Rear Window Query

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uggers2k
Joined: Thu 25 Aug, 2011 20:59
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Rear Window Query

Post by uggers2k »

Had a new rear window around 3 weeks ago for my Z3. Never got a genuine one. Had a company take my old one out and restitch a new one onto my existing zip and put back in. All well

During the recent fine weather we had last week. I took my hood down once, ensuring that my rear window was flat and had a nice drive. When I arrived home, I put the hood up and noticed a big crease/ripple down the centre of the screen. One week later and it is still there. I will be calling the company that fitted the screen tomorrow, but before I do, is this normal? Should I expect a few creases/ripple in the window?

Thanks
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Hard Top
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Post by Hard Top »

Normal.
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Geoff H
Joined: Sat 08 Nov, 2003 12:03
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Re: Rear Window Query

Post by Geoff H »

uggers2k wrote:I put the hood up and noticed a big crease/ripple down the centre of the screen. One week later and it is still there.
Do you mean across the screen (horizontal) You won't get a crease if you use a window blanket when you put the hood down. I use a blanket every time I put the hood down and there's not a trace of a line in my window
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uggers2k
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Post by uggers2k »

<a href="http://s1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee5 ... G0074a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee5 ... G0074a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

A pic of how it looks. It is vertical in the middle and looks like the letter 'Z'. Any advice to get it out or should I just go back to the company that fitted it? I also used a blanket when I took the hood down
alec.m
Joined: Tue 05 Oct, 2010 19:01
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Post by alec.m »

That doesn`t look right and unless the camera is playing tricks the whole window looks a poor job. I`d take it back if it were mine.
Frank.A
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Post by Frank.A »

Unfortunately a window blanket won't stop any vertical creasing.It looks as if your window is slightly too large.

The blanket stops abrasion between the hood and the window at the point of the second hood hoop.Some think that the horizontal line is the fold line and it isn't.

I have a home brewed window blanket with a length of foam pipe lagging sewn in to ensure that the fold is smooth.
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Post by Bill- »

I'm with frank it doesnt look tight
alec.m
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Post by alec.m »

Read acemans thread here http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32799
Some good pics of how it should look and if you get no joy with the firm you used this is very good value at £76 all in but you need to fit yourself. Acemans write up of fitting it is good. Going to take the plunge myself soon.
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GazHyde
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Post by GazHyde »

My OEM hood will do this, so I make sure that the screen has folded horizontally before fully putting the hood down.

When you have unclipped the front from the screen, lift it slightly and check the screen is going to fold correctly before putting it down fully.

Occasionally it doesn't and I have to get out with the hood halfway down and push the screen to the correct shape. Sometimes it will correct itself, but if I drop the hood fully, then I would end up with mine looking like yours.

It may take your screen a while to learn the correct way to fold. Just watch what it does on the way down and correct it if it needs it.

Gary
DC
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Post by DC »

GazHyde wrote:My OEM hood will do this, so I make sure that the screen has folded horizontally before fully putting the hood down.

When you have unclipped the front from the screen, lift it slightly and check the screen is going to fold correctly before putting it down fully.

Occasionally it doesn't and I have to get out with the hood halfway down and push the screen to the correct shape. Sometimes it will correct itself, but if I drop the hood fully, then I would end up with mine looking like yours.

It may take your screen a while to learn the correct way to fold. Just watch what it does on the way down and correct it if it needs it.

Gary
My experience exactly.
It does take a while to learn, mine still occasionaly wants to kink on the way down even after more than 12 months.
You may get it a bit smoother if you leave the heater on for 10 minutes or so, full blast with vents pointing at the window as if you are demisting it, then push at the creases gently.
Also Hot water poured over may help.
Never done this to the Z but it used to work on other plastic windows I've had in the past when hoods weren't as well engineered as they are now.
Best to take it back first and give them a chance to correct it but I fear you won't get much joy.
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aceman
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Post by aceman »

That to me looks as though they haven't quite got the stitching right at that point as I had similar experience when I did mine and the zip missed a tooth or two hence in my writeup to keep checking every few inches or so that all the zip teeth are perfectly mated otherwise you end up with a similar picture and it is a real bind (literally) to unzip and correct your mistake.

Difinatley needs to go back as that will only get worse with time and the longer you leave it the less comeback you have.
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uggers2k
Joined: Thu 25 Aug, 2011 20:59
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Post by uggers2k »

Cheers all. Called the company who fitted the screen and they suggested using a hairdryer to try and get it out. If it doesnt work, then bring it back. Will give the hairdryer a try. If this doesnt work, I might as well go for the german ebay option.

Thanks
rosewellian
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Post by rosewellian »

Last week I bought an original BMZ rear window for £150 tried to fit myself but discovered that the last few inches of the zip in the hood had been contaminated with glue so ended up taking it to a specialist company a few hundred yards from where I work and they fitted and sewed the last few inches in for £75.

They apparently supply and fit third party Z3 windows for £150+vat
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robf
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Post by robf »

Hi and thanks for posting Uggers.The responses have led me to a new rear window from the German site.BMW ,NZ wanted $600 /300 pounds ? for one.
cheers all rob
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Post by gookah »

uggers2k wrote:<a href="http://s1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee5 ... G0074a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee5 ... G0074a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

It is vertical in the middle and looks like the letter 'Z'.

If you keep folding it, will you get the '3' as well.

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Post by MikeR »

I'm still on my original hood and even after 12 years and I still get the same result if I'm not careful when lowering the hood. The solution for me is to stop lowering the hood part way down (I have a power hood) and smooth out the creases which are formed - the blanket helps. I then carry on lowering without the creases.

MikeR
rambo
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Hood Blankets

Post by rambo »

I've noticed you guys talk about a hood blanket.Is this a Beemer part or something you have made up yourselves?
Fender2004
Joined: Fri 14 Aug, 2009 10:24
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Re: Hood Blankets

Post by Fender2004 »

rambo wrote:I've noticed you guys talk about a hood blanket.Is this a Beemer part or something you have made up yourselves?
I just use an old (but clean) bathroom towel rolled up into a roll.
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pingu
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Post by pingu »

The crease is caused by you just dropping the roof, and not watching what is happening to the screen.

You have to practise your karate when you lower the roof.

Lower the roof as usual until the roof is vertical. Then look at how the window is folding. If it is creased (as yours was) get out and "ha so" do a karate chop across the screen to take the crease out. Then fully lower the roof.

A rolled up towel, or pipe insulation can be put across the screen at the "ha so" stage. This wil prevent the horizontal crease.
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Post by Vic-Z3 »

I have found a snake door draft excluder does a great job at this ...... :)
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