3rd Party Trader Soft-Tops for Z1, Z3 and Z4

[Carhoods Direct]

Carhoods Direct can offer members of zroadster.org a 10% discount from their website catalogue prices on all Z carhoods.

We only supply carhoods made from Haartz mohair as used by BMW; with all seams taped, glued and sewn and with DOT approved glass or plastic screens. Our products carry a 72 month warranty against defects (full details can be seen on our website.

To view our Z products copy and paste the link below into your browser:
https://www.carhoodsdirect.co.uk/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=1285

When ordering use coupon code Z3ORG to receive the members discount. Payment can be by Card or Paypal.​

 

[t-tony]

Carhoods Direct can offer members of zroadster.org a 10% discount from their website catalogue prices on all Z carhoods.

We only supply carhoods made from Haartz mohair as used by BMW; with all seams taped, glued and sewn and with DOT approved glass or plastic screens. Our products carry a 72 month warranty against defects (full details can be seen on our website.

To view our Z products copy and paste the link below into your browser:
https://www.carhoodsdirect.co.uk/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=1285

When ordering use coupon code Z3ORG to receive the members discount. Payment can be by Card or Paypal.​

Thank you, do you have a fitting service please, mobile or other.

Tony.

 

[Trotter]

Thank you, do you have a fitting service please, mobile or other.

Tony.

Hi Tony,
Just seen this in the FAQ's ... "

• Do you fit soft-tops?

We fit all the tops that we supply so in that way we can give you the best advice if you encounter problems during a self-fit and we know that the product we sell fits correctly. However, we no longer fit tops for our customers as we are concentrating on our supply business."
That's a shame. I think fitting a replacement may be beyond me :-(

 

[Carhoods Direct]

Thank you, do you have a fitting service please, mobile or other.

Tony.

Hi
Not unless you happen to be in the south of France. Sorry. Where are you located as I can probably recommend someone.

 

[GazHyde]

Finally get chance to officially welcome you to ZRoadster.org Jon!

Glad to have you here, and hope you can hook the members up with some top quality hoods.

 

[Lexybhoy]

Hi
Not unless you happen to be in the south of France. Sorry. Where are you located as I can probably recommend someone.

Tony,

Not sure if you've had this work done yet or not. I've placed an order with Jon about two weeks ago and intend on fitting this myself (hopefully).

So I'll let you know how I get on. Likewise if you have done it, is there anything I should know in advance ?

 

[Brian H]

Tony,

Not sure if you've had this work done yet or not. I've placed an order with Jon about two weeks ago and intend on fitting this myself (hopefully).

So I'll let you know how I get on. Likewise if you have done it, is there anything I should know in advance ?

I'd be interested in seeing this done, if you need a spare pair of hands just shout, I would be more than happy to lend a hand for a day

 

[t-tony]

I haven't done mine and now won't be as I've got the Z4. Still interested in how it goes though.

Tony.

 

[hard top]

Likewise if you have done it, is there anything I should know in advance ?

Have a word with @FRANKIE he did his DIY.

And this is a 'how to'.
http://webspace.ringling.edu/~dplassma/str/str.html

 

[hard top]

Don't know if this guy is still active on the forum. No recent activity information is available for Stumpy.

Having posted my two minute video for a bit of fun I guess I should share some of my experiences that may be useful to others who are thinking of replacing their soft top.
Please bare in mind I have never attempted a project like this before but I am quite methodical and mechanically minded.
I did as much research as I could before I started and soon realised no two sets of instructions were quite the same even the BMW TIS instructions left a lot to be desired. I guess no two cars are exactly the same and no two tops are identical so it is not an exact science.
Even today I have been tweaking the top a mm here and a mm there to try and get that perfect fit.
The first unforeseen problem I had when tackling the job was the factory fitted headlining on my car wasn't mentioned in any instructions I'd seen but thankfully it wasn't to much of a hurdle. Also I luckily removed the top the hard way removing the back bow from inside the car. I very nearly did it the easy way by cutting the old top off around the boot area with a box knife as suggested by the experts but just so glad I didn't because they don't mention the webbing straps attaching the back bow to the frame which I could so easily have cut through. The brackets holding the end of the tension wires both broke on removal but were quite easy to fix and rivet back in place.
Refitting the rear bow is really frustrating because of the access. Patience is a must, I found the two end bolts next to the B pillar so problematic. You're in the lap of the God's, the right hand bolt took me 5 minutes, the left hand one probably took me 40 minutes just to get the thread started, very bruised arms too. Once the back bow is secured the making good is quite straight forward but time consuming. The rear quarters are fiddly and I made several fixes before I was happy. I also found the front rail fixing very time consuming, all the instructions make it sound so easy but there are no holes to guide you on the new hood, you have to decide how tight to make the fit and again it took four or five attempts to get it right. So easy to make it to tight, no wrinkles - but makes latching impossible.
My hood is now latched down, tight but not to tight, and that's how it will stay for a couple of weeks even if the sun does come out.
Hopefully it will settle but I am prepared that I may have to make some small and final tweaks then.
I also found another useful set of instructions at
http://www.roadstersolutions.com/media/PDF/GAHH Install Instructions Z3 96-02.pdf
I don't think there is anything technically difficult for the average mechanically minded person with basic tools (+ heavy duty electric or air stapler) to fit their own new soft top.
Experience is a wonderful thing but doing a 'one off' like this you have to be brave and just take the bull by the horns!
Do your homework, take your time and be patient.
I think you ought to leave yourself at least a couple of full days to replace your soft top unless you have experienced help. Apparently the pros can do it in <5 hours! It took me nearly that long just to take it apart on the first evening, then the whole of the next day cleaning, stapling and fitting the new hood. The day after that a couple of hours readjusting, so probably 16+ hours in total, but I did take my time, I spent time labelling parts and fixings. I did waste time taking unnecessary photos for my spoof video but I was never in a hurry, if it took me 5 or 25hours it didn't matter, it wasn't a race. I cannot stress the importance of protecting your cars paintwork too, working over the boot/trunk with sharp tools and flailing steel bow can so easily cause damage and I made that my very first task before anything else. Also when stapling the new hood to the old bow I placed a 5 foot plank across the back of the car so I was working on a solid base which made the stapling job safe, easy and accurate.
I wish you well when you replace your soft top and I will be really interested to hear how you get on.
Cheers Stumpy...................

#22Stumpy, Apr 6, 2015

 

[FRANKIE]

Tony,

Not sure if you've had this work done yet or not. I've placed an order with Jon about two weeks ago and intend on fitting this myself (hopefully).

So I'll let you know how I get on. Likewise if you have done it, is there anything I should know in advance ?

There are cable ties on each side of the top that help keep the top tight against the frame. Your new top should have a new set of these with it. Also, there are pieces of plastic sewn into the curve of the top where it meets the curve of the windows. Some less expensive tops don't have these and they are NEEDED. Make sure the top you order has these. Take a look at your existing top. My car is a '96 1.9. Newer models have different channels for the cable ties and different ways they attach to the frame. Make sure you follow your model car when looking at installation procedures or you will be wondering what you're missing. Frankie

 

[Carhoods Direct]

There are cable ties on each side of the top that help keep the top tight against the frame. Your new top should have a new set of these with it. Also, there are pieces of plastic sewn into the curve of the top where it meets the curve of the windows. Some less expensive tops don't have these and they are NEEDED. Make sure the top you order has these. Take a look at your existing top. My car is a '96 1.9. Newer models have different channels for the cable ties and different ways they attach to the frame. Make sure you follow your model car when looking at installation procedures or you will be wondering what you're missing. Frankie

They are not cable ties they are side tension cables which is quite different over here! Our tops come with both the early and the late side cables for ease of installation. As for the original plastics that were on a BMW top, yes ours come with those as well.

 

[FRANKIE]

They are not cable ties they are side tension cables which is quite different over here! Our tops come with both the early and the late side cables for ease of installation. As for the original plastics that were on a BMW top, yes ours come with those as well.

I stand corrected. I had just been working with some cable ties outside the house and the term just stuck in my head. I think they were called cable tensioners.

 

[oldcarman]

Looking forward to this as I have a new top just no time to fit right now and the HT is going on hopefully this weekend! JIM

 

[FRANKIE]

Looking forward to this as I have a new top just no time to fit right now and the HT is going on hopefully this weekend! JIM

Just in time for the first snow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Frankie

 

[oldcarman]

Just in time for the first snow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Frankie

Nope! Had that already but I'm so
lazy and busy time has flow by ! Bigger things to worry about right now @FRANKIE such as getting my Canuk rust free car home!! JIM

 

[FRANKIE]

Nope! Had that already but I'm so
lazy and busy time has flow by ! Bigger things to worry about right now @FRANKIE such as getting my Canuk rust free car home!! JIM

THAT'S TELLING HIM!!!!!!!!!!! DON'T BACK OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[FRANKIE]

Don't know if this guy is still active on the forum. No recent activity information is available for Stumpy.

Having posted my two minute video for a bit of fun I guess I should share some of my experiences that may be useful to others who are thinking of replacing their soft top.
Please bare in mind I have never attempted a project like this before but I am quite methodical and mechanically minded.
I did as much research as I could before I started and soon realised no two sets of instructions were quite the same even the BMW TIS instructions left a lot to be desired. I guess no two cars are exactly the same and no two tops are identical so it is not an exact science.
Even today I have been tweaking the top a mm here and a mm there to try and get that perfect fit.
The first unforeseen problem I had when tackling the job was the factory fitted headlining on my car wasn't mentioned in any instructions I'd seen but thankfully it wasn't to much of a hurdle. Also I luckily removed the top the hard way removing the back bow from inside the car. I very nearly did it the easy way by cutting the old top off around the boot area with a box knife as suggested by the experts but just so glad I didn't because they don't mention the webbing straps attaching the back bow to the frame which I could so easily have cut through. The brackets holding the end of the tension wires both broke on removal but were quite easy to fix and rivet back in place.
Refitting the rear bow is really frustrating because of the access. Patience is a must, I found the two end bolts next to the B pillar so problematic. You're in the lap of the God's, the right hand bolt took me 5 minutes, the left hand one probably took me 40 minutes just to get the thread started, very bruised arms too. Once the back bow is secured the making good is quite straight forward but time consuming. The rear quarters are fiddly and I made several fixes before I was happy. I also found the front rail fixing very time consuming, all the instructions make it sound so easy but there are no holes to guide you on the new hood, you have to decide how tight to make the fit and again it took four or five attempts to get it right. So easy to make it to tight, no wrinkles - but makes latching impossible.
My hood is now latched down, tight but not to tight, and that's how it will stay for a couple of weeks even if the sun does come out.
Hopefully it will settle but I am prepared that I may have to make some small and final tweaks then.
I also found another useful set of instructions at
http://www.roadstersolutions.com/media/PDF/GAHH Install Instructions Z3 96-02.pdf
I don't think there is anything technically difficult for the average mechanically minded person with basic tools (+ heavy duty electric or air stapler) to fit their own new soft top.
Experience is a wonderful thing but doing a 'one off' like this you have to be brave and just take the bull by the horns!
Do your homework, take your time and be patient.
I think you ought to leave yourself at least a couple of full days to replace your soft top unless you have experienced help. Apparently the pros can do it in <5 hours! It took me nearly that long just to take it apart on the first evening, then the whole of the next day cleaning, stapling and fitting the new hood. The day after that a couple of hours readjusting, so probably 16+ hours in total, but I did take my time, I spent time labelling parts and fixings. I did waste time taking unnecessary photos for my spoof video but I was never in a hurry, if it took me 5 or 25hours it didn't matter, it wasn't a race. I cannot stress the importance of protecting your cars paintwork too, working over the boot/trunk with sharp tools and flailing steel bow can so easily cause damage and I made that my very first task before anything else. Also when stapling the new hood to the old bow I placed a 5 foot plank across the back of the car so I was working on a solid base which made the stapling job safe, easy and accurate.
I wish you well when you replace your soft top and I will be really interested to hear how you get on.
Cheers Stumpy...................

#22Stumpy, Apr 6, 2015

So I called this guy about 20 times about the hard top and no reply. The last time I called him and left a message, I said if he didn't want to sell anything, get back to me and let me know so I don't keep bothering you. I called back in 4 minutes. The hard top was sold along with several other items. I asked him why he was parting out the car because it looked so good from his pictures. He told me that he had an accident in the front and it was too expensive to fix. Many things were gone, the seats, hard top, engine, transmission, etc. Frankie

 

[Lexybhoy]

Hi everyone, thanks for the comments/help. H/T, thanks for the abundance of info.

Jon at CHD said the hood comes with instructions also so I'll contrast and compare these with the link above and go from there.

Just hope the hood turns before the weather turns here.

Lex.

 

[Lexybhoy]

I'd be interested in seeing this done, if you need a spare pair of hands just shout, I would be more than happy to lend a hand for a day

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the kind offer. I'll give it a bash on my own initially. There's a hood replacement place in Glasgow so if things get really messy then I have that option.