Embarrassed/Dodged a bullet

[Stuart Truman]

So I got around to adjusting the hard top today using the docs Mark sent over (thanks Mark). I figured it was really badly adjusted as the gap on one side was close to 10mm as opposed to the 5 advised.

I haven't really driven the car since fitting the hardtop, I'm trying to be more disciplined about keeping her as the weekend toy she was purchased to be. I did take daughter to Bristol yesterday though and on rough roads I thought it was vibrating a bit. Not to worry, I thought, it's probably due to a) needing adjustment and b) a foible of a hardtop on a convertible car. Little did I know...

So when the roof first went on, Luke showed me the locking tabs on the side, and the one that latches onto the windscreen. What I noticed today was that the side tabs are just guides, not the locking mechanism and they don't turn the pin that lock the roof onto the sides of the car. You need a tool to do that (or an Allen key or screwdriver to turn them) and when you do the roof settled lower with a satisfying thump.

So yes, I've driven the car with the roof only fastened by the windscreen mechanism and the fact it was resting on the side pins!

 

[Mau]

Don't worry you are most certainly not the first one with this problem.

I have had the same issue once after putting hardtop on the vehicle, removing again for adjustment, and the same a few times, simply forgot to lock the sides the last time the hardtop went on the car again. I noticed that when driving over 140 km/h there was actually some lift at the back... Luckily I had the key in the car, so could lock it straight away. Scary stuff though.

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Whoops! Hope nothing has been damaged by the roof bouncing around... My experience of a Z3 with a hardtop is that it's actually a pretty snug fit...at least when fitted properly

 

[srhutch]

Bing will be after a discount if he reads this.

 

[Stuart Truman]

Nah, I'm charging extra for a car with full history and all disclosures

 

[thepits]

I'm confused :? Why do you need a hard-top? It's still summer 8) - top down, wind in the hair, etc., etc.....

 

[Popey]

I drove 25 miles before I realised there was a latch at the front in the middle.

No harm done, l knew something wasn't right as lots of wind noise. Once that latch was done it was perfect at all speeds.

 

[Stuart Truman]

That's a perfectly valid question

I bought it from Luke but had no stand to put it on. That's now arrived and built but I needed to adjust it and test it. Adjusted today but not test driven yet (and now had a couple of snifters so not driving today)

Also every time I've thought about taking it off it's pissed down with rain.

 

[thepits]

That's a perfectly valid question
Also every time I've thought about taking it off it's pissed down with rain.

So? I once had a Sunbeam Alpine where the roof leaked, so I drove it daily everywhere [including Souf Lundun] with a tonneau cover. No problems... although a bit embarrassing when halted in the rain at traffic lights in Deptford next to a bus

 

[markeg]

Wow, definitely missed one there, Stuart!!
Did your hardtop come with the tool, which has the windscreen allen key on one end, and the other end is round, to move the holding pins?

 

[Stuart Truman]

No it didn't, but an Allen key does the side pins ok.

 

[andysat]

Bloody ell mate-that was lucky!