Hard Top, do I , don't I?

[Meldrew]

My recent Z3 aquisition came with original BMW silver hard top, torx key, and bag, heated rear screen etc, and looks like hardly used, its in perfect condition including the liner.
My question is will I ever use it? As I am long in years and will only use the car in summer, plus a shortage of garage storage space, I feel not.
Before I decide to part with it I would appreciate the pros and cons from others who use hard tops, in case I am missing any advantages, thanks.

 

[DomiMik]

As for me I can tell for sure that I won't ever use a hardtop, simply because I plan to keep my Z3 in mint condition and therefore don't expose it to weather conditions that require a hardtop. That means my Zed is on the road between April and October and spends the winter as well as rainy days in my garage. The soft top keeps the interior warm enough on chillier autumn and spring days, so no need for a hardtop in my opinion, especially if you are short on storage space.
Regards
Dominik

 

[the Nefyn cat]

I got my Z3 nearly nine years ago, it came with a hardtop on. Took it off a couple of days after I got it home, and it just sits taking up space. Here in the sub-tropical paradise of Wales there just doesn't seem to be any need for it, even in the middle of winter the heater and heated seats are perfectly good enough for plenty of cosiness. And a wooly hat, of course.

 

[gookah]

Upsides:
different look,
warmer and quieter in winter,
stiffens the body up,
makes having a convertible a new experience again when it's taken off,
the heated (and clear glass) rear window is a godsend on a frosty day
saves cracking the rear plastic window if you wanted to put the roof down on a cold day (it's already down just take the hardtop off)


downsides:
space to store it,
cant take it off if you're out and about
two person job if you dont have a hoist
creaks and rattles,

Use mine in December though February, and then hang it back up.
I have a hoist in the garage so can take it off single handedly in less than 5 minutes, if its a nice sunny winter's day

 

[t-tony]

My recent Z3 aquisition came with original BMW silver hard top, torx key, and bag, heated rear screen etc, and looks like hardly used, its in perfect condition including the liner.
My question is will I ever use it? As I am long in years and will only use the car in summer, plus a shortage of garage storage space, I feel not.
Before I decide to part with it I would appreciate the pros and cons from others who use hard tops, in case I am missing any advantages, thanks.

I think you answered your own question already,

"and looks like hardly used, its in perfect condition including the liner."

Tony.

 

[Nodzed]

Only put mine on once and the sun came out. Garage ornament since. Handy if your car lives outside in the winter.

 

[DavidM]

I got my Z3 nearly nine years ago, it came with a hardtop on. Took it off a couple of days after I got it home, and it just sits taking up space. Here in the sub-tropical paradise of Wales there just doesn't seem to be any need for it, even in the middle of winter the heater and heated seats are perfectly good enough for plenty of cosiness. And a wooly hat, of course.

I use mine over the winter - I have found that storage space near to the Zed is important - quick on and off with help makes it worthwhile having and using a hardtop.

 

[Nodzed]

And a wooly hat, of course.

Best accessory you can get for a Zed a woolly hat, poor mans hard top

 

[milsford]

My hardtop is sitting in the garage also though I have no plan of selling it.

 

[bertiejaffa]

I have a hard top and use it every year in the winter.
Does the car need it - No
The car sits outside all year
Makes the car look very different for some of the year so I like it
Downside is I cant put the roof down on any rare sunny winter days

My advice would be if you have room to store the car over winter (and other none sunny british summer days) then you probably dont need the hardtop.

....and a hardtop with all the fitting kit is worth £1000

 

[Meldrew]

Thanks all, you have confirmed my own thoughts that for me I don't need the hardtop, will look for someone that does.

 

[Ianmc]

I use my car all year around without a hard top, albeit the car lives in a garage overnight.
Quite like the look though, but...........

 

[gookah]

Best accessory you can get for a Zed a woolly hat,

Woolly hat?
as before
Upsides:
different look,
warmer and quieter in winter,
stiffens the body up,
makes having a convertible a new experience again when it's taken off,
saves cracking the rear plastic window if you wanted to put the roof down on a cold day (it's already down)


downsides:
space to store it,
cant take it off if you're out and about
creaks and rattles,

Use mine in December though February, and then hang it back up.
I have a hoist in the garage so can take it off single handedly in less than 5 minutes, if its a nice sunny winter's day


all very similar...

 

[Jack Ratt]

I got two Z3's and have a hardtop for each of them. I've always liked the look of the car with the hardtop on and my silver zed has had it permanently fitted for a while now. The other hardtop was an opportunistic purchase, I found a Weissman hardtop for sale locally that the guy couldn't sell because he sold the fitting kit separately. Fortune must have been shining on me because a fitting kit came up for sale on German Ebay for 160 euros almost straight away. I like it that I have a choice, top on, top off, standard or custom