More rear window malarkey

[Madmonkeyfish]

Chaps and chappettes,
The rear window on my 1998 1.9 needs to be replaced, I understand the choice to be zipped or sewn in, mine is currently zipped, anybody got any advice either way or could recommend a good fitter somewhere near East Anglia?
Cheers MMF

[BladeRunner919]

There isn't a choice when it comes to replacing a window - if you have a zipped in window, you need a zipped in replacement. The discussions over sewn or zipped come about when the whole roof is replaced. Most aftermarket roofs (should that be rooves?) have a sewn-in window.

[Caledonian]

Here's my recommendation

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z3-Cabrio ... 3f2606d6f0

Not to be confused with this one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z3-Roadst ... 1e7294943a

I got one of these a couple of weeks ago and it is 100 % perfect. The great thing about this one is the zip on the window is red, which makes it very easy indeed to be sure all the teeth have meshed together.

Quick guide

1) Pull roof material out of the rubber bead on the outside of the window. Use a plastic spatula to open up the bead to help pull it clear.
2) Remove clip which holds ends of zip together. (Small clip bottom centre of window, open teeth from inside then use screwdriver to wiggle off)
3) Push window into car, just unzips itself, like an anaorak when the zip splits
4) Open roof a little to take strain of the new window
5) Get assistant to hold window in position outside
6) Get in car and start zip on botton of the overlapping zips in the roof canvas
7) The zip on the roof has a lead in bit of material with no teeth the window zip does not, but there are 4 white teeth which is the tolerance for lining up with the first tooth on the roof window with the roof zip. I chose the second tooth.
8)Zip clockwise slowly, with your assistant helping to feed the window into place
9) Once in place, check all teeth are properly meshed, or the window will just unzip itself, like a bust jacket zip.
10) Either clip zip ends together or, even better, get the wife to sew it together. Remove zip puller off end of zip
11) Apply double sided tape round the outside of the window.
12) Feed roof material back under the bead of the window. I used a guitar plectrum to open up the beading and feed in the roof in one motion.

Honestly, the hardest thing was typing the instructions into google translate as they are only in german. Probably an hour's work and I'd never done it before.

Oh, and buy a fleece cat blanket to protect your window when its folded down!


Cheers,

Marc

[Madmonkeyfish]

Thanks guys, looking forward to getting it all sorted!!!

[JJG]

Hi Guys
Hope you don't mind me muscling in on your conversation only I have a rear window issue as well.
My 1997 model is suffering from the stitching coming undone around the window and the zip part of the rear window I've had several quotes for about £350 + VAT to repair. I've had a few other quotes to replace the roof ranging from £500 + VAT to £700 + VAT to replace the roof. I've found a company called hothoods ( www.hothoods.co.uk ) who will replace the roof for £499 inclusive of VAT what are your thoughts and are there any questions I should be asking. Also can you think of any alternatives.

[TaffZee]

Just bought one of these of E-bay, not very pleased with it, no rubber around the window, they come with a flap of material instead, which has to be glued down, also the zip didn't like meshing with the original on the hood, tried and tried to get it done but kept getting the teeth undoing, as a test put the old one back in and it fell in with no problem! after a lot of fiddling I managed to get the new one in but because of the issue with the teeth not meshing correctly was left with the window with a crinkle down it, will do for now but I intend to replace it again ASAP.

As for the mention of stitching a new window in, what this refers to is that they stitch a new window to the old zip! they don't just stich it to the hood!


My advice pay someone around £140 to get it done properly, DIY and buying one of E Bay is not something I would recommend.

Jim

[JJG]

Hi finally
Managed to resolve the issue, found a gray guy replaced the whole Roof for a awesome price.

[Gareth 161]

Hi
Any more details please on who replaced your roof and the price?
I had to replace my rear window when I bought the car as cracked but also made the mistake of fitting an Ebay window myself-not a good finish & crease down one side.However it was a quick fix until new roof fitted-a time which has now arrived.
Thanks
Gareth

[lordhelpus]

I purchased one of these.....http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z3-Conver ... 910wt_1255 .have not fitted it yet so I can't tell you how easy\difficult it is\was,, it comes with a little plastic tool to ease out the old rear window and some double sided tape to seal down the fabric trim under the rubber seal. this guy has a video showing you how to do it...One thing I did notice on the new window it is embossed with the following:
"Do not use solvent to clean use a damp cloth"..
which might bother some people??

According to this guy's website the original material used on the rear windows is made by a company called: Gurit Worpla in Switzerland who supplied BMW,AUDI,VW. etc he uses and supplies the same stuff.

[gas guzzler]

Early this year I fitted a rear screen from art-design- munster which is the second link in 'Caledonians' post and also the link in
'lordhelpus' link, sorry to say I wouldn't recommend this product. It was a real pain to fit and I had to do a few alterations to it, the plastic (or whatever it is) is far inferior to the BMW window I took out, a lot thinner and although nice and clear has a slight shimmer to it so looks as if there's water on it when looking in your rear view mirror. I'm also very careful when putting hood down as it will crease unless you push it down, I use a rolled up towel to keep the shape.

Andy

[lordhelpus]

Fitted mine this afternoon from Art design munster it is a bit fiddly as Gas Guzzler states but not impossible.. I found that the most difficult part was fitting the double sided tape.. Note: on the Art design munster website video it shows him fitting the double sided tape AFTER he has fitted the window... DONT do it that way.

DO it this way I stuck the tape onto the window following the red stitching very closely then fitted the window. Then when the window was fitted peeled off the top covering of the double sided tape to fasten down the trim that tucks under the rubber bead........... a lot easier.
Then stitched the zip at the end to secure it......no metal clip on mine?

Took about 4 hours which included 2 unwanted phone calls, 1 tea break, 1 call to the wife, to find out where she keeps the needle and thread, 1interruption by the electricity meter reader, and 1 interruption from my neighbour, who decides to have a little chat....

[Richtea]

Just to let you know, I've fitted one of these as well shortly after I'd got the car. Did it with a mate and it took no more than about 30 mins to fit the window.
The only thing which took the time on mine was repairing some areas where the stitched in zip on the original roof had come unstitched over time. That is NOT a job I would want to do again in a hurry! But once I'd done that I found the fitting of the window pretty straight forward.

[littlefeller]

its not difficult if the zip works . buy/find an original window for a reasonable price, if you install the original it zips in real easy. the aftermarket one I have has a plastic trim to tuck the hood under, while the one I removed was more rubbery, the plastic one creases. mine is fine as an aftermarket replacement. doubt it will last as long as the oem though.

[lordhelpus]

Anybody used this one Art-design -munster is doing........I bought the other one he does. it went in OK but if I had seen this I would have gone for this one...........doh!
http://www.cabrio-heckscheibe.de/origin ... -original/

[Julie Z3]

Cotswold BMW will sell you a genuine rear screen for less than £150 delivered.......................save yourself a lot of trouble and stick with the original.

[dw1985]

thinking of going with this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z3-Cabrio ... 3f2606d6f0

is there anyone in the northwest (manchester) that deals / specialises in z3's? wouldn't mind taking mine to have this done and a few other bits...

[littlefeller]

usefull link

[Boysie]

I intend to replace my softtop next year
I want to change the colour to red, there is nothing wrong with existing one, it even have a clear rear window
I had samples sent to me from various suppliers
I met a company called BAS based in Wales at the Silverstone Zedfest in 2012, I was very impressed with their products
http://www.car-hood.co.uk/
I believe Mark BADMAN has had one fitted by them and maybe a few others as well
The quality and thickness of their materials far exceeds any of the other suggested Supplier/installers

[littlefeller]

I had also considered a coloured hood, do they fade? I think blue to go with the blue zed, but then the black is also in good condition coupled with the fact they do look quite cool with black tops. im still undesided suppose if you were to go green it would hide the mildrew

[Boysie]

I had also considered a coloured hood, do they fade? I think blue to go with the blue zed, but then the black is also in good condition coupled with the fact they do look quite cool with black tops. im still undesided suppose if you were to go green it would hide the mildrew

Is that George and Mildrew

[littlefeller]

[Robert T]

Nah, Victor Mildrew

I don't believe it!

Cheers R.

Sent from my Galaxy SII using Tapatalk 2

[Rafolian]

I'm also "undesided" about believing it!