How To Guide How to Remove Z3 Roll Hoops

[spurs fan in a coupe]

As title, promised for a member on here.

The last one of these I did the photos disappeared thanks to photobucket.

No need to remove the seat, I just happened to have it out already.

First you need to get the hoops themselves off. You need to gently prise these covers out, the ones in the storage box you push a screwdriver in the square hole and pull upwards, otherwise you’ll bend the clips.

Then use a T40 torx bit to remove the 6 bolts

Then pull the hoops upwards

Then pull the inner leg covers off (clips only)

Then you need to get the storage box out, just 7 Phillips screws, one each side tucked deep in the cavity. The little ones don’t need to come out.

The box lifts out

Then remove the turret covers and speaker panels, all Phillips screws, plus the 16mm that holds the seat belt onto the seat.

TBC

 

[spurs fan in a coupe]

Then you can see the hardware / mounts that hold the inner legs of the roll hoops.

Then are held on with two 10mm hex bolts and about seven T30 torx bolts, you need to peel back the carpet, be careful not to drop a bolt down behind the carpet!

Then you are done!

 

[spurs fan in a coupe]

@Gary Coppell

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Great guide Andy, now can you show us how to put them back in

 

[spurs fan in a coupe]

Great guide Andy, now can you show us how to put them back in

I don't do installs!

 

[Althulas]

Another great guide Andy

 

[davidrbroder62]

As my original question stated, my plastics don't have the little doors to access the bolts on the hoops. So how do I get to them without breaking the plastics which are very brittle?

 

[spurs fan in a coupe]

As my original question stated, my plastics don't have the little doors to access the bolts on the hoops. So how do I get to them without breaking the plastics which are very brittle?

A photo may help but I think the answer to your question is they are not bolted to the car. With no access controls ver like this I can’t see how they would be (2 bolts behind).

There is one through here

Which may be how the hoops are bolted on

 

[davidrbroder62]

As my original question stated, my plastics don't have the little doors to access the bolts on the hoops. So how do I get to them without breaking the plastics which are very brittle?

Here's the problem. There is no way to remove the hoops as I can see. The center of the rear deck is held in place by the roll bars themselves. It's a terrible design. I could have done a better job.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

Looks like a previous owner has got hold of some hoops but not the plastics and done a total bodge job on that. Wouldn't be surprised if the hoops have been glued in place.

 

[John_B]

It's a terrible design. I could have done a better job.

Wow, somebody has made a real mess of that. That is not how they were designed!!! I have a PDF of the OEM installation guide if you'd like to see how it's done. I can't attach it for some reason, but send me a PM and I'll send it via that if you're interested.

If you manage to get the hoops out and want a pair of black non-roll-hoop turrets let me know, I have a pair on the shelf in my garage, although I recommend you look for a full set of plastics because they have totally butchered that storage box too

 

[Ianmc]

It's a good thing that the Z3 was designed without roll hoops; they are just bling really. That said, those pictured above are likely to do damage to the occupants as they come away in the event of a roll.

 

[John_B]

It's a good thing that the Z3 was designed without roll hoops; they are just bling really. That said, those pictured above are likely to do damage to the occupants as they come away in the event of a roll.

Incorrect, these ones are the structural ones (subject to however that neanderthal fitted them), they have a heavy duty bracket securing them to the bulkhead under the storage box. It's the semi-circular chrome ones which are just bling and would not withstand a roll

 

[Ianmc]

Incorrect, these ones are the structural ones (subject to however that neanderthal fitted them), they have a heavy duty bracket securing them to the bulkhead under the storage box. It's the semi-circular chrome ones which are just bling and would not withstand a roll

Maybe, but the car was designed not to need roll hoops (the seats provide that function).

 

[davidrbroder62]

The hoops are in solidly. I just can't see how they can be removed. There are no bolts (if you look at the 4th and 5th photos) holding them in. The one post is exposed because the plastic surround broke. I find that most of the plastic in this car is rather brittle. My rear deck has no cargo space openening nor does it have the little access doors at the shoulder. Someone suggested that a previous owner had these custom made but that makes no sense, who would go through the expense of doing that unless they are aftermarket and then if so why wouldn't they have the openings and the glove box?

 

[John_B]

Ffs

 

[Nodzed]

@davidrbroder62 is your Zed pre 01/97 build?

 

[davidrbroder62]

I have no idea. I just know that it's a 1997.

 

[Nodzed]

Ok well the sticker under the bonnet would tell you exactly when it was built, month and year.
If it is then it would explain what's happened. As I understand it the very early cars left the factory with no mounting points for the hoop inner brackets, therefore its most likely there were also no bolt threads put into the hoop outer brackets, why would they.

I would suspect the car was built in 96 (may be registered later) or is a very early 97 and is one of the model crossovers and if this is the case, I would also suggest that the hoops on your car have been fitted with some sort of epoxy glue or liquid metal to secure them into the outer hoop brackets, as @spurs fan in a coupe suggested I doubt the inner side of the hoops are actually connected to anything as there would be no access.
I suspect its a pre owner bodge job as they wanted hoops but couldnt fit them using the standard OEM method.

Not sure how you are going to remove them if this is the case unless you use brute force.

 

[davidrbroder62]

Ok well the sticker under the bonnet would tell you exactly when it was built, month and year.
If it is then it would explain what's happened. As I understand it the very early cars left the factory with no mounting points for the hoop inner brackets, therefore its most likely there were also no bolt threads put into the hoop outer brackets, why would they.

I would suspect the car was built in 96 (may be registered later) or is a very early 97 and is one of the model crossovers and if this is the case, I would also suggest that the hoops on your car have been fitted with some sort of epoxy glue or liquid metal to secure them into the outer hoop brackets, as @spurs fan in a coupe suggested I doubt the inner side of the hoops are actually connected to anything as there would be no access.
I suspect its a pre owner bodge job as they wanted hoops but couldnt fit them using the standard OEM method.

Not sure how you are going to remove them if this is the case unless you use brute force.

Forgive my stupidity. But there are mounting points for the hoops. They are inserted into them, it's just the bolts are missing. As you can see by the attached photo, unless I'm wrong which is quite possible, I'd bet the farm that the "tubes" into which the hoops are inserted were built with the car.