Rear Screen replacement from BMW

[AlanZ]

Hi all,
I am in the process of replacing the rear screen as my original is well past it and happy to have a go myself and fit it. My query, is the genuine BMW replacement worth getting and is the genuine OEM one easier to fit? BMW dealer said it does not come with a fitting kit only the zip, yet i have seen on the youtube videos that some aftermarket screens have double sided tape to hold the fabric in under the rubber seam?
They quoted me £248 inc VAT to supply.

Thanks Alan

 

[the Nefyn cat]

£248 to supply? Sure I've seen people on here getting a whole new roof for £350, and when I had my rear screen replaced by these people http://autofocuscarcare.co.uk/sunroof-convertible-repairs/3481472 in Sandbach four years ago it was about £140. Bound to have gone up a bit since then, but not by that much.

 

[Grumps]

I'd definitely gets full roof fitted for the extra £100

 

[AlanZ]

Thanks for info. Yes it would seem the extra £100 for new roof would be the best option, then see who will fit it. Thought a new roof was £750 plus for some reason . I need to do some more research and not goto the stealer. Thanks again.

 

[Synclare]

£350 is supply AND fit (although that is not a zip in screen but sewn in)

 

[Grumps]

Thanks for info. Yes it would seem the extra £100 for new roof would be the best option, then see who will fit it. Thought a new roof was £750 plus for some reason . I need to do some more research and not goto the stealer. Thanks again.

Jack Smith Swansea way supplies and fits for £350. A lot on here have used him and praise his work.

 

[Lenny b]

Southern soft tops £425, mot oem but have good reviews. I am getting a new roof in a few weeks, I'll let you know how it goes

 

[gookah]

This is the "Art Munster Design' aftermarket screen I fitted, after a few months of use.

the creases were from it folding, and they never came out.

The screen itself developed a cloudy haze that was in the plastic not just a coating that would polish out.
I almost wrecked the roof zip trying to get it to start, as there was next to no lead in on the window zip. The roof part of the zip just about lasted for the final attempt.
Never again, and AMD not interested in the slightest.
For me, it would have to have been a BMW window in future, but when you compare the prices, then a new roof was always the way forward.

 

[motco]

What if the low-cost aftermarket roof is as poor as the window you have? At least OEM is to BMW standards.

 

[Ianmc]

If the OEM hood is in good condition, I would be inclined to get a new OEM window personally.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

I have had the AMD screen in mine for 3 years now and it is holding up very well. It took a couple of attempts to get it positioned correctly but other than that it was a breeze. For the grand total of £77 I would consider using one again.

 

[AussieAbroad]

Flying Miata screen on mine, super easy to fit and I think from memory I paid about £70 delivered.

Still looks fine after a year!

 

[motco]

I've had my 2002 car for almost ten years and it has an original rear window and hood. Slight occlusion of the window but not enough to require more than a wash and light buffing. I'd stick with OEM to replace I think. My hood is perfect too but I Autoglym clean and reproof from time to time.

 

[gookah]

What if the low-cost aftermarket roof is as poor as the window you have? At least OEM is to BMW standards.

there are many many recommendations on here of low cost aftermarket hoods, and they are certainly not low quality.
I have had one for 6 years now and its still great. £325 fitted

 

[the Nefyn cat]

I've yet to see or hear a bad word about Jack Smiths' roofs, and there's been plenty of people on here been to him for one.

 

[Mint]

I've yet to see or hear a bad word about Jack Smiths' roofs, and there's been plenty of people on here been to him for one.

I'm one of them and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

 

[Dino D]

What if the low-cost aftermarket roof is as poor as the window you have? At least OEM is to BMW standards.

I tend to agree with this on many things but not on parts that BMW don’t actually make

Low cost does not automatically = poor quality

BMW don’t make roofs or windows so there is a big markup for ‘BMW’ quality.

And BMW ‘standards’ leave a lot to be desired in some areas (think oil seals, sensors, cooling system - no other brand of car I’ve owned has had such poor quality on these parts which are treated as service items on a BMW but last the life of car on others!)

It is of course worth checking the quality of an ‘aftermarket’ hood but it is likely there aren’t many places that make the actual fabrics and window materials it’s probably all from the same place. And the tech on a Z3 hood predates the stone age so nothing groundbreaking going on in terms of design - even an MX5 has a glass window!

£248 for a plastic window with a zip seems like robbery - you sure it wasn’t an ///M version which has some extra tax on it

 

[mrscalex]

There are a number of factors that can make the OEM screen choice inconsequential versus a new roof:

As @gookah says, it can be an absolute nightmare getting the zip started properly. And you can damage the roof side zip. Plenty succeed but plenty fail too.

The stitching holding the roof side zip in is more often than not rotting on an original roof. Requiring careful and time consuming repair or the risk of pulling apart especially on the corners.

When my roof was peeled off it was mouldy between the roof outer and headlining. So a new roof gives the chance to freshen that up.

There’s a good chance the rear bulkhead waterproofing seals are gone and leaking water. This is one of the main sources of damp carpets. A new roof gets new seals and resolves this.

Most original roofs will be shrunk by now. Around the window making it difficult to get the canvas under the piping tidily. And over the door windows which are supposed to extend to create a water run off canopy.

A BMW screen may also be 20 years old since it was made and sitting on the shelf all that time.

A Jack Smith roof for £330 is top quality. No catches.

I know a good few people succeed in fitting new screens and are happy but bear in mind the above.

 

[AlanZ]

Thanks for your replies and a lot to think about on best way forward. I have also seen on Ebay that a company can stitch a new plastic window in for £59 using your original. Suppose I would then need to obtain a zipper to zip it back in and double sided tape to hold the material down before it tucks in the plastic original seam. I presume others have tried this service or not?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z3-S...071789?hash=item3b2dd6076d:g:cQMAAOSwU1FaCXD4

 

[mrscalex]

Reusing your existing zip has the benefit of knowing that in theory it should all mesh together nicely. And that it will fit back well into your car if done properly.

The big issue is there is a good chance the zip ends will already be knackered or become knackered on refitting. You need a sharp ‘blade’ of fabric to start you off in the zip and it frays very easily.

If you want to go down that route I would be inclined to let a specialist do it for you. But that can cost up to £250 and it then becomes a no-brainer to pay £80 more for the new roof.

I had this done on my brothers Z3. It was supposed to be £140. But ended up at £240 as a load of roof stitching had to be redone. It was a good job though. That was Soft Tops in Coventry.

But I’ve seen the light now. And my car was done by Jack Smith last month.