Z3/Z3M soft top relief pockets?

[Z3Mroadster]

Hello!

Does the latest design of OEM new soft have a side relief pockets,or no?

Is this written down correctly?

"Early Z3 hoods were made with a relief pocket behind the main seam accross the car on both sides, later cars did away with this pocket".

 

[Gundun]

Hi there,

I think the relief pockets were introduced as of the facelift (so that would be the other way around to what you quoted here) , whose hood was equipped with interior lining. The side pockets had the function to allow a better folding of the top and have less stress due to the presence of the lining.
I replaced my OEM hood with an aftermarket w/o side pockets and, despite I do have the interior lining, I see no difference in the way it folds down.

 

[Z3Mroadster]

Some say it's a pressure drop in the cabin???

 

[Gundun]

Some say it's a pressure drop in the cabin???

I find it unlikely: in my old hood they were sewn shut.

 

[Z3Mroadster]

Your old top was be OEM?

 

[Antm72]

My prefacelift non lined has pockets.
Think aftermarket roofs are available with and without them.

 

[Z3Mroadster]

My Z3M is 1997.and old top have a pockets...

Is better buy top with zipper(without pockets),or without zipper(with pockets)?
Both are Sonnendeck-Twillfast II !

 

[Nodzed]

Some say it's a pressure drop in the cabin???

Correct as I understand it very early cars had no pocket it was then introduced to stop the rear window popping out when both doors were shut at the same time, its a pressure release by allowing the roof to billow in this area .... apparently.

 

[gookah]

I thought it was to let air pressure out on closing the doors?

 

[gookah]

snap......at the same time

 

[Gundun]

Uh...I've always thought it was a facelift feature due to the inside liner...
in the picture there' s my facelift with OEM softop when I bought it last year...you can see the pockets.

 

[hard top]

My Oct 96 had a manual roof, no gas strut, no pockets, no liner, never had a problem with the rear window popping out..!!!
Al this extra stuff was added for the USA market to help stopping complaints from over weight Yanks who's body mass meant that they could not lean over the car to pull the roof up.

 

[Nodzed]

My Oct 96 had a manual roof, no gas strut, no pockets, no liner, never had a problem with the rear window popping out..!!!
Al this extra stuff was added for the USA market to help stopping complaints from over weight Yanks who's body mass meant that they could not lean over the car to pull the roof up.

It wouldn't have, the pockets were added from 1997

 

[Davyhoogy]

My 1998 has pockets. I'll be getting a new one with pockets also. Let's the pressure out of the cabin when shutting doors etc

 

[Antm72]

My Oct 96 had a manual roof, no gas strut, no pockets, no liner, never had a problem with the rear window popping out..!!!
Al this extra stuff was added for the USA market to help stopping complaints from over weight Yanks who's body mass meant that they could not lean over the car to pull the roof up.

You have to have the hardtop removed to be able to blow the softtop window out

 

[hard top]

You have to have the hardtop removed to be able to blow the softtop window out

Haha, good point, in six years of ownership I only went topless for one year after the boys at work had nicked my keys and took the lid off so that, I found out later, my boss could go out for a sunny summer jaunt and a pub lunch.

It was 30c plus that day and I 'forgot' to tell the boss about sun cream.
He came back looking like a boiled lobster.......

 

[Dino D]

My Z3M is 1997.and old top have a pockets...

Is better buy top with zipper(without pockets),or without zipper(with pockets)?
Both are Sonnendeck-Twillfast II !

I would say for you better with zipper as you don't have a cheap supplier of hoods where you are - we are getting the fitted for £300 so if the window breaks it's not much more to just get a new hood. For you though I imagine it's much more expensive so being able to zip in a new window might be better for you.

 

[Z3Mroadster]

I pay 700€ +shipping(ebay)...
Installation is extra...


www.cabriowebshop.nl

(there is price 775€ )

I mean this is excellent top!

 

[handsomejackuk]

mine has the relief pockets, newish roof fitted about 3 years ago 1998 model.. no interior liner.... i beleive you can have them fitted with or without pockets at swansea.....