Potential roof issue?

[Grumps]

I pulled the car out to give it a clean this morning. After hoovering it out I put the roof up to wash it. After getting back out the car to make a start I noticed the roof wasn't sat properly at the front. There was a gap of around half an inch all the way across the top of the windscreen so getting back inside to check the clips I realised that the hooks had gone into the area just before the main clamping points. It took myself and my neighbour to get them out and the roof seated properly. It's never done this before and I'm not to struck on it happening again especially if it's about to persist it down.
Any idea what could be causing it and how to rectify the problem?

Cheers peeps.

 

[Jack Ratt]

My car has done that too on a couple of occasions but I just take it that I didn't pull it down enough before I fastened it down. I wouldn't be too worried Dave

 

[Z Victor 1]

Roof issue? Thought you meant the house ! Don't want you up there re-tiling that as well.

 

[Grumps]

Roof issue? Thought you meant the house ! Don't want you up there re-tiling that as well.

Funnily enough I used to strip roofs for a living when I was a young whipper snapper Ken.

 

[Dino D]

My passenger side one does this if I’m not careful o pull it down properly while latching.

When it happens it just needs a bit of extra grunt to get it unpatched and then reseated correctly. I find it helps to open the window ad put your left over the top/side of the roof to pull down whilst your get the latch out of the gap it’s not supposed to be in.

I notice it’s worse when the top is hot and dry - do they shrink slightly?

I’ve tried adjusting the latch to make it longer but then it doesn’t seal quite as well...

I do wish these had a proper hood like a Z4 (and a glass screen!)

 

[mrscalex]

Funnily enough I used to strip roofs for a living when I was a young whipper snapper Ken.

That sort of thing lands you in the clink round here if you get caught. Especially churches

 

[Grumps]

My passenger side one does this if I’m not careful o pull it down properly while latching.

When it happens it just needs a bit of extra grunt to get it unpatched and then reseated correctly. I find it helps to open the window ad put your left over the top/side of the roof to pull down whilst your get the latch out of the gap it’s not supposed to be in.

I notice it’s worse when the top is hot and dry - do they shrink slightly?

I’ve tried adjusting the latch to make it longer but then it doesn’t seal quite as well...

I do wish these had a proper hood like a Z4 (and a glass screen!)

You could be right about shrinkage Dino. The car has been sat in the garage for ages with the roof down and it does get very hot in there when the weather's nice.

 

[Paul Rice]

Years ago in a distant passed i sold Escort Cabriolets. They came with a warning when displaying in the showroom do not leave top down for more than 2 days as could cause closing problems similar to the one youve experienced Dave.

 

[Grumps]

Years ago in a distant passed i sold Escort Cabriolets. They came with a warning when displaying in the showroom do not leave top down for more than 2 days as could cause closing problems similar to the one youve experienced Dave.

That would make sense mate it's been down for weeks.

 

[Paul Rice]

That would make sense mate it's been down for weeks.

You posh folks with garages

 

[Grumps]

You posh folks with garages

Haha first one in 47 years.

 

[Mario]

They definitely shrink a bit depending on the temperature and how much time it's been retracted , put a hardtop on all winter and it will be a bear to close in the spring . I used to leave it in the sun with the soft top closed but not latched until it went a bit softer. The key is to do the latching from outside the car use your weight to push the roof down while you latch it with the window open and it will prevent this problem

 

[Althulas]

Would giving the roof a misting from a spray water bottle help it relax a bit if it’s that dry?

 

[Mario]

It's more the heat I think that softens the fabric and the plastic window and cables that I think did it for me

 

[jakechan]

Years ago in a distant passed i sold Escort Cabriolets. They came with a warning when displaying in the showroom do not leave top down for more than 2 days as could cause closing problems similar to the one youve experienced Dave.

BMW wouldn't have sold hard tops if that was the case. Mine is on for months at a time, I've never had this problem.
Pull the top down to the windscreen fully before using the clamps.

Edit: There is of course the other option, RTFM. It works, who'da thunk that eh?

 

[Mint]

It's Reggies way of telling you to use him more

 

[Grumps]

It's Reggies way of telling you to use him more

Agreed but if he was out more the roof would still be down.

 

[Jack Ratt]

You need to pull it a bit harder Dave

 

[Jjim]

I usually have this on my Zeds after I take them out of winter storage. As the soft top has been down for months as they are stored with the hardtop on. The canvas material seems to shrink when dry, and if it’s been warm too that doesn’t help.

Usually find it takes 2 people to get the roof stretched back. After some water it stretches itself out fine.