I think that @yocky z3 2.0 mentioned Jack Smith - Is there a web site, or a way to see some of their work in the flesh...?
Found Hood for 1997 Z3
- Thread starter Bringit96
- Start date
Jack Smith operates on word of mouth apart from an out of date Facebook page.
I don't think you'll find a better set of photos than in this thread from g8jka.
There are also some very recent threads on the forum all praising the quality and with some additional photos.
https://zroadster.org/threads/cracked-rear-screen.27092/
https://zroadster.org/threads/pistachio-has-a-new-hood.27109/
I've done some digging on this @Sean d . You are essentially correct but it's a twisted plot.Just to confirm that mohair is a type of denim, nothing exotic about it, I thought it was from some sort of goat
One correction first of all. Mohair is not a type of denim. It's unquestionably from a goat.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohair
Does that mean our roofs are made of goat hair? No. Why not? Because despite every soft top supplier around telling you their hoods are Mohair, including Jack Smith they are not. These guys make a very clear claim of mohair which is totally contradicted by their supplier.
http://www.thesofttopshop.com/bmw-z3
This page from their supplier appears to give the truth.
http://www.haartz.com/vintage-restorers-guide/glossary-z
In summary from this page:
The term “mohair” is still used in the United Kingdom to refer to rubber-combined cloth “hood” (top) fabrics, although we are not aware of any such material containing true mohair.
Assuming Haartz supply everyone and not just The Soft Top Shop. Reasonable assumption? This is what the claimed Mohair actually is.
http://www.haartz.com/exteriors/cloth-topping
It's one of 4 possibles - I suspect Twillfast (certainly The Soft Top Shop use this) but they are all essentially heavy duty cloth finished which you may want to call denim.
Does any of this matter? I think probably not. It's not just a piece of denim. if you read the Haartz descriptions you'll see that this is a highly engineered multi-layer covering used by the factories of all the top car manufacturers in the world.
So in short an unnecessary piece of marketing to say it's Mohair. But for sure what Jack Smith uses looks good and seems to hold up well.
I'm down to go on Saturday, but have the hardtop on at the moment. If I get chance to take it off and the weather stays dry I will and you can have a look at mine. It is coming upto 3 years old now and not pristine but then you can see how well it's held up.
I'm told that the mohair has a rubberised middle so three layers to ensure they are waterproof.
The Haartz link above explains the composition - for the 'not really mohair'.
When do you hope to start to fit it ? Geoffyes, what do I need to check on the new one to make sure I can get it on?
It'll probably have to wait until July when I've finished uni and have a few days to do it. The car is parked out of the elements so it'll be fine until then.
That makes good sense what are you studying at uni and where
I see that you were at the Midlands Zedshed having a good time maybe they would help with changing your top
Wish we had a Zedshed down south west. Geoff
You could always set one up Geoff??
Yes but we need a Tony
You can't have him! He belongs to the Midlands branch, we have all on getting him over Dunham bloody bridge!!!
Don't I know it. 80 bloody pence the other day!