Leaking Soft Top
Leaking Soft Top
Now then fellow Z3 Owners!!!
Seems I always only come on here when I have a problem!! I promise when I learn more I will try to post answers too!!! With the current rain I have a leak on both sides where the hood hooks into the roof. Its a constant dripping and a right pain !! Anyone any idea's?? Any help would be appreciated.
Daz
Seems I always only come on here when I have a problem!! I promise when I learn more I will try to post answers too!!! With the current rain I have a leak on both sides where the hood hooks into the roof. Its a constant dripping and a right pain !! Anyone any idea's?? Any help would be appreciated.
Daz
If you're talking about the join along the front of the roof to the top rail of the windscreen (at the extreme left and right) then you can apparently adjust the closure force of the main roof latches by effectively reducing their reach which means the roof will compress the seals slightly more. I have nver had to bother yet (famous last words ) but I'm sure a search on here will reveal a description of what to do. I think there is an allen key to twiddle in the latch lever housing somewhere. Only do the adjustment in small steps though. You don't want to put more load on the parts than is necessary.
Jonty
Jonty
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Haven't been able to get any. Theres none in any $tealership in the UK apparently.Robert T wrote:People were reporting problems getting hold of Gummipflege - has anyone bought some recently? I managed to get an aerosol one in October. There is also a tube of it too.
Cheers R.
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zxr400,JontyP wrote:If you're talking about the join along the front of the roof to the top rail of the windscreen (at the extreme left and right) then you can apparently adjust the closure force of the main roof latches by effectively reducing their reach which means the roof will compress the seals slightly more.
ajones13 on here has done this. PM him for information.
BMW Z3, the only way to build a true roadster
- The most powerful letter in the world.
- The most powerful letter in the world.
Cloz wrote:There is something that will never change is my love for Z3
smartypants wrote:Conor?
With an M??
The World's gone mad
smartypants wrote:The Z3 rear is a great thing to behold
I had the same problem with it leaking at the joins afterI got my car washed by the hand car was people with a jet hose! I didnt think my problem was fixed but it has recently been raining and I have had no leaks!
My topic is here: http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... roof+seals
I brought some of this:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... ryrn_77322
It seems to have done the job! it didnt take immediate effect but the rubber seems to be alot more supple now and I have had no leeks touch wood.
My topic is here: http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... roof+seals
I brought some of this:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... ryrn_77322
It seems to have done the job! it didnt take immediate effect but the rubber seems to be alot more supple now and I have had no leeks touch wood.
Hi there
New to this forum but had my Z3 2.8 since 2000.
I have the original top and cure the leaks described as required by opening the roof and gently pulling the rubber seals forwards on the roof so that they butt up against the windshield frame more positively, it works every time but needs to be re-visited after several roof cycles.
HTH
ZEEFREE
New to this forum but had my Z3 2.8 since 2000.
I have the original top and cure the leaks described as required by opening the roof and gently pulling the rubber seals forwards on the roof so that they butt up against the windshield frame more positively, it works every time but needs to be re-visited after several roof cycles.
HTH
ZEEFREE
Damp seats
Hi just joined with the hope that someone can tell me how to adjust my soft top. Its leaking both sides at the soft rubber join. It seems that you guys were talking about this last year so any adeas on how to sort the problem? My local dealer wants £110 per hour just to investigate the problem!!!
Joint
I doubt if Gummipfege or any other quick fix will do the job - I ended up sticking a shaped piece of rubber onto the end of the window seals, and it is fine. My catch claws were originally fully-tightened, when this leak began while still under warranty fom new.
BMWGB's answer was 'It's a convertible - you have to expect a few leaks.' So much for tales of wonderful service!
BMWGB's answer was 'It's a convertible - you have to expect a few leaks.' So much for tales of wonderful service!
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Re: Damp seats
hence their nickname, $tealers.wistone wrote:My local dealer wants £110 per hour just to investigate the problem!!!
As the rubber seals are in sections and are supposed to fit together snugly when the top is up, try wiggling the front sections that are not sealing, forward whilst making sure there is still enough contact with the section behind it so as not to cause a leak there. I have to do this once a month, roughly, as i do tend to have the top down quite often, and i think the motion of raising and lowering the top moves the seals around a bit.
If that doesn't work, you can always vulcanise some rubber repair patches on to the contact points like Mike has.
On a side note, why not go and introduce yourself here? along with a few piccies.
BMW Z3 2.0L Velvet Blue Individual Edition
Seals
This problem does not need 'investigation' by a dealer, as it is clearly listed in a BMW Service Instruction, but the measures reccommended do not work!
You can tighten the claws of the hood all you want, but their action is restricted by the tapered dowels which rigidly locate the front of the hood relative to the windscreen frame. Sealing therefore depends on the resilience of the rubber seals, which tend to shrink back with age.
You can tighten the claws of the hood all you want, but their action is restricted by the tapered dowels which rigidly locate the front of the hood relative to the windscreen frame. Sealing therefore depends on the resilience of the rubber seals, which tend to shrink back with age.
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leaking roof
Thanks guys for all your tips. I'll see if there is any play left in the seals and if not I'll use the rubber patch solution.
I am really apreciative of your help so quickly. I think I'll enjoy swapping tales on here. Chat soon
I am really apreciative of your help so quickly. I think I'll enjoy swapping tales on here. Chat soon
Totally agree with Mikes fix, I did the same with a piece of .75mm rubber pond liner, works a treat.
Still get the odd leak from the joint mid side windows.
Still get the odd leak from the joint mid side windows.
Gazza
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"
Z3 S54 M roadster , BMW Z1, BMW M3 CSL, Z4M Coupe
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"
Z3 S54 M roadster , BMW Z1, BMW M3 CSL, Z4M Coupe
Hi Rob,Robert T wrote:People were reporting problems getting hold of Gummipflege - has anyone bought some recently? I managed to get an aerosol one in October. There is also a tube of it too.
Cheers R.
Paul has got some in a tube, I will ask him where he got his from, we just used it for the hardtop, he put the stuff on all the rubber, before putting the hardtop on.
Paul just used this to see where certain points of the hardtop were rubbing, he didn't use it for leaks or such like....just though I would add that point too....
Will let you know later where he got it....
Shabs...
Last edited by shabsbmw on Mon 14 Jan, 2008 15:35, edited 1 time in total.
Magnetic force
Catch
I forget to mention that the mechanism of the hhod catches uses a pin sliding in a thin slotted plate.
If you tighten the claws too much this plate will simply be strained and distorted, so slackening off the hood seal/windscreen frame interface, and it will continue to distort and slacken.
I think this is the basic cause of the problem - if the hill-billies who assemble the cars maladjust the claws distortion will occur, with a gradual slackening of the seal, until one can see daylight through them. To put your faith in any quick fix such as Gummi-Pflege is asking for a miracle.
Unfortunately the catch mechanism is not sold as a seperate part.
If you tighten the claws too much this plate will simply be strained and distorted, so slackening off the hood seal/windscreen frame interface, and it will continue to distort and slacken.
I think this is the basic cause of the problem - if the hill-billies who assemble the cars maladjust the claws distortion will occur, with a gradual slackening of the seal, until one can see daylight through them. To put your faith in any quick fix such as Gummi-Pflege is asking for a miracle.
Unfortunately the catch mechanism is not sold as a seperate part.
Products are available from BMW or another is Renovo
Gazza
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"
Z3 S54 M roadster , BMW Z1, BMW M3 CSL, Z4M Coupe
"Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car, oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall and torque is how far you take the wall with you"
Z3 S54 M roadster , BMW Z1, BMW M3 CSL, Z4M Coupe
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I've been using BMW impregnator for some time now. No complaints.
BMW Z3, the only way to build a true roadster
- The most powerful letter in the world.
- The most powerful letter in the world.
Cloz wrote:There is something that will never change is my love for Z3
smartypants wrote:Conor?
With an M??
The World's gone mad
smartypants wrote:The Z3 rear is a great thing to behold
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Henrycrun, yes I have. Works well. Beads are still evident now after 3 months.
Problem is for me, however, that I want to use a blue dye from renovo on the roof, as it's faded a bit, and due to the long lasting proofing given by the bloody autoglym stuff, I can't until it wears off as the dye doesn't get through the proofing. Typical
Anyone know how to get the proofing out of the roof so as to dye it, or is it a "wait until the proofing wears off" scenario?
Problem is for me, however, that I want to use a blue dye from renovo on the roof, as it's faded a bit, and due to the long lasting proofing given by the bloody autoglym stuff, I can't until it wears off as the dye doesn't get through the proofing. Typical
Anyone know how to get the proofing out of the roof so as to dye it, or is it a "wait until the proofing wears off" scenario?
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i tried this method today and it works a treat, no leaks at all. i will keep a tub of vasaline in the car now (hidden) in case it needs doing again, it must have took me all of 30 seconds to sort out so if it needs doing regular it doesnt really matter as its that easy to do.mattdedasc wrote:I spoke to a local BMW specialist who advised me to try vaseline (yes, the one you buy from the chemist) before anything else.
It actually works. never a single drop of water in the car in 3 months. And before it was leaking seriously.