Z3 BMW Rear Window Quote.

andyglym

andyglym

Shiny Dust Caps Make Your Zed Go Faster.
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Points
266
Location
Moresby, West Cumbria, England
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
Popped into Lloyd Cockermouth BMW today to.pick up a new centre cap for my MV3, whilst there I thought I'd give me a reason to not go to a main dealer to have the window replaced. £288 for the window, can't remember the price for the rubber seal as my little brain ceased to function at this point! £84 an hour labour and maybe two days to complete the job. The chap had a glazed look when I asked if I got a new Z3 thrown in for that. Soft tops it is then.
 
Two days? Is he fitting UPVC windows all round?

I've wondered in the past whether BMW dealers are the best people to tackle some of the jobs which are happening through old age. They only have access to pretty much the same information we have, and I'd guess most BMW technicians haven't ever changed one themselves anyway. The only advantage would be that it's warrantied, but that's a big premium for warranty cover on something which should last 15+ years like the original.

Any-who, ramblings over. :dead:
 
Ramble away Gaz, that is robbery of the daylight variety! :eek:
 
GazHyde said:
Two days? Is he fitting UPVC windows all round?

I've wondered in the past whether BMW dealers are the best people to tackle some of the jobs which are happening through old age. They only have access to pretty much the same information we have, and I'd guess most BMW technicians haven't ever changed one themselves anyway. The only advantage would be that it's warrantied, but that's a big premium for warranty cover on something which should last 15+ years like the original.

Any-who, ramblings over. :dead:
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Agreed, soft tops and a few others just do this so will be slick and efficient. Most wouldn't have seen a Z3 for years.
 
Andy McDonnell said:
Most wouldn't have seen a Z3 for years.
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I beg to differ Andy, most never have or will have. If you ever get access to your local BMW workshop, or whatever posh name they have for it these days, have a look and try to see the average age of the "Technicians" bet you don't see one with grey hair.

Tony.
 
Go on Andy, be brave and go DIY, I'd come and give you a hand if I were a bit closer! Mmmmm.... Could be a good excuse for a couple of days in the Lakes!
 
Eddie Zedder said:
Go on Andy, be brave and go DIY, I'd come and give you a hand if I were a bit closer! Mmmmm.... Could be a good excuse for a couple of days in the Lakes!
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I keep looking at it and thinking "how hard can it be?" More looking at it required.:whistle:
 
t-tony said:
I beg to differ Andy, most never have or will have.
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I guess this is what I was getting at, but you summed it up without a long ramble. :thumbsup:
 
Check out the German co, brain freeze as to name but they're on eBay always, there's a video and you can gauge for yourself if you want to tackle it yourself. To take two days installation they must move the zipper about two or three teeth an hour. Just be aware that all your stitching is tight all the way around your outer zipper and hand stitch it if not rotted like mine was making a new top the easiest option. JIM
 
I did see on Facebook a Zed owner in Holland who was having a very nice hardtop fitted... Looks like a good excuse for a run over the water to me.... I wonder if we did a group buy what the cost would be ? o_O
 
Had my hood (with screen) replaced by Soft Tops in Croydon. The owner, Dee, made up a hood with pockets and fitted for £400. Very tidy job completed in 3 hours. Standard hood is £325 and does not have pockets which BMW introduced to reduce wear issues. New hood doesn't have stiffener bar across top of screen and I am using a piece of pipe insulation foam to ensure I get a good curve in the screen when putting it down.
 
oldcarman said:
Check out the German co, brain freeze as to name but they're on eBay always,
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My experience with the artmunster design one off eBay, is not good, I fitted one to my wife's Z3.
Its gone cloudy and wont polish out, as if it's in the plastic rather than a coating, there was no lead in for the zip making it a pig to fit and the beading just kinks and leaks.
19355708376_2b88315d4f_z.jpg

never again. genuine BMW one next time.
 
gookah said:
My experience with the artmunster design one off eBay, is not good, I fitted one to my wife's Z3.
Its gone cloudy and wont polish out, as if it's in the plastic rather than a coating, there was no lead in for the zip making it a pig to fit and the beading just kinks and leaks.
19355708376_2b88315d4f_z.jpg

never again. genuine BMW one next time.
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I bought a BMW rear screen and got it fitted by a trimmer who advised me to stear clear of ebay and the like as he had fitted them before and reeled of a list of problems he'd encountered
when he'd been asked to fit them and now won't fit them unless they are oem items.I paid £218 for the screen plus £60 fitting and he put a few stitches in the hood where a few had worn. Not cheap but no leaks no kinks no fraying etc.
 
image.webp
my stitching is coming away & the window is cloudy ,can this be repaired with a new screen or is a new hood best option? Help
 
gookah said:
My experience with the artmunster design one off eBay, is not good, I fitted one to my wife's Z3.
Its gone cloudy and wont polish out, as if it's in the plastic rather than a coating, there was no lead in for the zip making it a pig to fit and the beading just kinks and leaks.
19355708376_2b88315d4f_z.jpg
Ing
never again. genuine BMW one next time.
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Thanks @gookah , I bought the artmunster as a replacement for the window in my first export but when it arrived the stitching as well as the outer zip were so rotted that I bought a new top. The window in my TOO car is cracked so I will do a little hand stitching and install it into it. Did you ever contact the co regarding your problems, I'd be interested in t their take on the cloudiness as well as the buckling. JIM
 
Andy McDonnell said:
Mines the same @Stacey Aylmore kind of hoping a new window will do the job but will have to wait until September to get it looked at/repaired.
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@Andy McDonnell and @Stacey Aylmore, a bit of handstitching can be done but ensure the rest is solid and not fraying or rotting. Also check the outer zip for the same rotting. The option is to remove your hood if in good condition and have a solid window without the zip feature sewn into it! Good luck guys, HTH, JIM
 
Stacey Aylmore said:
thanx Andy I'll wait & see how you get on keep me posted .
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Will do. Typo, that should read October as I'm down in the Midlands for the weekend and will get it looked at/done then. I'll post feedback and photos of any end result.
 
oldcarman said:
@Andy McDonnell and @Stacey Aylmore, a bit of handstitching can be done but ensure the rest is solid and not fraying or rotting. Also check the outer zip for the same rotting. The option is to remove your hood if in good condition and have a solid window without the zip feature sewn into it! Good luck guys, HTH, JIM
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All looks ok @oldcarman as you say, a few stitches in the short term but window still needs replacing as it's badly marked.
 
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