Are all Hardtops the same?

[Ade33]

I've just seen a few hard tops for sale and am wondering if I need to take into account the year of my Z3 (It's a 2002) in terms of whether it's the right one for my year? I'm thinking especially in terms of electrical connection for the rear heated screen or anything else electrical.. Thankyou

 

[Zephyr]

OEM hardtops in general terms yes. They all fit no matter the year.
Wiesmann and Hamman (rare) have different brackets and their electrical stuff is slightly different (connections and wiring).
the only differences in pre-and facelift models are the switches and the differences between prepped and non prepped hardtop factory models is that prepped already have the wiring for the rear heated window below the seats.
mine is a 2001 model and did not have the loom behind the seats but had the wiring for the switch under the center console.
installing one can be a real pain in the ars-h- as it demands a lot of fiddling and fine tuning, but sure is worth the trouble.

 

[Dxbolton]

I took the hardtop and fitting kit off my red car and put it on my silver car. The perfect fit on red was a terrible fit on silver! I had to adjust the rear fittings on the near side to lift the roof about 5mm so it didn’t touch the bodywork, and the bracket on the header rail also needed moving do the screw lined up.
it’s definitely warmer and quieter withthe roof fitted

 

[Dxbolton]

Make sure you have the mounting brackets if buying a roof, and I don’t connect the heated rear window so that’s not a major issue.

 

[t-tony]

Looks good, I'll show John that when I see him.

Tony.

 

[Peter1450]

Make sure you have the mounting brackets if buying a roof, and I don’t connect the heated rear window so that’s not a major issue.

Surely that’s one of the benefits in the winter? Actually seeing out of the rear window, although I’m a bit anal , I like things to work!

 

[Ade33]

Could somebody if they have done it take me though a Dummies Guide of what I am likely to encounter and how to connect a hard top to a 2002 Z3 (what wires are there on car already to connect/how to access them and likely connectors there and on hard top already) switches etc.. Thanks for your help

 

[Dxbolton]

I just aim the aircon on the window to clear it which seems to do the job ok.

 

[hard top]

Could somebody if they have done it take me though a Dummies Guide of what I am likely to encounter and how to connect a hard top to a 2002 Z3 (what wires are there on car already to connect/how to access them and likely connectors there and on hard top already) switches etc.. Thanks for your help

This might be of some help ? :-

Link :-

BMW Z3 Hard Top Fitting (1996 to 2002)

BMW Z3 Hard Top Fitting (1996 – 2002) The following is the experience from Paul Lynch in fitting his hard top. I fitted my fitting kit and hardtop a while ago now – but it wasn’t really perfect (I was about 95% happy with it).. It was weather...

zroadster.org

 

[Witchsilver]

I can say this guide is brilliant - as a novice it all made perfect sense - the gauges are the tough bit - I have yet to do this part as I haven't found any. I read somewhere that it is around a 6mm gap that is needed for the rear catches to work.

'98 1.9 so no air con etc.

I still haven't worked out how to get the rear heater to work - I think I am connect correctly, but didnt get a switch included, so I dont know if the wiring is there. My VIN options say the hard top is included so I guess it must be there somewhere.

 

[Dxbolton]

I can say this guide is brilliant - as a novice it all made perfect sense - the gauges are the tough bit - I have yet to do this part as I haven't found any. I read somewhere that it is around a 6mm gap that is needed for the rear catches to work.

Yes, I have around6mm clearance now. You can do it by sight. My roof was touching the body on one side so it was obvious what needed moving. It’s about even all round now and fits a treat