Hardtop install complete

JBZ4 · 08-19-2007, 10:16 AM

The top is now painted and on the car. I had looked long and far for an install post on the other forums before I attempted the install of the retrofit hardtop kit. I never found it, but I did get some great advice, which I would like to thank Ron Stygar, epbrown and JackB1, that helped me a lot. All and all the install took no longer than an hour. This is a definite DIY (stay away from the dealer)! There are no special tools needed and no interior panels need to be taken off the car (speaker grilles come off). As far as I can tell it appears that the Z’s come from the factory with the hardtop defroster wiring already installed. My Z4 has a build of 12/2002 and everything was there to plug the retrofit kit in. This would have been a great install to do at Homecoming as a clinic. If anyone has any questions I can easily walk them through.
See everyone at Homecoming!!!

Feyd · 08-19-2007, 01:43 PM

looks good.... thinking about one of these for my sterling grey z as well.

maxz4 · 08-19-2007, 02:40 PM

Looks good

So the soft stop stays on too right? no need to remove it?

GP20 · 08-19-2007, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxz4

Looks good

So the soft stop stays on too right? no need to remove it?

No need at all.

maxz4 · 08-19-2007, 08:53 PM

Cool, Probably need to remember not to try to close the soft top

pbdm4k · 08-19-2007, 10:51 PM

heh... does anyone make a carbon fibre hard top?

GP20 · 08-19-2007, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbdm4k

heh... does anyone make a carbon fibre hard top?

Unfortunately, no.

I would've had one on my M now if there was.

epbrown · 08-20-2007, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxz4

Cool, Probably need to remember not to try to close the soft top

The buttons don't work when the top is in place.

Palantirion · 08-20-2007, 03:07 AM

Nice!

Incompatible · 08-20-2007, 08:45 PM

JBZ4, Looks great. Could you post a few more pictures from various angles. I'm stuck between going with a used coupe which are few and expensive or going with a roadster and putting on a hard top. For whatever reason, I'm just not into open cars. Have you noticed any difference in the noise level between the hard and soft top?
Thanks in advance.

Palantirion · 08-21-2007, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incompatible

JBZ4, Looks great. Could you post a few more pictures from various angles. I'm stuck between going with a used coupe which are few and expensive or going with a roadster and putting on a hard top. For whatever reason, I'm just not into open cars. Have you noticed any difference in the noise level between the hard and soft top?
Thanks in advance.

-You now make me wonder, what is the weight difference if you take an MR, remove the folding top completely, and bolt on the hard top? Hmm...

inTgr8r · 08-21-2007, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palantirion

-You now make me wonder, what is the weight difference if you take an MR, remove the folding top completely, and bolt on the hard top? Hmm...

^ thought about that as well.
If you pulled out the whole system..... it would be a considerable weight loss.

GP20 · 08-21-2007, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incompatible

JBZ4, Looks great. Could you post a few more pictures from various angles. I'm stuck between going with a used coupe which are few and expensive or going with a roadster and putting on a hard top. For whatever reason, I'm just not into open cars. Have you noticed any difference in the noise level between the hard and soft top?
Thanks in advance.

Interior is definitely noticibly quieter with the hardtop. If you're not into convertibles, go for the coupe which has twice the rigidity as the roadster which translates into better handling performance and a lot fewer interior rattles/squeaks..

Incompatible · 08-21-2007, 01:30 PM

Palantirion, You beat me to my next question, Has anyone actually done this and know what the weight savings are?

GP20, I agree that the coupe would be a better choice for several reasons and I really really like the looks, but the very few used coupes that I have found for sale are significantly more expensive then a comparable roadster. Also, since the roadsters have been around longer, there are many more mid to higher mileage cars (less money) to choose from. Lastly, this will be somewhat of a daily driver/fun car, nothing that will ever go to the track.

Thanks all for your info and advice.

maxz4 · 08-21-2007, 03:55 PM

The only thing now that would make the process a lot more difficult, and knowing me when I try to put it back I would have parts left...

epbrown · 08-21-2007, 07:41 PM

The soft-top and hydraulics run over 100 lbs or so, and the hardtop weighs ~66lbs, so you'd only be saving 34 lbs total. A better choice would be to get a "stripper" roadster - manual top (supposedly half the weight of the power top assembly), manual cloth seats (another 60lbs saved). Isn't theere a maxim that every 15 lbs shaved is equal to 1 horsepower?

JBZ4 · 08-21-2007, 07:59 PM

I just love the look of a hartop on the Z. It changes the whole look of the car and it was too good of a deal to pass up. I can also put it on my next Z4 (first generation Z4). The ride is quiet with a just a little wind noise at over 85 MPH, but I have yet to make any adjustments. The retrofit kit runs just under $200.00 with the wrench. If you are even thinking of getting one I would get the retrofit kit and install it. It is an easy install and then if a top becomes available you can jump on it. I missed one for $1200 about 30 minutes away, it was buried in a non Z4 forum in a generic BMW classified forum. The guy turned his lease in and kept the top. He had it two months before it finally sold. I have also seen them on Craigslist. There out there, you just have to be ready to jump. With the new generation of Z coming out they might get a little scarce. Thanks again epbrown for the info you sent me!

OH FO SHO · 08-21-2007, 09:56 PM

more pics please

i really want to get a hardtop.

epbrown · 08-22-2007, 04:05 AM

Ditto, it's right up there with the coupe in looks for me, especially in black. Funny thing about the 2nd pic - it's all hardtop convertibles of some sort.

And JBZ4, you're quite welcome; hope they helped.

08-19-2007, 10:16 AM	#1
JBZ4 Private 4 Rep 65 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Hardtop install complete The top is now painted and on the car. I had looked long and far for an install post on the other forums before I attempted the install of the retrofit hardtop kit. I never found it, but I did get some great advice, which I would like to thank Ron Stygar, epbrown and JackB1, that helped me a lot. All and all the install took no longer than an hour. This is a definite DIY (stay away from the dealer)! There are no special tools needed and no interior panels need to be taken off the car (speaker grilles come off). As far as I can tell it appears that the Z’s come from the factory with the hardtop defroster wiring already installed. My Z4 has a build of 12/2002 and everything was there to plug the retrofit kit in. This would have been a great install to do at Homecoming as a clinic. If anyone has any questions I can easily walk them through. See everyone at Homecoming!!! Attached Images
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08-19-2007, 01:43 PM	#2
Feyd Major 348 Rep 1,288 Posts Drives: a DEEZZULL Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (2)	looks good.... thinking about one of these for my sterling grey z as well.
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08-19-2007, 02:40 PM	#3
maxz4 Private First Class 4 Rep 118 Posts Drives: Z4 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (0)	Looks good So the soft stop stays on too right? no need to remove it?
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08-19-2007, 08:53 PM	#5
maxz4 Private First Class 4 Rep 118 Posts Drives: Z4 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (0)	Cool, Probably need to remember not to try to close the soft top
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08-19-2007, 10:51 PM	#6
pbdm4k Lieutenant Colonel 75 Rep 1,689 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: May 2007 Location: North of the Border iTrader: (3)	heh... does anyone make a carbon fibre hard top?
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08-20-2007, 03:07 AM	#9
Palantirion First Lieutenant 16 Rep 385 Posts Drives: Z4 MC, M5, 540iT Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Nice! __________________
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08-20-2007, 08:45 PM	#10
Incompatible Major 55 Rep 1,224 Posts Drives: 07 AW Z4C 3.0Si Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1)	JBZ4, Looks great. Could you post a few more pictures from various angles. I'm stuck between going with a used coupe which are few and expensive or going with a roadster and putting on a hard top. For whatever reason, I'm just not into open cars. Have you noticed any difference in the noise level between the hard and soft top? Thanks in advance.
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08-21-2007, 01:30 PM	#14
Incompatible Major 55 Rep 1,224 Posts Drives: 07 AW Z4C 3.0Si Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1)	Palantirion, You beat me to my next question, Has anyone actually done this and know what the weight savings are? GP20, I agree that the coupe would be a better choice for several reasons and I really really like the looks, but the very few used coupes that I have found for sale are significantly more expensive then a comparable roadster. Also, since the roadsters have been around longer, there are many more mid to higher mileage cars (less money) to choose from. Lastly, this will be somewhat of a daily driver/fun car, nothing that will ever go to the track. Thanks all for your info and advice.
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08-21-2007, 03:55 PM	#15
maxz4 Private First Class 4 Rep 118 Posts Drives: Z4 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ iTrader: (0)	The only thing now that would make the process a lot more difficult, and knowing me when I try to put it back I would have parts left...
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08-21-2007, 07:41 PM	#16
epbrown Colonel 60 Rep 2,128 Posts Drives: BMW M Coupe, Porsche Boxster S Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	The soft-top and hydraulics run over 100 lbs or so, and the hardtop weighs ~66lbs, so you'd only be saving 34 lbs total. A better choice would be to get a "stripper" roadster - manual top (supposedly half the weight of the power top assembly), manual cloth seats (another 60lbs saved). Isn't theere a maxim that every 15 lbs shaved is equal to 1 horsepower?
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08-21-2007, 07:59 PM	#17
JBZ4 Private 4 Rep 65 Posts Drives: 2003 Z4 Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I just love the look of a hartop on the Z. It changes the whole look of the car and it was too good of a deal to pass up. I can also put it on my next Z4 (first generation Z4). The ride is quiet with a just a little wind noise at over 85 MPH, but I have yet to make any adjustments. The retrofit kit runs just under $200.00 with the wrench. If you are even thinking of getting one I would get the retrofit kit and install it. It is an easy install and then if a top becomes available you can jump on it. I missed one for $1200 about 30 minutes away, it was buried in a non Z4 forum in a generic BMW classified forum. The guy turned his lease in and kept the top. He had it two months before it finally sold. I have also seen them on Craigslist. There out there, you just have to be ready to jump. With the new generation of Z coming out they might get a little scarce. Thanks again epbrown for the info you sent me! Attached Images Last edited by JBZ4; 08-21-2007 at 08:18 PM.. Reason: addition of info
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08-21-2007, 09:56 PM	#18
OH FO SHO Captain 15 Rep 615 Posts Drives: z4 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: california iTrader: (0)	more pics please i really want to get a hardtop. __________________ '03 3.0i z4: tiag ext., red int., SMG, sport, premium HAMANN exhaust l HAMANN front lip l 19" Miro type 366 (HAMANN edition race replicas) l RPI air scoop l KW v2 coilovers *-MY PICTURE THREAD-*
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08-22-2007, 04:05 AM	#19
epbrown Colonel 60 Rep 2,128 Posts Drives: BMW M Coupe, Porsche Boxster S Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	Ditto, it's right up there with the coupe in looks for me, especially in black. Funny thing about the 2nd pic - it's all hardtop convertibles of some sort. And JBZ4, you're quite welcome; hope they helped.
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