Old MrT
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New wind deflector from @ZEDonist UK fitted, may thanks Martin. Should stop my wifes hair blowing around too much and stop head causing too much glare to other motorists 
Wind Deflector
- Thread starter Old MrT
- Start date
- Joined
- May 9, 2022
- Points
- 44
- Model of Z
- Z3 Roadster
Looks a lot like the one I got. Made a huge difference, especially on the highway. I can ride on the interstate with my hat on now!
SV8Predator
Zorg Guru (I)
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- Apr 7, 2018
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- Model of Z
- Z4 E89 2.0 Atacama Yellow / Z3 3.0 Topaz Blue
I've just ordered one of these. Is it not meant to fit on the other side (forward side) of the roll hoops?
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- Apr 1, 2016
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- Maybole , South Ayrshire
- Model of Z
- Z3 Individual Dakar / Orinoco Individual
SV8Predator
Zorg Guru (I)
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- Apr 7, 2018
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- Model of Z
- Z4 E89 2.0 Atacama Yellow / Z3 3.0 Topaz Blue
The ad says that it's put on the inside and is designed to let you use the storagebox.
Old MrT
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- Jul 30, 2022
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I did try it both sides of the roll hoops and opted for behind for two reasons, firstly from my perspective i.e. looking through the rear view mirror it looked better, less glare and secondly (and probably sadly) from a mechanical point of view behind the hoops and the returning air flow will be pushing the perspex onto the hoops and behind it will be trying to push it off the hoops and have more disturbance around the exposed hoops etc (and you thought just putting it behind was controversial!) Having said all that, I haven't actually tried it on a fast road yet so I'll try it both ways then and decide from there. 
Sorry, but I can't follow your explanation too many "behind" is confusing me. I understood that the air circulates back into cabin from the rear direction even when travelling forwards.I did try it both sides of the roll hoops and opted for behind for two reasons, firstly from my perspective i.e. looking through the rear view mirror it looked better, less glare and secondly (and probably sadly) from a mechanical point of view behind the hoops and the returning air flow will be pushing the perspex onto the hoops and behind it will be trying to push it off the hoops and have more disturbance around the exposed hoops etc (and you thought just putting it behind was controversial!) Having said all that, I haven't actually tried it on a fast road yet so I'll try it both ways then and decide from there.
Tony.
Each to their own, but it looks far better on the 'correct' side of the hoops
DP
- Joined
- May 9, 2022
- Points
- 44
- Model of Z
- Z3 Roadster
I think what he's saying is that the air, as you noted, is traveling over the windscreen and circling towards the front, thus pushing forward from behind. When you put the deflector on the backside of the hoops, the wind is pushing it against the hoops. If you put it in front, it's pushing it away from the hoops. The latter would result two things, IMO. One, it will put more stress on the velcro fasteners. Second, if the velcro isn't really tight, or it stretches, it will create intermittent gaps between the deflector and the hoops, which could introduce movement and subsequent wear.
Old MrT
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- Jul 30, 2022
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- 29
Is this better Tony?
I did try it both sides of the roll hoops and opted for behind them for two reasons, firstly from my perspective i.e. looking through the rear view mirror it looked better, less glare and secondly (and probably sadly) from a mechanical point of view, with it behind the hoops the returning air flow will be pushing the perspex onto the hoops and with it in front of the hoops it will be trying to push it off.
Apologies to everyone for the poor explanations, grammar and occasionaly spelling in my posts, I'm quite dyslexic and have to work very hard to translate what I want to say. Anyway, this post that has gone horribly wrong so can I ask an admin person to delete it please. Many thanks.
No need to remove it, I just wasn't quite sure what you were meaning. I'm now understanding that we're agreed that the air circulation will push from the rear of the car. This something that I have realised from fitting a perspex panel in the wind deflector in an E85 Z4 and my current E89 Z4 which doesn't require and fixtures as the airflow keeps it in place.
Tony.
Tony.
SV8Predator
Zorg Guru (I)
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- Model of Z
- Z4 E89 2.0 Atacama Yellow / Z3 3.0 Topaz Blue
Mods, don't delete this thread — it's very useful and should be kept for reference.
And "Old Mr T", I don't believe you're dyslexic for one minute — you're far too articulate!
Hi Guys,
The wind deflector has a section cut out of the base to allow the central cubby hole to be opened.
When the deflector is in front of the hoops the lid will open far enough to get your hand in but not fully open. There’s a photo showing it on the website.
When the deflector is behind the hoops the cubby hole will open more as the deflector is less in the way.
As for safety. Those Velcro straps are pretty solid. The Perspex is 5mm thick and pretty rigid.
I’ve tried the defector on both sides of the hoops and tried to get it to come unstuck, flex or wobble but haven’t achieved it!
As for the flapping hair test.
I tried my original Perspex deflector with no cut out at the bottom vs one with the cut out.
My wife and I both concluded the style with the cubby hole cut out does work better than a standard deflector.
Looking at various manufacturers OEM deflectors you’ll find the are often mesh or not solid / tightly fitted.
My understanding is that this allows an amount of air to pass over the windscreen and through the cabin. By having air pass through the cabin the negative pressure caused in the cabin by air moving over the windscreen is reduced.
Therefore less turbulent air and less hair movement.
(I think…..)
The wind deflector has a section cut out of the base to allow the central cubby hole to be opened.
When the deflector is in front of the hoops the lid will open far enough to get your hand in but not fully open. There’s a photo showing it on the website.
When the deflector is behind the hoops the cubby hole will open more as the deflector is less in the way.
As for safety. Those Velcro straps are pretty solid. The Perspex is 5mm thick and pretty rigid.
I’ve tried the defector on both sides of the hoops and tried to get it to come unstuck, flex or wobble but haven’t achieved it!
As for the flapping hair test.
I tried my original Perspex deflector with no cut out at the bottom vs one with the cut out.
My wife and I both concluded the style with the cubby hole cut out does work better than a standard deflector.
Looking at various manufacturers OEM deflectors you’ll find the are often mesh or not solid / tightly fitted.
My understanding is that this allows an amount of air to pass over the windscreen and through the cabin. By having air pass through the cabin the negative pressure caused in the cabin by air moving over the windscreen is reduced.
Therefore less turbulent air and less hair movement.
(I think…..)
We have one of these fitted to our Zed and spent around 7 hours driving the car with the top down on Wednesday, fast motorway (my wife was driving and may have inadvertently exceeded the speed limit on occasion to past slower moving vehicles 
) ,cross country and in rain. Brilliant product, well designed and made. We have ours mounted behind the hoops, but will now relocate it to in front…
) ,cross country and in rain. Brilliant product, well designed and made. We have ours mounted behind the hoops, but will now relocate it to in front…
I have had mine behind for 3/4 years and no problems the straps are strongWe have one of these fitted to our Zed and spent around 7 hours driving the car with the top down on Wednesday, fast motorway (my wife was driving and may have inadvertently exceeded the speed limit on occasion to past slower moving vehicles