Happens a lot with the plastic going very brittle. I always allow the car to warm up inside with the blowers on to warm the plastic a little then get the roof down.
Ah b*****.
- Thread starter Palmetto
- Start date
Palmetto
Zorg Legend
The annoying thing is I'd just done a 30 minute drive with the roof up and heater on.
@yocky z3 2.0 has a green roof on his Z4 from Jack Smith think hes had it a couple of years now, you out there Tony with pictures?
Palmetto
Zorg Legend
And he's not a that far away...
How true. Not only is the electric hood awkward to operate, but you just can't let it go right down on its own. I have to stop it half retracted, jump out the car and sort out the rear window so it folds in as smooth a curve as possible, jump back in and power the hood all the way down. It is handy when you want to put the roof up though. My brother-in-law's Z4 is completely automatic - it even unlatches itself from the screen. That's how it should be done.
I do the same as Bumpa -- I watch the rear view mirror and if I see the 'kink' appear halfway up, I get out of the car and kick in in place. However, it hasn't been happening that much lately, seems to be folding properly these days.
As per Bumpa and Buze, I often need to manage the window when the roof is going down. Also found the window goes very soft and creases more easily when it's really warm. There definitely seems to be a sweet spot between too hot and too cold when the window will just curl under as designed, but I rarely get that temperature.
Definitely feel like a berk if I have to get out whilst the roof is going down. Totally ruins the effect hahaha
Definitely feel like a berk if I have to get out whilst the roof is going down. Totally ruins the effect hahaha
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2012
- Points
- 178
- Location
- Newport, South Wales,UK
- Model of Z
- Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.5 (2003)
When its folded down a good tip is to place a length of 22mm pipe lagging in the fold. Once in there it keeps the two sides of the fold from rubbing against each other causing scratches. A rolled up towel works just as well.
Ha, yes. I used a rolled up towel until the day I was tootling along and the rain started, quite heavily. I pulled over and operated the hood, latched it down and proceded on my merry way. I wonder what happened to the towel?
I think the butyl seal between the hood and the body has gone a bit 'leaky' on mine. When he relaces hood, would this be done by Jack Smith too?
My hood probably has a year or two left in it, but I would bite the bullet if it saved me the whole day of stripping the existing one down and reproofing it.
There are 2 butyl seals in this area. It goes rear bulkhead>butyl>plastic sealing strip>butyl>hood frame. The seal between the hood frame and the plastic sealing strip will certainly be remade when the hood is changed. But it’s a very good question whether the seal between chassis bulkhead and sealing strip is. You’d like to think so. But I don’t know.
Whoopsies on the window. They are prone to cracking especially in colder weather. Theres not much bend in them in the cold. Sat in the sun that are malleable.
What is the condition of the hood in joining the windscreen frame and the torsion cables at the sides? If these sections are keeping the car water tight and look good, you might not need a new hood so quick.
This is the cross roads that almost every Z3 owner has when it comes to the hood. Get a new one or carryout a repair. 100% a Jack smith hood will be good value for money but there are a few other things that you can try before sticking up for the hood, fuel and overnight if needed. Certainly for me in Glasgow, this is the consideration.
New windows can be ordered in various costs. I have seen some ebay ones around £60 and if its the one you mentioned, i would err on the side of caution. I had a look at them and the stitching on the zip sections didn't look sufficient imho. I ordered one for my old Montreal blue m44 in a light black tint from german ebay for £110 delivered 2 years ago. If you have a helper it doesn't need to be a huge task. Looked kinda cool if you are into that style.
I'm currently a hardtop only Z due to the poor condition of the hood. (despite the pool of water in my drivers footwell) and bought a used rear window from one of our forum member car breakers for a 15th of the price of a new hood and extras. Could be an option if the hood is decent.
If you decided the to get a new window, this is a really good time to address the stitching that attaches one side of the zip to the hood itself.
Good Luck.
The stitching around the window can be repaired to basically OEM appearance using a Speedy Stitcher, which are mainly used for repairing boat sails. Thread (pun intended
) here about the time I used one:
https://zroadster.org/threads/window-stitching-repair-with-photos.22231/
Because I’ve managed to save the zipper, I’ll likely try to zip an original BMW screen in when the current one inevitably goes, as the rest of my hood is in great condition
) here about the time I used one:https://zroadster.org/threads/window-stitching-repair-with-photos.22231/
Because I’ve managed to save the zipper, I’ll likely try to zip an original BMW screen in when the current one inevitably goes, as the rest of my hood is in great condition
Palmetto
Zorg Legend
The condition of the hood is generally ok. It's only really around the window that there's an issue.
I'm not going to go with the £60 window. You have to send them your window and they use the zip... Doesn't sound great to me, if the zip isn't in good nick.
Good idea looking on ebay.de for ein heckscheibe. There are some for 100 euro.
I've taped the window up with clear tape now, and it's ok for the time being. I'll probably end up getting a Jack Smith hood, as I want the car to be perfect...
I'm not going to go with the £60 window. You have to send them your window and they use the zip... Doesn't sound great to me, if the zip isn't in good nick.
Good idea looking on ebay.de for ein heckscheibe. There are some for 100 euro.
I've taped the window up with clear tape now, and it's ok for the time being. I'll probably end up getting a Jack Smith hood, as I want the car to be perfect...
I have used "the seat repair guy" on ebay to change the pastic clear part on an original window keeping the original zipper and the finish is quite good for the price IMO. the best replacement zip windows I have seen are some that say "Renolit" on the actual clear plastic panel - they look and feel almost OEM. Question for the experts, my original window had a lenght of thick wire on one of the longer sides of the window I guess to keep it straight when folding down. - I had to remove this to ship it over and I cant remember now if it goes top or bottom of the window? thanks