fecking window

[spanwah]

nice day started car up pressed roof button off she went then heard a big crack
I now look like im off a council estate with my taped up window on a mint z3

whats the way ahead? anywhere in Yorkshire for a replacement? and is it just zip in zip out


thanks

[Brian H]

Sorry to hear of you troubles, if you have an OEM roof you will have a zip in window, best way is to look on the inside of the rear window for a zip. If you have a zip in type window then it is just a case of replacing the window section with a new one. New window sections can be purchased from either BMW or of the likes of eBay. Some members have had trouble with the fitment of non OEM windows but I understand that there are one or two that fit nicely.

If you have no zip then you can get a new window sewn in but that is a specialist job, A couple of members have had a whole new top for IIRC c£350.00 from soft tops in Croyden.

HTH

[henrycrun]

Commiserations. Many of us on here have cracked ours..

Mods - could we have add a Beware Low Temperature Window Warning to the Knowledge Base ?

[spanwah]

Sorry to hear of you troubles, if you have an OEM roof you will have a zip in window, best way is to look on the inside of the rear window for a zip. If you have a zip in type window then it is just a case of replacing the window section with a new one. New window sections can be purchased from either BMW or of the likes of eBay. Some members have had trouble with the fitment of non OEM windows but I understand that there are one or two that fit nicely.

If you have no zip then you can get a new window sewn in but that is a specialist job, A couple of members have had a whole new top for IIRC c£350.00 from soft tops in Croyden.

HTH

i'll have a look im sure its a zip type any suggestions from anyone on here which one to buy of fleabay if some arnt a good fit?
if I was close to croyden then that's what I would have done !!
cheers for reply

[spanwah]

Commiserations. Many of us on here have cracked ours..

Mods - could we have add a Beware Low Temperature Window Warning to the Knowledge Base ?

that's what I think it was being plastic its gone brittle!!!!

[henrycrun]

Even a new window will crack at low temperatures. I think that the general advice is to be wary at 5C or below.

It is an annoying feature.
Does anyone know when the Mazda MX5 rear window went from plastic to glass ?

[Beemer Man]

The MX-5 rear window went to electrically heated glass with introduction of the MK 2 (NB) model in 1998. We've had our late MK 1 1.8iS ~9 years, but 6 years ago we had a MK 2 hood fitted. With the MK 1 hood it was necessary to unzip the rear plastic window each time and lay it flat, before lowering the hood.
When the zip finally gave up the ghost we had just the excuse we needed to replace it, even though the hood itself was sound............

Beemer Man

[Koolflyer]

Up on early start 6 months ago, so bit tired, temp. 6 - 7 deg, pressed lift button and........crack!!! What a prat I hear you mutter, I agree, but I can take it on the chin. Thanks to a really good soft to upholstery company in Loughborough, my Z was repaired within 48hrs, cost £125 cash done. Gary Hubbard has been in this business for years and specialises in top end soft top cars like Porsche, TVR and BMW to name but a few. I have attached his URL http://www.hubbardupholstery.co.uk so you have his contact details should you be as impatient as me, or perhaps just need a refurb. I certainly can't recommend him highly enough......even got a cup of coffee while I waited (just over the hour). His advice is don't think about lowering when the temp is less than 10 degrees.

[gookah]

I think the main culprit of the window cracking is by it folding incorrectly,...... the colder weather does not tolerate this.


I had a vertical split like this, and it was because I carried on lowering the hood (at 12degrees C), without noticing it was folding vertically in the middle.

I use a different method now, where I just start the movement, look in the rear view mirror to see how its folding, and if it is not folding horizontally, I stop it, and from my seat, I reach behind the outer edge of the roll hoop and push the side quarter of the roof outwards and upwards to correct the fold, then continue to lower it. No need to get out of the car anymore..

[Koolflyer]

Your procedure is dead on gookah. I too found this with my brand new rear screen, wanting to fold vertically initially...which at all costs must be avoided! Asking Gary Hubbard (above) about this, and he said the reason for the vertical fold was because the new screen replacements come rolled up that way, (why they are not rolled up in the right plane in the first place new I don't know) so when you then lower your nice new screen you are folding 90 degrees to its natural fold. If you let it try and fold in the vertical you will wreck it and at best get a horrid white plastic fold mark which you cannot remove. The answer: As gookkah said, raise roof 20 degrees or so and physically make sure that its folding horizontally....I use my arm to show it the way, then continue lowering it. With time it will develop a natural fold, hopefully the warmer summer weather will see to that, because its down more. Hope that helps

[spanwah]

Up on early start 6 months ago, so bit tired, temp. 6 - 7 deg, pressed lift button and........crack!!! What a prat I hear you mutter, I agree, but I can take it on the chin. Thanks to a really good soft to upholstery company in Loughborough, my Z was repaired within 48hrs, cost £125 cash done. Gary Hubbard has been in this business for years and specialises in top end soft top cars like Porsche, TVR and BMW to name but a few. I have attached his URL http://www.hubbardupholstery.co.uk so you have his contact details should you be as impatient as me, or perhaps just need a refurb. I certainly can't recommend him highly enough......even got a cup of coffee while I waited (just over the hour). His advice is don't think about lowering when the temp is less than 10 degrees.

sounds like a plan Loughborough is about an hour away

[spanwah]

I think the main culprit of the window cracking is by it folding incorrectly,...... the colder weather does not tolerate this.


I had a vertical split like this, and it was because I carried on lowering the hood (at 12degrees C), without noticing it was folding vertically in the middle.

I use a different method now, where I just start the movement, look in the rear view mirror to see how its folding, and if it is not folding horizontally, I stop it, and from my seat, I reach behind the outer edge of the roll hoop and push the side quarter of the roof outwards and upwards to correct the fold, then continue to lower it. No need to get out of the car anymore..

funny enough that is what it looks like

[gookah]

I reckon it folded the wrong way then... that with the lower temperatures is an instant crack.
Funnily enough, (touch wood) I have used my new method even below 3degrees without issue .. I think its the direction of fold, rather than the temperature that is the primary cause,

[gookah]

double post

[Koolflyer]

...........plus an old plastic will be more brittle, so there are a few factors to take into account. If in doubt don't.