Z3 Hood Repair Advice

[Scooblitz]

Hello forum members

My first post as a new owner of a Z3.Just before christmas i bought a 1998 Z3 which is in all-round good condition especially for how much i paid.


However, it does need some tlc in bits, epsecially the hood and some advice on how to proceed with repairs would be much appreciated.

So, first and foremost it needs a new rear screen. Its ripped in several place and clear gaffer tape and pleads for good weather in Scotland aren't enough.(especially now its snow and rain season). I have done some looking around already and prices seem to vary from £60-£150 for a new screen replacement.

Heres a few links to what i've been looking at for a replacement screen:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z3-S...405158&hash=item3afe0fa11e:g:cQMAAOSwU1FaCXD4

-Messaged the seller to ask what exactly the kit includes


http://123verdeck.de/navi.php?a=404&lang=eng

- Also this "kit" from germany which looks to be a good bit more expensive but seems to have everything thats needed.

Anyone got recommendations on what to go for?


Stage 2 of the repair is a bit more of a fiddle. The zip teeth attached to the hood itself has freyed/rotted away so the section needs to be sewn back together to the hood. The only areas effected are the sides of the hood. All the holes are still usable to try and get the zip sewn back in place. I have been advised that Hemp fibre should be the way to go as cotton will rot very quickly.

Looking for an experienced head that has done something like this before for their convertible.

Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[Bozzy]

Personally I wouldn't chance the aftermarket ones but the BMW one such as I bought is £220. Then I had it fitted by a professional trimmer. He said the aftermarket ones can have zips that don't always match up, which can lead to more issues.
Most people now seem to go for a complete new hood costing around £350, very good for the price.

Steve.

 

[hard top]

Welcome on the forum @Scooblitz.

Most people now seem to go for a complete new hood costing around £350, very good for the price.

As @Bozzy posts above, that is the route I would take as have read to many horror stories about refitting the rear window on here and other forums.
But if you are going to give it a go :- https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-rear-screen-replacement.61/

 

[IJSK]

Sorry to muscle in on this, but which new hood would you recommend please?

Mine has mould I have struggled to get rid of and about 5 inches of beading has separated in one corner. It may be possible to refurb but I’m wondering whether it’s worth it.

 

[Bozzy]

Sorry to muscle in on this, but which new hood would you recommend please?

Mine has mould I have struggled to get rid of and about 5 inches of beading has separated in one corner. It may be possible to refurb but I’m wondering whether it’s worth it.

It was the beading on my rear window that lead me to replacing the screen as you can't just replace the beading .
If had realised that the complete hood and screen could be supplied and fitted for £350 before replacing the window, I'd have gone for the new hood.
The place most people on here use is in Wales, Jack someone, can't remember the name.

 

[gookah]

Welcome Scoob

Just my experience with the Art Munster Design one.
The window did not have enough of a lead in on the zipper. It made it extremely difficult to try and fit. I got to a stage where one more attempt to start the zip would have permanently damaged the roof zip meaning a new roof. I luckily managed to get it to fit on the last attempt before permanent damage.
Now look at how it went. I am a person that likes to put the roof down even when its not 25degrees c outside. Do this with that window and this is what happens:

the border was permanently creased and then leaked.
Not only that but the window itself went increasingly cloudy and that wouldn't polish out as it seemed to be in the plastic itself rather than a film on the surfaces.

Never again would I use that company. Personally from my experience, I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

The other option is a BMW screen which is too expensive when I got a full new blue roof, including fitting, for £325 all in at Croyden.
The other is Jack Smith at swansea

 

[Scooblitz]

Thanks for the replies. hard top & bozzy

I agree, a new hood would probably be best. However, i'm a cheap so-and-so. Especially after Christmas. £350 is almost a third of a hard top which would be a better investment, in future i'd like a 2.8 widebody so i could transfer accross. I'll need to have a search around to see about a quote for a new hood locally in my area, Glasgow, Scotland.

It looks as though that video is from the manufacturer/distributer of the window i had seen online in my second link. Video makes it look a slight fiddle and im sure those guys have popped in a few windows in their time making it look easier than it probably is. I'll have a search of the forum for the horror stories to get some ideas before i think about sending off the money to Germany. Prices have changed a bit too since that post. £113 before postage. Ahh brexit...

Whats putting me off going straight for the window replacement is the stitching coming away from the sides of the hood where the zip attaches. I'll need to take the window out to make a decent job of the restitch and as the guide states "no turning back now". If i don't do a sufficiant job...the window won't work im sure and ill be left with rear-windowless z3 in January...

Much thinking to do.

 

[t-tony]

Thanks for the replies. hard top & bozzy

I agree, a new hood would probably be best. However, i'm a cheap so-and-so. Especially after Christmas. £350 is almost a third of a hard top which would be a better investment, in future i'd like a 2.8 widebody so i could transfer accross. I'll need to have a search around to see about a quote for a new hood locally in my area, Glasgow, Scotland.

It looks as though that video is from the manufacturer/distributer of the window i had seen online in my second link. Video makes it look a slight fiddle and im sure those guys have popped in a few windows in their time making it look easier than it probably is. I'll have a search of the forum for the horror stories to get some ideas before i think about sending off the money to Germany. Prices have changed a bit too since that post. £113 before postage. Ahh brexit...

Whats putting me off going straight for the window replacement is the stitching coming away from the sides of the hood where the zip attaches. I'll need to take the window out to make a decent job of the restitch and as the guide states "no turning back now". If i don't do a sufficiant job...the window won't work im sure and ill be left with rear-windowless z3 in January...

Much thinking to do.

There could be another option though. We are lucky on here to have 3 resident Z3 breakers who are great guys. @spurs fan in a coupe , @mrscalex and @Synclare in no particular order. @Grumps bought a complete blue hood assembly from Andy @spurs fan in a coupe last year and had it fitted too. Adrian @Synclare and Rob @mrscalex are currently breaking Z3s so either may have a good condition complete roof for sale.

Tony.

 

[Scooblitz]

Thanks for the insight and experience @gookah and muscle away @IJSK , we are both in the same boat here.

 

[IJSK]

As a relatively new member myself, I keep being amazed by how quickly you guys rally round with valuable experience and advice. I have never seen the like of it. Just awesome!

Thanks so much.

 

[Bozzy]

https://zroadster.org/attachments/img_20170409_111302874_hdr-jpg.71613/
Montreal h.t and fitting kit available from @Synclare.

 

[Lazzzydog]

Hi and welcome. I fitted an aftermarket rear window from Germany a few years ago when it cost about £65 delivered. I fitted it myself no trouble but it would have been easier with another pair of hands. I was happy with mine except for the beading that tidies up the edge of the roof material was coming away so I replaced that too with some larger "U" section rubber beading from a firm called Woolies that sell all manner of trim. I kept the car for a few yeas after and it was still good then apart from the usual rub mark.

 

[Stevo7682]

Thanks for the replies. hard top & bozzy

I agree, a new hood would probably be best. However, i'm a cheap so-and-so. Especially after Christmas. £350 is almost a third of a hard top which would be a better investment, in future i'd like a 2.8 widebody so i could transfer accross. I'll need to have a search around to see about a quote for a new hood locally in my area, Glasgow, Scotland.

It looks as though that video is from the manufacturer/distributer of the window i had seen online in my second link. Video makes it look a slight fiddle and im sure those guys have popped in a few windows in their time making it look easier than it probably is. I'll have a search of the forum for the horror stories to get some ideas before i think about sending off the money to Germany. Prices have changed a bit too since that post. £113 before postage. Ahh brexit...

Whats putting me off going straight for the window replacement is the stitching coming away from the sides of the hood where the zip attaches. I'll need to take the window out to make a decent job of the restitch and as the guide states "no turning back now". If i don't do a sufficiant job...the window won't work im sure and ill be left with rear-windowless z3 in January...

Much thinking to do.

I have looked into that already a new roof up here pushing the 500- 650 mark unless you can find someone cheaper ( i tried a few)
The window has been replaced on my wife's zed but when i bought it the stitching had burst away on both sides bought a waxed nylon thread and stitched it all back up through the original holes and considering how bad it was its pretty much water tight now .
What i would say though if its been outside uncovered with the roof / window damaged like that practically guarantee you will need to get the carpets out.
The only bit of Lynne's carpet that felt damp was under the passengers seat but i discovered underneath was saturated front and rear even after i took all the carpets out there was about 3 or 4 litres of water left in the floorpans carpets took 3 weeks to dry out properly.
So i would definitely check under the carpets.
Where abouts are you in Scotland might be able to help out in some way if your not absolutely miles away.
Stephen.

 

[t-tony]

You're a good man Steve, I'm sure he said he was in the Glasgow area mate.

Tony.

 

[Stevo7682]

You're a good man Steve, I'm sure he said he was in the Glasgow area mate.

Tony.

Happy to help if possible Tony .
I asked for some help with transport for some roll bars and looks like two 1st class zedders are going to make it happen .

 

[t-tony]

It's what we're all about mate, even non members too. My mate Graham is going to take my wheels over to Grimsby next weekend for refurb and he doesn't even have a Zed ............................... yet But I'm working on that.

Tony.

 

[Scooblitz]

I'm double posting from the welcome thread @Stevo7682. Thanks for the reply. I am indeed in Glasgow. Trying to figure out how to attach it to my signature. I'm going to try and get some pictures up tomorrow if i can get the cover off but i think its frozen to the car at the moment. It will help to get a better indication of what the best approach is. It does sound as though you did a similar job to what im looking to do. Sewing back in via the holes already in the hood itself. The top and bottom of the zip section are still pretty solid, just the sides. She's not a forever Z but would be nice to be able to see out the back and fix the hood up. Tried to pin it in place 2 weeks ago but the tension from the rear window made it almost impossible and the idea was abandoned in favour of a warm coffee within about 10 minutes.

I felt for damp in the car when i bought it but it seemed reasonably dry. Popped under the cover tonight to give he a start and let her run for a bit to make sure she was still alive and found it to be a touch damp in places. I guess its hard to tell whats underneath the carpets though without taking them out. I believe the car was also uncovered and SORN before the sale. Need to do a seat repair soon (neoprene spacer to stop the play on breaking) so might take the opportunity to look at the carpets at the time.

£650 for a new hood and fitment is eyewateringly expensive. Close to what i paid for the car in fact.

 

[Stevo7682]

My offside was only split about 6 inches long in the middle so stitched that roof closed .
The nearside was sit about 3 inch along the top right fown and 4 inch along the bottom found that when i went to pull the 2 bits together way too tight so popped the roof at th front and sat a 5 ltr screen wash bottle on its side between the top windscreen and the roof this gave me the slack to stitc it all together.
I was wortied with it being so tight before that when i shut tbe roof the window would rip but then i thought well it all must have been together at some point so shut roof and it was fine .

 

[IJSK]

I see from eBay that there is a company called The Soft Top Shop in Stockport that offers brand new hoods for £415.

They certainly “talk the talk”.

eBay item 272606339202

Has anyone had any experience of these please?

 

[Scooblitz]

My offside was only split about 6 inches long in the middle so stitched that roof closed .
The nearside was sit about 3 inch along the top right fown and 4 inch along the bottom found that when i went to pull the 2 bits together way too tight so popped the roof at th front and sat a 5 ltr screen wash bottle on its side between the top windscreen and the roof this gave me the slack to stitc it all together.
I was wortied with it being so tight before that when i shut tbe roof the window would rip but then i thought well it all must have been together at some point so shut roof and it was fine .

I'm afraid my i have about 30-40cm of unstitched seems on both NS and OS of the hood. It would require a lot of patience but im willing to give it a go. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. May i ask about the Nylon thread you used. Any links to the www?

As for the carpet, i assume just because the carpet itself isn't too wet, the foam underneath will be a different story.