>> Where can one buy a hardtop? Only from dealerships I guess?
>>
>> Any idea on the cost? Does it also require installation of any sort of
>> hardtop kit on the car?
I'm not sure on the Z3, I have a 1996 528iC - I bought the used hardtop on
an EBay auction (matter of finding a non-clashing color close enough to
drive and pick it up, shipping costs are high on something that size). Got a
white one on a silver car, then had it painted a year or so later. The front
attached just like the soft top, I had to buy a kit from the BMW dealer for
the back - it was about $200 if I remember correctly. It has the special
sockets that are needed for the back of the hardtop to attach, and the
electrical connections to supply power to the rear window defroster and the
dome lights. I think that the Z3 hardtops are made in a similar manner (just
a different size, my 328 seats 4).
The hardtop is very nice to have for winter driving, the rear window is much
larger than the window of the soft top (btw - my soft top has a plastic
window, BMW transitioned to a glas window in either 1999 or 2000, I don't
remember which) The glass window on soft tops are smaller than the plastic
window on soft tops. The whole frame assembly and motors had to be
redesigned, so just swapping out soft tops did not work out at all. I do
place soft thin towelling over the plastic rear window before putting the
top down for extended periods, otherwise the plastic gets a large white
opaque line horizontally in the middle where it folds (I have already
replaced the plastic window once).
Jim