V8rumbler2
Regular Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Points
- 19
I am buying a Z3 hardtop with fitting kit . Can someone please confirm if this is complete ?
Is this a complete hardtop kit
- Thread starter V8rumbler2
- Start date
Is that a genuine BMW Z3 hardtop? I ask that because those brackets (those big parts in your picture) are not original BMW. They look home made.
Proper BMW ones look like this. Note also the wire on that left hand bracket. That's for the heated rear screen.
Looking at your pics I can see that the 3 mounting holes kind of look right and the tube that the roof pins slide down into appear to line up - but the brackets, as a whole, appear to have been made by somebody. Maybe home made or some other company who're selling an alternative bracket.
I don't see any facility for heated rear screen either. Also no switch for said heated screen.
I also want to mention fore, aft, up, down adjustment (ie during first fitting). I'm sure those aftermarket ones have that capability but it looks like a bit of a fiddle. Any documentation you find that describes how to fit a hardtop will describe the original BMW adjustment so won't match those aftermarket ones.
The original kit also has plastic covers that hide the brackets when not in use. Covers are not shown on your picture and it's possible that if you found those covers elsewhere they might not fit those non-BMW brackets.
Apart from that. If they're cheap and you're happy to fiddle with the adjustment and you don't want a heated rear screen (I haven't bothered with mine) then they may be a good deal.
Proper BMW ones look like this. Note also the wire on that left hand bracket. That's for the heated rear screen.
Looking at your pics I can see that the 3 mounting holes kind of look right and the tube that the roof pins slide down into appear to line up - but the brackets, as a whole, appear to have been made by somebody. Maybe home made or some other company who're selling an alternative bracket.
I don't see any facility for heated rear screen either. Also no switch for said heated screen.
I also want to mention fore, aft, up, down adjustment (ie during first fitting). I'm sure those aftermarket ones have that capability but it looks like a bit of a fiddle. Any documentation you find that describes how to fit a hardtop will describe the original BMW adjustment so won't match those aftermarket ones.
The original kit also has plastic covers that hide the brackets when not in use. Covers are not shown on your picture and it's possible that if you found those covers elsewhere they might not fit those non-BMW brackets.
Apart from that. If they're cheap and you're happy to fiddle with the adjustment and you don't want a heated rear screen (I haven't bothered with mine) then they may be a good deal.
Last edited:
V8rumbler2
Regular Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Points
- 19
Does the other side look as it should & are these holes on the front as they should be?
Attachments
Yes the holes are as they should be. The four black brackets at the top in the right hand photo of your first post fit in those holes. I had a kit very similar on my first Z3 a while ago and it worked very well. Once the top is fitted you can't see it so it's fit for purpose. Some enthusiasts wouldn't entertain anything other than BMW parts and I suppose it's each to their own as they say but there's no other reason not to buy it if the price is right.
On the point about the rear window demister I've never had mine wired up and to be honest I've never been inconvenienced by it.
In your picture. The one with all the smaller parts, younsee the parts at the top with 3 holes. They bolt into the roof in the holes you're talking about. They look original BMW But I have no idea why they've been disassembled.
Just for another opinion,my wife uses hers as a daily driver and the heated rear screen is great in the winter,don’t see the point in having something that’s supposed to work that doesn’t because of home made brackets.
The first hardtop we purchased was from Iron Bridge ,so a little way up country for us, when the guy bought it out to fit for the drive home my heart sank
looked like something I would of made in school metalwork.
They work,and really can’t be seen once the roof is on, but I couldn’t wait to move them on and bought genuine parts from Germany for a good price .
The first hardtop we purchased was from Iron Bridge ,so a little way up country for us, when the guy bought it out to fit for the drive home my heart sank
looked like something I would of made in school metalwork.They work,and really can’t be seen once the roof is on, but I couldn’t wait to move them on and bought genuine parts from Germany for a good price .
V8rumbler2
Regular Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Points
- 19
I can obviously buy or make the loom plus buy the switch - then it would work . Plus if the brackets aren’t seen I am not fussed . The HT is in the right colour & got the lot for £620 so I am happy .
If that's the price you paid, on current prices you could look at it as you are getting the hard top at a bargain price with the fitting kit thrown in for free. Bargain of the week