Hard Top Removal

[calmsea]

My new toy arrived two days ago. It's a 2001 model. I'm having trouble removing the hard top. I followed the instructions in the manual step-by-step. Two of us just could not lift the top. Not sure how heavy the hard top actually weighs, I didn't want to use the brute force. The two catches in the back seem to be disengaged but it's hard for me to tell whether the front two catches are disengaged. I checked the "unlock" direction on the top to make sure that I was turning the right way.

Are there any tricks in removing the hard top? Is it possible that the top mechanism is stuck?

Thanks

Jim

[harvey2]

With two people lifting it goes up quite easy. I think its about 60 lbs.

Once you get a feel for those front and back latches you can tell quite easily when they are in our out, but the first time is always tricky. It takes a significant twisting force to get the front ones to turn, but it should be pretty obvious. They only turn about 1/4 turn, just like in the picture.

If the rear ones are definitely disengaged the rear will lift up a tiny bit, but don't push it if the fronts are still locked as you don't want to twist the top.

[macfly]

If the top has sat for a long time and a few washes it can get gummed onto the rubber seals, but a good thump from the inside should loosen it, but use a cushion so you don't dent the roof. It that doesn't loosen it don't force it because once the four clips are disengaged it should come away really easily. I'd suggest also that spaying a little WD40 along the seal lines will loosen the seals if that is what has gummed it down.

[calmsea]

I finally got to unlock the front two catches this morning. They were much tighter than I expected. I had to insert a screw driver into the slot of the tool to help me turn them all the way. Thanks all for the help.

Now I need to find a helper to lift it up to the stand as it's to heavy for the wife.

Jim

[Scott Pettit]

Be very careful mounting / hanging it on the stand (with requires a bit of finesse). If you cause any twisting to the roof, it can crack the rear window which is VERY expensive to replace. At least that is what I am told.

Also, in case you need to spray around the seals, I disagree with Andrew about using WD-40. Instead, use a soapy water solution or a detail spray and give it a minute to penetrate.

Lastly, once you remove the top, I suggest that you remove any fine scratches on the body with a good cleaner / polish / wax. I had my top on for only 800 miles and the paint really needed a rub down.

If you are in Northern California, I'd be happy to help.

Scott Pettit

[FWK-Z8]

Use Gummi Pflege on the rubber seals - it is available (once again!) through Bavarian Autosport.

And yes, a new back window is expensive ~$800 I can tell you form personal experience. In order to make the top look good, there is no protective metal along the bottom edge of the window, plus the glass is very thin - around 1/8" thick. If you contact the bottom edge of the glass against anything, it will shatter.

[Obie Wan]

My top wrench is missing. Any suggestions until we can obtain a new one.

[SProZ8]

It shouldn't take long to get a new one. When I purchased my Z8, the wrench was furnished loose and I stored it in the glove box. It took me two years to find the wrench holder clip on the hardtop left side latch cover. Now it stays with the hardtop and is less likely to be misplaced.

[ali.h.khalil@gmail.com]

I just received my car from LA, CA to Kuwait one week ago. Where one typically store the hard top stand? is it somewhere in the car?

[Z8Mania]

Congratulations! I don't think theres a usual place to put the hard top stand. I've had my hard top on its stand for like 8 years now. The hard tops weren't released to owners for many months after the early cars were delivered so they could make some changes to the hard top.

[macfly]

If it was in your car it would almosr certainly be in a box in the trunk. It usually comes broken down and folded up in its original cardboard box, but should it not be with your car for any reason it is possible to order it from BMW, I think it is around $450.