Z3 rear deck replacement and hoop removal

[davidrbroder62]

Ok, I'm going to try again. Every video on YouTube about removing the hoops (roll bars) on a 1997 Z3 roadster shows the plastic covers at the shoulder having a "hatch" to access bolts to remove the roll bars.
I previously posted that my car DOESN'T have these access points nor are there any bolts to loosen and be able to remove the roll bars.
However, the only person to respond to my question showed me pics of the very version I DON'T HAVE.
I've attached some photos so you all can see what I'm dealing with in the hopes that someone in Z3 land can tell me how I can 1. Remove all this stuff and 2. Find a replacement rear deck preferably one with the storage compartment(s).

 

[John_B]

Appreciate you posted this before you got answers on the other thread, but just incase you don't see those - what you have here is not a 'different version', this is a Frankenstein creation a previous owner has hatcheted together with all the finesse of a drunk hippo rollerblading through a china shop during an earthquake. You're not going to get disassembly instructions unless you can track down the guy who did it. And if it was me I'd be laying low

Personally I'd take an angle grinder to the lot and look on ebay for a full kit of hoops and plastics. I'd also be wary about what other "DIY" I might uncover elsewhere!!

Look for someone selling a full kit, something that looks a little like this:

(you won't necessarily need the lateral trims - the larger pieces bottom left & bottom right, but you'll usually find them included)

 

[Pond]

I have everything in the picture above available (except the lock to the storage won't work as it is key specific to the car).
Only problem is I am in the UK and looks like the OP isn't.

 

[Jam03]

I think a previous owner has covered up the hatch and painted over it. In your photo 103113 I’m sure I can see the edges of some tape covering up the hatch. Bash it with a hammer and you’ll probably expose the previous DIY job.

 

[davidrbroder62]

Appreciate you posted this before you got answers on the other thread, but just incase you don't see those - what you have here is not a 'different version', this is a Frankenstein creation a previous owner has hatcheted together with all the finesse of a drunk hippo rollerblading through a china shop during an earthquake. You're not going to get disassembly instructions unless you can track down the guy who did it. And if it was me I'd be laying low

Personally I'd take an angle grinder to the lot and look on ebay for a full kit of hoops and plastics. I'd also be wary about what other "DIY" I might uncover elsewhere!!

Look for someone selling a full kit, something that looks a little like this:
View attachment 317419
(you won't necessarily need the lateral trims - the larger pieces bottom left & bottom right, but you'll usually find them included)

 

[davidrbroder62]

Thanks for your reply but, I don't think this was a home job. The pieces are too well formed rather like factory made. I think the car came like this out of the factory in the Fatherland. How could someone get these custom made and at what cost? It makes no sense to do that.
In addition, other pics and videos I've seen bolts toward the middle of their posts holding the hoops in, whereas on mine these bolts are not in evidence.

 

[davidrbroder62]

I think a previous owner has covered up the hatch and painted over it. In your photo 103113 I’m sure I can see the edges of some tape covering up the hatch. Bash it with a hammer and you’ll probably expose the previous DIY job.

There is no tape.

 

[t-tony]

Thanks for your reply but, I don't think this was a home job. The pieces are too well formed rather like factory made. I think the car came like this out of the factory in the Fatherland. How could someone get these custom made and at what cost? It makes no sense to do that.
In addition, other pics and videos I've seen bolts toward the middle of their posts holding the hoops in, whereas on mine these bolts are not in evidence.

The car wasn't made in the "Fatherland" it was made (built) in South Carolina, USA, at the Spartanburg Factory.

Tony.

 

[davidrbroder62]

Was it? It was originally an import here in the Philippines where I now reside.

 

[davidrbroder62]

Appreciate you posted this before you got answers on the other thread, but just incase you don't see those - what you have here is not a 'different version', this is a Frankenstein creation a previous owner has hatcheted together with all the finesse of a drunk hippo rollerblading through a china shop during an earthquake. You're not going to get disassembly instructions unless you can track down the guy who did it. And if it was me I'd be laying low

Personally I'd take an angle grinder to the lot and look on ebay for a full kit of hoops and plastics. I'd also be wary about what other "DIY" I might uncover elsewhere!!

Look for someone selling a full kit, something that looks a little like this:
View attachment 317419
(you won't necessarily need the lateral trims - the larger pieces bottom left & bottom right, but you'll usually find them included)

I probably won't need the hoops either as the fitting are different from everything else I've seen thus far.

 

[t-tony]

Was it? It was originally an import here in the Philippines where I now reside.

All Z3s were made in Spartanburg. Do your homework. They were never produced in Germany. Where was it imported from?, not that it matters.

Tony.

 

[davidrbroder62]

All Z3s were made in Spartanburg. Do your homework. They were never produced in Germany. Where was it imported from?, not that it matters.

Tony.

It doesn't matter where it was made BMW is still a German company and therefore a German Car.

 

[John_B]

Why even bother asking for advice? You clearly know more about these cars than all of us combined...

 

[davidrbroder62]

Why even bother asking for advice? You clearly know more about these cars than all of us combined...

All I know is what I'm experiencing which is completely different from what everyone else is saying.
My car doesn't have access points to the hoops. Nor is the rear deck ANYTHING like ANYTHING anyone else is showing me. My interior is different from what everyone else is demonstrating. Suggesting that the rear deck of my car was custom made seems ridiculous to me. Especially here in the Philippines where no one has the money for that sort of thing. So unless someone has a real solution to my issues please refrain from making nasty and useless comments.

 

[John_B]

It is custom, as you have been told countless times in three different threads.

What you don't seem to be grasping is that by 'custom' we don't mean BMW carefully crafted this unique version in the factory, we mean joe public has gone at it with his favourite hacksaw and butchered it until the OEM hoops fit into non-hoop trims.

this is a Frankenstein creation a previous owner has hatcheted together

Why do you think that might be.....?

Especially here in the Philippines where no one has the money for that sort of thing.

Rip it out by whatever means necessary and source the proper parts, or leave it alone and hope that you don't have to rely on it providing any roll-over protection. What I can guarantee is that starting a new thread asking the same question again is not going to yield a different answer.

You're not going to get disassembly instructions unless you can track down the guy who did it.

 

[Eddie Zedder]

They are not custom made, they are the original plastics. Not all Zeds were fitted with roll hoops, they were an option specified by the buyer. They weren't even an option on the very early production models. On the ones with no hoops the plastics didn't have holes for the hoops or access for the bolts to fit them and no inner brackets fitted under the center cubby box.
What you have is a non hoop car that a previous owner has cut holes in the original plastics to fit the hoops rather than go out and buy the correct plastics required for the job.

 

[davidrbroder62]

I hope everyone following this thread gets to read this. Fortunately I have a taste for crow which I must now eat.
I first want to apologize for my lack of patience with regard to the very thread I started. I have no excuse.
Those who said so we're correct: the plastic top to the rear deck WAS in fact a custom job though not entirely without merit which is why it fooled me. I busted through with a rubber malet in a fit of temper. There I discovered that the hoops once had bolts holding them in place but are now missing (Anyone know the size?).
Further they were just inserted so banging them upward I was able to remove them. The plastic where the seat belt exudes broke in my hands under pressure. They (like most of the plastics in this 1997 BMW are brittle and fall apart easily. They are however BMW parts, I would think, as they say BMW and have the logo stamped inside of them.
Now that the mystery of the Pernicious Plastic and Roll Bars is concluded; my most heartfelt apologies to all. I am am a car guy but apparently it only extends to the Jags I've owned and loved. Why didn't I just get another XK8? Hey, this is the Philippines, try to find a decent mechanic. Especially one who can work on Jags.
So to the last item, I need to replace the whole rear deck. Anyone know where I can get the two shoulders the box, the top and the two sides. Of course I'll pay shipping.
But first I will need to find out if I need a special permit.

 

[davidrbroder62]

I'll need the hole sheban

Appreciate you posted this before you got answers on the other thread, but just incase you don't see those - what you have here is not a 'different version', this is a Frankenstein creation a previous owner has hatcheted together with all the finesse of a drunk hippo rollerblading through a china shop during an earthquake. You're not going to get disassembly instructions unless you can track down the guy who did it. And if it was me I'd be laying low

Personally I'd take an angle grinder to the lot and look on ebay for a full kit of hoops and plastics. I'd also be wary about what other "DIY" I might uncover elsewhere!!

Look for someone selling a full kit, something that looks a little like this:
View attachment 317419
(you won't necessarily need the lateral trims - the larger pieces bottom left & bottom right, but you'll usually find them included)

I'll need the whole shebang sans the roll bars. Can you send these to me?

 

[davidrbroder62]

I have everything in the picture above available (except the lock to the storage won't work as it is key specific to the car).
Only problem is I am in the UK and looks like the OP isn't.

OP? Can you ship to the Philippies. I'd be interested in everything but the rollover hoops.