If there’s a Zshed coming up close to where you live or an event or other members living near you, you could always pop along to inspect the work they have had done.
New Roof
- Thread starter Gatsoburner
- Start date
bmwz3tower
Dedicated Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2024
- Points
- 29
I had mine done by him 2 months ago so I can take some photos today, which bits of inner sealing do you want photos of?
ChrisD
Zorg Addict
Great, thanks a lot. I’m interested in the finish of the material across the top of the header rail - can only be seen with the roof down. Also with roof down, the sealing of the outer part of the roof against the inner hood compartment. Nothing to dismantle, only open the hood which I appreciate may not be good to do today. I appreciate the assist.
There’s a very important point to make about fitting a new roof for those considering it for the first time. The new roof is actually just a new covering. Only the fabric parts and rear window are replaced. If you have any problems with the rubber seals and the structure of the roof, these will remain. Also, the rubber seals are removed and refitted as part of the job, so they might not go back exactly as before so some tinkering might be required afterwards. The only leaks that will be cured with a new roof are ones that were the result of holes in the fabric or window and if the seal around that back above the boot, if it was previously compromised.
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2016
- Points
- 218
- Location
- Maybole , South Ayrshire
- Model of Z
- Z3 Individual Dakar / Orinoco Individual
@Jam03 .
You pretty much said what i was going to say thats its only the outer fabric and rear window that gets replaced all other parts ( seals , frame headliner etc all stay) so as has been said any issues relating to them will still remain.
Have looked around in Scotland cant get a roof done for less than 800-1000 even then some of the companies i spoke to had never did a z3 roof before.
Jack Smith would now be my first choice as a few dozen forum members have had roofs done by him nd not heard any complaints.
For me i could drive down from Scotland get an overnight hotel get roof fitted and drive home still for a few hundred quid less than any one up here.
Stephen.
You pretty much said what i was going to say thats its only the outer fabric and rear window that gets replaced all other parts ( seals , frame headliner etc all stay) so as has been said any issues relating to them will still remain.
Have looked around in Scotland cant get a roof done for less than 800-1000 even then some of the companies i spoke to had never did a z3 roof before.
Jack Smith would now be my first choice as a few dozen forum members have had roofs done by him nd not heard any complaints.
For me i could drive down from Scotland get an overnight hotel get roof fitted and drive home still for a few hundred quid less than any one up here.
Stephen.
bmwz3tower
Dedicated Member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2024
- Points
- 29
Hi, it started raining when I got home today so I'll try again tomorrow.
Gatsoburner
Dedicated Member
Waters coming in at the top of the bulkhead in the boot. I'm assuming the seal has given way where the roof rear fixed point meets the car.
I was thinking a new roof would fix it as I thought wrongly they'd replace that seal when fitting a new roof.
I've put it on pause until I can get out, roof down and look at the seal, fixing that alone may solve the water issue.
Cheers Rob.
At the back where the fabric attaches to the rear deck is a fat rubber trim thing that clips in all the way around the rear deck. But that rubber trim is not really a seal. It's not meant to stop water. It just stops the fabric flapping against the metalwork. Pretty much cosmetic apart from that. The guy changing the roof won't replace that rubber trim.
Below that rubber trim is where the roof fabric is stapled to a plastic bow. The plastic bow is sealed with very sticky sealant, along with a metal bow, to the rear body of the car. The way the bows are sealed together and bolted to the real bodywork is the waterproof seal and that sealant IS (or should be) replaced when the roof if replaced. By that I mean the old sticky sealant is removed and replaced. Not the bows.
If the roof is leaking then the water gets onto the rear shelf behind the seats. That carpet material on the shelf would be soaking wet and it would run down behind the seats onto the floor under the seats.
If the shelf behind the seats is dry then the rear of your roof is not leaking. If you still have water in the boot then it may be getting in through the middle brake light, the seal around the boot and the ariel grommet. If the boot is really wet then there'll be condensation on the upper surfaces making it difficult to see where water is actually getting in.
Gatsoburner
Dedicated Member
Im thinking the thick rubber seal has perished, apparently it's a 3 piece item of which the joining points are a quarter of the way into the car from either side, a Guy on Utube did a video.
The aerial gromit is new. Theres no water inside the car behind the seats, the 3rd brake light ive sealed too.
As you say that rubber buffer doesnt do a great deal in relation to water, just a draft excluder for want on a better description.
I saw that that comes of easily giving access to the 3 piece seal, again Utube says it's resealable at the 2 meeting points.
All stuff ive read so need to drop the roof and see what they're talking about. It does add up if it's true, the water is visible inside the boot, carpets removed, below where id expect the 3 pieces join
Hope all that makes sense
. Again, cheers for commenting, all useful knowledge for me 