How many times do you open/close your top?

[Z4Fam]

Hey fam!

Just curious, how many times a day (or week) do you operate the soft top?

I just purchased a Z4 and kinda paranoid of the roof malfunctioning even tho its like...brand new!

Is there any recommendations to how many times you can use it a day? heh

Thanks guys!!

[Huz-Z]

Open and close the top as you see fit and don't worry about the mechanism. It's very robust. If you park the car in a sketchy area, think it might rain before you get back or spot a pigeon eyeing your seats, just close her up and drop the top again when it's time to go.

[yousefnjr]

Everyday it's not raining I'd only suggest catching it with your hand while closing to keep it from slamming down

[Steeler]

Once in the spring it goes down and once in the fall it goes up.
Don't drive it in the rain.

The odd cool morning or evening I may wimp out and put it up.

[W///]

Originally Posted by yousefnjr

Everyday it's not raining I'd only suggest catching it with your hand while closing to keep it from slamming down

That's a good idea. I've always wondered why that thing slams so hard.

As long as it's over 55F and it's not raining, I'm using the car as a Roadster.

[rsutoratosu]

None... my motors been dead for 3 years...

Actually I manually open it once or twice... I lied

The one year I didn't garage my car we had like a lot of snow and it sat under snow for long time... motor died after that spring

[SaltyNC]

Originally Posted by W///

That's a good idea. I've always wondered why that thing slams so hard.

There are some elastic pieces that wear out over time. I think several of us have ordered the parts, but it's such hell to install, we just decided guiding it down gently with our arm was just fine.

If you search for RA 54 34 217 you might be able to find it. I have a PDF of the installation process if you need it.

[yousefnjr]

^^ I put those straps in a while back, they are indeed a pain in the ass to install. Even worse, the straps mount to the plastic inside the roof, which on mine eventually cracked off and became useless damn you 11 year old plastic

[Efthreeoh]

Never

[SD ///M4]

Before my 2006 Z4 M Roadster, which I bought in 2012, I had an S2000 for 13 years. I had to replace the roof at 10 years because the top started tearing where the folds were. I kept the top down all the time unless it was raining, which in San Diego is only a few weeks a year, including in my garage overnight. The auto upholstery shop that replaced my top told me that it is not a good idea to keep a convertible top down for long periods at a time because the fabric will tend to shrink, and the folds will weaken and tear, which is what happened in my case.

On my Roadster I always put the top up in the garage and any time it is parked. Maybe BMW uses better top material than Honda, but going on 11 years and my Roadster top is showing no signs of deterioration. YMMV.

[FD3S]

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

The auto upholstery shop that replaced my top told me that it is not a good idea to keep a convertible top down for long periods at a time because the fabric will tend to shrink, and the folds will weaken and tear, which is what happened in my case.
YMMV.

So choosing hardtop for the winter is not a good choice for the fabric of the roof?

Thank you.

[kaybat]

probably a dozen times a year or so. it's always sunny down here,and it becomes the enemy(so to speak) after a while.

[antennahead]

I bet I open and close my top 8 to 10 times a week down here is sunny and warm Charleston. I have been doing this since I purchased the car in 2011. No issues so far. It stays garaged and sees minimal nasty weather, so I'm assuming my motor is mostly dry and not rusted out, and the drains are clean. YMMV

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by FD3S

So choosing hardtop for the winter is not a good choice for the fabric of the roof?

Thank you.

The original owner of my car, a former member on Zpost, had a hardtop which he apparently used in the winter in the San Francisco Bay Area, where it rains a lot more than down her in sunny San Diego. My top has some white streaks which won't wash out that I can only assume is due to mildew from being folded for months in a damp environment or from storing when the top was still damp. I have a top recoating kit that I just haven't gotten around to applying that should take care of that. Also, there was a narrow strip on the body around the rear of the cockpit where the hard top presumably sat that required buffing out to restore to original.

If I used a hardtop, I would make sure that the top is completely clean and dry before installing the hardtop. Also, applying a good coat of wax in the area where the hardtop sits on the body.

[FD3S]

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

The original owner of my car, a former member on Zpost, had a hardtop which he apparently used in the winter in the San Francisco Bay Area, where it rains a lot more than down her in sunny San Diego. My top has some white streaks which won't wash out that I can only assume is due to mildew from being folded for months in a damp environment or from storing when the top was still damp. I have a top recoating kit that I just haven't gotten around to applying that should take care of that. Also, there was a narrow strip on the body around the rear of the cockpit where the hard top presumably sat that required buffing out to restore to original.

If I used a hardtop, I would make sure that the top is completely clean and dry before installing the hardtop. Also, applying a good coat of wax in the area where the hardtop sits on the body.

Thanks for the detailed answer. I was ready to buy a hardtop to protect the softop. Here it has most of the year sunny days, but some winter days I leave it outside of the closed parking I have. So i thought it would a good solution. However now you make me have many second thoughts...

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by FD3S

Thanks for the detailed answer. I was ready to buy a hardtop to protect the softop. Here it has most of the year sunny days, but some winter days I leave it outside of the closed parking I have. So i thought it would a good solution. However now you make me have many second thoughts...

I haven't seen many hardtops on Z4s here in SoCal. Other things to consider with a hardtop: You have to have a place to store it when it's not in use which usually means a dedicated rack and a cover, and you need to have someone else help you put it on and take it off or have a hardtop hoist to do it by yourself. It always seemed to be more of a hassle to me, especially in this climate, but in colder climates or rainier climates it might be good to have.

Here's some items from Roadster Solutions, but the hardtop hoists don't appear to be available from them any longer: http://www.roadstersolutions.com/page192.html#752

[jdoublehcubed]

Originally Posted by SD ///M4

I haven't seen many hardtops on Z4s here in SoCal. Other things to consider with a hardtop: You have to have a place to store it when it's not in use which usually means a dedicated rack and a cover, and you need to have someone else help you put it on and take it off or have a hardtop hoist to do it by yourself. It always seemed to be more of a hassle to me, especially in this climate, but in colder climates or rainier climates it might be good to have.

Here's some items from Roadster Solutions, but the hardtop hoists don't appear to be available from them any longer: http://www.roadstersolutions.com/page192.html#752

also consider that you can probably replace the roof 2 or 3 times for what a hard top costs. i'd buy a hard top if I still lived in the north east (if I could find one), but I don't think it makes sense at all if you live in a nicer climate (including CA and I would assume greece).

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by jdoublehcubed

also consider that you can probably replace the roof 2 or 3 times for what a hard top costs. i'd buy a hard top if I still lived in the north east (if I could find one), but I don't think it makes sense at all if you live in a nicer climate (including CA and I would assume greece).

When I replaced the top on my 2000 S2000 in 2009 I went with an aftermarket solution that had a glass rear window (that year had a plastic rear window) and had it installed by the shop that's considered the best auto upholstery shop in San Diego. I remember that it ran ~$1,000.

[FD3S]

Originally Posted by jdoublehcubed

also consider that you can probably replace the roof 2 or 3 times for what a hard top costs. i'd buy a hard top if I still lived in the north east (if I could find one), but I don't think it makes sense at all if you live in a nicer climate (including CA and I would assume greece).

My scope is to keep the car in mint condition, considering the situation I receive it. I don't want with the hardtop to make more harm than good.
The MZ4 are very rare cars here and I believe that in the near future this TLC will pay off.

I have closed parking on my work and my home and usually I move with my bike or my other car. I don't have a problem with the space.The hardtop I can get it for 600 euros. The used roof you can find it for more than 800 and not in good condition.

[dc_wright]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Open and close the top as you see fit and don't worry about the mechanism. It's very robust. If you park the car in a sketchy area, think it might rain before you get back or spot a pigeon eyeing your seats, just close her up and drop the top again when it's time to go.

^This^ Absent the motor getting flooded and failing from corrosion it should outlast the car.

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by yousefnjr

Everyday it's not raining I'd only suggest catching it with your hand while closing to keep it from slamming down

I catch it w/my left hand just before it contacts the windshield frame.

[Ducklakeview]

If I'm out in mie, the roof is usually down - Unless it's pouring down, light rain I can live with..

Mike