip which should confirm this unless the top has been refinished so it's most likely you have the correct fitting kit! HTH JIM

 

[hard top]

Rubber channels

= OEM BMW

 

[Antm72]

Standard hardtop then i thought there was an adjustment on the top of a standard fitting kit ?
The mount bolts to the bracket is it not slotted?

 

[DavidM]

Probably need a few pics showing the fitting kit both sides close up.

 

[Jack Ratt]

I have an OEM hard top and aftermarket fitting kit and mine fits fine

 

[hard top]

aftermarket fitting kit and mine fits fine

Where did you get that from?

 

[Rui Almeida]

Hi there Guys!

I am the buyer and apparently there are a bit of adjustment on the actually hardtop. But here you have some pictures og the fitting kit. There's no room for adjustment on the fitting kit though as the brackets wouldn't move on the angle we needed.
Ps: I know the plastic covers are missing that's not the point

Many thanks
Rui

 

[Antm72]

That looks like an aftermarket kit it could be a weissman fitting kit @BMBabe has one she may be able to tell you if its the same a normal HT kit looks like this....

 

[hard top]

could be a weissman fitting kit @BMBabe has one she may be able to tell you if its the same

She has my hardtop and fitting kit, this is what it looks like.

 

[Crispie]

I am the buyer and apparently there are a bit of adjustment on the actually hardtop.

The OEM hard top has no adjustment. I've attached a picture.

 

[Rui Almeida]

Hi guys I've been investigating the whole thing and yesterday found that on this big pin that Chirs posted apparently there's some X vs Y working it out with that big nut on the top. Could that be a way of bringing them closer or apart?

If I have an aftermaket fitting kit will be awesome if we could get that user that has one to help me out here about what can you fit in one of them. I would rather to buy Chris's in case I can fit it with adjustment than looking elsewhere.

Many thanks

 

[Brian H]

There is a tiny amount of x-y adjustment if you undo the big nut on the hardtop under the bracket albeit this is usually used for the adjustment on the Z plane. @Rui Almeida you are going to have this issue no matter who's hardtop you buy, the OEM hardtop are all the same, how far is it out?. I have never in 8+ years seen a fitting kit like this, can you see any part numbers on it at all?

 

[Rui Almeida]

There is a tiny amount of x-y adjustment if you undo the big nut on the hardtop under the bracket albeit this is usually used for the adjustment on the Z plane. @Rui Almeida you are going to have this issue no matter who's hardtop you buy, the OEM hardtop are all the same, how far is it out?. I have never in 8+ years seen a fitting kit like this, can you see any part numbers on it at all?

I imagine I have an aftermarket one then. Will have a look for part numbers. If i put one of the pins on the fitting kit the other one will be on the inner side of the hole on the other fitting kit.It looks like the fitting should be brought together another 10mm in total or something. What kind of hartop will fit this fitting kit then ? Not keen on aftermaket to be honest but could defo do with an hardtop. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks

 

[Brian H]

I imagine I have an aftermarket one then. Will have a look for part numbers. If i put one of the pins on the fitting kit the other one will be on the inner side of the hole on the other fitting kit.It looks like the fitting should be brought together another 10mm in total or something. What kind of hartop will fit this fitting kit then ? Not keen on aftermaket to be honest but could defo do with an hardtop. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks

10mm is not too far out, 5mm either side, I would imagine you could manipulate the existing brackets to suit however if you do get it to fit you still have no adjustment on the x-y axis.

I notice that you have a cable coming from both brackets, these wires are for the heated rear window. The OEM brackets are only on the passenger side.

I am 99% sure your kit is a Wiesmann kit, to be able to fit an OEM roof you could look to swap out the kits, I would imagine you would be able to do this on a cost neutral basis.

 

[hard top]

I have never in 8+ years seen a fitting kit like this

Me neither.

I am 99% sure your kit is a Wiesmann kit,

Don't think so.

 

[Rui Almeida]

10mm is not too far out, 5mm either side, I would imagine you could manipulate the existing brackets to suit however if you do get it to fit you still have no adjustment on the x-y axis.

I notice that you have a cable coming from both brackets, these wires are for the heated rear window. The OEM brackets are only on the passenger side.

I am 99% sure your kit is a Wiesmann kit, to be able to fit an OEM roof you could look to swap out the kits, I would imagine you would be able to do this on a cost neutral basis.

Ho do you advise me to get it done on a neutral cost? No one recognise this kit so I got myself thinking is it worth anything? Is it rare? Who will be interested in this ? Fitting kits are going for an absolute fortune so I am just stuck with something that doesn't work. And I am still interested in this hardtop as is colour match.

Thanks