Hardtop Installation

[Rui Almeida]

Hi guys

(I know I am creating too many threads but I am afraid that this last few days of the year have been the worst)

After all the problems I had on the last few days I decided to fit the hardtop and get focused in something different. Got a mate that kindly helped me last night and the only thing I needed to adjust was the high the rear pins because one of them was impossible to lock the handle. After a couple attempts we managed to have the pins roughly at the same high and all locked in. Left the car overnight but this morning realised that the drivers side window is just poking to much to the outside and is actually sitting to high on the seal and as soon as I poured some water I could see a drip running on the inside of the car.
To make it easier yesterday I loosen up the bolts on the fitting kit fitted the hardtop briefly high them , removed the hardtop, thigh them properly and them fitted the hardtop again.
Btw I am screwing the from bolts first and then looking the rear pins.

It seems that the driver's side of the hardtop needs to lift up a bit but if I do that can't lock the handle.
Any tips ? It was't leaking here with the soft top so not keen in finding the area soaked because of this.

Thanks to everyone that have been trying to help me this last couple days.

 

[Jack Ratt]

That's pretty much how mine sits if I recall correctly. I haven't put it on this year yet so can't say for certain. The first time I fitted it I was a bit concerned about the fit but it didn't leak so thought they all must be like that.
May be your seals need softening a bit to get a better seal

 

[DavidM]

Adjusting the hardtop is a fairly delicate operation. I would suggest typing into google:

'Z3 hardtop installation instructions' and an article from this Forum will display - plus other links to BMW adjustments.

One thing I would advise - take care the hardtop is not resting on the paintwork around the rear and rear sides of bodywork- there are protective guides for setting purposes - that are hard to come by - I would use a few pieces of rubber just to protect the paintwork while you are stil removing the top and making adjustments.

Try also the adjustments at the windscreen end of the hardtop - side to side. Also - the measurements on both sides just behind the side windows on the hardtop should be same both sides. All of this info and more will be on the results of your google search.

Good luck.

 

[Rui Almeida]

That's pretty much how mine sits if I recall correctly. I haven't put it on this year yet so can't say for certain. The first time I fitted it I was a bit concerned about the fit but it didn't leak so thought they all must be like that.
May be your seals need softening a bit to get a better seal

The problem is the passenger's side looks way better and flush all around and didn't leak when i tested and this side did. they don't look the same that's why i am concerned about it.

 

[Jack Ratt]

The problem is the passenger's side looks way better and flush all around and didn't leak when i tested and this side did. they don't look the same that's why i am concerned about it.

Then it needs moving over a little to get the fit the same. There is a little sideways adjustment at the windscreen edge

 

[Rui Almeida]

Then it needs moving over a little to get the fit the same. There is a little sideways adjustment at the windscreen edge

That's the biggest issues as they are quite align on the front again the seal on the A pilar .

 

[Low Rider]

https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-hard-top-fitting-1996-to-2002.74/

 

[Rui Almeida]

I am just wondering that people talk a lot about adjusting the fitting kit but the i did it yesterday you can move a mil or something loosing the 3 bolts but them you have the 10mm nut facing up and that wouldn't allow much movement any way. So can't really see how adjusting the pin will fix the window alignment.

 

[Jack Ratt]

My rear fitting kit is not OEM and most likely isn't like yours, but mine does adjust forward / backward and side to side. I haven't really paid much attention to the proper BMW kit so don't know if it will adjust sideways

 

[Rui Almeida]

https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-hard-top-fitting-1996-to-2002.74/

I had a good look at this before I bought the hardtop and now looking at it again made me think that there's one or two things I can still do to align it properly unfortunately I haven't got the second person to help taking the roof out so will keep the link saved and try it later with some help.
I am keen in untight all the bolts on the hardtop and brackets fit the hardtop try to align it by moving the hardtop and once fairly happy with it try to tight some of the bolts and check the windows again.

Thanks

 

[Rui Almeida]

My rear fitting kit is not OEM and most likely isn't like yours, but mine does adjust forward / backward and side to side. I haven't really paid much attention to the proper BMW kit so don't know if it will adjust sideways

Yeah mines are gem and just seen that might have a bit of adjustment in x and y. Will re align the whole thing once I get someone's help to take it out.

Thanks

 

[g8jka]

You are able to adjust the alignment of the window, if you have got the hardtop sitting flush and how you want it then you can realign the window. There is a 10mm bolt at the bottom of the door which can be loosened off allowing the whole window to move which should allow you to get it to sit better against the seal. Then its worth applying a load of gummi pfledge to the seals to try and swell them up a little.

 

[Daz3]

You are able to adjust the alignment of the window, if you have got the hardtop sitting flush and how you want it then you can realign the window. There is a 10mm bolt at the bottom of the door which can be loosened off allowing the whole window to move which should allow you to get it to sit better against the seal. Then its worth applying a load of gummi pfledge to the seals to try and swell them up a little.

This is exactly what I did and I had the same issue. Just drop the window down a bit and it will seal better against the rubber.

 

[Daz3]

Here's mine leaking the water just sits on the top of the window and eventually seeps in.

Once I dropped the window you can see the better fit.

 

[Rui Almeida]

You are able to adjust the alignment of the window, if you have got the hardtop sitting flush and how you want it then you can realign the window. There is a 10mm bolt at the bottom of the door which can be loosened off allowing the whole window to move which should allow you to get it to sit better against the seal. Then its worth applying a load of gummi pfledge to the seals to try and swell them up a little.

What kind of adjustment are we talking about? Does that bolt allows you to move the regulator that holds the window? You can't just put the window down because mine is just over the rubber on the rear end and the front area of the window must touch the front quarter window rubber. Will still need to realign the whole hardtop has doesn't look or sound that good to me but will keep that alignment in mind.

Thanks

 

[Rui Almeida]

Here's mine leaking the water just sits on the top of the window and eventually seeps in.
View attachment 47496
Once I dropped the window you can see the better fit.
View attachment 47497

Cool, Don't you have now water dripping on the front side of the window as you dropped it a bit? or you drop the back of the window independently on the front side of it?

Thanks

 

[Rui Almeida]

Right guys,

Just read the instructions carefully and quite understood why mine isn't that good. Do you actually need the mounting gage and feeler gauge parts to align the hardtop for the first time?
If so where can you get them from as I can't find anything online. Will dealer be the only option ?

Thanks

 

[DavidM]

You will probably find your settings are not too far out! Refer to he measurements in the BMW Guidelines and ensure the rear of the hardtop is at least the recommended distance from the bodywork - I think just over 1/4" - but check the exact measurement - and as I said I in my post above ensure side measurements are equal on both sides of the hardtop - measured from the rear of the side windows out to the edge of the hardtop sides. Use rubber to protect rear and sides of bodywork.

I hope this helps.

 

[Antm72]

The gauges are very rare i cannot recall anyone having mentioned even having a set !

 

[Rui Almeida]

You will probably find your settings are not too far out! Refer to he measurements in the BMW Guidelines and ensure the rear of the hardtop is at least the recommended distance from the bodywork - I think just over 1/4" - but check the exact measurement - and as I said I in my post above ensure side measurements are equal on both sides of the hardtop - measured from the rear of the side windows out to the edge of the hardtop sides. Use rubber to protect rear and sides of bodywork.

I hope this helps.

I a found a measurement for when you use a mounting gauge and feeler gauge at 0.25 never seen anything about 1/4". Will give it a go tomorrow as I just seen how not centre mine is at the moment.
Thanks