Thought I'd quickly document the differences between the OEM Hardtop and the Wiessman Hardtop for everyone...
Don't quote me but I believe the history is that Wiesmann made their hardtop for the Z3 before BMW considered one.
As far as Aesthetics go, the Wiesmann Hardtop has:
- A slightly more angular design
- A larger rear window, which makes a hell of a difference when driving.
- (In my opinion) a better moulded interior lining - black felt/carpet, that also increases rear view vision as it doesn't have such an unnecessarily large bump/shelf for the soft top to sit up.
- It doesn't have the rubber strips on top, and instead has two channels presumably for rain water to travel down when driving.
Fitting:
- Fitting Kits are different, although they use the same locating and locking 'pin' on each side.
I think there might be a possibility of using a BMW fitting kit with a Wiesmann Hardtop, but you would have to reposition the 'pins' on the hardtop to line up with the holes.
- Whereas there is only one type of BMW fitting kit, there appears to be two types of fitting kit for the Wiesmann - for the very early Z3s that don't have the gas strut/electro-hydraulic roof mech and all other Z3s
This is an issue I am currently dealing with as it appears the early kit doesn't leave room for the hydraulic roof lifter? (Yes I drove back from Holland with only one side fitted!)
- The Wiesmann Hardtop's fitting adjustments are all on the roof (forward-backwards/up-down) and are quite 'custom' involving using metal plates to increase height, whereas the BMWs forward-backward adjustments are made on the fitting kit, and up-down on the locating pins via some special bolts.
Don't quote me but I believe the history is that Wiesmann made their hardtop for the Z3 before BMW considered one.
As far as Aesthetics go, the Wiesmann Hardtop has:
- A slightly more angular design
- A larger rear window, which makes a hell of a difference when driving.
- (In my opinion) a better moulded interior lining - black felt/carpet, that also increases rear view vision as it doesn't have such an unnecessarily large bump/shelf for the soft top to sit up.
- It doesn't have the rubber strips on top, and instead has two channels presumably for rain water to travel down when driving.
Fitting:
- Fitting Kits are different, although they use the same locating and locking 'pin' on each side.
I think there might be a possibility of using a BMW fitting kit with a Wiesmann Hardtop, but you would have to reposition the 'pins' on the hardtop to line up with the holes.
- Whereas there is only one type of BMW fitting kit, there appears to be two types of fitting kit for the Wiesmann - for the very early Z3s that don't have the gas strut/electro-hydraulic roof mech and all other Z3s
This is an issue I am currently dealing with as it appears the early kit doesn't leave room for the hydraulic roof lifter? (Yes I drove back from Holland with only one side fitted!)
- The Wiesmann Hardtop's fitting adjustments are all on the roof (forward-backwards/up-down) and are quite 'custom' involving using metal plates to increase height, whereas the BMWs forward-backward adjustments are made on the fitting kit, and up-down on the locating pins via some special bolts.
Last edited:
