Carbon Fiber (CF) Z4 Coupe roofs-Feeler participants

[Twisted Six]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

I think your coupe weight is off by 100, its just a tad heavier than the roadie.
I agree though; I know I can pick up a 100lbs in other areas w/o turning it into a pure track machine.

I'll have to stick it back on my scales one day soon & get a dry weight.
My weight log is based on wet & weighted (me) for corner balancing.

Could be, I think those are Wikipedia weights.

Originally Posted by Caddyshk

Could go on a diet too - No Cheeseburgers

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

thought about that too.
...I draw the line at giving up da beer though.

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I'm glad you guys are staying sane with your decisions here,lol.

By the way...for those track guys planning on keeping their M seats installed....I have a set of extra (member donated) seat backs that I'll eventually mold for CF. I couldn't believe how heavy just those parts were !

That again is probably another 20-30 lbs to lose !

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by Twisted Six

I'm glad you guys are staying sane with your decisions here,lol.

By the way...for those track guys planning on keeping their M seats installed....I have a set of extra (member donated) seat backs that I'll eventually mold for CF. I couldn't believe how heavy just those parts were !

That again is probably another 20-30 lbs to lose !

ORLY??? you're just full of surprises
I'm Probably modding my M seats instead of changing to track seats, so may be interested.

[Z4-VILLA]

twisted any pics on the cf roofs completed?

[Z4-VILLA]

Roadster is lighter than the coupe :-)

[SuaveSmooth]

Hi,
I just upgraded from a Z4 3.0SI to Z4M roadster. I don't like the look of the coupe and I don't like the OEM Darth Vader hard top... so I'm talking with a Fabricator on the East Coast to make a custom carbon fiber (structural) hard top.


1. There's two routes to with this...completely remove the soft top and use the coupe door glass and the carbon fiber hard top will have integrated quarter glass. The coupe door glass is pointed and not rounded like the roadsters. The 09 Z4 have pointed door glass as well.

2. The second option is to keep the soft top and make the carbon fiber hard top with the standard door glass shape and have a rounded quarter glass still trying for the 09 z4 hard top look.

The question is...anyone willing to do group buy? I'm trying to lower the R&D cost of making the molds (the fabricator will keep the mold...he will be selling to us the hard top).

I'm working with some photoshop folks to generate a photo... to post. I also like to get commissioned a new front bumper...Z4 just look weird up front. Beautiful sides and back.

The estimated cost will be the same as OEM retail hard top. Any members interested?

If you know any Carbon Fiber or Fiberglas fabricators willing to do the work on the west coast...please let me know...

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by SuaveSmooth

Hi,
I just upgraded from a Z4 3.0SI to Z4M roadster. I don't like the look of the coupe and I don't like the OEM Darth Vader hard top... so I'm talking with a Fabricator on the East Coast to make a custom carbon fiber (structural) hard top.


1. There's two routes to with this...completely remove the soft top and use the coupe door glass and the carbon fiber hard top will have integrated quarter glass. The coupe door glass is pointed and not rounded like the roadsters. The 09 Z4 have pointed door glass as well.

2. The second option is to keep the soft top and make the carbon fiber hard top with the standard door glass shape and have a rounded quarter glass still trying for the 09 z4 hard top look.

The question is...anyone willing to do group buy? I'm trying to lower the R&D cost of making the molds (the fabricator will keep the mold...he will be selling to us the hard top).

I'm working with some photoshop folks to generate a photo... to post. I also like to get commissioned a new front bumper...Z4 just look weird up front. Beautiful sides and back.

The estimated cost will be the same as OEM retail hard top. Any members interested?

If you know any Carbon Fiber or Fiberglas fabricators willing to do the work on the west coast...please let me know...

First of all congrats & welcome

...since this is a thread dedicated to the coupe CF roof, I would suggest starting another thread to check interest in your roadsters project. (it will get buried here)

[Twisted Six]

Originally Posted by SuaveSmooth

Hi,
I just upgraded from a Z4 3.0SI to Z4M roadster. I don't like the look of the coupe and I don't like the OEM Darth Vader hard top... so I'm talking with a Fabricator on the East Coast to make a custom carbon fiber (structural) hard top.


1. There's two routes to with this...completely remove the soft top and use the coupe door glass and the carbon fiber hard top will have integrated quarter glass. The coupe door glass is pointed and not rounded like the roadsters. The 09 Z4 have pointed door glass as well.

2. The second option is to keep the soft top and make the carbon fiber hard top with the standard door glass shape and have a rounded quarter glass still trying for the 09 z4 hard top look.

The question is...anyone willing to do group buy? I'm trying to lower the R&D cost of making the molds (the fabricator will keep the mold...he will be selling to us the hard top).

I'm working with some photoshop folks to generate a photo... to post. I also like to get commissioned a new front bumper...Z4 just look weird up front. Beautiful sides and back.

The estimated cost will be the same as OEM retail hard top. Any members interested?

If you know any Carbon Fiber or Fiberglas fabricators willing to do the work on the west coast...please let me know...

Congrats on your car.
From reading your post, one might gather you don't really care for the baseline looks of the Z4 . Most folks LOVE the M front cover and Coupe roofline, but if they opted for the roadster....want to KEEP the function of the convertible at least until their snow season sets in.

Removing the convert. top sounds like a personal one-off choice to me. You may be fully alone on that thought.

Bare in mind, developing all the proper good looking hardware/fasteners and rear glass/defroster function as well as a precision fit and finish will be an expensive venture to fund out-of-pocket.

I'm a little confused why your asking about a westcoast CF fabricator since all your references to development are in the east ? I personally have zero interest in handling it. I have Way too much work pre-scheduled for one thing.

Best way to go about your query is to open a new thread and see where it goes. Pick a pro in the east and I'll advise as you go along if needed.

Best of luck with your endeavor within this path you've chosen.

[Twisted Six]

Just a few more steps dialing in the substructure plug -(the area which will hold the honeycomb core).... And I'll be making the B mold.

Once this half of the mold is completed, I'll let it post cure over a few weeks while I task on other projects.

Then it'll be time to infuse CF parts!!

[Incompatible]

Originally Posted by Twisted Six

That again is probably another 20-30 lbs to lose !

20-30 lbs reduction for the pair? Might be worth starting a new thread. This would seem to be a relatively good bang for the buck when it comes to dietary efforts.

[Twisted Six]

Originally Posted by Incompatible

20-30 lbs reduction for the pair? Might be worth starting a new thread. This would seem to be a relatively good bang for the buck when it comes to dietary efforts.

Good point Lance. All in due time. Lots going on.

[Gas Monkey]

How far off are you from being able to make these? Or have you already started? How much and how do I get one?

[Incompatible]

Originally Posted by Twisted Six

Good point Lance. All in due time. Lots going on.

Are you going to be around on the 22nd? I might be in the area.

[Twisted Six]

Originally Posted by Gas Monkey

How far off are you from being able to make these? Or have you already started? How much and how do I get one?

Very close to production. See a few posts back.

Originally Posted by Incompatible

Are you going to be around on the 22nd? I might be in the area.

Very possible. Do call ahead ! Maybe lunch or whatever fits!

[nwflbimmer]

Does anyone actually have a carbon roof on a Z4 M Coupe? I would love to see a picture of it. How much weight does it actually save? Last but not least. How much does it cost?

[Twisted Six]

Originally Posted by nwflbimmer

Does anyone actually have a carbon roof on a Z4 M Coupe? I would love to see a picture of it. How much weight does it actually save? Last but not least. How much does it cost?

Palantarion has one on his Mcoupe. Its about 2-3 years old. Cost about $1,700-2,200.00 if I recall. Unfortunately his is delaminating due to build process.

he has since made his car an art car....so it has been covered with paint. I'll have pix of mine soon enough to post up.

[VinnieAces]

twisted,

am i still able to switch my weave from 4x4twill to 2x2???

not sure if i want to switch just asking if its an option

[Twisted Six]

Originally Posted by VinnieAces

twisted,

am i still able to switch my weave from 4x4twill to 2x2???

not sure if i want to switch just asking if its an option

Yes. This can be decided right up to the day an order is being layed-up for infusion. No worries there.

[Gt4]

It would be nice to have CF/kevlar bumper beam like the E46 M3 to remove some weight at both extremity of the car.

I think it would be something not too hard to fabricate and the esthetic doesn't need to be perfect.

[Rated M Roadster]

Originally Posted by Gtfour

It would be nice to have CF/kevlar bumper beam like the E46 M3 to remove some weight at both extremity of the car.

I think it would be something not too hard to fabricate and the esthetic doesn't need to be perfect.

Curious how much weight this would save...

[Twisted Six]

Originally Posted by Gtfour

It would be nice to have CF/kevlar bumper beam like the E46 M3 to remove some weight at both extremity of the car.

I think it would be something not too hard to fabricate and the esthetic doesn't need to be perfect.

Originally Posted by Rated M Roadster

Curious how much weight this would save...

I've already considered this in kevlar. With all goals with weight being linear, it's all about losing weight while maintaining/increasing safety.
An alloy bumper substructure would lose about 60-70% weight.

[StayFNCY]

So I just bought my Z4 and I really wanna get a hardtop for it, how much is this most likely going to cost if you've got a set price for it yet?

[Gt4]

Originally Posted by Twisted Six

I've already considered this in kevlar. With all goals with weight being linear, it's all about losing weight while maintaining/increasing safety.
An alloy bumper substructure would lose about 60-70% weight.

That would be nice!