Just wanted an idea how difficult it was to fit a new soft top is all I'm asking Hard top. Thanks for reply.
You can do it yourself if you have the time and patience. It's not rocked science. You absolutely make sure you have the correct top for your car. My old top had plastic strips sewn into it that fit into the curve of the passenger and driver windows. When I ordered the top, I didn't check for this. I opened it up to look at it after the time had passed to return it. After I was finished, I had to go to a pro who made the adjustments for the missing parts. I have a '96 1.9L Z3. Just make sure you have the right top. Also, there were cables that ran through pockets in the top that helped in how the edges of the top edge. These vary depending on the year of your car. I had to remove these cables from the frame of the car so that I could install them into the pockets of the new top. Some tops come with new cables (recommended). Sometimes you have to purchase these separately. On some cars it's easy to use the old ones (not on my top). The pro that refit my car told me that it is much easier to take the frame of the top off and install the new top on the frame when it's on a work table. The top has a bow that bolts to the frame of the car. Between this bow and frame is caulking. The old caulking must be removed and new caulking installed. Water runs down the top into the groove that is between the bow of the frame and the body of the car. It can't seep down into your car because of this caulk. The water then travels along this groove towards either side of the car towards each door. On each side of the car, at the end of this bow is a hole in the body of the car that allows this water to drain down through the body of the car onto the ground. You must made sure these holes are clear by blowing compressed air through them and then testing them with some water to see if it drains through.
You can look online to find videos of this operation (replacing the top). The company you buy the top from will give you excellent directions. Make sure you document where you remove all your screws from so that reverse installation is simple. If your top has pieces that fit along each side window, these pieces have holes drilled into them for screws that allows these pieces to be screwed into the frame at that point. Mine used 2 different types of screws so REMEMBER OR TAKE pictures of which screws go where.. My biggest problem was not documenting exactly what went where thinking I'd remember it. Take a picture of it first before you unscrew it. I would buy a plastic container with multi compartments and after each operation, place those screws into each separate compartment.
Don't let all this deter you. Each step is actually very simple, much easier that working on an engine. You just have to document what you're doing and putting it back together will be a breeze. The bow that screws into the frame of the car has 2 different sizes of screws. 2 are larger that the rest. Removing the old caulk could be the toughest part of the whole job. Take lots of pictures first before you take anything apart and as you take each thing apart.
The new top most probably won't close at first. In fact, you might have a 6 inch or more gap left when trying to close the top. You're going to think you did something wrong. I had to lower my top as far as I could and place my tool bow on top of the end to weigh it down and begin to stretch it so it would close. It took 2 or 3 days for the latches to come close enough to catch the frame around the windshield. Then you can't open your top for a week or two.
Look carefully at how the rubber strip on the body of the car is attached before you remove it. Make sure you protect your paint job as it's easy to scratch the body while working on the top.
Again, IT'S ALL BOLT OFF AND BOLT ON, NOTHING DIFFICULT The caulk is the only bi*** of the job, and even that may not be too bad as sometimes you can just pull it off. I think I posted some videos of the operation. You might be able to get it done in one day depending on your circumstances. Good luck with it and any questions, just ask. Frankie
