Considering doing the conversion, is any selling the full kit including side carpeting @spurs fan in a coupe @Synclare @mrscalex
Wanted Electric hood kit
- Thread starter Sean d
- Start date
Why? Is yours a manual roof like my old 96?
I can check with my Dutch mate if you like.
I can check with my Dutch mate if you like.
Yes mate, its manual
Did not bother me to be honest, just had to watch out leaning up against the car when putting the roof back up with jacket zips and such.
Think this is going to be an expensive mod as it is hydraulic.
There are advantages of a manual roof, especially as a car gets older. Trust me, I know!!
I have the installation still in my breaker less the main pump. Just in case that helps.
Only the car...There are advantages of a manual roof, especially as a car gets older. Trust me, I know!!
Sam's is manual too I quite like just leaning over and pulling It up!
With a manual roof you're more likely to stand up outside and let it down. Which means you're watching the rear window folds nicely.
On an electric you have to do it from inside the car. And may miss the window buckling up.
On an electric you have to do it from inside the car. And may miss the window buckling up.
The only thing I liked about the piece of crap MX5 that we took on the Dutch run last year was that my tall mate Rob could reach back and pull the roof up while driving.
@Sean d - Not the whole kit, but I've got the facelift centre console roof switch for sale here:
https://zroadster.org/threads/lots-of-z3-goodies-parts.18013/#post-302554
https://zroadster.org/threads/lots-of-z3-goodies-parts.18013/#post-302554
Just converted mine from a manual to an electric hood.
Pros - Its easier to put the hood up whilst still sat in the car
Cons - As I've just replaced the rear screen at the moment, it has not settled in yet so putting the roof down means I have to do it in stages, getting in and out of the car to check the screen folds correctly with no creases.
But I can easily convert / change it to manual at any time by just turning the brass handle on top of the hydraulic unit.
Pros - Its easier to put the hood up whilst still sat in the car
Cons - As I've just replaced the rear screen at the moment, it has not settled in yet so putting the roof down means I have to do it in stages, getting in and out of the car to check the screen folds correctly with no creases.
But I can easily convert / change it to manual at any time by just turning the brass handle on top of the hydraulic unit.
OTT in my book, I just used to drop it, never had a problem.
I did not take the hardtop off for three years, people said to me your rear window is going to be knackered rattling around like that.
Never had a problem with the rear window in six years of ownership.
In my opinion the power hood was not properly thought out. They got it right on the Z4, but on the Z3 it is a bit of a pain on my car at least. Sitting in the car you first have to lower the windows a bit. Then unlatch the screen handles. Press the brake pedal and lift the front of the hood up by a few inches. Then press the button and the hood should start to fold. Only I can't let it go all the way down as it invariably mangles the rear window. So stop when it's half down, get out the car and sort the window out, get back in, press the brake pedal and complete the lowering. It's quicker to do it manually. The power operation is handy for raising the top, but you still have to remember the door windows and clip it yourself. And if you use a rolled towel or similar to protect the rear window, that has to be recovered. No, I've disabled my power top.
Personal experience. It can go down with a sharp buckle in it you need to iron out in stages as @Jjim says. If not and you keep going against the buckle it can split the plastic, probably more so on older plastic. It happened a few weeks ago to me.
There is another advantage with a hydraulic one:
I like to be able to do this with mine when I have left it down and it starts chucking it down
works from in the house, or up to 100 metres away,
OK it doesn't latch the handles, but if it starts chucking it down, I can remotely shut the roof, while I get my coat.
I just have to get in and clamp up, but now there is no sitting in the rain going through the motions getting soaked..
.....
And I just wanted to see if it could be done.
I like to be able to do this with mine when I have left it down and it starts chucking it down
works from in the house, or up to 100 metres away,
OK it doesn't latch the handles, but if it starts chucking it down, I can remotely shut the roof, while I get my coat.
I just have to get in and clamp up, but now there is no sitting in the rain going through the motions getting soaked..
.....
And I just wanted to see if it could be done.
I spent quite a long time searching for the car I wanted in the right colour/engine etc and without the power hood. With the mechanism on the Z3 it's just as quick if not quicker to use a manual hood, especially as I use a fleece window cover when folding the hood down.
I've never heard of dropping the windows before folding, and my window never gets creased, the problem I have is with contact patches where the front edge of the roof touches the fabric just below the rear wondow when folded.
I just fit the BMW window blanket, release handles and push up, press foot brake(been meaning to bypass this function) press switch then just check the position of the blanket. It is a bit of a faff and if I'd known before I ordered mine I may not of had the option? As has been said it's handy to put it up in an emergency.
Why do you need to drop the windows?
Sounds like it more hassle then its worth, I'll spend the cash on some other bling, I am just about to order new shocks all round and all sorts of goodies to tighten the ride up.