Given a choice with bird poop, I'd rather clean it off plastic or leather rather than the roof fabric. So leaving it down for shop visits is ok, but not multi-story's or undergrounds. Since cabriolets always look better with roof down, I can see why leaving them down if in a safe location, is favourable.
Leaving the roof down
- Thread starter Ste
- Start date
Maybe they leave it down so as to not wear out the expensive roof hydraulic pump, by using it everytime they stop. Mine just went kaput. I used it alot, each time I went inside a store, etc., as I will continue to do when I get the new pump installed. I'm too paranoid to leave it down while out of sight.
The motor runs for about 14 seconds each way - let's call it 15, so once down and once up is 30 secs use. Down/up 5 times a day - 2.5 mins a day. Even if you do this every day for half the year - and that's a lot of roof action 
- that's only 7.6 hours use a year. Hardly a lot of use I'd have thought ?
I am pretty sure EVERY motor failure I have seen on here has been related to water ingress. I've never read of one just wearing out :?
- that's only 7.6 hours use a year. Hardly a lot of use I'd have thought ?I am pretty sure EVERY motor failure I have seen on here has been related to water ingress. I've never read of one just wearing out :?
I have a UV protective coating on my interior, so leave it down if I'm nipping about in and out quickly of shops etc...
If it gets parked for me to go somewhere, the roof gets put up to aid "security" as per the owners manual...
On a slightly different note, has anyone else noticed that when the roof is down at traffic lights, everyone infront and beside you "need" to suddenly clean their windows!?!?!??!
B'tards...
:evil:
If it gets parked for me to go somewhere, the roof gets put up to aid "security" as per the owners manual...
On a slightly different note, has anyone else noticed that when the roof is down at traffic lights, everyone infront and beside you "need" to suddenly clean their windows!?!?!??!
B'tards...
:evil:
If you do leave it down, unattended, make sure the windows are up and it's locked and if anyone waves their hand in the cabin the alarm goes off. Having said that I don't leave it unattended where I can't see it. Just this moment lowered it from the comfort of my living room :wink:, as I will shortly be going out on a lovely sunny day to celebrate my birthday with my long suffering wife for a lovely pub lunch in delightful Rutland and then probably off to Rutland Water, visit the Nature visitor centre to watch the Ospreys on the large screen television in their nest. :wink:
the cueball said:I have a UV protective coating on my interior, so leave it down if I'm nipping about in and out quickly of shops etc...
If it gets parked for me to go somewhere, the roof gets put up to aid "security" as per the owners manual...
On a slightly different note, has anyone else noticed that when the roof is down at traffic lights, everyone infront and beside you "need" to suddenly clean with windows!?!?!??!
B'tards...
:evil:
always - its just too tempting
the cueball said:I have a UV protective coating on my interior, so leave it down if I'm nipping about in and out quickly of shops etc...
If it gets parked for me to go somewhere, the roof gets put up to aid "security" as per the owners manual...
On a slightly different note, has anyone else noticed that when the roof is down at traffic lights, everyone infront and beside you "need" to suddenly clean their windows!?!?!??!
B'tards...
:evil:
Was driving to South Queensferry last night, roof down, and a Golf driver in front of me started to clean his windows for a lot longer than is ever necessary. I mentioned to the girlfriend that he was only doing it to try to soak us in screenwipe and she was sceptical...until he done it again 30 seconds later.
It hit the windscreen, but didn't make it past it!
Bing said:The motor runs for about 14 seconds each way - let's call it 15, so once down and once up is 30 secs use. Down/up 5 times a day - 2.5 mins a day. Even if you do this every day for half the year - and that's a lot of roof action
I am pretty sure EVERY motor failure I have seen on here has been related to water ingress. I've never read of one just wearing out :?
You are probably right. I'm just aggrevated with the large bill I'm getting this week for replacing mine. Mine probable gets used more than 7.6 hours a year, as its often such nice weather here, and the Z4 is my DD. Esentially, if it's not raining, my top is down.
The hairy angler
Member
Lillywhite said:
I am confused :roll: Why would the Ospreys have a large screen television in their nest? Belated happy birthday anyhow!
regards, The hairy angler.
Sometimes leave mine down on the drive, you do have to be a bit careful living by the sea, sea gulls can make a hell of a mess.
Having said that they can just as easily drop there load on you when driving with the roof down as they can if you are parked.
Not had it happen in the Zed yet but in my previous MG TF pulled up at a pedestrian crossing on Torquay sea front earlier this summer, a low flying sea gull dropped its enormous load it hit my head rest and splattered all over the folded down roof, all over the boot lid, back of both seats and yes all over the back of my head
it was highly embarrassing and a right mess to clear up
Having said that they can just as easily drop there load on you when driving with the roof down as they can if you are parked.
Not had it happen in the Zed yet but in my previous MG TF pulled up at a pedestrian crossing on Torquay sea front earlier this summer, a low flying sea gull dropped its enormous load it hit my head rest and splattered all over the folded down roof, all over the boot lid, back of both seats and yes all over the back of my head
it was highly embarrassing and a right mess to clear upBing said:I always put mine up when parked away from home, unless as you say it's a quick nip into a shop or garage. It's not just bird droppings, it's a fear of someone chucking rubbish in or spitting in it etc. out of spite. Shame I even have that fear tbh
We don't worry to much about trash and the like in Germany. But! I started putting the hood up even when parked in my garage. Mostly due to having a nasty looking 3Ft wide Tarantula pop up on my seat just after arriving at a friends house.
I find the little guys fascinating. I just don't want them on me. Especially if I'm at speed on the autobahn.
, locked with it's windows down.... 
Converted Steve said:Sometimes leave mine down on the drive, you do have to be a bit careful living by the sea, sea gulls can make a hell of a mess.
Having said that they can just as easily drop there load on you when driving with the roof down as they can if you are parked.
Not had it happen in the Zed yet but in my previous MG TF pulled up at a pedestrian crossing on Torquay sea front earlier this summer, a low flying sea gull dropped its enormous load it hit my head rest and splattered all over the folded down roof, all over the boot lid, back of both seats and yes all over the back of my head
Congratulations! That's supposed to be good luck
When i had my roadster, I used to leave my roof off on the drive in really warm weather, but otherwise I always used to put the roof up.