Which hardtop bag do I have?

[ZetaTre]

While doing some casual reading today I learned that there is a bag for the hardtop design to be hanged for storage. After owning our hardtop for 3 years, unsuccessfully found a place to store the damn thing in summer time I realized that the bag I have might precisely be the one for hanging, but wanted to confirm.

It's gray, made of some kind of stretching material hand has some dark leather/vinyl reinforcements. It is fitted around the hardtop and closed with a zipper that goes along the rear edge. It has 2 holes where the pin go through and a strap that goes form each pin to the center of the top. Is this it? Anyone knows how much the HT weight so I can make sure I make something that can hold it? Or even better, anyone has picture of how they hang store the HT?

Thanks!!!!

 

[Kimo]

Your description does indeed sound like the hanging bag that I have used since April 2011 to hang my hardtop on the garage wall.

OEM Bag (Part # 54210149331) and Post Covers (Parts # 54210151219)
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BT52&mospid=47797&btnr=82_0106&hg=82&fg=81&hl=4
Discontinued and no longer available for order here in the US.

Also see this thread: http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23599 -- the last 10 or so posts on the first page.

I used a hook (from Lowe's) that is designed to hang bikes on the garage wall.
Here: http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=267965-46880-SH18-25RO&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=1076577&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1
The actual screw part is about three inches long, quite meaty, and it MUST go directly into the middle of a stud. Though it is spec'd for 40# horizontally (75# vertically), it is plenty strong for the hardtop (if sunk into the middle of a wood beam).

Since the hardtop hangs on a garage wall adjacent to our e31 garage queen, redundancy was necessary, so I also have the bag's handle attached via chain to a secondary safety hook that is screwed into a beam in the garage ceiling. It hasn't budged since I hung it a year ago.

A picture of the bag is in this listing: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-Hardtop-Immaculate-Condition-Spoiler-Sterling-Grey-Cover-Tools-/130669858202?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1e6c87cd9a
Also: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-BMW-Z4-HARD-TOP-STORAGE-COVER-PLUS-BMW-ALLEN-KEY-FITTING-KEY-/170812604275?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item27c5397f73

Finally, here's a pic of a Z3 bag (virtually identical) hanging: http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=482182

Mike

 

[ZetaTre]

That's exactly my bag!!! That's great news...

The only problem I have is that the caps that go above the pins are no longer available. I guess I gotta search them on eBay...

 

[Kimo]

That's exactly my bag!!! That's great news...

The only problem I have is that the caps that go above the pins are no longer available. I guess I gotta search them on eBay...

You really don't need them. They only serve to protect the pins and keep them from gouging out the wall, so anything that can serve the same purpose will suffice. Wrap a small towel around each pin and then secure it with packing tape. or cut holes in tennis balls (like the old folks do on their walker legs).

Note that I edited the response above to include WORKING links and a link to the actual hook that I used.

 

[ZetaTre]

That's exactly my bag!!! That's great news...

The only problem I have is that the caps that go above the pins are no longer available. I guess I gotta search them on eBay...

You really don't need them. They only serve to protect the pins and keep them from gouging out the wall, so anything that can serve the same purpose will suffice. Wrap a small towel around each pin and then secure it with packing tape. or cut holes in tennis balls (like the old folks do on their walker legs).

Note that I edited the response above to include WORKING links and a link to the actual hook that I used.

Ah: tennis balls.... That's genius!!!!!

Thanks so much for all the info