Hardtop, what advantages?

C

chris

Senior member
 Southampton
Still looking for a hardtop, but actually thought why do I need one? Sound proofing is excellent IMO, keeps the car warm. So what is the main reason people use them? Does the softop deteriorate?
 
2 cars for the price of one
Warmer and quieter in WInter
Preserves the canvas during crap weather season
Stops water getting into the roof motor
Looks amazing

That enough?
 
So what happens to my roof motor when it rains in the summer? Surely it's designed to get wet?
 
Blue said:
So what happens to my roof motor when it rains in the summer? Surely it's designed to get wet?
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The motor is not designed to get wet. Run a few searches and you'll see a few have failed. Usually leaves get in the drains and block them and water then sits in the motor housing and rusts it to bits.

Not that I advocate a hardtop for this reason ,but if keeps rain out of that part of the car, prevents leaves too from dropping in, during the time of year it of course rains most. In the drier seasons I'm sure the motor dries out quicker and there's way less rain anyway so the problem is much reduced. More important is the hood keeps out of the weather and doesn't get mould on the edges, etc.
 
chris said:
One on egay at the moment, and not that far. Or is it quad exhaust time? :rofl:
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You decide, but hardtop, quad exhaust and quad white spot lights, seems a good Winter 'outfit' to me :)

IMG_0445.jpg
 
I really thought I would be able to get one for 500-650 but think that's a bit low now. They all seem to be going north of 900 at the moment! Unless wait till summer when they are cheaper :roll: umm doubt that will happen :D

What was your diffuser off by the way?
 
I must say that looks really 8) . Considering quad exit exhaust as first mod, is that the carbon diffuser you have on there as well?
 
I think the price of a hardtop a year ago used to hover in the £700 to £850 mark. Now it's £1,000 to £1,200 judging by Ebay so I don't expect them to drop much again. Perhaps back to £1k in the late Spring if lucky and an odd colour.

Yes to both - it's an oem CF diffuser for facelift rear, modded to take quad tips instead of dual left and fit a prefacelift bumper cover. Not a good shot due to lighting, but never had a negative comment about my rear end :oops:
 
To fit one do you def need two people?

This is prob the only thing which puts me off... as i couldnt fit a winch in my garage (as my garage is full of crap) And living on my own i wouldnt want to rely on friends coming over to help me to remove my top :oops:
 
If my Z4 lived outdoors and wasn't garaged, then I'd certainly have a hardtop for the winter months. But since mine lives exclusively indoors when not being driven I don't personally have the need for one.

Plus, I enjoy dropping the roof on any cold but dry winter day - it's a bit tricker/time-consuming if you've fitted a hardtop...
 
Just to add my 2 penneth to the debate. Prior to getting my e89 I had two 3 series convertibles for 3 years apiece. Neither were garaged and i had no problems with the ragtop or mechanism. As i tend to have the roof down at every opportunity and through the winter still, a hard top wasn't something i would have wanted anyway. I can understand why many like them but every time i was driving around enjoying the winter sun and saw any convertible drive past with a hard top i couldn't help feeling they were missing something of the joy of the car. As we head towards winter remember a dog isn't just for christmas and a convertible isn't just for summer :-) I know i'm preaching to the converted so forgive me.
 
Mine lives outside all year round, so I fit a hardtop in the winter to save the canvas and also the roof motor as CJ stated. I also think it looks the nuts with the hardtop,especially in Saphire black.It is warmer and quieter with the hardtop on and gives me 2 cars in one. If I wanted to go for a blast mid winter with the roof off, I can remove it in a matter of a minute, leave it on my workshop floor, go for a blast then cajole wifey to lift it back on when I got home. I just don't like all the winter crud getting on the canvas.I want my Z to keep its looks as I plan to keep it for ages.Each to their own I guess. :D
 
aquazi said:
To fit one do you def need two people?

This is prob the only thing which puts me off... as i couldnt fit a winch in my garage (as my garage is full of crap) And living on my own i wouldnt want to rely on friends coming over to help me to remove my top :oops:
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get the gargage cleared out if you can - the hardtop hoist makes life a lot easier + its then a one man job to take off and on

With the hardtop on its quieter, warmer and makes the car look quite unique (in a good way!)

CJ's first class effort
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2883&p=41683&hilit=hoist#p41683

Mine (lot less DIY know-how)
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20467&p=291654#p291654

And yes, the roadster looks sweet with the hardtop on

wheelsu.jpg
 
cj10jeeper said:
2 cars for the price of one
Warmer and quieter in WInter
Preserves the canvas during crap weather season
Stops water getting into the roof motor
Looks amazing

That enough?
Click to expand...

x2 Enough for me....!
 
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