Correct way to mount E85 hardtop on official BMW stand

Bob123 · Post by **Bob123** » Tue May 10, 2022 9:30 am

Just wondering which way around the hardtop is designed to fit on the official BMW stand? Most photos I've seen have the rear window resting on the base in one of the 'steps' above the wheels, however I have seen some where the front of the hardtop is placed in the 'steps' instead.

With the former I'm wondering whether this would result in two indentions in the hardtop sealing rubber developing over time and causing an imperfect seal when fitted to the roadster?

I've looked around but cannot find any official BMW diagrams showing how to use the supplied stand correctly.

Thanks for any input.

kis · Post by **kis** » Mon May 23, 2022 1:55 pm

The hardtop seems more unbalanced when you place it front side down (since the rear section carries more weight). So for this reason I'd say rear end down. That's how I've stored it, I've heard horror stories of the rear glass breaking, but that's when stored incorrectly. Still makes me un-easy everytime I set the hardtop down on the stand!

Bob123 · Post by **Bob123** » Mon May 23, 2022 2:51 pm

kis wrote: ↑Mon May 23, 2022 1:55 pm The hardtop seems more unbalanced when you place it front side down (since the rear section carries more weight). So for this reason I'd say rear end down. That's how I've stored it, I've heard horror stories of the rear glass breaking, but that's when stored incorrectly. Still makes me un-easy everytime I set the hardtop down on the stand!

Yes, those are my thoughts too, in addition it concerns me that the rubber sealing strip at the base of the rear window appears to be compressed in two places when the hardtop is stored on the official stand. Which of the 'steps' do you use, the upper or the lower to locate the rear window on the stand?

kis · Post by **kis** » Mon May 23, 2022 6:32 pm

I think I use the lower one, because the hardtop then sits in a recess? Which means it can't really fall off? (It would have to fall upwards to clear the recess then out). That's from memory, my hardtop doesn't come off all that often.

Bob123 · Post by **Bob123** » Tue May 24, 2022 8:25 am

kis wrote: ↑Mon May 23, 2022 6:32 pm I think I use the lower one, because the hardtop then sits in a recess? Which means it can't really fall off? (It would have to fall upwards to clear the recess then out). That's from memory, my hardtop doesn't come off all that often.

Cheers, that's what I do.

Z4-forum.com

Z4-forum.com