Ah b*****.

[Palmetto]

It always seems to happen. You buy something nice and within the first couple of weeks of owning it, something breaks. Well.... Today I put the hood down for the first time.

I've taped it up for now. It's not pretty. The old owner said a new hood would have been his next job if he'd have kept it. Looks like it might be my next job.

 

[Oddly Godly]

Ouch. You can get replacement rear windows. I don't know how easy they are to fit. If the hood has seen better days it might be best to bite the bullet. You can get some clear tape which would look better in the meantime. My mx5 had some on a small cut for years.

 

[Palmetto]

I might pop to b&q tomorrow and see what they've got. I've seen the window/glass/plastic repair tape on eBay. If the gorilla tape is no good I'll get some of that.

There's a postal rear screen supplier and fitter on eBay and they're £59. He's in Teesside which is about an hour and a half drive so there's an option.

 

[Shelly]

O no I do feel for you
Hope you can fix your window soon

 

[Robz3sport]

Not a nice feeling when this happens........I made the big mistake of putting my roof down on a cold day and mines split just like yours. I bought a used one on eBay and fitted it with the help of my son, found it an easy enough job. Hope you get sorted soon.

 

[Paul Rice]

Did the self same thing when i first had my Z3, did replace back window but eventually put a new roof on (well paid someone to do it)

 

[Palmetto]

I think I'll ring Jack Smith tomorrow and see what his waiting list is like. £320 for a full hood or £220 for a window to be fitted. It's a no brainer.

(Or a lot less for a diy job)

BTW. They say things come in threes. On Monday night, our central heating boiler died. So we are getting a new one fitted next week (not cheap). We haven't been in the house long. We had to use the living room electric fire. That kept overheating and tripping the fuses, so had to get a new one of those. And now the hood. Hopefully that will be the end of it.

 

[Sean d]

I know it's a bit late but are you aware the temperature needs to be above 5c before folding the hood

 

[Bumpa]

To me the plastic rear window spoils the car in so many ways. It's the fact that the screen has to be folded in half that is the problem. What a daft design. Not only can it crack, but they all get that rubbed line across the middle. Even the crap hood on the MGB can be folded without folding the screen.

It seems surprising to me that no aftermarket supplier has designed a Z3 hood with a glass rear screen. I know it would have to be smaller but it would improve the car so much. You can get new hoods for the MGF with glass screens, and have been able to for some time.

 

[Palmetto]

I know it's a bit late but are you aware the temperature needs to be above 5c before folding the hood

I didn't think it was *that* cold.

That said, the window had a slight crack in it before so I knew it would need replacing at some point.

 

[mrscalex]

To me the plastic rear window spoils the car in so many ways. It's the fact that the screen has to be folded in half that is the problem. What a daft design. Not only can it crack, but they all get that rubbed line across the middle. Even the crap hood on the MGB can be folded without folding the screen.

It seems surprising to me that no aftermarket supplier has designed a Z3 hood with a glass rear screen. I know it would have to be smaller but it would improve the car so much. You can get new hoods for the MGF with glass screens, and have been able to for some time.

It can and has been done as a 1 off by a well known supplier.

 

[t-tony]

I think I'll ring Jack Smith tomorrow and see what his waiting list is like. £320 for a full hood or £220 for a window to be fitted. It's a no brainer.

(Or a lot less for a diy job)

BTW. They say things come in threes. On Monday night, our central heating boiler died. So we are getting a new one fitted next week (not cheap). We haven't been in the house long. We had to use the living room electric fire. That kept overheating and tripping the fuses, so had to get a new one of those. And now the hood. Hopefully that will be the end of it.

Looking at the general condition of the roof around the rear window an new complete roof looks like the best option.

Tony.

 

[Dalek]

I feel your pain. When mine went, it really split..

 

[Palmetto]

View attachment 133707 I feel your pain. When mine went, it really split..

Oof. How did you patch that up until you could get it fixed.

Did you get a new hood or window?

 

[Paul Rice]

Palmetto green with a dark green roof would look special IMO

 

[colb]

Best option for original poster is a Jack Smith replacement hood in my opinion, seen an example of his work and it was a great fit. The one I saw was in blue material, new it looked very blue, 12 months on its faded and dosn't look as good, I would stick to black if you replace it. The example I have seen is kept outside all year around so that probably has an impact on the fading.
Swansea is a long way to travel but worth at least a night away in Swansea to get it done.

 

[Dalek]

Oof. How did you patch that up until you could get it fixed.

Did you get a new hood or window?

I went to Jack Smith in Swansea for a new hood. He managed to fit me in quite quickly so I did the same as you and just taped it up. Hated driving around with it looking like that though!

 

[mrscalex]

Get yourself some clear reinforced tape.

 

[Palmetto]

Palmetto green with a dark green roof would look special IMO

I'm undecided. Either black or dark green. We've got a dark green roof on our Boston Green E36 Convertible and it looks good, but would a roof look better black on the Z? Decisions decisions.

 

[Oddly Godly]

To me the plastic rear window spoils the car in so many ways. It's the fact that the screen has to be folded in half that is the problem. What a daft design. Not only can it crack, but they all get that rubbed line across the middle. Even the crap hood on the MGB can be folded without folding the screen.

It seems surprising to me that no aftermarket supplier has designed a Z3 hood with a glass rear screen. I know it would have to be smaller but it would improve the car so much. You can get new hoods for the MGF with glass screens, and have been able to for some time.

I agree, my first MK1 mx5 had a plastic window but later ones had glass heated windows. It's a bit like the electric hood, why do you have to move it the first few inches manually and the buttons are in the most awkward place possible. I am only a fan of electric hoods if they can be 100% automatic.

 

[t-tony]

You can reposition the hood switch. Nothing to be done about having the “assist” the roof though, unless you get a Z4, complete with glass window

Tony.