Z3 Emerging from Hibernation

[zielritter]

I've been working on my Z all winter to get her in shape for the summer. Just thought I'd share a few pics after I got her out for a night on the town this past Saturday. I'll get some more extensive shots in the coming weeks.

Goodies added so far:
17" wheels with 225 rubber
H&R OEM Sport springs
e36 strut bar
K&N Apollo intake
Straight pipe from resonator back
New shift knob as OEM was loose
primed and painted engine cover
rock guards
plasti-dipped fender "gills"
mud flaps
new badges
EU Germany front plate
new stereo head unit as OEM unit was malfunctioning
shorty antenna
new 5.25" up front and upsized 4" speakers behind the seats
10" RF Subwoofer

Next on the list is a quality black top. The rear seal on the OEM window is on its last leg. Only 68k miles on this car.

[Vintage42]

... Next on the list is a quality black top. The rear seal on the OEM window is on its last leg...

You probably know, but unless there is a problem with the top, or you just want to change the color, the black trim is part of the zipped-in window. It is a trim channel that receives the edge of the canvas top, rather than a seal. The seal in the OE-type window is double sided tape between the canvas and the plastic.
When the trim starts coming loose, and if the canvas has not been messed with glue, it looks better to remove the trim entirely. I ran like that for a few months.
For replacing the top, who would you use in your area?

[TiminMb]

Very nice car.

[KBH22102]

Very nice. Some engine bay shots to show off your work there too?

[zielritter]

You probably know, but unless there is a problem with the top, or you just want to change the color, the black trim is part of the zipped-in window. It is a trim channel that receives the edge of the canvas top, rather than a seal. The seal in the OE-type window is double sided tape between the canvas and the plastic.
When the trim starts coming loose, and if the canvas has not been messed with glue, it looks better to remove the trim entirely. I ran like that for a few months.
For replacing the top, who would you use in your area?

Unfortunately my grandfather, from whom I inherited this vehicle when he had to move into a smaller house, did use glue on the canvas. The rest of the canvas is stained and dirty in places anyway despite my best efforts to clean. I think a high quality black canvas will improve the aesthetics greatly.

I'm really not sure yet who I would use for installing the top. I would purchase from Amazon. I noticed you're in Louisville. Any recommendations for a quality installer?

[zielritter]

Very nice. Some engine bay shots to show off your work there too?

Yes for sure. It's been raining that past few days and I keep her under a cover after taking out of storage.

[Vintage42]

Unfortunately my grandfather, from whom I inherited this vehicle when he had to move into a smaller house, did use glue on the canvas. The rest of the canvas is stained and dirty in places anyway despite my best efforts to clean. I think a high quality black canvas will improve the aesthetics greatly.
I'm really not sure yet who I would use for installing the top. I would purchase from Amazon. I noticed you're in Louisville. Any recommendations for a quality installer?

I just lost a half hour reply with a lot of advice. Too lazy to recreate. Will send you a PM.

[zielritter]

20170402_153637_resized.jpg 20170402_153650_resized.jpg 20170402_153702_resized.jpg

I had a fuse blow for one of my parking lights. Snapped a few shots under hood while I was changing it. The strut tower bar is for an E36. I had to use a dremel and a dead blow hammer to modify it slightly for hood clearance. The engine cover it painted with plasti dip in case I change my mind. The cover was scratched and gouged to pieces somehow and completely looked awful.

If you're curious, the background wheel in the third picture belongs to my 2012 Hyundai Genesis 4.6l V8 sedan. I'm running a Magnaflow exhaust and 245 profile tires on 19's.

[Remotion]

Unfortunately my grandfather, from whom I inherited this vehicle when he had to move into a smaller house, did use glue on the canvas. The rest of the canvas is stained and dirty in places anyway despite my best efforts to clean. I think a high quality black canvas will improve the aesthetics greatly.

I'm really not sure yet who I would use for installing the top. I would purchase from Amazon. I noticed you're in Louisville. Any recommendations for a quality installer?

Have you tried rubbing with d-limonene solution for glue?

[Vintage42]

... for installing the top. I would purchase from Amazon. I noticed you're in Louisville. Any recommendations for a quality installer?

No response to the PM, so long answer short:
I would use an installer who had done sealing ring tops before (Miata, Z3) and discuss what top he recommended and whether he would like to provide it. I think most quality shops would prefer to work that way. I would want a top from Robbins, GAHH, Auto Tops Direct or German Auto Tops.
Robbins and ATD and maybe others provide updated features like relief pockets in the quarter panels, a stiffener inside above the window, and elastic straps above window to support the tension straps. Replacement tops have sewn-in windows, unlike the replaceable zipped-in window of the OE top.
http://www.robbinsautotopco.com/bmw.php
http://www.autotopsdirect.com/1996-2...04-e37-005.htm

The only shop I could find in Louisville, Pearson & Marzian, did a good job with their GAHH top, but their labor was high. I later found a BMW indy in Jeffersonville, Mike Johns Imports, could also do it. In your Cincinnati area, I would ask Enthusiast Auto Group who they use.

If your top is in good condition except for the window trim and glue around it, you could consider just replacing the window, which zips in. If the exposed glue is a problem around the OE-type window's trim, the Emiata window is trimmed and sealed with a perimeter canvas edge that glues down over the canvas top. It is also only $100 vs the OE $300.
http://www.emiata.com/Z3Window.asp

[andrewcconti]

Nice!