Hardtop
- Thread starter Griswald
- Start date
Yes but fitting kits are different for the BMW and the Wiesmann hardtops.
Mike,
Mike,
Thanks for the response. I did not even know there was a Wiesmann style. Is that a knock off from the original BMW OEM? I have not looked, but I guess I need to see if I have a sticker on the top that has an OEM BMW part #. When I positioned the top on the car, the back end seemed a little wide. I would go to one side and think I have it in place, but when I go to the other side it seems to be hanging over too much. I guess I just have to play with it once I find the mounting kit. I am guessing the top on the back of the car below the glass sort of overhangs the lip around the back so when it rains there is no way for water to enter the car plus I know there is a large gasket on the BMW hardtop for this area.
Welcome @Griswald 
Not sure if you have been through this article yet? https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-hard-top-fitting-1996-to-2002.74/ Should give you a few tips on getting it to fit properly!
The Wiesmann style is pretty rare and features a bigger rear windscreen.
Not sure if you have been through this article yet? https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-hard-top-fitting-1996-to-2002.74/ Should give you a few tips on getting it to fit properly!
The Wiesmann style is pretty rare and features a bigger rear windscreen.
I took the hardtop off my Z3 3.0 when l bought it, and never looked at it since.
I was going to sell it, but gave up trying to figure out what l would need to fit instead of the fitting kit, after l removed it from the car.
The one thing l find tempting about the Z4 is the optional folding metal roof on the newer versions.....best of both worlds
I was going to sell it, but gave up trying to figure out what l would need to fit instead of the fitting kit, after l removed it from the car.
The one thing l find tempting about the Z4 is the optional folding metal roof on the newer versions.....best of both worlds
@Griswald welcome from me too. I should have said so in my first post but it was late and I needed to get some sleep.
That pic looks like my car Gaz, from the back, would not be the same if taken from the front!!!
The Wiesmann was the first hardtop produced as BMW had not even thought about making them at the time.
That pic looks like my car Gaz, from the back, would not be the same if taken from the front!!!
The Wiesmann was the first hardtop produced as BMW had not even thought about making them at the time.
I bought a BMW fitting kit and a hardtop for my car prior to export to Canada. The previous owner and his son mounted everything for me for shipping. When the car finally made it to my driveway and I took it for it's maiden voyage it clunked and banged with a lot of wind noise. Turned out there were no front screws in place with what appears to be no where for them to go. Took the top off for a bit of top down and when it started raining tried to refit the hardtop but nothing lines up. If I can get the pins in front to go in the rears won't drop into place. One side will lock in but the other is nowhere close. I don't know how they got the rears to lock in in the first place but now I guess I will start from scratch with it and figure where the front gets bolted down. As for the soft top, the stitching was rotted so I took the window completely out and have a couple of buckets catching rain while I'm out because water doesn't stop me from driving and my new zip in window does me no good whatsoever so the new top will be ordered. Anyone know where I can buy a top with the zip in window? They all seem to be offered with a sewn in window. JIM
There are two holes for the fixing screws on the windscreen header rail Jim. The screws are Allen type screws with a cheese head if you call that the same as us. That's where the "T" handle comes in with the fittings I believe.
Cheers,Tony.
Cheers,Tony.
Just buy one of these, they're getting cheaper:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Z8-BMW-...340779487&item=151405433991&pt=US_Cars_Trucks
Last year when I fitted my roof for the first time I found that applying firm pressure on the lower part of the roof side helps the rear fixing pins align in the mounting points and allows the locking handle to be turned, It is much easier to do this if you can get somebody to help.
I think my roof has splayed slightly (probably much less than half an inch) which may be due to the previous owner storing it "on the points" i.e. in car orientation, rather than hanging it the storage bag. Possibly your roof has a similar issue.
Over the summer I have had it hanging in the bag and hopefully it will not be any worse than last year when the time comes to fit it.
I doubt that it has "splayed by storing it on the points" as I leave my hardtop like this and it goes back on perfectly every time. It has to be something to do with misalignment of the fitting kit or, god forbid, the car has been rear ended.
I looked at a ///M that had had that happen and the owner showed me that the soft top fitted perfectly and the hardtop did not. It was hanging off to the right.
Thanks, but I think I need to take everything apart and start again following the guide. When the front pins are in place the rears don't line up and vice versa. Don't know how the PO managed to get the rears in and latched and both front pins in place also, unless something is loose in the rear fittings. It's raining again so tomorrow I'll tackle it again. JIM
That's my winter car I'm selling because I've found our winters are too short to keep it around sitting in the shop. I'll just drive the z3 all year with the hardtop on if it ever goes back on. If not my caribou suit is pretty warm and I'm told the heater works. Should be all I need. JIM
You reminded me of something funny. When I worked on the cruise ship as a dealer, we stopped at a port in northern
Europe where you could but some reindeer pelts, and I bought one. In recent years, we could dress for Halloween in the casino. I made an costume of a caveman using the reindeer skin. But by now it was really starting to shed and I ended up getting reindeer hair all over the table and in the rack with the chips. And I mean LOADS of hair. They had to stop the game and come and vacuum the table. Frankie
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- Dec 24, 2013
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The OE soft top takes a zip in window. I think they cost around $1500. I don't know if that includes a window.
All of the aftermarket tops have sewn-in windows, and cost around $500 plus installation (my install was $1000).
I think you need to sell your unused zip-in window, whose new cost was around $300 if OE or $100 if Emiata. And get a new top.
If you need a list of tops, I can post up.
Thanks Vintage, I have a friend that is an upholsterer, maybe I'll buy a new top and have him sew in the zip from my old window and install the new one. I bought the one from Germany having been told that the rear window in the car I bought was toast and a zip in but when the car arrived from the UK the stitching around the zipper was rotten so I removed the complete window as I had planned on eventually changing colour. This just speeds that job up. JIM
My caribou is the same, it's because they use them for clothing in the north and use a primitive tanning method as they replace their clothes pretty much whenever they lose enough hairs and replacement skins are available. I have everything from the hooded parka to mitts, pants and mukluks. It's worn with nothing under it traditionally and has been tested by me to -40+ with strong wind chill and does indeed work as supposed to. I took it to Trinity's class last year and they asked me to put it on. I did over my clothes and just about passed out it was so hot. My shirt was soaked in sweat when I took it off after a few pics were taken. Scrape the rest of the hairs off and you can extend your cave man costumes life.. Thus ends today's lesson and there will be tests coming.
Thanks for the info!!
Jim , is it true: yesterday, in Calgary?!
Or just a bad joke?........
Or just a bad joke?........
It's true and my sister lives just west of Calgary. It was +25c one day, next day this and expecting more today and+3c. Heading my way, I'd best get a spot cleared in the shop for the Zed. JIM