1998 Z3 Top replacement. Help!

[joeyguse 0]

Hey guys! I have a 1998 Z3 that I bought rather impulsively during the lockdown after selling my beloved Porsche. Long story short, I had to replace the top, and it has been a nightmare! I'm down in Queenstown and it's currently now without a top at all after an alleged amatuer "mechanic" couldn't put on the replacement top I purchased on Ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Z3-1996-2002-Convertible-Soft-Top-Replacement-Plastic-window-Black-Twill/251363643224?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

I looked up the model number and it looks like this top should fit. I'm really not sure if I need to order a new top or try and get a real mechanic to try to fit it. The problem is, Queenstown is a bit barren when it comes to ANYONE with this sort of expertise. I may have to do Dunedin or even Christchurch. 

Anyway, looking for some advice from some of the Beamer geniuses on here. Does this top look like it should work? It certainly looks like it by the Ebay add and reviews on there. What are my other options? Order another new top and pay all that labor cost? Is it even worth it?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated. 

[M3AN 4016]

This isn't going to be helpful but... You live in Queenstown, it's summer, you have views like that. Forget the top! Park it up inside during winter. 😉

This might be more helpful... BMW's instructions... increment the file name from 01 up to 15

First: https://www.davesanthology.com/public/images/automotive/random_pics/Z3_Soft_Top/01.png

Last: https://www.davesanthology.com/public/images/automotive/random_pics/Z3_Soft_Top/15.png

Of course any BMW main dealer will also be able to do it for you but I'm not sure if there's one in Queenstown or the cost.

[joeyguse 0]

36 minutes ago, M3AN said:

This isn't going to be helpful but... You live in Queenstown, it's summer, you have views like that. Forget the top! Park it up inside during winter. 😉

This might be more helpful... BMW's instructions... increment the file name from 01 up to 15

First: https://www.davesanthology.com/public/images/automotive/random_pics/Z3_Soft_Top/01.png

Last: https://www.davesanthology.com/public/images/automotive/random_pics/Z3_Soft_Top/15.png

Of course any BMW main dealer will also be able to do it for you but I'm not sure if there's one in Queenstown or the cost.

Thanks for that. And yes, I'm currently following your advice and enjoying the summer!

Thanks for the pics. That's helpful. Dunedin might be a possibility. 

[balancerider 781]

I know Hansen’s auto are the BMW service agent in Qtown but not sure if they (or any main dealer really) will have much expertise with an 18 year old car. 

[NZ00Z3 189]

Hi Joe

I'm in Timaru with a couple of Z3's.  Have replaced 3 Z3 rear windows, but have not yet had to do a complete soft top replacement.  Not a job that I'm looking forward to.

The soft top you have purchased will fit.  I've seen others on the interweb purchase that top and fit it.  Many do it themselves, but it is really a two person job.  Everyone hates the Butyl tape.

Do you have a complete sealing frame?  The long plastic bow stapled to the bottom rear of the soft top and bolted to the body with a large amount of Butyl tape (black, sticky, rubbery, silly putty, gum).  The sealing frame often breaks on removal as people get impatient with the Butyl tape.  The sealing frame is currently on BMW backorder and there are none available to buy through normal channels.  If it is broken, don't despair.  If it is in 2 or 3 pieces, people have managed to get it plastic welded back together and reuse it.  If it is in lots of pieces, then it has been replaced by a strip of rubber/neoprene 1/8" Thick x 4" Wide x 10' Feet.  Sorry for the imperial measurements, data comes from a UK site.

This is the best DIY guide for replacing the soft top https://webspace.ringling.edu/~dplassma/str/str.html?fbclid=IwAR3RO8yw14SEMUfpC457TEXhd886jneRdAY_LkE4naEfFFrSLNtdWF4G-CY

The only tip I can give you on removing Butyl tape is to try kerosene.  I used kerosene to easily remove bitumen off paper lead power cables years ago.   Maybe the guy who took the top off has already cleaned the Butyl tape mess up?

Finding a business that has done a soft top replacement will be difficult.  It will have been done.  Many garages/service centers will not have a clue on the job and will have a hard time pricing it.  If you find one that has done the job before, they will either not want to do the job again or know how to charge having experienced the mess of Butyl tape and the time required to clean it up.  Some people have said that the time taken to clean the Butyl tape up was equal to the time to do everything else. Get on the phone and use the yellow pages or google searches to find suitable businesses.

If you get totally stuck, send me a PM with your phone number.  We may be able to work together and fit the top.  Remember, that I'm just another amature mechanic that owns a couple of Z3's and does all of the maintenance work on them.