New Designed Side Covers!

B

BavarianBunker

Member
Hi Z4 E85 owners. Finally Soft top SIDE COVERS!
After quite some interest we are considering to make a small batch of sets for who is interested, based on our ‘one-off’ proto design, IF there is enough interest. We calculated there must be at least 50 people interested to make tools and do a small production here in Silicon Valley.

My bud Brian has made a video of our prototype. If you guys like it and we get 50 or more request we order the tool to be made. Shipping can be done worldwide I guess.
We based the cost at $250 for a set (based on production of 50-100 sets - tool is most expensive part). Shipping can be done (at your own expense).

Again we need 50+ people interested to commit so we can do this. Email to [email protected] if you like to join in so we can do the headcount.

We also posted on FB and have around 16 people who signed up as per today.

Stay healthy!!!

Rick & Brian

YOUTUBE VIDEO BELOW:

[youtube]https://youtu.be/MrwPLy6wk98[/youtube]
 

Attachments

  • Photo Aug 04, 19 27 58.jpg
    Photo Aug 04, 19 27 58.jpg
    180.2 KB · Views: 3,450
  • Photo Jul 24, 09 50 23.jpg
    Photo Jul 24, 09 50 23.jpg
    205.2 KB · Views: 3,449
  • Photo Jul 24, 09 50 28.jpg
    Photo Jul 24, 09 50 28.jpg
    224.7 KB · Views: 3,450
They look great. But you're pricing makes them unattractive unfortunately.

I see I'm the first to respond even though the photo's indicate that this thread has been viewed 55 times already.

By 'tooling' do you mean investing in 3D printers or have you made plastic injection moulds?

I would suggest your business model should be based on a long-term forecast in which case your retail price should be much lower to make it a more attractive proposition to a potential buyer. As it stands, 250 is around what is being charged for a 2nd hand OEM set in good condition and makes it look like you're trying to compete with the 2nd hand OEM market. It's hardly an attractive alternative in that respect.

Price them a lot more attractively and I (and possibly many others) might be interested.
 
I think they are great too, I also know that tooling is expensive and I’m sure you have calculated that into your suggested price.

However I also agree with Chris D. at least right now, I would not be in the market due to the unsure world economic situation.

Chris D. I hadn’t thought about 3D printing of this item, even though we use 3D printers in the department I work for. I wonder if anyone on Thingaverse has drawn up something similar? We have 4 Form Labs printers but these parts are too large for them. We do have a Raise3D Pro2 Plus (large format FFF printer). Would be nice project but just a guess, one side would easily take 3 to 4 days, probably longer, to print. My guess is these would be injection moulded. $250 is a reasonable price IMO, but right now my pocket book says no.

Good luck and I hope you have more than 250 people commit. It would be a nice product to have available.
 
I agree it appears pricey but that's how the model works out now. We based the business case on 50-100 pieces at the moment. The tooling is around $9k already for the vacuum molding process (price locally in Silicon Valley. Then there is the locking mechanism and startup cost. The math works out we would nearly break even at 50-60. Yes. If we knew we would sell 500 of those we would sell them for way less. Problem is there is a small (and declining) market for this so we have to look at reasonable investment.
3D printing is possible, perhaps but that means a lot of work per part plus a lot of work to finish it nicely. We are at around 25 people now but if we get a LOT more we can lower the pricing for everyone. Again we are not starting or running a business so don't want to get stuck with 50 or more unused sets :D

Stay tuned. Perhaps if things take a right turn we can make it fit your budget too. :thumbsup:
 
Just to add an idea to help you tap into the UK market perhaps, could you maybe find one person in the UK to send a larger batch to, who could then distribute them?
Not sure how the pricing would work out, but fairly sure it would be cheaper to send one big box than 50 small ones?
 
Bombardino said:
Remember import duty also needs to be factored in.
Click to expand...

20% on to the total value of an item costing more than £18 last time I looked. OP nice looking product but not a low enough price point for the UK yet I'm afraid.
 
I have been looking for a set of soft top side covers for ten years :happyclap:. The asking price on eBay for the most recent set of side covers was £275.00 and the latch was damaged! Porsches and Mercedes-Benz cabriolets and roadsters have complicated mechanisms to cover the soft top open areas. The Z4 looks is cheapened, i.e. parts missing, when parked next to other high end roadsters with the top down. BMW should have continued production of an item that is prone to fail, as there will always be some demand for the soft top side covers, not to mention the hard top inside covers, £175.00, on eBay. BMW needs a Classic Center to make old parts for the Z's.
Stay well, :driving:
 
Blackpony said:
I have been looking for a set of soft top side covers for ten years :happyclap:. The asking price on eBay for the most recent set of side covers was £275.00 and the latch was damaged! Porsches and Mercedes-Benz cabriolets and roadsters have complicated mechanisms to cover the soft top open areas. The Z4 looks is cheapened, i.e. parts missing, when parked next to other high end roadsters with the top down. BMW should have continued production of an item that is prone to fail, as there will always be some demand for the soft top side covers, not to mention the hard top inside covers, £175.00, on eBay. BMW needs a Classic Center to make old parts for the Z's.
Stay well, :driving:
Click to expand...

Excellent! Email us at [email protected] to get signed up! $250 for a brand new set with our special designed safety lock
 
Too expensive for me. :thumbsdown: Having to put them on and take them off every time I open my roof would be a pain in the arse. They would probably break too from constantly taking them on and off. Good luck though. :thumbsup:
 
blunderthumbs said:
Too expensive for me. :thumbsdown: Having to put them on and take them off every time I open my roof would be a pain in the arse. They would probably break too from constantly taking them on and off. Good luck though. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Couldn’t agree more, maybe if I lived in California withe year round sunshine I might consider some.
 
I’ve had a set for 6 years now and have used them more than a few times every year. They’re not convenient if you’re just pottering about and in and out of the car, but for longer hoons and journeys it’s not a bother spending 30 secs taking them off and sticking them in the boot. The clips on mine are fine, I’ve never forgotten about them and tried to put the roof up, and I’ve been caught in the rain - and gotten well soaked while removing them :lol: - exactly once. During the summer I have often left the roof down in the garage with the side covers in, though I appreciate not everyone has a garage.

Cons - the minor faff of putting them in / taking them off, the price
Pros - they finish the shape the car off with the roof down by filling the void, they reduce wind noise, they reduce airflow getting under the folded hood at high speed which reduces movement and rubbing. I think they also reduce cabin noise if you happen to use a hard top during winter.

All that said - I paid £60 for mine when I bought the car, not sure I would pay £200... but I would seriously consider it, if only because there will always be a market and I’d get my money back for sure.
 
It’s worth saying the ones pictured above will not work with the hard top as the moulded shape covers the hard top mounting points at the door end of the cover. The genuine ones have a pointy finish at that end that sits down the side of the hard top mount point so it is still accessible.
 
2 sets currently on E-bay £355 and £275 if anyone interested. Not.
I am going to have a go at making some for my car. Will post photo's
 
McTyke said:
2 sets currently on E-bay £355 and £275 if anyone interested. Not.
I am going to have a go at making some for my car. Will post photo's
Click to expand...

Fairy liquid bottles and sticky back plastic. A La Blue Peter :rofl:
 
Not quite. I have access to CAD CAM design equipment and laser sheet metal cutting as well as forming at my work. Thinking along the lines of aluminium sheet cut to shape and formed and then covered in a thin layer of foam and then black canvas.
 
First side almost complete. Another layer of thin sponge to glue on then covered in black canvas. Small black plastic thumbscrew will go through to lock it in place. Base is 1.5mm alumin sheet cut and formed to try and follow lines. Been a bit of fun with minimal outlay. Then need to make another for other side.IMG_2317[1].JPG
 
This looks great! Well done so far, so parts wise this is working out pretty cheap really? Are you just figuring this out for your own car or would you produce anymore?
 
My initial thought was that they could be made and sold on to owners. Still to resolve one or two issues to see if that is practical. It may well be that if I get the basic shape and form of the aluminium right and the locking mechanism then its a matter of buying some sponge, canvas and upholstry glue on e-bay and covering it yourself. Will see how it all turns out. On hold at the moment as no garage and so much bloody rain about at weekends or after work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom