BMW Z4 Wind Deflector
- Thread starter SirSimon
- Start date
I recently bought a Z4 without a deflector and have subsequently fitted one. Fitting is realtively straightforward, just make sure you get all the parts needed - £220 or so for me from Sytner. They also said "about £400" until I said I would fi it myself. The only thing is to really take your time and get all the bits the right way round and in the right order. There are fitting guides on the Internet, or I can offer suggestions when you get around to it.
I am 6ft 5 so the deflector only makes a slight difference to me. Howver, it makes a bit difference 'lower down' in the cabin for the Mrs (think hair getting messed up = you in trouble).
I am 6ft 5 so the deflector only makes a slight difference to me. Howver, it makes a bit difference 'lower down' in the cabin for the Mrs (think hair getting messed up = you in trouble).
I've been looking fairly extensively into this lately.
There's two types of wind deflector - the fabric "mesh" one which clips over your roll hoop covers and stows in a bag in the boot, and the rigid "honeycomb" one which installs on rails attached to your roll hoop covers.
Functionally I gather they're the same, so it's really about looks when it comes to choosing.
Fabric one costs about £100 (I bought mine for £105 from cotswold BMW on ebay in the end); honeycomb one costs about £140 BUT you also need to replace your roll hoop covers which apparently cost £20 per piece (x4 = £80) for the grey ones, £40 (x4=£160) for the chrome line ones, and £50 (x4=£200 total) for black ones (for the Z4M). The black ones aren't officially listed as an option with the retrofit kit but after exhaustive search I've had confirmation that the part numbers I listed in an earlier post are correct so they can be ordered if needed. After that it's about 1-2hrs for fitting (at BMW or garage rates, or do it yourself and someone's posted a helpful guide with pictures).
I went with the fabric one after being told that one of the main reasons Z4 owners don't like it is that it hides the silver roll hoop covers whereas I wanted to keep my black ones anyway, and couldn't justify £350 + fitting time when I don't drive on the motorway top-down often at all.
There's two types of wind deflector - the fabric "mesh" one which clips over your roll hoop covers and stows in a bag in the boot, and the rigid "honeycomb" one which installs on rails attached to your roll hoop covers.
Functionally I gather they're the same, so it's really about looks when it comes to choosing.
Fabric one costs about £100 (I bought mine for £105 from cotswold BMW on ebay in the end); honeycomb one costs about £140 BUT you also need to replace your roll hoop covers which apparently cost £20 per piece (x4 = £80) for the grey ones, £40 (x4=£160) for the chrome line ones, and £50 (x4=£200 total) for black ones (for the Z4M). The black ones aren't officially listed as an option with the retrofit kit but after exhaustive search I've had confirmation that the part numbers I listed in an earlier post are correct so they can be ordered if needed. After that it's about 1-2hrs for fitting (at BMW or garage rates, or do it yourself and someone's posted a helpful guide with pictures).
I went with the fabric one after being told that one of the main reasons Z4 owners don't like it is that it hides the silver roll hoop covers whereas I wanted to keep my black ones anyway, and couldn't justify £350 + fitting time when I don't drive on the motorway top-down often at all.
Tref said:
Thank you. Where did you get yours from?
I have found this on ebay, looks like you just plug it on the back..
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Genuine-BMW-Z4-Wind-Deflector_W0QQitemZ120430505215QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item1c0a37acff&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1689|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A3|294%3A50
That ebay one is the cheaper version which slips over the hoops. I don't think there is any fitting involved - just slip it over the hoops.
Personally I wanted a more 'stock' looking setup (OK, I know both are OEM). I bought my parts from Sytner BMW in High Wycombe - they had everything in stock the next day for me. You WILL need the 4x hoop covers if you go the same route as I did though.
Personally I wanted a more 'stock' looking setup (OK, I know both are OEM). I bought my parts from Sytner BMW in High Wycombe - they had everything in stock the next day for me. You WILL need the 4x hoop covers if you go the same route as I did though.
A
Anonymous
Guest
I have owned my 2.5 roadster since May and I cannot see any reason for a wind deflector, I find it more than OK inside the cockpit, I though the idea was to get the wind your hair and plenty of fresh air.
By a woolly hat and scarf of course with a BMW badge on them.
Just my opinion people, oh yes im 56 & 5ft 6ins, so old but not soft, only joking.
cheers everyone
By a woolly hat and scarf of course with a BMW badge on them.
Just my opinion people, oh yes im 56 & 5ft 6ins, so old but not soft, only joking.
cheers everyone
When I first bought my Z I didn't have the wind deflector fitted for about a month. Then I thought I'd give it a try, save it taking up space in the boot. Well, 20 months on, it's still fitted and no plans to remove it exept for cleaning around that area.
The only time it's a bit of a hindrence is reversing at night, it's mesh, so dark to look through in poor light. Plus you can take it off in about 10s, if needs be, but there realy is seldom any cause too.
The only time it's a bit of a hindrence is reversing at night, it's mesh, so dark to look through in poor light. Plus you can take it off in about 10s, if needs be, but there realy is seldom any cause too.
I've got a rigid one (calm down, people). It clips into a couple of plastic rails on the underside of the boot lid - very neat.
I find that it makes a difference at low speeds but not at 60+. I usually leave it off most of the time as it makes the cabin a bit more gloomy with the hood up and I can't be arsed to fish it out of the boot every time our weather decides to have a personality crisis.
I find that it makes a difference at low speeds but not at 60+. I usually leave it off most of the time as it makes the cabin a bit more gloomy with the hood up and I can't be arsed to fish it out of the boot every time our weather decides to have a personality crisis.
I bought a rigid perspex type which fits across the back of the hoops and uses velcro transparent straps to hold on. There have been threads about this already but in hindsight I wish I had bought mesh. The solid perpex creates a vacuum which causes a strong downdraft of air between the seats and causes cold air to billow in the footwells. Cuts down cockpit disturbance overall though (bar the aformentioned problem) and is clear so no problems with visibility - it is also not very noticeable. Creaks a bit at certain speeds - though polishing it seems to have cut this down. Some kind of wind deflector does seem necessary on the Zed - my previous MX5 didn't have the same amount of air disturbance in the cockpit even at high speed - is it the shape of the rear of the car - odd as the seats seem lower than the MX and more 'protected' by the back wall. :? :?