Soft top question

R

Rusky

Senior member
 Cambridgeshire
When i retract my soft top it seems to catch on the D type bracket on the bulk head. My question is what is the function of the bracket and can it be removed or is it needed for the roof to lock in the down position?

Thanks

Russ
 
Rusky said:
When i retract my soft top it seems to catch on the D type bracket on the bulk head. My question is what is the function of the bracket and can it be removed or is it needed for the roof to lock in the down position?

Thanks

Russ
Click to expand...

The si models do without that catch so I don't think it's essential, the hydraulic mechanism provides a degree of locking in itself :thumbsup:
Rob
 
hmm i did think that might be the case, might give it a go and see what happens Thanks Rob :thumbsup:
 
The bracket was removed around facelift time. My last zed made Aug 06 didn't have it, my current one made Jan 06 did. I say did as I have removed it as it wash brushing the head lining.

It's easy enough to remove , think the centre top panel only has to be removed from the console.
 
srhutch said:
The bracket was removed around facelift time. My last zed made Aug 06 didn't have it, my current one made Jan 06 did. I say did as I have removed it as it wash brushing the head lining.

It's easy enough to remove , think the centre top panel only has to be removed from the console.
Click to expand...
thats exactly what mine does, i take it no issues with the roof staying down with it removed?
 
There is no way the roof could raise as it's just too heavy. Mine sometimes doesn't latch in, but after I have driven a few hundred yards, it drops in of it's own accord. As said, it was removed on the facelifts, probably because BMW had that many people complaining about it, and they could also save a few ££...

One thing I have noticed, is if a roof has been dyed/treated, it can make the fabric stiffer so it doesn't fold as easily. I don't think a lot of people realise that the outer layer of the hood isn't meant to be waterproof, it is supposed to let the water through, which then drains down the intermediate rubberised sheet, straight into the drains, flooding the motor :)

Mike
 
Remove it if its causing problems. I removed mine, although i think its back on now. The roof wont come back up. Not even sure why it latches in, as its really heavy.
 
Hi all,I'm new here. My newly acquired z4 will not lock down when the roof is opened. It doesn't seem to go down far enough to lock. I see folk saying that it can't possibly come back up when not locked down but does this apply when doing 80mph on the motorway. I'm opening it manually,the chap I bought the car off said it was a Manuel roof,is there somewhere I can check via the vin just what the car came with when new. Many thanks.
 
S4rap said:
Hi all,I'm new here. My newly acquired z4 will not lock down when the roof is opened. It doesn't seem to go down far enough to lock. I see folk saying that it can't possibly come back up when not locked down but does this apply when doing 80mph on the motorway. I'm opening it manually,the chap I bought the car off said it was a Manuel roof,is there somewhere I can check via the vin just what the car came with when new. Many thanks.
Click to expand...

Mine has not locked down for a long time now I just turn around and give it a little tap job done.
 
Ducklakeview said:
One thing I have noticed, is if a roof has been dyed/treated, it can make the fabric stiffer so it doesn't fold as easily. I don't think a lot of people realise that the outer layer of the hood isn't meant to be waterproof, it is supposed to let the water through, which then drains down the intermediate rubberised sheet, straight into the drains, flooding the motor :)
Click to expand...

This happened to me. The roof latched down fine when I bought the car in June. Then I re-dyed and treated the roof and ever since it's failed to latch on its own. It stops about a cm short, but it can still be pushed down by hand to latch it. The headlining also brushes the latch now but I can't remember whether it did that before.

I'm sure the risk of eventual damage to the headlining with the latch in place is greater than any risk of the roof moving with the latch removed. The headlining already marked, so I might remove the latch if I can find the time. Presumably you just unplug and leave the electric connection?
 
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