On a scale of 1-10 (BMW Z3 rear screen change)

bruce&kim

Zorg Legend
The West Country
Joined
Jun 15, 2013
Points
75
How hard is it to fit a new rear screen? Found a new window but not as technically minded as many of you on here
 
B

badman gee

Guest
Difficult one to answer,

Some people say it's easy, I tried it and thought it was difficult.

Gave up and got a new roof instead!

So I'd say an 8
 

GazHyde

Administrator
Administrator
Global Moderator
M Power
Joined
Dec 2, 2011
Points
226
Location
Berkshire
Model of Z
Z4 MR
I've personally never tried it, but all the feedback I've seen is to make sure you have a friend, plenty of time and patience!

@Aceman is probably best to answer this as he wrote the article after doing one himself :)
 
B

badman gee

Guest
Good stuff, I thought why bother with the window if the roof isn't perfect!
 

bruce&kim

Zorg Legend
The West Country
Joined
Jun 15, 2013
Points
75
I've personally never tried it, but all the feedback I've seen is to make sure you have a friend, plenty of time and patience!

@Aceman is probably best to answer this as he wrote the article after doing one himself :)
think a no is the answer to the the two "make sures" so revert back to badmans solution.
 

hard top

Zorg Expert (I)
Dutch Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Points
213
Location
Netherlands
Do you need a new roof?
Otherwise just get someone to put the window in for you.
 

Aceman

Moderator
British Zeds
3rd Party Trader
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Points
156
Location
Wakefield
Model of Z
///M Roadster
It is one of those jobs that if you get it in right first time you will be saying what was all the fuss about but it can end up taking several attempts to get it lined up correctly and turn into a very frustrating job. It is certainly a doable job all the better with an extra pair of hands.
 

t-tony

Zorg Expert (II)
Supporter
British Zeds
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
There you go Bruce&Kim get thi sen up to Wakefield for an extra pair of hands. ;)
 

oldcarman

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
Canadian Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Feb 11, 2014
Points
188
Location
Pine Falls Manitoba can.
Model of Z
1.9 M44
Take a look at the suppliers demo videos, count the teeth where the old one was centred and start the new one in the same spot. I like the German made one that uses the double sided tape rather than contact cement. Can't see where everyone has so many problems but will find out in a couple of weeks when my car finally gets here. JIM
 

Aceman

Moderator
British Zeds
3rd Party Trader
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Points
156
Location
Wakefield
Model of Z
///M Roadster
I presume you have had a read of my article in the knowledgebase if not worth a read. I used the German one that Jim mentioned above and yes the key is getting the zip lined up initially which if you get that right first time it really is plane sailing from there on.

http://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-rear-screen-replacement.61/
 

TaffZee

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 5, 2011
Points
183
Location
Near Llangollen North Wales
Model of Z
Z4 3.0 SE
Recently Done Mine, I marked the original window on the teeth with a bit of white paint, then removed the old one, placed it over the new one and marked the new one up from the old one, I still had too do it twice, but not a bad job all in all, but I went for the cheap option of window, would recommend you pay a bit more and get a decent replacment. But It will cost around £150 if you take it to a specialist, they will remove the old window, and stitch a new window to the zip, had this done on my first Zed and they done a superb job..
 

FRANKIE

Zorg Guru (V)
American Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Sep 2, 2013
Points
193
Location
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, USA
Model of Z
Z3
Difficult one to answer,

Some people say it's easy, I tried it and thought it was difficult.

Gave up and got a new roof instead!

So I'd say an 8
What did you do with the new one you didnt use. (I think I remembered you saying at one time that things weren't going well during the proceedure and you did something nasty with it.) Oh, BY THE WAY, I must have called you about 20 times on Skype and you never answer!! What's up? I thought you said 'call me'. There is something I want to discuss with you. Frankie at work. (Nothing to do with sheep or soap.)
 
B

badman gee

Guest
What did you do with the new one you didnt use. (I think I remembered you saying at one time that things weren't going well during the proceedure and you did something nasty with it.) Oh, BY THE WAY, I must have called you about 20 times on Skype and you never answer!! What's up? I thought you said 'call me'. There is something I want to discuss with you. Frankie at work. (Nothing to do with sheep or soap.)
Sorry Frankie, if I know what time your calling I will answer. (Uk time)

Mark
 

Rev

Zorg Guru (IV)
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Feb 18, 2012
Points
152
Location
The Shire of Lincoln, UK
You can polish the screens if they're not cracked. I recently machine polished some on an old car that I bought and they came up a treat.

:)
 

FRANKIE

Zorg Guru (V)
American Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Sep 2, 2013
Points
193
Location
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, USA
Model of Z
Z3
You can polish the screens if they're not cracked. I recently machine polished some on an old car that I bought and they came up a treat.

:)
Impossible to see through this one plus it has a large rip with tape over it to keep the water out. The new one on the internet from Germany is 72 pounds plus 29 for shipping. I can get a new top for 215 dollars and free shipping. Looking into installation prices. Frankie..How ya been?
 

vintage42

Dedicated Member
American Zeds
Joined
Dec 24, 2013
Points
39
Difficult one to answer, Some people say it's easy, I tried it and thought it was difficult. Gave up and got a new roof instead! So I'd say an 8
I had a good roof, but the black trim was coming off the window. I bought an OEM window, was unable to start the zipper and frayed the tab, so returned it for half credit. I bought a second OEM window, and was again unable to start the zipper. I took it to a roof shop, who also tried and quickly washed their hands of it. They sold me a new roof, and I returned the second window for half credit again. Now I no longer have a zippered window, so the life of the window is the life of the new top.

If I had to do it all over again, I would simply take the car to the dealer and tell them to replace the window. It would have been much cheaper.
 

FRANKIE

Zorg Guru (V)
American Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Sep 2, 2013
Points
193
Location
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, USA
Model of Z
Z3
I had a good roof, but the black trim was coming off the window. I bought an OEM window, was unable to start the zipper and frayed the tab, so returned it for half credit. I bought a second OEM window, and was again unable to start the zipper. I took it to a roof shop, who also tried and quickly washed their hands of it. They sold me a new roof, and I returned the second window for half credit again. Now I no longer have a zippered window, so the life of the window is the life of the new top.

If I had to do it all over again, I would simply take the car to the dealer and tell them to replace the window. It would have been much cheaper.
Ouch!
 
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