Roadster folks - This will happen

[StickMon]

Started as a sudden finger-size hole after putting the top down and up for about the 1000th time.
Grows by 2x every time I put the top down and back up.
You can see the culprit in the second photo.








Can't put the top down again until I stop the bleeding, or it's going to rip clean across.

[Lucky1]

Originally Posted by StickMon

Started as a sudden finger-size hole after putting the top down and up for about the 1000th time.
Grows by 2x every time I put the top down and back up.
You can see the culprit in the second photo.


Attachment 1869662


Attachment 1869663


Can't put the top down again until I stop the bleeding, or it's going to rip clean across.

Damn

[dc_wright]

Damn! Some Gorilla tape may work temporarily, but looks like you're learning how to install a new top canvas. You'll be needing a couple of these DIYs if you decide to do it yourself.

https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sh...&postcount=114

[gpraceman]

Ouch.

Good thing it doesn't rain much in LA.

[StickMon]

I have a plan. I fashioned a patch that I hope to be able to slip under the hole and glue in place.
One layer of plastic (Ziploc) so I don't glue the layers of the top together.
The outer canvas has to slide over the lower layers.
Two layers of fiberglass mesh (pet-proof window screen).
Need to let the glue (GE Silicone 2+) set up for a few more hours before I try and stuff it through the hole.

[Yapakanichi]

Flexseal Tape...

[RossBMWZseries]

I have the same tear in my passenger side. My driver’s side is already torn a few inches

[Lucky1]

Other than not operating the top too often are there any preventative measures one can take to avoid this happening?

[Lucky1]

So this will go inbetween the outer canvas and the lower layers? Care to explain where the Ziploc goes again? Didn't quite grasp the rationale or approach here.

[StickMon]

Originally Posted by Lucky1

Other than not operating the top too often are there any preventative measures one can take to avoid this happening?

Originally Posted by Lucky1

So this will go in between the outer canvas and the lower layers? Care to explain where the Ziploc goes again? Didn't quite grasp the rationale or approach here.

I doubt there's anything you can do to prevent it.
The point on the frame eventually rubs its way through.
That's why I said "this will happen".


Yes. I stuffed the patch between the layers, fiberglass screen up, Ziploc down.

The outer canvass slides independently of the lower layers, so I didn't want to glue it down.
The idea with the Ziploc was to keep the glue (calk) from getting to the lower layers. The glue is between the fiberglass and the hole.


That said, turns out silicone calk doesn't stick to Ziploc, so it came loose when I was stuffing the patch in the hole and I had to wrangle it.


Don't know yet if it was successful. There's not a lot if air in there to dry the silicone, so I want to leave it for a few days.

[racerbruce]

StickMon,
I feel your pain....haven't seen this type of failure on our Z site; so sorry you're in the middle of this.

If and when my top fails, I do not have the tools or acumen to DIY, and will have to have my indie shop address it.

[elerner61]

I forget, do we have a good DIY for replacing a top?