Hardtop

mwpe

Zorg Guru (V)
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Dec 8, 2011
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178
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Camberley
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3.0
My hardtop hasn't been out of the shed for 3 years so I thought it was time to give it an airing, handy now the April showers are here. I definitely like the look of it but it won't stay on long because I like the fresh air too much.

Hardtop at pirbrght.jpg
 

Mint

Zorg Expert (I)
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British Zeds
East Anglian Crew
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Sep 23, 2012
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222
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Stafford
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2.2 & 3.0 Sport
I agree with you Mike. I do like the look with a hardtop on, but it does defeat the object of a convertible car. I only ever had the hardtop on my 3 litre for the trip home from the seller.
 

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
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Feb 20, 2015
Points
231
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
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2.8 Roadster
Same page, I think the Z3 looks superb with the hard top on, I couldn't get one though as said by Dave, it's a convertible.
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
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#ZedShed
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Dec 31, 2013
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Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
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E89 Z4 23i Auto
That's the beauty of an E89. Good looks of a coupe and you can take the top off.

Tony.
 

Jack Ratt

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The West Country
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TRURO, CORNWALL
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2.8i AUTO and 2.8i MANUAL
I can't remember the last time I took mine off

Z3.jpg
 

GDavis

Zorg Legend
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Sep 10, 2022
Points
66
Location
Bristol
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Z3 2.8 facelift. Z3 3.0i
I love the hard top look, but agree with the majority, it's a convertible sportscar.
Took mine off to work on the inside of the car.
Now I discover the rear window Zip is not fully engaged so either I put it back on or my car lives under the car cover.
Obviously I need to sort the zip....any ideas
 

Althulas

Zorg Guru (V)
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Banburyshire
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M Roadster
I love the hard top look, but agree with the majority, it's a convertible sportscar.
Took mine off to work on the inside of the car.
Now I discover the rear window Zip is not fully engaged so either I put it back on or my car lives under the car cover.
Obviously I need to sort the zip....any ideas
I would suggest suggest purchasing one of these

but have a shop about as that seems pricey for what it is. You will need to check the integrity of the material surrounding the zip itself is not rotten and going to pull away.

Just found on here you need a YKK No 5 Zipper it’ll be cheaper than a tenner. There is a guide on here somewhere for fitting a two person job makes it easier.
 

GDavis

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Bristol
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Z3 2.8 facelift. Z3 3.0i
Thanks for the tip
So are you saying I'll need to remove the window and start again, no way of re-zipping the bit that's unzipped itself ?
I gave it a little pressure and it seems to want to unzip more as I push on the window next to the zip.
 

Richard29

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Mar 10, 2022
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Z3 3.0 Auto
You will have to start right st the beginning to get all of it zipped
 

GDavis

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British Zeds
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Bristol
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Z3 2.8 facelift. Z3 3.0i
That's what I thought, hoped against.
Found some instructions online, also in 'Hardtops'forum postings on new plastic windows
 

GDavis

Zorg Legend
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Z3 2.8 facelift. Z3 3.0i
I think the window is actually in pretty good nick, not too old.
However it was not fitted correctly and there's a bit of old stitching here that obviously hasn't worked
IMG_20230325_143810855_HDR.jpg
 

Althulas

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Banburyshire
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M Roadster
Looks a straight forward fix, once zipped just do a better sowing job than previously done. The material can be stuck down with 3m double sided or silicone but requires only a small bead or you’ll have it every where just slide the cloth under the trim with a plastic tool or corner of a credit card.
 

GDavis

Zorg Legend
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British Zeds
Joined
Sep 10, 2022
Points
66
Location
Bristol
Model of Z
Z3 2.8 facelift. Z3 3.0i
should have had a go at it this afternoon, it was dry and sunny.
Tomorrow doesn't look to good weather wise.
 

GDavis

Zorg Legend
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British Zeds
Joined
Sep 10, 2022
Points
66
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Bristol
Model of Z
Z3 2.8 facelift. Z3 3.0i
Eventually got around to taking the hard top back off and doing the soft top window.
Actually was not too difficult.:)
As the window was still in place the wife and I teamed up, one on the inside, one on the outside. I put the Zipper puller back on the open part of the zip, and slowly we went around the window, with a plastic tool in front of the zipper opening it up , as the zipper came along about 50mm behind, closing it back together again.
All the way round, then stitched it over the start/finish of the zip. Lovely job. Whole thing 15 mins;)
Of course the plastic trim won't hold the edge of the canvas but I'll have to think about how to tackle that in a nice tidy way.
Any suggestions ??
 
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