Hi I am looking for some advice on how to remove the hard top of my 1.9 any advice appricated
Hard top removal
- Thread starter D R Oldfield
- Start date
Easiest way, two people to lift it off the car.
2 screws to remove along the windscreen head rail, also I think there are 2 clamps (or maybe screws) 1 each side just behind the seats.
Hopefully a Z3 with hard top owner will come along and clarify it for you.
Tony.
Hopefully a Z3 with hard top owner will come along and clarify it for you.
Tony.
Thanks there appears to be two brackets behind the seats with handles that turn through 90 degrees i am not sure how these work or what possition they shut be in
Remove the two screws through the screen rail, It's a Torx T40 bit and move the handle to point to the centre of the car. I can't remember if it is forward or backwards, it is so long since I used the Hardtop but it should be self explanatory.
This might be of some help :-
Yes remove both torx screws from the windshield frame, release both catches behind the seats and don't forget to disconnect the heated rear screen connection. You'll need two people to lift it clear of the car. I'd recommend having padding and space to accept the removed hard top. I use some rolls of carpet.
Good luck!
Good luck!
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2016
- Points
- 231
- Model of Z
- Z3M Imola and Z4 (e89)
Do not all HT rear window power connections work through the passenger side rear locking pin? There's no connector to disconnect on mine Just asking!
Last edited:
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2019
- Points
- 100
- Model of Z
- 3.0
Have just fitted a hard top to mine - removing it is as stated above. I’d undo the two bolts at the fron first. The two levers in the rear face backwards when the top is locked down. They can be tough to shift forwards - I have found that starting on one side, apply a bit of pressure with one hand as if lifting the top while Pulling the lever forward with the other hand. Also, once the lever has shifted forward a bit (half way), move to the other side and repeat. Then repeat these steps, moving the lever fully forward on each side. This essentially means the catches are undone. Once both levers are fully forward, you should - with help - be able to lift the roof off. A good tip I found on here is also to remove (unscrew) the Ariel antenna as it’s a bit in the way for lifting the top off. The electrics for the rear window heater are connected via two contacts on the left rear bracket - don’t need to be disconnected as there are no wires attached to the top once the catches are undone. Good luck.
definitely a 2 man job - do not try to lift it on your own !!
paul bellas
Regular Member
Jonno B & Michael Burridge cover what you need to do re detaching the top within their posts above.
NB: If you don`t wish to have 2 people physically lift your hardtop off your car, then have to carefully store it somewhere, consider fitting a hoist in your garage. I have such a simple, purpose built hoist fitted in my garage, operated by manual pulley, like raising a flag or a sail. I simply drive into garage, lower the windows, run the padded bar of the hoist through the windows & reattach to the pulley, unclip the hardtop as described by others above, then hoist it up clear of the car into the garage roof space with 3 or 4 pulls on the straps. A 10 minute job I`ve been doing every year for 20 years with no mishaps. Cover the hardtop with a large sheet of plastic until next needed, usually winter. Similarly easy to drive under & re-fit in due course. As it happens, I am just about to sell this contraption, as well as my Z3M Roadster hardtop, as the Z will remain `topless` & fully off-road from this winter onwards. For anyone interested, the hardtop is a spotless & striking Estoril Blue Autovogue `special`, made specifically for the early Z M Roadster, with 2 front to back blisters & a narrow solid heated rear window. I can provide more details/photos to serious enquirers.
NB: If you don`t wish to have 2 people physically lift your hardtop off your car, then have to carefully store it somewhere, consider fitting a hoist in your garage. I have such a simple, purpose built hoist fitted in my garage, operated by manual pulley, like raising a flag or a sail. I simply drive into garage, lower the windows, run the padded bar of the hoist through the windows & reattach to the pulley, unclip the hardtop as described by others above, then hoist it up clear of the car into the garage roof space with 3 or 4 pulls on the straps. A 10 minute job I`ve been doing every year for 20 years with no mishaps. Cover the hardtop with a large sheet of plastic until next needed, usually winter. Similarly easy to drive under & re-fit in due course. As it happens, I am just about to sell this contraption, as well as my Z3M Roadster hardtop, as the Z will remain `topless` & fully off-road from this winter onwards. For anyone interested, the hardtop is a spotless & striking Estoril Blue Autovogue `special`, made specifically for the early Z M Roadster, with 2 front to back blisters & a narrow solid heated rear window. I can provide more details/photos to serious enquirers.
Hi thanks for all your advice i do like the idea of the hoist lift assembly in the garage and will definetly be installing one in my garage as soon as my 2.8 is back together i think in the mean time i will leave it on my 1,9 and enjoy the car over winter
As Michael said above, if the rear locking handles are hard to shift it helps if you lift the hard top with one hand whilst pulling the handle forwards with the other. I snapped one of my handles by just pulling it until it broke off!
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2019
- Points
- 100
- Model of Z
- 3.0
What an absolute bummer.
paul bellas
Regular Member
Ouch! Awkward & expensive(?) Weird, my hardtop latches are completely different from these..?
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- Joined
- Dec 5, 2011
- Points
- 175
That's a Hamann hardtop I believe, quite rare and therefore pricey.
paul bellas
Regular Member
Yeah, well spotted! A Hamann Speedster blistered hardtop, fitted by Autovogue about 20 years ago, along with some nice colour-matched Hamann nacelle driving lamps in the front air dam, giving my early ZM (1997) a really unique look, that still has people asking "what model is this?" in car parks, or having pulled up alongside from behind. Dead easy to `drive-in` clip on & off though & hoist up & down into the garage roof space. And still as spotless as it was in the last millennium! 
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2011
- Points
- 175
looks lovelyYeah, well spotted! A Hamann Speedster blistered hardtop, fitted by Autovogue about 20 years ago, along with some nice colour-matched Hamann nacelle driving lamps in the front air dam, giving my early ZM (1997) a really unique look, that still has people asking "what model is this?" in car parks, or having pulled up alongside from behind. Dead easy to `drive-in` clip on & off though & hoist up & down into the garage roof space. And still as spotless as it was in the last millennium!